“That’s because you’re a lowlife monster who cares for nothing but power. You wouldn’t understand what it is to be mortal, to value life. You just want to destroy it all. And for what?”
“You are the one who doesn’t understand, Aradia.” He stalked toward me, his eyes flashing. His nostrils flared as he pulled in a deep breath of my mortal scent. “Blood is power. It is the ticket to immortal life. And to my freedom from this place.”
“Killing me will not earn you your freedom,” I whispered as my terror begged for me to turn and flee. Panos was fast, and he’d gotten far too close. One swipe of his brutal nails, and my blood would paint the ground. Where the hell were the others? Why weren’t they closing in?
Because they haven’t seen Callista yet, of course.
“But it will gain me power, and power is all I need for now.” His smile stretched wide. Crimson stained his teeth. I shuddered and took another step back.
“Where’s Callista?”
His eyes went razor thin. “I will answer your question when you answer mine. Where is Yuto?”
My heart thumped. “I don’t know.”
His head jerked up as he scanned our surroundings. “It is very quiet, dear Aradia. One might wonder why that is.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I whispered.
“Don’t you?” With a growl, he ripped his gaze away from the trees and stormed toward me. I danced a few steps back, reaching around my back for the dagger. “Where’s Yuto? Why are you asking about Callista?”
“I…I don’t know,” I blurted out as my feet tripped on the edge of a jagged rock. I caught my balance just in time, but it was no use. The damage had already been done. Panos’s hand slid around my wrist like steel.
He leaned in close, so close I smelled the sour wine on his breath. “You and Yuto are trying to trick me.”
A drumbeat of fear sounded in my mind. I wet my lips, swallowing hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Yuto dragged me here, kicking and screaming. He left me in this clearing and told me that if I moved he’d kill me. I was only asking about Callista because I want to get this over with. The longer I stand out here, the longer I have a target on my back.”
His nostrils flared. “I can smell the lie on you. Your soul is too pure. It stands out like a black mark.”
Well, that wasn’t good.
I swallowed hard and took a step back. “Are you sure it isn’t just fear? Because I’ll admit, I’m pretty damn scared.”
He sniffed again, and then drew his lips up into a vicious grin. “That much is true, at least. Youarescared. I like fear.”
Mother of Midas. He really could tell when I was lying. Frantically, I cast my gaze around in hope of spotting Callista somewhere nearby. Shadows clung to every surface, blurring the rocks and the trees until they almost looked like the creeping monsters that Yuto always kept by his side.
My heart thumped. Were they out there, watching and waiting? Would they rush in to attack if their master made the call?
“Yuto is here.” Panos drew back, raising his voice to be heard by all. “I know you’re out there, Lord of Dragons! You’ve come with your little pet, and you never had any intention of giving her away. Now, did you?”
Shit.
I reached for my dagger, but suddenly, Panos was gone. He blinked away into nonexistence, leaving behind nothing but shadows and ash.
From the trees, Yuto roared. He rushed forward just as my fingers curled around the hilt of my dagger. Heart tripping, I whirled, certain that Panos would reappear at any moment. He’d bite into my neck, and this time, Yuto would not reach me in time.
Yuto’s gaze caught mine across the distance. His feet pounded the ground, spraying up ash. He was halfway to my side when—
“Stop!” Panos shouted from behind me.
Heart thundering, I slowly turned on my feet. Panos had reappeared. In his arms, he held a struggling, bloodied Callista. His eyes were pure darkness, an endless pool of black. With a hiss, he held up his one free hand, keeping the other clamped tightly to Callista’s throat.
“Stop, or I’ll kill her.”
The pounding of Yuto’s feet stilled.
I tightened my grip on the dagger, shaking. Yuto would never reach Panos in time. I was closer. Only a few steps away. If only I could convince Callista to duck her head, I could swing my blade right at the fae’s neck. It might not kill him, but it could stop him long enough to free her from his grasp.
