Page 69 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Silence fell over the space before Conall said, “Your mom is Vairik’s daughter. Niall’s sister. Doesn’t that mean she’ll be protected by him too?”

Gavin shook his head. “Vairik has many children. He—he picks females based on the power of their magic and breeds with them for the sole purpose of producing a strong heir. Very few have met his expectations and his drive for … producing another has dwindled over the years.”

“That’s disgusting,” Zylah said, emerging from Conall’s cabin with a tray of food in each hand. Cara followed after, along with several others and placed the trays in everyone’s laps.

“Agreed,” Gavin replied. “They live on the outskirts. I just don’t want them caught in the aftermath.”

“They’re not within the main city?”

Gavin shook his head and Talon sat back. “I’m surprised he doesn’t keep you all close.”

“He has Niall check in from time to time. I showed some promise a few years ago, which is why I’m there now instead of with my mother. I’m rarely allowed to visit, but I still know where they live.” He looked between them. “They’re not at fault for anything. I just don’t want them punished along with … the others.”

Conall’s gaze softened. “We don’t punish those who are innocent.”

Gavin glanced down at the iron bracelet circling his wrist. “It shows.”

They were all silent again. Arianna had never wanted Gavin in chains, but Talon and the others had placed cuffs on him and beaten him from the moment he’d arrived. They’d blamed him for things beyond his control. He’d grown up at the mercy of the oldest Fae on the continent and they’d not given him the benefit of the doubt.

Gavin hadn’t had a choice. Perhaps he’d never had one. Maybe his first choice had been running from Niall and Vairik. It was an action that’d labeled him a traitor and prevented him from ever returning to his home country.

Even so, neither Talon nor Rion appeared apologetic.

“Your mother didn’t take someone dear to us,” Rion said. “You did.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Maybe. You aid us in getting Ellie out and we’ll clear your name.”

Gavin’s eyes lit up. “You mean it?”

“So long as she doesn’t tell us otherwise,” Talon said. “If you did anything to hurt her—”

“Could you hurt Raevina?” Gavin countered, unfamiliar anger flaring in his eyes. Talon’s lips parted and Conall stared at the pair, realization sparking in his eyes.

“Careful,” Talon seethed.

“Then don’t insult me. I’d never do anything to harm Evelyn.”

“Are we finished with the pissing contest?” Saoirse said. “I’d like to get back to discussing the actual mission.”

“Right,” Conall said, addressing Gavin again. “We need you to draw a map with every detail you can think of. We need to know where guards are stationed, when rotations shift, and what magic they use.” Conall pulled several sheets of paper out from under his current map. “We also need to know where the offices for his council are located and what time of day the council members are most likely to visit.”

“You think I know all of that?”

“Just give us what you can,” Arianna said gently. “Anything will help.”

Gavin stood and crossed the space, taking the pen and paper from Conall’s hands. “I’ll do my best.”

“While Gavin’s busy with that,” Saoirse said. “How exactly are we getting inside?”

“There’s a series of underground tunnels through the mountain that start just over the ridge there,” Conall pointed. “And opens up at the edge of the ocean, right beside Ashling. The exit point requires us to scale down the cliffs.”

“Won’t they notice us?” Saoirse asked. “I mean, you all have a barrier around this place. Don’t they have the same?”

“They do, but the tunnels allow us to sneak past it. The High Lord, at present, doesn’t know about them.”

“Let’s hope he hasn’t made a recent discovery then,” Talon said. “How do we blend in?”

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