Page 8 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“Where is Ellie?” Rion growled.

Gavin cowered on the ground, trying to staunch the blood gushing from his broken nose. “In Ashling.” Tears rolled down the male’s cheeks and Talon wondered if he’d ever been struck before.

“With Niall?” Rion spat the name.

Gavin did a poor job of shaking his head. He gasped for air through the pain. “Worse, she’s with the High Lord.”

Talon’s stomach dropped. He’d hoped she’d escaped the High Lord’s notice, but it’d been a fool’s hope from the start.

“Why are you here?” Rion demanded. Gavin’s next answer would likely seal his fate.

“I-I was branded a traitor. The warriors who saw me leave with Evelyn and the half-bred reported to Niall. He put a warrant out for my arrest.”

Talon crossed his arms. “So you turned tail and ran? How heroic.”

“I came for help,” Gavin sneered, showing the first real sign of aggression. He regretted it immediately when Rion’s boot collided with his face. “Why do you keep hitting me?” Gavin shouted. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

Rion grabbed the front of Gavin’s tunic and slammed him against the rock again. “You left with Niall, who convenientlyescaped and took Ellie with him. You expect me to believe it was a coincidence?”

“They had Evelyn, what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t just leave her.”

“You’re here now,” Talon said, his own anger threatening to boil over. A tinge of fear accompanied it, wondering if the reason Gavin had left—

“Because I need your help. If you’d stop punishing me for a second, I could explain.”

“Explain faster,” Talon warned. “Before you’re not able to talk at all.”

Gavin eyed the two males then began talking as fast as Talon had ever heard anyone speak.

“Niall was already out of his bonds when I brought the civilians back from Ruadhan. He was hurt thanks to Arianna. He said we needed to get back to Ashling as quickly as possible. I couldn’t refuse, you know how strong he is.” Gavin glanced between them and sat up slowly, his back against the wall. He looked away.

“That’s when I saw her in chains. Niall already knew she was my mate. I almost slipped up. Almost ran and begged him to let her go. But somehow he didn’t know about my betrayal yet. Or maybe he thought I was doing everything for his benefit. I don’t know. I stayed in control and played the part he wanted to see. I thought that maybe I could unlock her bonds on the road, but Niall kept her unconscious the whole time. The half-breed was instructed to care for her. I didn’t dare show that I might be concerned lest Niall feel my loyalty was threatened. So I waited but there was never a good time and Niall had her under his magic. He’d know if I moved her and then we’d both be in chains.

“Then we got to Ashling. I thought he’d take her to the dungeons, but she went right to the High Lord. Even hercell was too closely guarded for me to break her free.” Rion had turned a shade paler. “If you thought Niall was bad, he’s nothing compared to the High Lord.” Gavin was shaking now. “I promised her I’d find help.”

“You talked to her?” Talon asked.

Gavin nodded.

“What did she say?”

“To rot in the deepest pit of hell.”

Talon couldn’t stop the small smile that spread across his face. “Well, I’d say she’s hanging in there.”

“She’s not.” Talon’s smile fell. “He—he’s doing things to her.”

“What things?” Rion growled. Talons stomach turned sour.

Gavin tapped his head. “He’s messing with her mind. She’s not right. She’s different. You have to get to her before—”

Thunder rumbled overhead and Talon glanced at the cloudy sky before he scented a familiar magic. He turned slightly to see shards of ice crackling around the High Lord of Móirín as the male marched toward them.

The very air pressure seemed to shift, reminding Talon of Arianna’s magic when she lost control. The first raindrops started to fall and Talon stepped to the side.

Avalon’s guards marched at his side, each with fury written across their faces. Ellie was their future High Lady. She’d known each of their names by heart and had made a point to get to know their families too.

If Gavin thought Rion was the worst of them, he was sorely mistaken. Talon gave Gavin a sympathetic look. “Good luck.”

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