Two firm hands gripped my arm and lifted me off the ground. I expected it to be Everest or someone in The Coven, but when a shadow slipped over my eyes and I peeked up at my savior, my heart stopped. The Unseelie Prince was carrying me. Those yellow cat eyes were locked on my face, his upper lip snarled back in disgust. But his grip was firm. I even felt his erratic pulse beating through his fingers. Smoke hissed and swirled from beneath his armor.

Darkness swept over us.

The Prince lowered me to the ground with more care than I expected. He growled and flicked his wrists toward the street. I caught a glimpse of those black smoke dragons flying from his palms but then a wool blanket dropped over my body.

I gasped and swatted at it, yanking it off my face so I could see.

Pierce hovered over me, his red and green eyes wide and horrified. “I’ve got you. You’re okay. It’s fine. You’ll heal⁠—”

Sweyn’s screams drowned out whatever else Pierce was saying. His lips moved but I heard nothing. The Prince stood beside her shouting in her face.

Wait. What did he say? Heal? I lifted my hands and my stomach rolled. Every inch of my skin was raw and red. It looked like it was melting off of my body. I rolled to my side and gagged. What happened? It didn’t even hurt. Tegan said to act so I did, but why is my skin⁠—

“Do NOT let them know you can withstand the sunlight,” Tegan’s telepathy interrupted my mental spiral. “That might be your ticket out of there. Milk the fake burns I gave you. They will fade on their own as if they’re real. The more human blood you can drink, the faster my magic will wear off. We need you strong anyway. This way Sweyn won’t be suspicious.”

I pushed myself up so I was sitting, then looked out the window. My breath left me in a rush. The Coven was gone. The demons were piles of dust and ash, smoking in the sunlight.

Everest stood there alone, the sun shining on him. He gave Sweyn a cocky sideways grin and winked—then vanished into his darkness.

Sweyn screamed.

Tears filled my eyes. I gasped for breath and squeezed Pierce’s hand. The sun hadn’t hurt me. The burns were fake. Happiness filled my chest for the first time since Everest stole me from the safe house. The world was going to war with Lilith. Most of us would probably die in the process. And yet, I was crying happy tears because I hadn’t lost the sun.

CHAPTER FORTY

FRANKIE