Page 69 of Hidden

“What about duty?” Tears slid down her cheeks like liquid jewels.

He kissed them away, tasting salt. “You can’t save your village from a dragon if you let the dragon eat you first.”

She looked down, her long lashes hiding her eyes as the words sank in. Rafe guessed no one had ever given her permission to save herself before now. Except maybe her father? That would explain her grief.

“Then what do I do?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t leave, and I won’t pretend they haven’t put a leash around my neck. My only option is to fight back.”

He held her at arm’s length, studying her face. “How would you do that?”

She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. “If I can’t go for help in person, I can get a message out by magic. Or I think I can. It will be risky.”

“We need fighters on our side.” Rafe’s mind raced. If they couldn’t find allies from outside the way station, they needed ones from within. Damn Izetta, why wasn’t she here with an army of bloodsuckers at her back?

“Everyone here is part of Lord Farras’s entourage.”

“What other prisoners do you have?” he asked. “Are there other shifters? Undead?”

“Not that I know of. Just other fae.”

“Fighters?”

“Traitors.”

“According to whom?”

“Good point.” A look of pure inspiration crossed her face.

Rafe’s heart lifted at the sight.

Lila started back toward the house, fresh purpose in her stride. “How about Captain Teegar of the Royal Guard?”

CHAPTER 24

Lila led the way around the side of the way station, where there were few windows and fewer doors. Guests had begun to wander outside for air between the interminable courses, so Rafe and Lila kept their distance from the building, using the trees for cover.

Once they’d reached the southwest corner of the way station, Lila crouched low and pulled Rafe down beside her. She was aware of his physical presence in a way she hadn’t been before—the earthy solidity that made her want to curl around him like a tender vine. When his side brushed hers, his body heat sent a wash of desire straight to her core. She mentally shook herself. Her mind needed to be on the task ahead.

Bushes screened them from sight, leaving only enough of a sightline for her to study the house. In what little time she’d had over the last few days, Lila had retraced her steps through the secret passages of the way station. She’d found more than what Ademar had shown her—a labyrinth that had expanded as Farras had magically added rooms for his horde of hangers-on. She wondered if she remembered all the twists and turns.

“What are you searching for?” Rafe whispered.

“See where the wall jogs inward,” she said, pointing. “Notice the ground where the lawn meets the trees.”

Rafe did as he was told, forehead pleating in concentration. “The grass is trampled, but faintly.”

She nodded. It was hard to make out the tracks, but a werewolf’s night vision was as good as a fae’s.

“What am I looking for?” Rafe asked. “It appears to be a path leading to a blank wall.”

“That’s exactly what it is. There’s a hidden door, and we’re going to use it.”

Crouching low, they sprinted across the lawn and sank low into the shadow beside the wall. Ears pricked for approaching footfalls, Lila ran her palms across the smooth surface, searching for the entrance and for any magical tripwires. She found one and, with some effort, disarmed it. Then she searched for the door mechanism. To the naked eye, there was nothing. To her inner sight, it was a coin-sized blur of sparking energy waiting for a small pulse of magic to activate the lock.

Once she pressed it, a piece of the wall slid aside, revealing an entrance. Rafe inhaled sharply but followed her inside. Without prompting, the door slid closed behind them while Lila summoned a ball of light.

“Where are we going?” Rafe asked softly.

Lila beckoned. “I had another idea.”

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