Page 53 of Dark Prince's Captive

Everything inside me protests.“We can’t just leave him there on his own.”What if they get a jump on him?What if his power runs out?Can it run out?I have no idea what his limitations are, if any.

“Kian and Vitai are with him as well as the guards.You should go inside like the other royals.They’re all in their quarters where it’s safe.”

“So that you can go back and make more portals while I sit here and twiddle my thumbs?”I ask with a snort.

A few tuataras scurry by, their sharp nails clacking on the flagstones as they run deeper into the palace.I duck as an anurognathus dives low through the air and whizzes past my head, following the pets to the farthest rooms, as far away from the danger as possible.

Pip.

They know.The animals know instinctively.

Aruan is fighting for his life—for all our lives.Kian and Vitai are helping as best they can.So is Gaia.The queen did what she could.The king, well, I don’t know what he’s doing, but I can’t just hide in the palace with the rest of the royals.

Suno rounds the corner, running in the same direction as Pip and the tuataras.He stops in his tracks when he spots us.

“Dragons, Gaia.What are you doing here?The queen has collapsed.She’s too sick to create more portals.I’m on my way to guard her so your father can return to the fight.You should be with your brothers.At least you’ll be able to pull them to a safe location in the palace if necessary.”

“I want to help,” I say, looking between them.“What can I do?”

Suno’s green eyes narrow as he regards me with disdain.“You don’t have a power, Elsie.”He must see the surprise on my face because he continues with an unfriendly smile, “Yes, news travels fast in Lona and even faster in the palace.Aruan may claim that you’re an Alit, but everyone knows you’re not like us.You’re useless.Stay here.You’ll just get in the way.”

Ouch.Okay, that may be true, but that was kind of tactless.What a dickhead.And to think I liked him.

“And what’s your superpower?Ignorance?”I prop my hands on my hips and walk right up to him.“I may not have a power, but I’m not fucking useless.”

He scoffs.“I can make any non-living matter invisible.My task is to ensure the enemy doesn’t find our queen if—the dragons forbid—they breach the walls.”

“Suno,” Gaia says in a chastising tone.“This isn’t the time for pettiness.”She softens her voice before addressing me.“If you really want to help Aruan, the best thing you can do is not distract him.If he thinks you’re in danger, he won’t be able to focus on anything or anyone else.”

I swallow hard.She’s probably right.Not because he cares about me, but because I’m his “mate.”Someone he believes belongs to him.His property.

And the potential loss of that property could make him lose control of his power, seeing as it seems to be tied to his emotions.

Is it like that for the other Alit?I still don’t really understand how their powers work, or why they’re all different.What the hell is this planet, and why is it so similar to and yet so different from Earth?What’s the story with the dinosaurs?I know now’s not the time to think about any of this stuff, but the questions are driving me mad.

Taking my silence for consent, Gaia pats my shoulder.“Don’t worry.It’s not the first time we’ve fought off a horde of Phaelix.”She motions at the open archway behind me.“Will you go inside?”

“If you promise not to lock me in.”

“Fine,” she says, already raising her arm and flexing her fingers.“I won’t seal the archway if you promise you’ll stay put.”

I cross my fingers behind my back.“Okay.”

A small circle of lights appears in front of her.It slowly gains size until it’s wide enough for her to step through.

“I’m going back,” she says.“Stay in the room until Aruan comes for you.”

The circle closes on her last word, and then she’s gone.

A long line of guards runs down the hallway in the direction Suno was heading, toward the queen’s quarters, I presume.

My fear morphs into frustration and then annoyance.“Why do the Phaelix keep on attacking if they can clearly see what happens to their comrades?”

“Because they’re dumb.”Suno steps aside to let a guard pass.“They have the intelligence of a sand snake.They’ll keep on coming until their leader tells them to stop.”

When the guards are gone, Suno gives me a long look.He opens his mouth, but seemingly thinking better of what he was going to say, closes it again before following hot on the guards’ heels.

I hate to admit that he’s right.What do I have to offer?I can’t open portals, heal people, make walls invisible, or read minds.I don’t even know how to defend myself with a knife.I’d most likely end up being in the way.And if Aruan is distracted, there’s a good chance we’ll all either end up dead or as slaves on a Phaelix barge.

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