Page 99 of The Sacred and the Tormented

More voices echoed behind her. Máili’s. Rion’s. Her mother’s.

But her mother wasn’t here. Rion wasn’t here. And Máili—tears slipped down her cheeks. She’d never given herself time to grieve or come to terms with what had happened.

Máili had been her friend. Her partner.

Spy, a dark part of her whispered. Had anything between them ever been real?

Another surge of panic pulsed down the bond and Saoirse grabbed hold of it with everything in her.

I’m coming. How long had she been under the glamour’s influence? How long had Zylah been fighting on her own?

The castle shifted, turning from smooth winding halls into straight, narrow passages lined with dim torches. Faint light trickling through breaks in the wall.

Hold on. Hold on, Zylah.

Saoirse barreled through another wall, rolling to her feet when she tripped over the broken stones. She ignored the cuts along her arm. Ignored her still wounded shoulder.

Only one thing mattered.

Zylah. Zylah. Zylah.

She’d make it. She had to make it.

Saoirse’s heart raced as the bond shortened. The voices were a frenzy now, blocking out her ability to hear. She didn’t need it. She just needed to reach her mate.

A gust of wind swept past Saoirse and a blade caught the light as she watched Zylah twisting around a knife aimed at her heart.

Zylah was covered in sweat and blood. Her blood. The smell of it pierced through Saoirse like a hot iron. Saoirse roared, even as she came face to face with a dozen Dark Fae.

Their gaping maws turned on her, fangs dripping with some dark liquid she didn’t care to identify.

The vines sprang to life and shot for the beasts, some familiar, others slightly altered in ways that made them leaner, faster, and as she watched them dodge her attacks, Saoirse could have sworn they were smarter too.

It didn’t matter. She’d brought down warriors with twice their experience. She wasn’t about to let a bunch of wild animals bring her or her mate to their knees.

Not today. Not ever.

Sturdy wooden branches ripped through the wall and howls of pain echoed off the stone as the creatures went flying.

Saoirse left them behind, their teeth snapping, then fire erupted to her left, singeing the exposed skin along her arms and hand.

She screamed from the sudden pain, but refused to stop, even as more heat trailed after her. Zylah dodged another attack, but her breath was ragged, her movements slow.

Faster, Saoirse pushed.

Four more Dark Fae prowled from Zylah’s other side, corralling her back until Zylah was pinned against the wall. She grimaced, fear consuming her as hope faded from her eyes.

Saoirse yanked on their bond and Zylah’s head whipped toward her. Recognition sparked there, thank the gods. Recognition and relief.

Saoirse drew her knives and let them fly. They sank into the creature’s thick hide, effectively drawing their attention toward the new threat.

That’s right. Look at me. Come at me.

Blood rolled down the side of Zylah’s face. Saoirse bared her teeth at the creatures, then Zylah took advantage of their distracted state and sank her knife into the nearest one’s throat.

Its teeth snapped too close to Zylah’s arm when it spun around. Still, the female managed to dodge.

An ache formed behind her temple and Saoirse’s vision went blurry. She bit the inside of her cheek, drawing blood, forcing her eyes to refocus.

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