Page 43 of Court of Lies and Deceit

Ice spreads through my chest. The wards are locked from theinside. Why the hell are they locked from the inside? It makesno sense. Aren’t they there to make sure dragon shifters can’t get in?

A mocking laugh ripples through the night.

Spinning around, we find Orion Nightbane sauntering towards us at an unhurried pace. There is a wicked smile on his beautiful face. He opens his mouth to say something, but right before he can, another sound cuts through the night. The sound of beating wings.

For the first time since I met this snake of a man, there is something other than lazy arrogance on his face. Utter shock pulses across his features for a second as he whips his head around to stare at Draven.

Draven, who is carrying Isera in his arms, flies through the darkened night like a wraith. His massive black wings pound the air as he closes the final distance in a matter of seconds and slams down on the grass in front of me.

While setting Isera down, he gives me a quick once-over to check me for injuries. The sight of it makes my heart squeeze.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Orion drawls from where he is still standing across the grass.

He tries to make his voice as arrogant as before, but there is a hint of genuine surprise still lacing his tone. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he studies Draven.

After making sure that I’m unharmed, Draven turns around to face the Unseelie King and flares his massive wings wide.

“A half-shift,” Orion continues, still studying Draven intently. “I didn’t know that was possible. The wards should block all dragons from shifting.”

“Tough luck. In this form, I’m half human,” Draven replies. Dark clouds gather around him as he spreads his arms in a cocky challenge. “Still think fighting me is a good idea?”

Orion doesn’t say anything, but the hint of a smirk lurks at the corner of his lips. The sight of it makes ice skitter down my spine.

“Just open the fucking wards, Orion,” Draven orders. “You will never win a fight against us like this.”

Orion’s smirk widens. “Oh, won’t I?”

The moment that the words leave his mouth, an entire horde of soldiers steps out from the darkened tree line. Fire flares up in the hands of half of them, while the others summon water and stone.

Next to me, Alistair’s jaw drops.

With his eyes wide, he gapes at the mass of fire wielders.

On Draven’s other side, Isera immediately summons ice. It floats around her arms like shards of glass. The sight of that makes Alistair snap out of his shock, and fire rushes down along his arms as he too summons his magic. The dark storm clouds grow, and lightning crackles around Draven, while I call up my magic and get ready as well.

My pulse hammers in my ears. There are a lot of Unseelie fae here. We’re outnumbered at least four to one. And all of them have magic. I draw in short breaths while worry flickers inside my chest. Can we actually win this?

“You cannot fight your way out of this, Shadow of Death,” Orion says.

“Watch me,” Draven growls back.

The Unseelie King lets out another one of those mocking laughs. “You can’t get in,or out, through the wards without the correct passphrase.”

“Aww.” Isera flashes him a smile so sharp it could’ve drawn blood. “Afraid your own people are going to desert you if they had the choice?”

Orion’s eyes glint like a blade as he locks them on her. “Careful with that tongue, little viper. Lest someone cut it out.”

Holding his gaze, she slides her tongue along her teeth in a clear challenge.

Dangerous light glints in Orion’s eyes, and his threatening smile widens.

However, before they can start trying to kill each other, Draven cuts in.

“Then I suppose I’ll just torture the passphrase out of you.”

The gathered soldiers start in shock at the threat. But Orion just snorts, looking more amused than angry. And what worries me the most is that he hasn’t even summoned his magic yet.

Glancing around, he appears to search for something on the ground. I frown in confusion as he bends down and pulls something out of the dirt a couple of steps away.

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