Page 14 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“We can worry about the how’s later. If they keep moving at the same speed, they’ll be here tonight.”

“Tonight?” Saoirse said, her face draining of color entirely.

“You’re sure?” Raevina asked.

Avalon nodded again.

“Why haven’t we spotted them before now?” Saoirse asked.

“Because they’re moving at night and any who have come across them has paid the price for it. They don’t leave much behind.”

“But where are they hiding?” Saoirse gestured to the documents in her hands. “Someone would have noticed a horde this size moving across the land.”

“Underground,” Avalon said. “They found caves and claw marks, along with anything the creatures left behind. One of the messengers barely escaped and she’s beside herself.”

Arianna glanced outside to the sun. It was still high noon, but even so, that only left them half a day to prepare. They wouldn’t have enough time to evacuate the citizens and the wooden wall wouldn’t do much to protect them from hordes of monsters.

There were younglings, elderly, and humans who couldn’t defend themselves against such creatures.

“Do your messengers believe Niall is with them?” Rion asked, his voice laced with venom. If the Dark Fae had been organized, then he might have used his magic to—

“No.” Relief flew through her. “My reports say he hasn’t left Ashling.”

“And you believe those reports?” Raevina asked.

“I do.” There was no malice between them, just two leaders sorting through the little information they had.

“This is revenge, isn’t it?” Arianna asked.

“Only the beginning of it,” Avalon answered. They all stared at the circles along the map for a moment, then herfather straightened. “Raevina, Talon, Saoirse, organize your forces and get them into position. Arianna,” she startled at the commanding tone in his voice. “Find your half-breed healer and inform her of the situation. Have her get beds prepared in the underground safe houses and have her assistants start preparing bandages and medicine.”

Avalon let the map fold in on itself. “I’ll inform the village head.”

No one argued. They nodded, then filed out, running in different directions to prepare.

This was really happening.

Avalon turned to Rion once they were alone. “See what you can do about delaying them.”

Arianna’s magic stirred beneath her skin as the full weight of what was about to happen settled over her. They were under attack. The Dark Fae were coming. And she wasn’t sure if anyone was truly prepared to face them.

Chapter Five

Arianna

Arianna stood atop the wooden curtain wall that circled the village, her mate at her side. Silence enveloped the space as they watched the sun slowly disappear below the horizon. Shadows from the trees stretched toward them like eerie, clawed fingertips and the sun cast hues of pink and orange through the clouds as if offering one final glimmer of hope before darkness descended.

The wood groaned beneath her feet as Arianna shifted her weight. She loosed a breath. Her magic pulsed beneath her skin, eager and restless.

That magic was exactly why she wasn’t below ground with Zylah right now. It craved release and healing wouldn’t even begin to scratch the surface.

Everyone close to her knew how powerful it’d become and none shied away from having her on the front line. Well, aside from her father, but he’d relented with the knowledge that Rion would remain at her side. Avalon knew her mate would protect her at any cost— not that she’d ever leave him to fight alone.

None of them had anticipated a battle like this. They had expected Niall to retaliate eventually, but the realization that monsters from legend were marching straight for them was almost unbelievable. Some had even scoffed, claiming the witnesses were simply being influenced by Pádraigín’s magic.

She wished that were the case, but the reports said otherwise and those grieving lost loved ones said even more.

Arianna clenched and unclenched her fists, trying to ease the stiffness in her joints. The wooden planks beneath her feet began to freeze over and Arianna could see her breath in thewarm air. It felt as though ice were forming in her veins, waiting to pounce like a predator.

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