Page 13 of The Sacred and the Tormented

“You don’t know what my father has been cultivating in the shadows.”

Saoirse’s face turned a shade paler. “You have more weavers.”

“More than we’ve ever had in the history of our people.”

“He’s kept them hidden?”

Raevina nodded, her expression almost smug. “My father knows there are spies in his midst. He’s arrogant, but not a fool, much to our disadvantage.” She turned to Arianna. “The attackon Levea wasn’t a onetime deal and had nothing to do with my brother trying to start a revolution. It was a test of Levea’s defenses.”

“A successful test,” Talon said.

“Do you think he’ll strike soon?” Arianna asked. There were still so many refugees on the outskirts of Levea.

Raevina shrugged. “Perhaps. With the fall of the royal city and Avalon away, it would be the perfect opportunity. I’d warrant a guess that my father wants me to lead the attack on the city myself. To test my loyalty.”

“If you don’t return, he might retaliate against this village just to make a point,” Rion said.

Raevina’s face turned grim. “I have no doubt. He’d sooner see me dead than risk my betrayal.”

“Can you send a letter and buy us time?”

She shrugged. “I can try, but the Fae in Fiadh don’t … delay. It’d take me two days to travel back. If I don’t arrive in that time frame, it’s likely that he’ll move.”

Niall, the Dark Fae, the factions, and now Fiadh. “We’re too vulnerable here,” Arianna said.

Rion gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “You should call another meeting with the elders. They might listen to you this time if you fill them in on the situation.”

Arianna shook her head. “I’ve tried. Even with the threat of the Dark Fae, they refuse to budge.”

“Try again,” Raevina said. “The Dark Fae still seem like a myth to most. An army from Fiadh is a real threat. And I assure you, my father will come.”

“Maybe we should consider sending you back,” Rion said.

Talon’s head snapped toward him, but Arianna replied before her friend could. “He’d punish you, wouldn’t he?”

Raevina grimaced. “It wouldn’t be anything I’ve not faced before and certainly not permanent. But yes, he would.”

Arianna saw Talon’s fist clench at his side, then she shook her head. “I won’t send you back to endure that.” She squared her shoulders. “I’ll speak to the village elders again, see what comes from that first.” Her heart was pounding. She’d thought they would be leaving to find her sister tonight, but if Fiadh was marching on them—

Her father entered next and paused on the threshold. His gaze roamed to her first and the way her arms were crossed with Rion’s hand holding her close. Then it drifted to Talon, then Saoirse, and finally Raevina. She grimaced at what this looked like. A meeting he’d been excluded from.

Avalon maintained his composure and cleared his throat. “We have a problem.”

Arianna sighed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Her father ignored the comment and unrolled the map in his hands, laying it out across the desk before her, heedless of the important papers beneath.

Everyone moved in to examine the circles drawn across the map. Circles that followed a path traveling south, right toward them.

“Attacks?” Rion asked.

Avalon nodded. “Messengers just arrived a few minutes ago. The villages were destroyed. There’s nothing left.” No one spoke. “The Dark Fae have … organized.”

“What do you mean?” Saoirse asked.

Avalon handed her a document that Arianna could only assume was the reports mentioned. “They’re moving together. As a unit.”

“How is that possible? Wouldn’t they just kill one another?” Raevina said.

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