Page 184 of Infernal Secrets

I frowned. “Why?”

“Our birthmarks signify who we are to Elyrdin.”

My arms dropped from my waist. “But I’m…”

“Human; I’m aware.” The muscles in his jaw rippled. “I’d suggest the mark is further evidence that dark magic is manipulating our situation, but you claim you were born with your mark.”

“Because I was,” I snapped, hating the insinuation I’d lied to them. “That’s why it’s called a birthmark.”

Cyn looked at Ezra, ignoring me completely. “Could the magic have gotten to her when she was born? If she’s seen infernals her entire life, then maybe someone’s been manipulating shit since her birth, or even before then.”

“But why?” Zeke stood, and Cyn followed, steadying him before letting go of his arm. “Why would someone from Niemna mess with a human child just to act now?”

Ash sighed. “Maybe waiting for us to mature.”

“You’re twenty-six,” Zeke said before looking at Ezra. “Ezra’s twenty-four.”

“Yes, but you’re barely in your twenties. If whoever wanted to access the heirs needed us to mature first, then the timing is perfect.”

My stomach lurched, and I stepped away with a sickening dread as I looked at Ash. “Does that mean everything we’ve felt is a lie?” I bit my tongue to distract myself from the sting in my eyes.

He reached for me, not letting me retreat, and cupped my cheeks in his large hands. “No. I told you. What I feel for you goes beyond all the things that tell me you’re my mate.” He pulled me into his arms and whispered, “My feelings aren’t being manipulated. Believe in me, Rae.”

I wanted to. I wanted to believe there was someone left alive who cared for me unconditionally.

Cyn turned away from us. “I can’t believe that—”

Before he could finish, bright light flooded the room without warning, blinding and all-consuming.

I squeezed my eyes shut, hands covering my ears as a high-pitched ringing drowned out all sound around me, rattling through my skull and making me nauseous. Energy pressed down on me from all sides as the air shuddered with waves of power.

Ash tightened his hold on me when my knees threatened to buckle, and my breath came in short, shallow gasps.

As quickly as it started, the intensity of the energy waned, and the brightness behind my eyelids dimmed.

Opening my eyes, I waited for the spots in my vision to disappear and the ringing to hush as the world around me settled.

The air shimmered with visible residual energy, like dust motes floating in sunbeams through cracked blinds. Through the glittering haze, three figures stood across the kitchen in front of the door.

The trio looked like triplets, with their golden hair and similar features.

They wore long brown robes adorned with burnt orange and golden symbols in long lines sweeping down the front. The two women stood at the shorter man’s back, their golden hair wrapped in sleek buns atop of their heads, making them seem taller.

When the air returned to normal, Ash pulled me against his side, fingertips digging into my waist as three sets of crimson eyes settled on me.

44

ILLUSION

RAE

My ears crackled and popped, drowning out the robed man’s words, but his stare made it clear he was addressing me. The scowl twisting his face when I didn’t answer confirmed it.

I shrank back, not resisting when Ash eased me behind his larger body.

“—hear you,” Cyn said, wiggling his finger in his ear as my hearing returned. “I can barely hear anything, either.”

“Prince Brakeal, you need not make excuses for a criminal.”