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She opened her mouth to describe Iris but closed it. That wasn’t what he was asking. He wanted to know about her biological parents.

“I didn’t know them,” she said. “The enchantresses raised me.”

Rising, he started walking around the springs, and she followed him.

“I see.” After a moment, he gestured to the pool. “This water is what keeps us alive in this place. There isn’t another body of water for miles around, and there’s no place to hide from the demons in the nearest oasis. It was by pure chance that we stumbled upon this mountain. Once we did, we created the mist spell that you saw surrounding this mountain. It’s not a permanent ward, you see. The shadow fae take turns weaving the magic that protects this place. We have warriors stationed all day around the entire mountain. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to live in the relative peace that we have. There are even edible plants that grow here.”

“That’s incredible you can use your magic in that way,” she said.

As they moved, she saw that the pool did, indeed, extend to a series of what appeared to be smaller channels. The tunnels in the cavern wall were no larger than the size of a man with only inches above the water for air. But she suspected beyond this room would be where some of the plants grew. She marveled that life could exist in this realm at all.

“Can all of the shadow fae use shadow magic?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said as they walked. “Some only possess mere trickles of it while others can wield the shadows like arrows or spears. Some can slip into the shadows to disguise theirmovements or use shadow bindings or illusions.” He turned to her as they neared one side of the cavern where the water disappeared to whatever lay beyond. “Colton told me that you disarmed him yesterday with your magic.”

“I did.”

“Show me what you can do.”

Bone-weary exhaustion still clung to her limbs and thoughts, and her movements felt slower than they normally would be. But the night of sleep and the meals they’d been given had helped her regain some of her strength. She wouldn’t be able to wield shadows like she normally could, but she’d at least be able to use some magic.

Stretching an arm out, she called to the darkness.

There were shadows everywhere in this place. Without torches, lanterns, or any other form of light in most hallways and caves, the mountain was utterly dark. To summon the shadows would be as easy as breathing with so much to draw from.

Shadows around the room shifted, peeling away from the corners of stones in nearby walls and from the depths of the pool. They slunk across the water’s surface and over the cavern floors until the dark swirled at her feet.

Come, she thought.

And the shadows responded.

They twisted up her body in rippling circles, moving until they encircled her legs before traveling up her torso and around her arms. To her surprise, as they inched down her forearms to her hands, the shadows stretched out past her fingertips until they formed a sort of claws.

That’s new,she thought as she considered how useful it could be in hand-to-hand combat.

She swiped the air, marveling at the near-solid shadows. More shadows pooled at her feet like a black storm cloud, shifting and eager.

As she pulled in more and more shadows, a strange fury filled her—a desire toconsume. She realized the shadows pressed against her mind, melding with her emotions. Tilting her head back, she breathed the darkness in, feeling her eyes shift and the fury within her growing.

Then her gaze sharpened.

Blood, something rumbled in her thoughts.Desolation.

Devour.

The prince scanned the length of her.

For reasons she didn’t understand, she wanted to lash out at him, to wrap him in her shadows and demand that he send his army to the mortal realm. To save Elias. The impulse was so strong that it felt like she balanced on the edge of a blade. One push, and her restraint would shatter.

Arms trembling, it took everything in her not to unleash herself on this place.

Lines formed between Arden’s brows. “Something isn’t right about your magic.” He circled her. “It’s like something is layered on top of your shadows. Has anyone used magic on you?”

“A witch took my memories.” She closed her hands into fists, forcing them to remain at her sides. As she did, rage filled her, rippling through the shadows. “And a sorcerer returned them.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Never let a sorcerer use their magic on you. You’ll get more than you bargained for.” He raised a hand toward her, palm outstretched, and then paused. “May I?”

She had no idea what he intended to do, but she managed a nod, fighting against the rising shadows that longed to be set free.