Page 158 of Fallen Nocturne

“Well, well,” Ruth purrs. “Brother. How I’ve missed that disapproving scowl.”

I don’t answer because standing between them, is the one vampire I never expected to see at Lilith’s side. There are no chains around his wrists or throat, but I know better than to trust appearances. Invisible restraints coil around Bas so tightly that I can almost feel them pressing against my own skin.

Sebastian Khafre.

My shock must show on my face because Ruthven laughs. Bas looks at me with those ancient eyes, and I see the slight tension in his jaw. He’s fighting her control.

That means he’s still in there.

“Bas,” I say, keeping my voice flat and emotionless. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nor I you, Andras. His voice touches the edge of my mind, and I flinch at the name. No one has called me that in centuries.

Though I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, he adds.

I catch the meaning beneath his words.

Play along. I’m with you.

Ruth’s smile widens. He knows what we’re doing. My brother has always known how to read us. But Lilith is drunk on her newfound power. She is too focused on Rhianelle to notice the undercurrents.

A guard lunges for me. I catch his wrist, break it, and drive my elbow into his throat before casting him aside. Another replaces him immediately. Darkness lashes from my feet and sweeps his legs out from beneath him. I do not waste time finishing either of them. There are too many, and every second matters.

Across the chamber, Rhianelle fights desperately toward Landon, only for another line of guards to close between them. She calls his name, but the clash of steel swallows the sound. Garrett and Shade are too occupied defending themselves to notice the panic on her face or the way her attention never leaves the Herald hanging from the dead tree.

I see it.

I see every frantic attempt she makes to reach him. Every time she is driven back. The wolf stays beside her, tearing into any guard who comes close, but even together they cannot break through.

Lilith watches Rhianelle struggle with a smile, enjoying her desperation far too much to end it quickly.

We cannot win this fight as we are. Lilith could kill every one of us the moment she tires of playing. She could command Bas to tear through our ranks. She could send Ruth after Rhianelle. She could force me to do it myself.

Something cold settles beneath my ribs.

The witch will not be able to command you, Coinneach whispers. Rhianelle has freed us from the Rhunhraefn. Let us take on Ruth.

He’s right.

Do not risk it, Cyntefin says warily. You will not be able to defeat Bas. Lilith’s new vessel is strong. She can easily place another curse on us.

I do not know how completely she controls the Fae King, but I have to assume he belongs to her too. We are surrounded by enemies who could destroy us before Rhianelle draws another breath.

Another guard comes at me from the side. I turn his blade, drive my fist into his jaw, and hurl him into the path of two others. Even while I fight, I keep watching Bas. There must be a weakness in whatever binds him. A hesitation. A fracture. Anything.

If I can free him, the balance changes. Bas is powerful enough to stand against Lilith. With him beside us, we might survive this. Without him, we will not.

The chaos of the fight gives me cover to move. I cut through two guards and close half the distance between us.

Lilith raises her hand, aiming a spell at the wolf. The wolf twists aside, barely escaping the curse. But the witch is already preparing another.

My decision is made.

I make my face cold and empty, the mask I wore for centuries as Prince Andras. I let them all see the monster they expect.

“We need a plan,” Garrett hisses.

“Yes,” I say softly. “Yes, we do.”