Page 81 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“And do what?” He glances to my fingers. “Did you use your magic in front of him?”

Glaring at my friend, I hold my dagger to my palm. “Now isn’t the time, Tay.” Slicing my hand, I hold it high, blood dripping on to the hot sand.

Immediately, the heir stops, nose in the air to scent me. He growls, a beast hungry for prey, before he turns, jumping for me.

Fee crashes into his back, pinning him in the dirt as Reid jumps on his legs.

“What are you doing?” She yells, wrestling with Kaden. He bucks and throws, digging into the dirt to get closer to me.

“Trying something.” I wave my hand into his face and the beast snaps his jaws, trying to sink his massive fangs into my wrist. “Taylay, now.”

He stalls, confused. “Do, what?”

“Healhim,” I demand. “If you heal him, that could give him the strength back to cage the beast.”

Grumbling, Tay’s hand glow a shimmery blue, held over the mangled flesh of the heir’s back. “You want to help this monster?”

Narrowing my eyes, I keep Kaden focused on me as his siblings keep him still. My friend’s magic starts to envelop his wounds, slowly mending them back together.

“You once helped me.”

The skin slowly starts to pull closer, blood drying along his back. Kaden slows and Reid takes his belt, tying his brother’s legs together.

Looking up at me, brows furrowed, Fee asks, “Why do it? Why care?”

Gulping, I shrug.

Why help a Fae that everyone fears? Why help him when he tried to kill me,wouldkill me if allowed?

I don’t have an answer. I should be terrified of him, running in the opposite direction. The Humans certainly don’t trust him and neither do the Witches. I should heed their warnings.

But instead, my heart splinters wide, empathy so strong, I dare to brush the hair from his face.

“Because he’s just like me,” I murmur, blinking back tears. “He should be helped because of his curse, not in spite of it. People shouldn’t fear the darkness just because it’s dark,” I say, recalling Kaden’s words. “And maybe,because, I know he’d do the same for me.”

The magic grows, picking up speed to aid the healing and Kaden’s head falls, dropping to the sand. Reid ties his hands, securing Fee’s belt around them.

“You’re different,” Fee mumbles, easing off her brother. “No one else would have stopped to help.”

“Maybe that’s what’s wrong with the world.”

The magic eases away and the heir growls, body slowly reverting into his Fae form.

“Let’s get him back to camp. I can finish healing him there.” Tay helps me to stand, quickly healing my palm.

Reid picks up Kaden, tossing him over his shoulder, before winking at me. Fee stops next to us, sighing, shoulders dropping.

“Thank you.”

The siblings climb down the mountain, as Tay turns me to inspect my face and arms.

“The lord?”

“Dead,” I exhale.

Tay drops me, looking at the retreating trio. “And they know what you are.”

I stay silent, Tay chewing on his cheek.