Page 108 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“Right. Because you weren’t following me or anything.”

He laughed again, the sound equal parts hollow and warm. The only bit of warmth they could get in this dank, dirty cell. “How could I resist? After seeing you leap from the window on the first day of the school year, I had to find a way to get to know you.”

“So you resorted to stalking,” she snorted.

“I resorted to discovering your hiding places. The teachers never could find you.”

“Neither could you.”

He chuckled behind her, his voice comforting in the cold stillness. “What better way than to follow you mid-flight?”

“You got us both caught.”

He shrugged. “It’s not like you suffered a worse punishment than any other time.”

“My father’s methods were far worse. I had to read an entire historical text and make a twenty page report on theprevious High Lords of Móirín. Do you realize how boring that was?”

He laughed again. “I almost got expelled.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen. To anyone.”

“My mother was mortified. If not for you, she might have moved out of Levea. I was grounded for three months.”

“She never seemed upset when I visited.”

“Because she liked you. Whenever you left, I was sent right back to my room.”

Silence fell between them as Ellie reminisced about the first month they’d gotten to know one another. She’d needed a friend, even if she’d nearly bitten his head off.

“I’m glad you found me that day,” her voice was lower now, lacking the playful tone she’d had a moment ago.

His arms tightened around her shoulders and Kirian rested his chin on her head. “I’d never seen you cry before.”

She felt that same lump rise in her throat now. It’d been the anniversary of her mother’s death. A death she now knew had sparked a pointless war. A death that likely ran far deeper than she ever wanted to learn.

A hot tear rolled down her face. Kirian had been there for her. He’d rushed toward her instead of backing away and had folded her into his arms. He’d felt like home. She hadn’t even fought after that. She’d just crumpled in on herself and cried into his shoulder.

And now he was here, holding her so she wouldn’t break, just like he’d done back then.

Memories kept swimming in and out of focus, as if she were peering at them through a heavy layer of mist.

“I can’t remember her face,” Ellie choked out. “I can’t hear her voice anymore.”

“You will,” Kirian assured. “Once we get out of here, you will.” But she could hear the crack in his voice, too. Becausemaybe it wasn’t just the torture. Maybe the High Lord was doing more to her mind than merely sifting through it for information.

Ellie gripped his arm and squeezed harder. He didn’t flinch away.

She took a breath.

I am Lady Evelyn of Móirín. I am the daughter of the High Lord of Storms. I have been trained to endure. I will not falter. I have a mate. Gavin from Pádraigín, but a half-breed has claimed my heart. I will protect Levea at any cost, even if that cost means my life. I will not break.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Arianna

When Arianna woke again, she wasn’t strapped to a cold metal table. Instead, she found herself seated in a plush armchair before a roaring fire, her skin aflame and her body entirely too warm. The hearth stretched along the entire length of the wall. At least she wasn’t shivering anymore.

Arianna let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting in the room. Tapestries hung on the walls around her, each depicting a different scene she couldn’t quite make out. Old leather-bound books lined the shelves built into the walls. She shivered at the memories they invoked, and studied the various trinkets that stood alongside them.

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