Page 114 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Rion grabbed him by the front of his tunic. “Where is she?”

“I—I—” The male trembled, his entire body seizing up in fear.

Rion shook him and slammed his back against the wall hard enough to crack the stone. “Where is she?” Rion repeated. He’d be damned if he let Vairik trap Arianna in one of those contraptions. She wouldn’t be someone’s experiment. He wouldn’t let anyone touch her again. Ever.

“Down the hall,” the male managed. He lifted one hand to point. “The other doors.” The lie’s burning scent hit Rion hard and he snapped the male’s neck before throwing him to the side.

The searing pain in his chest wouldn’t stop. It made him want to curl in on himself and let it all end. Let Vairik have him. Let death sink its claws into his soul.

But he had to see for himself. He couldn’t give up until he knew for sure.

Rion stumbled into the room they’d emerged from and studied the cylindrical container before him. The door on thisone was shut and that bluish liquid from the vials covered the small front window.

Rion snarled and ripped the door from its hinges. Warm liquid came gushing out, spilling all over his feet and legs. Without it, a body hung limply from the shackles within. Rion didn’t recognize the Fae, but he still reached for the keys hanging on the side of the chamber. He unlocked their ankles first, then caught the body when he did the same for the Fae’s wrists.

Rion carefully removed the mask from their nose and mouth.

Their skin was strange, wrinkled and loose and the creature in his arms gasped for air and looked around as if they couldn’t quite see. Rion leaned them against the structure.

“Can you stand?”

The male didn’t answer. He simply sat there, gaping like a fish out of water. The Fae began shivering. Rion caught the Fae’s head as he fell to the side and curled into himself. Sympathy tugged within him, but Rion didn’t have time to waste. He had to find Arianna.

Moving as fast as his aching body would allow, he rummaged through a set of cabinets and found a pair of cloaks. Rion draped one over the Fae’s shoulders and folded the other beneath their head. Their breathing and heart rate were erratic and he doubted the male would live long.

With no other alternative, Rion left him and moved on to the next room, still trying to ignore the bubbling vials along the walls.

Another cylindrical container stood against the back wall. This time, Rion peered through the small window slot first. Another Fae male floated inside, his hair floating around his body like dead pond grass.

Rion debated releasing him, but the first Fae’s heart was already fading. Pulling him out would only result in an agonizingdeath. Rion was certain the creature had suffered enough at Vairik’s hands.

Rion moved on, his heart racing each time he peered through a small window. Part of him hoped to find Arianna, another part of him didn’t want her anywhere near this place.

When he stepped into the next room, Rion caught a familiar scent and bounded for the metal chamber. He ripped the door off its hinges and the blue liquid rushed over his already soaked boots. Talon fought against his restraints and Rion cursed before grabbing the keys hanging off to one side. He ripped the mask off Talon’s face and the male gagged, gasping for breath as Rion unlocked each shackle.

Talon nearly ran him over as he stumbled out of the contraption. The male collapsed to the floor, shoulders heaving, swiping at his face as if the mask were still there.

Talon’s eyes were glazed over with fear. More fear than Rion had ever seen in him. Talon retched then looked up through dripping hair to focus on Rion.

Rion just clutched his chest, willing the excruciating pain to subside.

Talon tried to clear his throat but his voice was hoarse. “Where are the others?”

“I’m looking.”

Talon tried to rise, fell, then stumbled to his feet, his back hitting the wall and knocking half a dozen metal tools to the floor. He tilted his head back, chest still heaving as if he couldn’t catch his breath.

They stood in silence, waiting for someone to come investigate the sound. None did.

“Come on.” Rion began combing through rooms again. Talon followed, neither male moving as fast as Rion would like.

Rion wanted to find the stairs and tear his way through the castle until he came face to face with Vairik. But if he left andArianna was trapped in any of these rooms, he’d never forgive himself.

And if they ran out of time—Rion clenched his jaw. It’d take a split second and the entire place could come crumbling down on top of them. If he had Arianna, he might be able to survive, but without her—Rion pressed his fist against his chest, still fighting the pain.

He stumbled through door after door after door. Talon didn’t try to release the Fae within. Maybe he already knew what the outcome would be. Or he just didn’t care right now.

The corridor stretched on and on. Had these Fae been used for Vairik’s experiments? Was he siphoning their magic? Did Vairik have others plans and intend to—

---