Page 51 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Rion’s gaze turned to his sister. “Alec really came?”

She waved one hand. “Came. Saved. Conquered. The usual Alec dramatics.” Saoirse tried to keep her voice calm, even as her body shook. “He showed up shortly after you fled.” Abandoned them.

“So the silhouettes I saw in the distance—”

“Weren’t more Dark Fae, thank the gods,” Saoirse finished. She took another step, closing the distance. Arianna might have been hurt, but he looked well enough. “You’re okay?”

Rion nodded. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Good.” Then Saoirse slammed her fist into the side of Rion’s face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Those in the vicinity drew their weapons and magic sparked through the air. She didn’t care, but when Rion stared up at her in shock, the wall of pain she’d been holding back surged to the surface. “What the hell were you thinking?”

The temperature in the air plummeted as a male with dark hair stepped toward her. “How dare you.”

“How dare I what?” she shot back.

“You will not strike your king.”

King. She hadn’t heard anyone else refer to him as such. Not beyond their mother. “I’m his sister,” she countered. “I cando as I please, especially when he runs off and makes us worry whether or not I’d find him alive.” Her voice broke and Saoirse gritted her teeth.

“I—”

“Stop,” Arianna said. She winced and the other female was there, helping her settle back into the chair. Rion just watched, his magic still nonexistent.

“What happened?” Arianna asked after a beat of silence. “Is everyone okay?”

“Avalon is fine,” Talon said. “We lost a number of villagers, but they’re all relocating to Levea. Your father plans to expand the walls to combat the influx of Dark Fae.”

“There’s more?” Arianna’s face had gone pale.

Talon nodded.

“What about our mother?” Rion inquired, still sitting on the ground. His lip had split at the bottom, but he made no move to wipe the blood away.

Saoirse refused to feel guilty. Instead, she reached out a hand and Rion allowed her to pull him to his feet. “She’s with Alec. He wanted to come sooner but had to handle a few unfortunate issues in Nàdiar first. It feels like the entire world has been thrown into chaos.”

“Is she okay with him?”

Saoirse’s eyes softened. “She knows him. They had a happy reunion. I haven’t seen Alec cry in years.”

Rion scoffed. “I’m not sure he’s capable.”

“Oh, he is. Sobbed like a youngling once they were behind closed doors.”

“Is Levea going to be able to hold everyone?” Arianna asked.

“Some are going to Nàdair,” Saoirse answered. “We have the room, though the journey itself won’t exactly be an easy one given all the foul creatures running amuck.”

They all fell silent, taking in the changed state of their world. All because Arianna had shoved a piece of iron through Niall. It made her wonder what might happen if they did the same to the High Lord.

“Are you going to introduce us to your new friends or are we leaving?” Saoirse asked, glaring at the male that still had his magic aimed at her.

The frost vanished and his face paled. “You can’t leave.”

“Why the hell not,” she challenged. Talon stood straighter too.

“You—” He glanced between each of them, clearly not accustomed to being the outlier. His gaze finally settled on Arianna. “At least allow us to tell you the full story. Let us present you with the truth if nothing else.”

“Tell your warriors to stand down,” Talon commanded, eyeing each in turn.

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