Page 130 of The Sacred and the Tormented

More Fae were fleeing the area, each somehow knowing exactly what he did. Any second now, the entire place would explode. The castle already appeared higher and it buzzed with intense energy that demanded to be set free.

“Don’t stop,” Rion breathed.

“We know,” Ravina chided. He wondered if she felt it too.

They raced as fast as their legs could carry them. Rion felt the break, the sharp release of pressure and barely had time to wrap his magic around them all before they were shoved forward so fast he lost track of his bearings.

They tumbled and Talon’s magic joined his own, as did Saoirse’s and Zylah’s and Gavin’s and Raevina’s. All fought to keep them shielded and Rion just clung to Arianna as they slammed into rock again and again, his head spinning with each strike.

Chapter Forty-Five

Talon

The world was on fire, consumed by the fury of the mountain itself. Talon vaguely wondered if this was the land’s revenge on Vairik for every foul thing he’d ever done or created. Every surface surrounding them was coated in flames. Thick smoke hung in the air with ashes and embers still raining down from the sky. It was only by the grace of the gods that they’d survived at all.

The mountain had exploded and their combined magic had pulled them all together, cocooning them in a tangle of bodies as they’d struck the earth over and over before rolling right into the ocean. Talon had quickly used his magic to push them away. Rocks had rained down, splashing into the raging ocean, but he hadn’t relented.

Thankfully, the sound had scared away any of the creatures Conall had warned them about. For now, at least. He knew they couldn’t linger in the water long, but it was hard to look away from the space where a looming castle had once stood. Now, it was just a mound of gushing red liquid.

The water surrounding them was almost too warm and Talon was using his magic even now to keep it at tolerable levels. Still, they needed to move.

His gaze roamed to where the city had been. Molten rock had cascaded over it in a wave. He’d heard the citizen’s screams of terror and hadn’t been able to do anything about it. He prayed some had survived and that someone would help those injured. He couldn’t be that person today. Not when they needed to lay low. If Vairik had managed to survive as well, then the High Lord needed to believe they’d been caught in the blast. It’d by them time to heal and plan their next moves.

No one spoke as Talon carefully moved them through the currents. A tingling sensation fell over his skin and he met Gavin’s gaze.

“I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

The male’s voice was hoarse. Blood trickled from the side of his head. Talon only nodded. A glamour was exactly what they needed right now. It enabled Talon to keep them close to shore as he steered them around the chaos.

The wind above their heads moved, pushing the ash and embers away and Talon caught Zylah’s attention on it. Saoirse’s magic snaked through the water in the form of seaweed and bits of debris drifted closer.

Rion was the first to wrap his arm around a charred log, clinging to an unconscious Arianna as he did so. She was breathing at least, as well Ellie. Talon reached for what looked like half a door and rolled Ellie’s body on top of it. He studied her hollow face and too thin frame.

She seemed so normal now, just like the Ellie he’d always known. And yet he’d watched her—grief rose through him, but he bit it back. She’d never forgive herself. Even if she woke and Vairik’s magic no longer controlled her mind, the Ellie he knew might never return. Kirian had been everything to her. She’d been planning to marry the half-breed, to even ask him herself. She’d never been one for tradition.

The eight of them floated through the water, watching the fire fade in the distance. Conall had mentioned helping Fae return from their worst nightmares. But Conall was gone and the rebel’s hide out had been marked on the map, leading Talon to believe their village might not even be there anymore. He wasn’t even sure if those they’d rescued had made it to the mountain. Maybe Vairik had been waiting at the tunnel entrance. He shuddered to think what their fate might have entailed.

Talon sent out another pulse of his magic, searching for anything swimming through the dark waters. Nothing, thank the gods above. He wasn’t sure they could handle another battle.

The shoreline grew closer. Ash rained down from above, falling like ominous black snow.

None spoke as they crawled among the rocks, lifting their tired bodies from the water. He gathered Ellie in his arms. Rion did the same with Arianna and Zylah helped Saoirse limp her way to shore.

Everyone collapsed beneath the cover of trees. He pulled the water from their clothes, giving them the small comfort of being dry at least.

Zylah was the first to stand. She knelt at Rion’s side, studying Arianna’s wounds. Zylah checked her up and down, grimacing at her leg. “Lay her down.” Rion did without hesitation. Zylah prodded at Arianna’s leg, then drew a rune over the area. This one had more complicated lines and swirls. Something in Arianna’s leg shifted and she grimaced. Zylah quickly drew another over Arianna’s chest. “To keep her sedated.”

Rion didn’t argue, neither did the rest of them as Zylah drew a few more then sat back. “Not to state the obvious, but we need to find somewhere to lay low. She needs to heal. So does Evelyn and Saoirse.”

“I’m fine,” Saoirse argued, though she made no move to stand. Zylah shot her a glare that had the ambassador of Brónach looking away.

Raevina stood, catching his attention. “I’ll be back.”

“Where are you going?” Talon demanded.

“To find her shelter.”

He stood too, leaving Ellie in the grass. “Not alone, you’re not.”

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