Page 165 of The Revered and the Pariah

“What does that mean?”

“It means there are Fae out there who are stronger than Niall or myself. The gift evolves with age and experience.” He waved a hand around the room. “The only thing I could manipulate is this room and my scent,” he added. “It’s helped me escape a few close calls.”

“With Niall?” Arianna inquired.

He nodded. “He’s not quite as patient as he puts off. He’s been known to kill any who cross him and make an example out of them while doing it.”

Arianna’s blood ran cold. “And you’re afraid he’s going to do the same to you?”

“If he finds out anything I’ve told you, yes. He will and he’ll do it without hesitation.”

“But I thought you two were family?”

Gavin shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Not in Pádraigín.”

“Doesn’t matter in Fiadh either,” Raevina said. “I guess our countries have something in common after all.”

Shit. Arianna had known Gavin was afraid of Niall, but she hadn’t imagined the male quite so brutal. Not with everything he’d said and done. It explained why Gavin hadn’t stopped trembling since they’d dragged him into the room.

Gavin had told them everything. He’d detailed his findings of the underground prison, a document he’d run across in Niall’s office. Then he mentioned Niall’s ruthless court and how he’d run this place for centuries and changed it in all the wrong ways.

He’d done so many things just to impress her and earn her favor. And threatened those who could expose him. Gavin included.

Gavin was trusted with a lot of information, but the things written on those documents hadn’t been part of it.

The documents listed over a hundred prisoners, mentioned slaves, and even gave coordinates across the continent. Perhaps there were other prisons. Arianna planned to find out soon enough.

She eyed Gavin. It all felt too easy. Too convenient for him to know so much and be willing to simply part with the information. He might be nervous in the room surrounded by warriors, but he wasn’t afraid. Not really.

“Why help us at all?” Arianna asked.

“You’re our queen,” he said as if that should be explanation enough.

“Try again,” Talon chimed in. “How do we know you haven’t been cloaking your scent this entire time to lure us all into one of Niall’s traps?”

Gavin opened his mouth to speak and something like fear flashed across his face. He didn’t have a good answer for that.

Did they risk trusting him, then? Was Rion really in this prison or would Arianna find herself back in shackles at the end?

Gavin’s gaze flickered toward Ellie and Arianna didn’t miss the way her sister bristled at his stare. She glanced between the two, but when Gavin started to say something, Ellie cut him off.

“You keep your damn mouth shut.” Ellie’s aggression caught her off guard and even Raevina stood straighter, one hand venturing toward her weapon.

“If they need a reason—”

“I will cram your teeth down your throat if you say one more word.”

His lips snapped shut, but Talon was already processing. “What’s going on?”

Ellie’s face had reddened and her knuckles were white. “Nothing,” she said. “He’s just an arrogant ass who talks too much.”

“I am not arrogant. I only meant that it’s not proper for royalty to be with someone of diluted blood.”

“And I told you to mind your own business.”

“It is my business when—”

Ellie stood and was across the room before anyone could stop her. She grabbed Gavin’s shirt and lifted him from the couch, leaving him to scramble for purchase. Talon was on her a second later, pulling Ellie back while Raevina stood over Gavin with a blade pointed at his chest. Gavin didn’t move.

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