Page 97 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Saoirse made a noise in her throat. Footsteps sounded and Saoirse grabbed Zylah, spinning them both around a wall. Saoirse pushed Zylah’s body against it with her own and covered the female’s mouth with one hand.

They waited, their breaths ragged and too loud in the dark alcove. Saoirse calmed her racing heart, watching through a tiny sliver of a crack in the stone as two guards ambled past. She expected them to be on high alert, but if anything, they appearedto keep their eyes down and move as if they wanted to be away from here as fast as possible.

Saoirse couldn’t blame them, the entire space felt as if one were walking through a graveyard.

Saoirse didn’t move even after they’d disappeared. She strained to listen to their retreating footfalls, then breathed a little easier once they vanished.

Her focus shifted to Zylah and the way the female’s body heat had begun to seep through her clothes. The female’s hands had clamped around Saoirse’s arm.

Her mate.

And this mission could very well be the last time she ever saw her.

The reply finally came to her, but Saoirse didn’t voice her words even as they echoed in her head.

I know where you stand with me.

Rejected. Again. She supposed it was a just punishment after all the pain she’d inflicted, or rather, had failed to prevent.

Saoirse removed her hand and for a tender moment, she stood there, staring at the female she might never have.

Saoirse sighed and stepped back, knowing full well the disappointment on Zylah’s face was only her own imagination. Zylah had been kind to her for kindness’s sake, nothing more. She might be attracted to Saoirse physically, but mentally, Zylah wanted nothing to do with her.

Saoirse had made Zylah a promise. To leave her alone and let her live her life however she wanted. With whoever she wanted.

Reality stung like a blade laced with poison.

“Let’s go.” Saoirse peered around the corner again. She let another sliver of her magic seep into the vines. They curled around one another, interlacing to form a triangle with a line that went straight through the middle. It blended with the restof the structure so as to not be too noticeable. Only someone like Rion or Alec would pick up on it.

They darted across the courtyard, their footsteps light against the mossy stone, then paused again on the other side. Saoirse frowned as she studied the area. Her hands pressed against a wall and that’s when her eyes drifted to the familiar mass of vines above them.

Her symbol sat among the greenery.

Saoirse straightened, turning to look back from where they’d come. They hadn’t taken any turns. It was impossible to have gone in a circle. She’d memorized the map alongside her brother. She knew exactly how many statues and verandas they’d passed.

Too many.

She’d thought that perhaps Gavin had miscounted. It was easy to do and had happened to her before but—

“Something’s wrong.”

Zylah’s gaze roamed over to the symbol. Saoirse hadn’t been sure if the female had noticed them before now. “What do you mean?”

Saoirse turned again to study the layout. They’d passed through three sections so far, though Gavin had sketched five. She grimaced. All of them were run-down. Virtually identical. Statues of menacing Dark Fae reached their claws toward the delicate females across from them. They were all chipped, the females weeping. Many had their arms cut off at the elbows.

They were the same as the ones in the previous garden. At least … she thought they were. Something about them had shifted so they looked different, yet when she stared directly at them—

Saoirse opened her mouth to respond when sudden searing pain lanced through her side. Saoirse stumbled away,ready to reach out for Zylah when another blade swiped at her throat.

She gritted her teeth and her back slammed against the wall, distracting her enough that the same dagger plunged straight through her shoulder.

Zylah’s eyes locked with her own, the half-breed’s contorted with rage. Saoirse shoved her back, yanking the weapon from her shoulder.

“What in the seven hells are you doing?” Saoirse growled.

The half-breed’s chest heaved and she lunged again. Saoirse moved to the side, around another wall, but the air whipped up, carrying bits of dirt that stung her eyes, momentarily blinding her.

“Zylah.” The name was a warning as she stumbled back, swiping at her eyes as she tried to simultaneously listen for the female’s movements. Wind blasted into Saoirse’s chest, knocking her to the ground. She rolled, cursing again as she dodged another knife flying her way. “We don’t have time for this, if you want to kill me, do it later.”

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