Page 99 of A Fate so Cruel

Swords clashed and he caught the smile on Selina’s face as she engaged the enemy, uncaring that they were outnumbered. But he couldn’t smile, not when each and every one of the Fae before him would gladly eliminate his family without a second thought.

“You traitorous bitch,” a female yelled.

Selina shrugged. “That’s a foul name to call someone.”

“You—” Selina’s magic tore from the ground and impaled the female, stopping her heart on impact. The two males beside her roared in anger, but Selina moved through them with ease.

Rion danced around their weapons, moving with the fluid grace Caol had drilled into him. He listened the way his mother had instructed. He was patient the way Saoirse demanded he be.

A blade flew through the air. Rion blocked it with his sword, then ripped the last of his knives from his belt and sent it flying right back.

Two tried to run, but it was Selina who grabbed them by the ankles and dragged them back. Rion finished another with a quick slash to the throat, then turned to find Selina strangling the life out of the remaining two. She stood over them, staring them down as if she were enjoying their final moments.

Then she snapped their necks.

Silence engulfed the forest once again. Rion stood still, letting the bloodlust roll through him and slowly dissipate. Selina seemed to be doing the same.

He took a calming breath and remembered the half-breeds. Rion grimaced. The female lay face down beside the male, blood pooling around her body. He clenched his jaw and cursed. He’d forgotten about them after the male mentioned Caol’s name. He hadn’t paid enough attention to his surroundings . . . again.

Rion looked at the knife protruding from his side, took a breath, then yanked it free. He pressed a hand to the wound and turned to find Selina studying him.

His previously injured arm throbbed, but it had held up.

Selina seemed to be waiting for something, then he caught her gaze drifting to his feet.

“I’m in control,” he assured.

“Just thought I’d hang back in case.” She surveyed the area and her eyes paused on the half-breeds. “Well, that’s ashame.” He wasn’t sure she meant it. Her gaze kept roaming through the trees. “You think that was all of them?”

Rion shrugged. “Most likely.” They probably had a few scouts in the distance. Unfortunately for them, they’d be burying their comrades instead of greeting them.

“Good, let’s get out of here.” Rion raised a brow. “To the village. No sense in delaying.” She looked him over. “Did you pack a change of clothes?”

He only nodded. “I guess I lost our bet.”

She smirked. “All for two half-breeds that,” she glanced at them again. “Well, I think it was fast for the female, at least.”

Rion grimaced again and words from Caol came floating back to haunt him. Selina only watched as he hollowed out the earth and slowly lowered their bodies inside, placing them side by side before covering them up.

He idly wondered what kind of life they might have had if freedom had been an option. He wondered if they would have lived for eternity at one another’s side.

Maybe he was destined to experience the same fate. To find a partner only to have them ripped away the way everything else had been torn from him.

Chapter Seventeen

A light rain had started by the time they made it to the village. Both opted to walk around the outskirts and keep out of sight. One light glowed in the window of a tiny shack beside the main gate. Rion was fairly certain the rickety old structure would collapse if the rain picked up.

Gods help them if an invasion swept across the land. The northern villages were poorly manned and to say that they weren’t prepared for an attack would be an understatement.

He’d mention it to Saoirse when he returned and see what might be done.

Rion funneled his magic into the ground and searched for one of the tunnels cited in Selina’s document. There were several and from the surface, Rion had no way of differentiating which were used more often than others.

He picked one and traced its entrance all the way to the coastline. Vines covered the wooden doors that were half sunken into the earth. A clever hiding place. Selina coaxed the greenery away with her magic and Rion pulled the heavy doors open. He covered his nose against the musty smell and walked down the four narrow stairs to gaze into the darkness.

No heartbeats. No torches or lights inside, either.

Rion gestured for her to follow. He pulled a torch from the pack Selina had picked up in town, then struck a match to light it. Rion blinked a few times against the blinding light and held it high to view the space within.

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