Page 104 of The Sacred and the Tormented

The very floor turned cold beneath Rion’s body. He tore through the stone to their right and hit Talon hard in the ribs, knocking the male off balance long enough for Rion to regain his feet.

“Stop, I didn’t touch her.” Rion didn’t know why he bothered trying. No one had ever believed him before. That familiar tang of rage resurfaced, reminding him of all the painand betrayals. It was that very rage that had sent him on mission after mission until he’d earned a reputation for himself.

Talon had seen the changes in him. Talon had helped him train his body after Niall’s torment. They’d finally started to build a bond. To trust one another as comrades.

But one misunderstanding and he was the monster all over again.

Rion growled, baring his teeth. The stones around him crumbled to dust.

Talon lunged, but this time Rion caught his ankles with sand and stone. Talon tried to twist from their grip, but Rion held firm and yanked hard. Talon’s jaw hit the stone floor, then Rion threw him into the wall. Rion’s magic engulfed Talon’s limbs, rendering them useless. Then his hand snaked out and grabbed Talon by the throat.

Rage pulsed through his body. Talon was just another name to add to an ever growing list of people who’d betrayed him. He hadn’t even hesitated.

Talon squirmed beneath Rion’s iron grip, but Rion’s magic tightened around Talon’s arms, legs, and torso, grating against his skin, squeezing his ribs until they were ready to snap in half.

The male thrashed, his magic trying to break him free. Spears of ice flew from different angles, but the stones crumbled at Rion’s command and blocked them each time.

Talon’s face turned red as Rion cut off his air supply. He watched the desperation in Talon’s eyes and relished in the feel of a life fading beneath his hands. It’d been too long.

This isn’t you.

Rion startled at the female voice echoing in his head. He turned, searching for who it belonged to, scenting the air in case they were trying to hide, but—no one was there.

Rion turned his focus back to Talon, ready to finish it and move on.

Don’t let him steal another piece of your soul.

“Come out,” Rion demanded. He released Talon’s throat but kept his magic firm. He could deal with another threat first.

She needs you.

Rion whirled again, searching for the voice. They were close. Whoever—

Arianna needs you.

Rion’s entire body locked up and the rage pulsing through him shattered like a mirror disappearing to reveal the truth behind the reflection.

He spun to find Talon pinned against the wall with earth and stone, the male still gasping for breath. Marks lined his throat from where Rion had nearly crushed his windpipe.

He’d almost—

Rion stumbled back, his gaze roaming toward the female on the floor. She wasn’t covered in blood anymore. Her leg wasn’t nearly severed either. Raevina looked … normal. Rion blinked and the blood reappeared, scent and all. Another blink and it was gone again.

Shit.He didn’t know who the voice belonged to. It certainly wasn’t Arianna. The female sounded older. Wiser. Maybe Sive had placed another rune on him he wasn’t aware of.

Rion silently thanked the voice, then checked the rune on his arm. It hadn’t changed, which meant whoever was controlling the glamour was stronger than the average Fae.

Was it Niall? No, Rion was confident he’d recognize that male’s magic. Vairik? Wouldn’t he already be dead in that case?

Talon finally stopped coughing and glared at Rion, baring his teeth in absolute rage. He pulled at the restraints and frost coated the dirt and stone holding his body in place.

“She’s fine,” Rion said, remaining against the wall opposite of the male. Talon’s gaze darted to Raevina, a spark of hope there and gone again. He fought harder. The rock around his left arm cracked. “Look harder,” Rion urged. “It’s a glamour. Search for the bond.”

Talon’s heart pounded, but he stilled again, his gaze roaming over the female as if he barely dared to hope. Rion understood that fear and desperation. He’d do anything to protect his mate. All of them would.

“The bond,” his voice was a hoarse whisper. “It’s—where is it?”

“That’s not her.” Rion watched as Talon’s face paled, then he stopped pulling at the bonds.

---