Page 7 of Heir of Illusion

And I keep my promises.

Pulling my arm back, I send the blade flying toward the stranger, but just before it can make impact, a shadow strikes out, grabbing it midair. My eyes flare as he turns around, facing my corner. The noose around Darrow’s throat must loosen because the sound of his gasps suddenly fill the room, yet I can’t bring myself to drag my gaze away from the stranger as he steps forward, the ghost of a smile on his face.

“I was wondering how long you planned to stay hidden.”

Chapter

Two

The stranger steps out of the shadows that have concealed his face. For the first time since he arrived, I’m able to get a clear glimpse of him.

He’s beautiful.

So painfully beautiful that for a moment, I want to close my eyes, to look away before I have the chance to commit him to memory. All fae are attractive, but I’ve never seen someone who appears so carefully crafted, so cohesively made. Every feature fits perfectly into the complete image, is if he was designed by hand rather than by nature.

His skin has a slight golden hue to it, suggesting he spends time outside. Unruly dark hair is pushed back from his face, but a few wayward strands fall across his forehead. Sharp pointed ears tell me he’s definitely high fae, but I doubt he’s from the Seventh Isle. Almost all the upper-class residents here are clean shaven, and he has at least a week’s worth of stubble hugging his sharp jawline, giving him an air of danger.

Everything about his appearance is immensely inviting to me.

His pale blue eyes are absolutely piercing as he stares in my direction. My gaze snags on his generous mouth, noticing the smirk forming there. For a moment, I wonder if I unintentionally dropped the illusion hiding me from his sight, but the faint whisper of power tickling my skin tells me it’s still intact.

“Come now,” he croons. “You were so brave just a moment ago. Such impressive aim.”

His gaze never wavers from my corner. Despite the fact that I’m invisible, he seems to know exactly where I am. I recall the strange sensation I had as he approached the shop. I was immediately aware of his presence, like ice on the back of my neck. Can he sense me the same way I sense him? And if he’s aware of my hiding spot, why haven’t his shadow snakes slithered over here and forced me out?

My attention shifts to the black leather gloves covering his hands as he grabs a fistful of Darrow’s long hair. “If you’re not going to join us, I’ll have to use your friend here to entertain myself.”

For the past few minutes the enchanter has been completely silent, still on his knees with a shadow wrapped around his neck. He was probably hoping the stranger would forget about him so he could sneak out.

Summoning all my courage, I decide there’s no point in staying silent

“If you want to play,” I call out, my voice easily carrying over the quiet room, “I can think of a much more diverting game.”

A self-satisfied gleam enters his eyes. “My lady, you speak at last. What sort of game do you suggest?”

Instead of answering, I send another blade flying toward his throat. Just like before, one of his shadows plucks it from the air before it can hit him.

“We could find out how many blades your shadows can handle at once?” I say, slowly edging in the direction of the door, keeping my back against the wall as I move.

His smirk turns predatory as his eyes track my invisible movements. “You know, I don’t usually enjoy playing games.”

“Because you’re a sore loser?” I ask, sending another blade flying.

This time, it isn’t one of his shadows that knocks it off course. Without looking down, his hand catches the weapon less than an inch from his chest. My eyes widen at his speed. That’s going to be a problem.

“Because I’ve never had a worthy opponent,” he clarifies, tossing the knife aside with unnecessary force. It hits one of the display cases, causing me to wince as it shatters. We truly are making a mess of poor Darrow’s shop tonight.

Several red dots stain the broken glass and I realize the blade must have cut his hand when he caught it. Unease festers in the pit of my stomach as the darkness ripples around us. All across the room, the shadow serpents writhe against the floor, hissing in a frenzy. As if they can smell the blood, they pounce on the droplets, lapping them up.

If my face were visible, it would be as pale as the moon. Bile rises in my throat, but I push it down. I’ve seen the depravity of mortals and fae, but this is something else. Every hair on my body stands up at the sight of this waking nightmare, vastly different from the familiar horrors I’ve spent my life learning to fight. A crazed laugh threatens to escape me as my thoughts twist morbidly. How do you battle a wisp of smoke? How can I strike a shadow that has gorged itself on blood?

The city of Solmare fears the invisiblewraith; ironic that thewraithnow fears a shadow.

My gaze darts back and forth between Darrow and the door. It’s possible I could sneak out before the shadows stop me, but that would mean abandoning him. Breathing deeply, I try to calm my racing heart as I think through my options. I run my fingers over all four of my sheaths, hating that three are now empty. My only comfort is the knowledge that at least one of my blades drew blood.

“You know, it’s sweet that you feed your shadows,” I tell him, feigning levity I don’t feel as I back around a display table that blocks my path. “It’s like a momma cat nursing her baby kittens. Adorable really.”

He barks out a laugh that sounds rusty, as if he hasn’t made that sound in a while. “Yes, it will be trulyadorablewhen they rip the flesh from your friend’s bones.”

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