Page 39 of Darkest Heart

“You’re wrong,” she snapped back. “I have the training, and desire to get her back more than anyone. I won’t get caught.”

My eyes widened. Before I could speak, Erianna chimed in again. “Really? More than Sebastian? They’re soulmates. You might be her mom, but you’ve put her in danger more than once, so don’t go acting like you’re the only one who cares.”

Ravena pointed a long, black nail at her. “You know nothing about the things I’ve had to do to keep her out of danger.”

“Well,” Erianna said, stepping closer, “you’ve done a great job. Forcing her to wear that trailic certainly helped things.”

My stomach knotted as she referenced the attempted rape. “We will all go,” I said, stepping between the two of them. “We can’t waste time. The four of us are enough to get her back. We don’t need Sargon and his army.”

Erianna nodded. “I agree.”

Ravena’s jaw clenched, her eyes darting around the empty streets around us. “Then the three of us are going. Erianna can wait for Sargon,” she said, gesturing to me and Zach.

“That’s hilarious,” Erianna said, moving me out of the way. “If you have any chance of getting her back, it’s with me there.”

Ravena tilted her head, her black hair pooling around one shoulder. “How modest of you.”

“Look, lady.” Erianna grabbed her dagger. “I am not going to stand here and argue with you. Zach and I have been warriors in your husband’s armies for decades. We’re centuries older than you, and yes, while Sargon’s armies would help.” She glanced over her shoulder at me, then turned back to Ravena. “We can do it ourselves. Zach and I have extensive training. You have some,” she admitted, and Ravena tensed. “As for Seb, he’ll die to get Liv back, so we’re good. Seb’s right, we need to go now. The three are going. Come with us or stay behind. Butweare leaving.”

I placed my hand on Erianna’s shoulder.

Zach raises his brows at Ravena, and white knuckled the hilt of the sword he’d gotten from our old house. “We will do better with you, Ravena.”

“Then we leave him a message.”

Zach shook his head, his whisper barely legible. “We can’t have anyone know where we’re going. If a whisper of this gets out, they will move her. Don’t think the aniccipere don’t have eyes and ears everywhere.”

Urgency swept through me as I thought back to the waves of pain I felt from Olivia. “He’s right. Come on Erianna.” I extended my arms, and she rolled her eyes again, but a hint of a smile shone through.

“Don’t drop me,” she warned. I rubbed my hand over her wingless pang, a jab of pain shooting through my chest.

Ravena groaned, throwing Sargon’s message on the ground. “Fine. But if she gets killed because we don’t have Sargon’s support, then it’s on you.”

Erianna and I exchanged looks, and Zach stepped to Ravena’s side. Always the peacemaker. The winds above picked up, enough to carry us faster to the south.

FOURTEEN

Niall

I forced open the door to Gwen’s room, surprised she was awake this early. She folded a map of Sanmorte in half, then shoved it under the bed as I slammed the door shut behind me.

“You devious bitch!” I shouted, grabbing her by the waist.

“Someone’s in a bad mood today.”

A low growl reverberated in my chest as I thought about her snooping through our private folders. “What were you doing looking through our stuff?” I snapped. “Do not fucking lie to me this time.”

Her heart pounded, the sound galloping in my ears. “I was searching for anything that could tell me where Astor is.”

The patience in me snapped when I heard his name. “He’s responsible for what happened to Seraphina. Wake the fuck up, Gwen. He wasn’t kidnapped. He took her.”

“Where’s your proof?”

My shoulders tensed. “I just know.”

“So you don’t have any.” She blew out a long exhale. “I won’t go through your things again, but please can you keep me informed on what you find? I’m sure you’ve been feeding information to Sebastian to find her.”

“I’ve given him some information,” I admitted. “Not that’s it any of your business. But if anyone can find her, it’s him. They’re soulmates.” I looked at Gwen, who gritted her teeth. Something in her eyes changed, a darkness I seldom saw. “Is that jealousy I sense?”

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