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The hairs on Arabella’s arms stood on end, and she knew in an instant something was very wrong.

Kazimir pulled his sword free of its scabbard, his eyes locking with Arabella’s. “Get out of here,now.”

Brows furrowing, she shook her head.

Something was coming. She couldn’t leave them behind without helping.

There was a shifting in the shadows farther down the hallway, as though they flickered. Her own shadows hummed to life.

Erox.

Somehow, she knew. It was like a strange humming from the dark, as though the shadows had a mind and will of their own. As though they somehow communicated with her.

“Go!” Kazimir shouted as he charged down the hallway.

“Wait—” she began, but they were already portalling.

In the time it took her to blink, they had reappeared in a treeless land with sloping grassy hills dotted with boulders. In the far distance, there was a line of mountains with snow-dusted peaks.

She had no idea how far the western tundra was from the Twilight Court, but she couldn’t spot the castle in any direction, nor did she recall seeing mountains near the capital. Had they just teleported to the opposite side of the fae realm?

“Erox. Those were Magnus’ erox, I’m sure of it,” she breathed and turned to look down at Vorkle. “You can’t let him see you or the other goblins.”

Vorkle released her hand.

“We suspected the sorcerer would come sniffing around the estate after we rescued you from the castle,” Vorkle said, entirely too calm. “Fear not. We know how to remain out of sight.”

Despite his outward appearance of indifference, she could sense his eagerness to be off. But rather than disappearing, he hesitated.

“Goblins cannot teleport to the underrealms or within them.” Vorkle swallowed visibly even as he clung to his indignation. “But we have skirted along the border to the lands of the undead. Something lurks there. A devouring darkness that slumbers. Whatever you do, don’t wake it.” He scrubbed his palms against his trousers. “I intend to curse your name each night before I rest for forcing the goblins out of hiding, but… The master would wish for you to be safe.”

“I appreciate the insight.” A sad smile crept over her lips. “I’ll get him back, Vorkle. Whether or not the Abyss is the answer, I’ll find a way. And when I do, when he’s safe, you’ll have the choice whether you wish to be under his protection again.”

If the goblins could get out of their bargain with Hadeon.

Vorkle harrumphed and then disappeared.

“Prickly little bastard,” Jessamine muttered.

Power blossomed above Arabella, and she looked up.

Black wings filled her vision before the ground trembled as the prince of the Twilight Court landed beside her in a crouch. As he stood, his gaze turned to Jessamine. His eyes swept over her clean leathers before taking in her blonde waves, which she’d tied out of her face.

Hadeon’s gaze lingered for a moment too long before he nodded to Breckett. Then he turned to Arabella. “Any progress on the map?”

With a sigh, she pulled the parchment from an inner jacket pocket. “None.”

The fae scrubbed a hand through his short black hair, making it stick up in mussed spikes.

“You should know—Magnus’ erox arrived at your estate when we were leaving,” she said, wondering how they’d found her so quickly.

Hadeon nodded before saying, “Kazimir is prepared.”

Before she could respond, something tugged at her chest—sharp and persistent—and she gasped.

Elias.

He was awake.