Page 49 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“So what happened? If she knew how Rion’s life would turn out, why didn’t she change it?” Cara asked.

“We believe she tried,” Sive said. “The very night she vanished. She wouldn’t tell Conall’s predecessor exactly what she had planned for fear of the outcome changing again. From what we’ve pieced together, Eimear was on her way to Ashling. Our only guess is that the attack on Nàdair turned her around. Somehow, she was captured before she ever made it back.”

“But wouldn’t she have seen them coming?” Arianna asked.

“A seer’s visions are not something they can call upon whenever they wish. They can focus and try to listen for whispers but they’re not always found. Eimear’s gifts were strong, even for a seer, it’s why she wore iron so often, otherwise they’d render her unable to function in daily life.”

“So you knew her personally,” Rion said.

Sive nodded. “I would love the opportunity to speak with her again. Perhaps help her if your family permits.”

Rion glanced down at his arm but Arianna said, “Wouldn’t that make you over a century old?”

“Five centuries actually.”

Arianna’s eyes widened. Five centuries. That was five times the age of Rion. Nearly half the age of her father. She was a mere—

Shouting echoed from behind and Arianna turned to find a group of Fae emerge through the trees. No—not emerge. They blinked into existence, popping into her reality one at a time.

Metal slid free from its sheath then a familiar face had a male pressed against a tree with a blade to their throat.

Conall jumped to his feet and slid the iron bracelet off, letting it fall into the grass. Arianna hardly noticed. She cared for little else when she’d spotted that familiar hair.

Talon. Talon was here. He was alive. And just like with every other time in her life—he’d found her.

Chapter Fourteen

Saoirse

Saoirse followed the strangers through the trees, keeping an eye out for any Dark Fae that still lurked along the road. Last night had proven there were more out there than she’d been willing to admit.

She rolled her shoulders, working the tension from her joints. It’d been a fight, but nothing they hadn’t been able to handle. She hoped it showed these warriors that if they were leading them to a trap, it wouldn’t turn out well for any of them.

Such dark creatures. Their mother had told them stories when they were little, but those beasts were supposed to be trapped inside the forbidden forest that resided in the mountains. Yet here they were, running wild, killing any unfortunate enough to cross their paths.

Saoirse gritted her teeth. And now there was some rebel force taking them to gods knew where claiming Arianna and Rion were alive and well.

Talon, Saoirse, and Raevina had bound the entire group in iron to question them. None were lying.

Saoirse kept one hand on her weapon as they moved through the trees. Raevina walked on her right, flames sparking at her fingertips as she watched the space between the trees. Talon marched just ahead, a knife hidden in his palm, ready to let it fly at any given moment.

Zylah trudged along behind with a chained Gavin at her side. The male had begged to accompany them, claiming he could be of use should Pádraigín’s forces meet them on the road. They were traveling closer to Ashling and in Pádraigín territory now. Saoirse couldn’t fathom why Rion would take Ariannaanywhere near their country. Especially when the High Lord already had Ellie.

But maybe they’d told him something she didn’t know.

“It’s just ahead,” a male claimed. They carried weapons, but no one had dared to touch them. Everyone was pensive, waiting for the moment of betrayal.

Seconds later, Talon disappeared. One moment he’d been there, the next he was gone, vanishing into mist. Raevina’s heart spiked and the female drew her sword, summoning flames to surround her body before she was running.

Raevina disappeared too.

Saoirse growled and followed, yanking her blade free. Familiar magic washed over and through her like cold water only to vanish a second later.

Talon and Raevina reappeared and several scents hit Saoirse all at once.

Her eyes scanned the area and when Zylah materialized beside her, she backed toward the female, determined to protect her at any cost.

Talon had a male pinned against a tree with a blade to his throat. Wisely, said male had raised his hands rather than reaching for one of his weapons. Raevina had grabbed another and her flames hovered dangerously close to the male’s face.

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