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He needs to feed.

She wondered if his eyes would turn black and his canines would grow—like Elias’ had when he didn’t have enough essence. Because surely, he was ravenous after traveling all this way.

One problem at a time.

Turning her gaze toward another bellow of the greater demon, she spotted Hadeon on a knee, one hand pressed to his shoulder. Blood flowed between his fingers. Jessamine blocked several blows from the zaol, but her movements were slower than they should be.

They were all exhausted.

Please,she thought toward that strange, too-thick mist.If you’re here, help us.

She hoped the shadow fae were nearby and felt her magic. Traveling north toward the mountains had been a gamble, and they were about to find out if she had been right.

No, not her. The presence.

The weight that had settled on her shoulders slowly lifted, dissipating in the stirring breeze.

“Where are you going?” she croaked, feeling her lower lip split.

Jessamine’s scream rended the air. Slowly, Arabella turned toward the zaol.

She summoned the shadows, knowing it would take all her remaining strength. But she pulled the dark from the immense desert, breathing it in until it filled her.

As before, her emotions faded to the background. The immediacy of her fear retreated until it was like the ocean’s waves crashing miles away. Her senses sharpened, and she realized she could see a few feet into the mist. Were those footprints at the base of the mountain?

The strange presence returned, wrapping around her like a cloak, and she didn’t question it. She welcomed the power that came with it. Something bubbled up her throat. When she opened her mouth, a language she didn’t know spilled from her lips. The voice didn’t sound like hers. It was harsh and guttural, and the words came out in a hiss. As she spoke, the mist stirred as though awakening.

Come, she willed.Come now.

Just as suddenly as the unknown language had flowed into her, the power faded. It was as though the cloak slipped from her shoulders—and with it, the shadows retreated into the sands.

The last of her strength spent, she collapsed in the sand beside Breckett.

Either they would die, or help would come. They were entirely at the mercy of the mountains.

Before her eyes fluttered closed, booted feet emerged from the mist.

Chapter Fourteen

ELIAS

With a flick of deft fingers, Magnus removed a blade from his robes.

Fear squeezed Elias’ throat at the sight of the syphen. But there was nothing he could do as Magnus strode across the tent toward where Elias was bound hand and foot to the X.

While he’d been given periods of respite after feeding on Magnus where he could collapse on the tent’s carpeted floor, every day brought him back to this torture device.

The sorcerer’s eyes flicked up to his, as sharp as the edge of the blade he held.

“My erox found where your enchantress was,” Magnus said. “She took refuge in the Twilight Court within the estate of one of the princes.”

Elias’ heart drummed in his chest.

Had they taken Arabella captive? If so, where were they keeping her? Was she within the encampment even now?

“But she and her friends left before we could intercept them,” Magnus continued, a fire alighting in his eyes.

Before Elias could even breathe a sigh of relief, a band of air wrapped around his throat. His vision swirled, and the tent went in and out of focus. Pulling at his restraints on instinct, he tried to break free. His wrists quickly became raw, and he felt the trickle of blood down his forearms.