Page 80 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Her mate’s gaze flickered to the right where a bit of shadow had jumped along the wall. It’d just been from one of thetorches and yet even that slight bit of movement sent her mate spiraling.

The wall opened ahead, giving Arianna full view of the gushing water.

The line slowly came to a halt.

Arianna unclasped the heavy bag from around her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. She dragged it toward the back wall, leaning it against the rock. They’d told her she didn’t need to carry anything, being that she was the queen, but she’d insisted she could help. As had Rion.

Talon was ahead, alongside Raevina, but once again, the two seemed to be mostly ignoring one another. Arianna couldn’t wrap her mind around the dynamic. It was as if they were magnetized to one another even if they didn’t speak.

Rion had told her to stay out of it. She’d only pouted, knowing it was best to let them work it out on their own.

Rion placed his pack beside her own before leaning against the rough wall. He breathed deep and closed his eyes. Arianna watched his jaw clench. She could scent his magic as well, even if he tried to keep it hidden.

Most gave them space, opting to sit closer to their comrades. They were always watching as if they were afraid she’d vanish if they looked away.

Arianna sighed then approached Rion slowly, gently tugging on their bond. He cracked one eye open. His lips parted, but Arianna spoke first. “Don’t try to convince me you’re okay.” She kept her voice low, barely a whisper. There wasn’t really any way for them to have privacy here, not with the wide open tunnels.

Rion didn’t move as she paused before him and laid a hand over her mate’s racing heart. He sucked in a breath and watched her, his eyes wide and wild in a way that made her own heart race.

Arianna shoved her fear aside and someone to their left gasped when light began emitting from her palm. She ignored them. Rion’s shoulders gradually melted beneath her touch, like ice beneath a warm sun.

Rion leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. “Thank you.” He didn’t need to elaborate. He’d been caged within walls with nothing but darkness for company for months. Being under the mountain sent those memories racing to the surface all over again.

Arianna just wished she could remove his pain permanently.

“I should have let you do that from the beginning,” he murmured, voice raw.

“I tried to tell you.” The words hung between them, heavy with the silence of the weeks that had followed Ellie’s disappearance. The pain. The loss. It was all still there, gnawing at the edge of her thoughts. Rion and his mother … they’d suffered far more than anyone should have to.

Arianna’s fingers brushed the skin of his neck as she leaned in. “You’re safe now,” she said. “You’re safe with me.”

He relaxed further and wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her close. Arianna found herself wishing for the cabin again. For just another moment where they could disappear and forget about the rest of the world.

A throat cleared. “We’re ready to move, My Lady.”

Arianna pulled back, met the male’s gaze, then nodded. “We’re ready.” She glanced down at the first bracelet. Half the stones were already dull. Once they reached Ashling, the second would begin ticking away the hours until they saw Ellie again.

The cavern came alive with sounds as everyone stood and began pulling their packs back over their shoulders. They murmured to their friends and heart rates spiked with excitement for the mission to come.

The line began moving, but Rion gently grabbed her upper arm and pulled her aside. “Are you sure about this?”

Arianna furrowed her brow, glancing around at those who filtered past at a snail’s pace. “It’s a bit late for me to back out now.”

“You could.” His voice was almost hopeful. “Talon and I can go. Conall already told me he’d give you a personal escort back to the village.”

“And you’d just let me leave with complete strangers?”

“Raevina said she’d join you.”

“And when did you all decide to have this part of the conversation without me?”

Rion looked away, shame filling him in a way she hated. “I never want to hold you back, but …” He grit his teeth. “Conall spoke with us when you were working with the Weavers. There are things you’re going to see in Ashling that won’t be pleasant.”

“I know.” Pádraigín was the country that procured the slaves after all. She knew the atrocities there would be far greater than anything she’d seen thus far. Though she wondered if those who sold their own kin were even worse. Perhaps they were the true monsters. She’d never understand how a human could sell another human without feeling racked with guilt.

“You won’t be able to help them.”

Her mouth went dry. She knew that too, even if she’d been trying to avoid thinking about it. “I know that too.”

---