Page 125 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“What are you doing?” Arianna demanded, but her sister leapt, closing the distance. Arianna summon a thickened spear of ice to block the blade aimed at her neck. It slipped off the ice, but Ellie brought it up again with lightning speed. Ellie’s magic zigzagged across the ground before suddenly spreading. Arianna slipped, then Ellie was on top of her, pressing her long knife down on Arianna’s spear of ice. Arianna thickened the blade.

“Submit,” Ellie demanded. “So we can all be free.”

Arianna grit her teeth, pushing against her sibling. “What are you talking about?”

Ellie cocked her head in a way that had a chill sweeping down Arianna’s spine. “Didn’t he explain the new world to you?”

Ellie pushed harder, but Arianna bucked her sister off and rolled to her feet. “What’s the matter with you?” Arianna lowered her voice. “Talon can grab Kirian, we can escape. You’re fr—”

Ellie shot forward, closing the space again, but instead of her sword swiping up, Ellie slammed her head into Arianna’s. Stars shot across her vision, then the ground yawned open between them. Ellie jumped back, as did Arianna, determined not to let that male’s magic catch her within its grip. Talon had warned her to avoid it at all costs.

“Get out of here!” Kirian’s voice rang out again. “You can’t win. He’s too strong. He has Ellie in—”

His air was cut off as Vairik snatched Kirian’s neck and lifted him from the ground. The world paused. Kirian kicked his feet, tugging at Vairik’s hand in vain. Then Vairik threw him over the edge of the railing.

Talon lunged for Kirian, his magic racing across the ground, but one of the creatures snapped their teeth too close toTalon’s arm, breaking his concentration. Talon pivoted around the beast and shot his magic out again.

It slowed Kirian’s fall, but not enough. The half-breed’s leg snapped when it hit the ground, the bone protruding at an awkward angle. Kirian howled from the pain. He braced against it, forcing himself up to meet Arianna’s gaze.

Ellie darted for him, jumping over the creatures and rubble.

“Knock her out,” Kirian bit out through gritted teeth, forcing himself to stand on one leg. “It’s the only way she’ll go. Distance will help and—”

His voice cut off again. Not due to Vairik or the creatures, or the remaining Fae but by Ellie.

Their entire world froze and Arianna’s mouth fell open as she stared at the blade that’d been plunged straight through Kirian’s gut.

Kirian grasped the long knife, staring at it as if he were trapped in a nightmare. He looked up at Ellie next, then Ellie drove it deeper, twisting the blade before yanking it straight up through the male’s torso.

Talon roared, Raevina and the others with him as they fought with renewed vigor, as if they might reach Kirian in time. But Arianna had frozen, staring at her sister and the absolute fury in her eyes.

Kirian’s arm shook as he raised a bloody hand to Ellie’s cheek and smiled at her. “I love you,” he whispered, breath ragged. “And when you wake from this nightmare,” his body jerked, “know I forgive you.”

Kirian leaned forward, as if he might kiss her. His body collapsed, his head hitting her chest instead. Ellie let the blade slip from her hands. Kirian’s body hit the ground, his heart stopping on impact.

Ellie stared at him, unmoving, but a single tear slipped down her cheek. She didn’t even bother wiping it away before she kicked his body into the reach of the Dark Fae.

Arianna watched in horror as the creatures tore Kirian’s limbs apart. She shuddered at the sound of his tearing flesh and clenched her teeth with the noise of crunching bone.

Kirian. Kirian was gone.

Ellie turned away, looking at them as if she hadn’t just killed the only male she’d ever loved.

“Release them all,” Ellie commanded.

The remaining Fae didn’t even bother confirming with Vairik before unlatching the rest of the chains.

Arianna stared at her sister, stared and wondered if this was all just a horrible nightmare. In a minute, she’d wake up and they’d all be back in Levea, surrounded by peaceful waterfalls and familiar faces. Arianna would walk out her door and see Ellie and Kirian hand in hand, laughing with one another as they walked down the estate halls.

Kirian would kiss the back of her sister’s and Ellie would blush before he moved her hair back and told her how beautiful she was. Arianna would find them in the library after lunch, pouring over books and documents that neither should have access too.

Then she’d find them under the waterfalls, resting in the grass as they watched the sun set below the horizon. They’d laugh and lie awake for half the night watching the stars.

The beasts lifted from their finished meal and stood behind Ellie, blood dripping from their stained maws.

Ellie’s eyes were vacant. She was devoid of everything. Everything aside from the strange anger brewing within those blue eyes. An anger that wasn’t her own.

The Demon stepped forward and his voice shook. “And you have the audacity to call me a monster.”

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