Page 9 of A Fate so Cruel

Liam settled on the bench at his side and patted Rion’s shoulder. “They’ll be okay. My dad is with them. He’ll keep them safe.”

His father. Rion had always envied Liam for his father. One of the High Lord’s personal guards. He seemed stern too, but Rion had seen the male playing and laughing with Liam. Something Rion’s father never seemed to have time for. It sent a pang of jealousy coursing through him.

Rion opened his mouth to ask another question when the bathroom door slammed open and crashed into the back wall. Everyone in the foyer jumped and the female seated across from him cursed when the needle went through her arm at the wrong angle.

A male, his body covered in blood and dirt, searched the sea of faces before his copper eyes locked with Rion’s. Rion stiffened and gripped the bottom edge of the bench when the male marched toward him.

Liam’s mom stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Callum, you’re going to scare the life out of the younglings.”

The male paused at that, seemed to take himself in, then glanced back at Rion and Liam who were both sitting ramrod straight, ready to bolt at the slightest movement. Not that Rion would get far with his ankle the way it was.

Callum cleared his throat. “Apologies. I overheard what happened to the young lord and came to see if he was all right.”

Rion looked him over again and recognition finally sparked. This male was also part of his father’s personal guard. A unit of elite whose responsibility was to guard the High Lord and his family.

Liam’s mother’s relaxed. “He’s a little banged up, but nothing that won’t mend with the help of a healer.”

Callum sighed. “Thank the gods.”

“What happened? I thought he was under your care?”

Shame flashed across the male’s face. “He was. We were careless. Four assassins tried to—” he stopped himself and glanced at Rion again. His gaze fell to Rion’s swollen ankle and he grimaced. “They dispatched two of our guards and broke through our line. It won’t happen again.”

“And the others?” Rion perked up at that, his heart beating just a little faster with the possibility of news on his family.

“Things are . . . precarious.”

Liam’s mother cast a glance at Rion, then her son. “Will you stay with him for a moment?”

Liam nodded, but Rion jumped from the bench, careful to keep weight off his injured joint. “I want to know.” Precarious meant things were bad. He understood the word. His private tutors had always complimented him on his ability to remember things. “Where’s my sister?”

“She’s in the field with your father and Alec.” A bit of tension left Rion’s shoulders. Nothing would hurt Saoirse with those two at her side.

But Rion’s worry returned two-fold when the male didn’t continue. “Where’s my mother?”

The male shifted on his feet and Liam’s mother shook her head in warning.

“Tell me,” he insisted, even as grief flooded his heart at the possibility of his next words.

“We’re still looking for her.”

Chapter Two

They stayed in the safe room for the rest of the night, Liam’s mother keeping a watchful eye on Rion and his injuries. Callum found a healer and the female made quick work of Rion’s smaller wounds before wrapping his foot and instructing him to stay off it.

It wasn’t broken.

Worry took over as the hours passed. He’d barely slept and couldn’t stomach a single bite of his food. Even the sweets. Liam happily ate his portions.

Sunrise didn’t bring any news, but it did allow him a bit of freedom.

Callum and his unit of warriors declared the city secured. The civilians were instructed to return to their homes and Rion was allowed to wander the palace. With an escort, of course.

The healer had brought him a pair of crutches and he’d used them to limp from room to room before he’d finally settled in Saoirse’s bed. Rion used one of her pillows to prop his leg up and stared out the window.

We’re looking for her.

The male’s words wouldn’t stop repeating in his head. Rion tried to convince himself everything would be okay. He wanted to believe nothing bad could happen. His mother was strong. Just as strong as their father. She could fight her way out of anything.

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