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That wouldn’t do.

I clutched the black diamond, and made up my mind. Looking up at Ayla, I braced for the consequences, straining for the echo of our tether.

The guards shouted at us a third time. I had to act.

Unmasking my shadows, I jumped down to the deck. I stood before Rhett, a sneer on my face as I claimed my role.

Whoever saw me, let them.

I would become their villain.

“I have a plan,” I hissed to Rhett. “I’ll beat you in a fight so I can steal ‘your’ boat.”

In response, he stood taller, rolling out his shoulders. “You’re stealing my boat?” he taunted, raising his voice so our audience could hear.

I grinned. “I believe it’smyboat.”

In truth, it was Vanessa’s.

Rhett attacked.

He lunged, his hand wound in a fist. I vanished into the shadows, and he missed. I appeared from the darkness, landing a softened blow, and when he next attacked, I allowed the strike to land, punching me squarely in the jaw.

He didn’t hold back.

My jaw cracked.

And the pain felt good.

The taste of copper trickled into my mouth, stemming from my split lip. Surprised, I stood straighter, wiping my face with the back of my hand and glared at him.

“Did Ayla have to stay behind?” Rhett hissed angrily.

“She’s the Starlit Heir,” I reminded Rhett. “And like it or not, she’s got a noble heart.”

Rhett’s fists tightened, and I urged him to hit me again. Teyr, I wanted to feel something, anything other than... this.

“I hate it too,” I whispered when he didn’t strike.

Grunting, he fell back a step, playacting at fatigue before launching his next attack. He glanced at the gatehouse, now brimming with guards, and concern tightened his brow. Iona clutched her hands to her face as she looked from Rhett to me.

“Trust me,” I grunted.

Finally, Rhett nodded in silent agreement. When he ran forward, I wasted no time, giving the illusion I had punched the wind out of him as he fell to the floor, pretending to pass out.

Glaring past Iona and Rimu, I reclaimed my post atop the cabin and shouted orders to Vanessa. “Don’t stop!”

Pausing for breath, I glanced at the palace. By now, Ayla was joined by others, including the Starlit King at her back. Onlookers crowded the balconies, but even from this far away, my eye was drawn only to my mate.

“I won’t let him trap you,”I promised her.

If she replied, I couldn’t hear it.

We were upon the gate.

But there was no more time.

I reached out for the shadows, drawing upon the black diamond to command multitudes. Dismantled and fragmented as she was, Gloom remained frighteningly powerful.