Page 66 of The Masked Fae (Royal Fae of Rose Briar Woods 1)

“It’s forbidden to lay your hands on someone’s illanté, and the binding magic protects them.”

I wrinkle my brow. “Why didn’t you make me an illanté as soon as I came to you? Wouldn’t that have been safer?”

Brahm’s expression darkens. “The illanté agreement is binding for life—the human’s life. The only way I could release you would be to decide I wanted to kill you. Drake used the small window after Mother made her decision to steal Eleanor away—he found a loophole in the magic. But I could never release you, Alice. I’d never wish for your death. If I had given you my protection and made you my illanté, you could never have returned home. That’s why it was so dangerous for you to come into Faerie. That’s why I tried so hard to dissuade you from staying.”

I store away everything he tells me, saving it to mull over later.

“I need to go,” Brahm says reluctantly, pulling his hand from mine. “Will you be all right?”

Though the thought of staying in the empty house isn’t pleasant, I’m glad to be somewhere familiar.

“It’s better than sleeping in your stable,” I point out.

A frown darkens Brahm’s face.

“When will you return?” I ask as we rise.

“Not until my mother goes back to Auvenridge. After that, I’ll have Regina pack your things, and I’ll bring them to you.”

I grasp his arm. “My things? But I haven’t even started the portrait.”

Brahm’s forehead creases with confusion. “You can’t come back into Faerie. Surely you understand the danger now.”

“But…you’re in Faerie,” I say softly.

He slides his fingers into my hair, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb. “It’s late. Now is not the time to discuss this. You need to get some sleep.”

I grasp his wrist, keeping him from stepping away. “Promise me I’ll see you again.”

“This would be a poor final goodbye.”

“That’s not a promise.”

Brahm’s expression softens. “I will do everything in my power to return soon.”

“Everything in your power?” I demand.

I think of his mother and her reputation for murdering subjects who disobey her.

“Are you in danger?”

“I’m always in danger,” he answers. “I’ve lived the last five years of my life defying my queen’s wishes.”

“Brahm.”

“Every minute I linger here, my chance of detection increases,” he reminds me. “I need to go.”

I unhand him immediately, nodding even as my breathing becomes stilted and panicky. “Be careful,” I say softly.

I carry the lamp as we walk to the door, trying to ignore the jumping shadows it creates on the walls.

When we reach the entry, I resist the urge to cling to Brahm and beg him to stay. Instead, I stand on my tiptoes and press a light kiss to his cheek. Softly, I say, “For protection and luck.”

He takes my hand, holding it like he, too, is reluctant to part. I think he’s going to kiss me again, but he merely copies the gesture, brushing his lips over my cheek, very near the crease of my mouth. “Promise you won’t go back into Faerie?”

“As long as you return for Year’s End, I won’t come looking for you.”

“Alice,” he says urgently, “If something were to happen to me, you’d be vulnerable. For my sanity, I need to know that you’ll heed my warning this time.”

Even though I hate it, the worry in his eyes bothers me too much to refuse.

“I won’t go into Faerie without you,” I say. “But don’t forget your promise to return.”

Brahm nods solemnly, and then he unwraps my fingers from his. We stand near the doorway, studying each other for several seconds before he steps into the night, leaving me utterly alone in this big, silent house that suddenly feels like a stranger.