Page 135 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“Do I seem different?”

Talon hesitated and her stomach sank. “When we escaped, you were behaving … oddly. Even now …” he trailed off and looked at the male beside her again.

“How, exactly?” If Vairik had done something to her mind, she needed to puzzle through it as fast as possible.

“What do you remember about,” Talon hesitated again. “About when you were taken?”

“Taken?” She tried to clarify.

“When you were a slave. How did you escape?”

Arianna blinked at him, confused. “I’m not really sure why that matters.”

“Indulge me. Please.”

“I was taken from the celebration—” she started.

“And how did you escape?”

“You came and blew up the camp. You got us out.”

“Who is us?”

“Me and Zylah and the other slaves.”

His jaw clenched again. “And afterward?”

“You took me back to Levea. Father threw a celebration then Fiadh attacked and Brónach came to our aid.”

“Whydid Brónach come to our aid?”

“Because they wanted to rekindle the alliance.”

“Because?”

Arianna threw up her arms in frustration. “What does this have to do with anything? Because I’m the Divine, I guess. Isn’t that why everyone comes to help?” she gestured toward the stranger in the room. “And why is he standing here gawking at me?” She lifted her gaze to the male. “Who are you?”

Arianna had never seen two males go so still. Both stared at her, but the stranger gasped as if she’d physically struck him. Something like sorrow tugged deep in her heart but was quickly washed away by shadow.

Then Arianna scented magic drifting from him. Not the usual sort, this was something different. Something that demanded she rise to attention. Particles skittered across the floor then around his boots, moving in a slow jagged pattern.

Particles of … earth.

Arianna’s heart began pounding faster as she lifted her gaze to study the male’s auburn hair and piercing green eyes. She’d scented the trace of Brónach on him before but—

Memories of their escape came flooding back. The Demon.

Arianna scooted her legs up and winced from the pain in her back. The Demon’s hands clenched and her magic strummed through her veins, pulsing in time to her rapid heartbeat.

Talon was saying something, but she couldn’t hear him above the roar in her ears.

“Arianna.” Her name fell from his lips like a plea. As if she were the goddess she worshiped. But she knew better. The Demon took a single step forward and Arianna sent him flying back, her magic exploding out of her with half a thought. His body slammed against the wall and she scrambled off the bed. Talon’s hand reached for her, but she shoved him away with another burst of ice.

Arianna stopped at the doorway, turning to ensure she hadn’t hurt her friend. She needed to get him out of here too. If he stayed—Talon stood slowly and brushed the ice from his hand. Why wasn’t he panicked? Why wasn’t his magic out? Where were his weapons?

The Demon remained on the floor, staring up at her with devastation written across his face.

“He’s not going to hurt you,” Talon assured.

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