Page 212 of The Revered and the Pariah

Or he was still just so exhausted that he couldn’t be bothered to defend himself. Not that Arianna or Saoirse would let anyone attack him now.

Eimear watched Arianna with utmost fascination. She had a bit more color to her cheeks and she’d washed all the dirt and blood from her face and body. Eimear wore a hood to cover her head, but Arianna caught a glimpse of the cleanly shaven skin beneath.

The High Lady of Brónach clutched a steaming mug between her thin hands. “You should have some.” Arianna almost responded before realizing Eimear had addressed Rion.

Her mate tried to rise, but Saoirse stopped him with a gesture of her hand. The female was across the room in a second and filled two mugs with the steaming liquid. She returned, moving a bit more carefully and handed one to Arianna, then her brother.

Arianna stared into the brown liquid and took a sip. Mint tea. Rion did the same and a mysterious emotion flickered across his face.

She squeezed her mate’s hand.

A strange glint had Arianna turning back to Eimear and the bracelet around her wrist. It was thin and did nothing to cover the thick scars left from her shackles, but—

“You’re wearing iron?”

Eimear casually studied the metal. “I’d rather not see what happens when my powers are released after being restrained for so long.” She waited a moment before adding, “With my visions, I could enter a comatose state for weeks, and I’ve had enough of prisons, even ones of my own making.”

Right, Arianna had forgotten the female was a seer. One of the rare few. Perhaps the only one currently living. The rest, like a large portion of their history, had been forgotten. Arianna wondered if the previous Divine had burned all that knowledge, too.

Rion looked ready to speak when Talon sauntered through the door, rain water dripping off his dark blue uniform. He noticed those already gathered and studied each in turn before carefully removing his weapons. His eyes didn’t leave Saoirse’s who looked ready to tear the male in half.

“Easy,” Rion said from beside her.

Eimear looked her daughter over, a mother appraising the warrior her daughter had become. “Let’s not forget he helped a great deal in my rescue.”

Saoirse turned back to the fire and loosed a breath. She mumbled something that sounded like an apology. Arianna sympathized. Saoirse hadn’t seen her mother in over eighty years and had thought the female dead. Of course she’d be more than a little protective.

Talon took a seat in the single armchair across the room. A three-piece sectional sofa sat in the middle of the space with a coffee table to its front.

A sliding glass door to Arianna’s left let in some natural light while a simple chandelier above their heads illuminated the rest of the space.

They waited in silence, the only sounds the crackling fire and Eimear sipping her tea. Then Saoirse threw another log into the flames and the door opened again.

Arianna’s father entered this time, tall and proud and elegant as he’d ever been. He surveyed those within the room, his gaze almost cold and calculated. She bristled when those eyes stopped on Rion. Her mate didn’t move. No growling or posturing as Fae males usually did. Arianna found herself leaning closer to her mate, a movement not lost on Avalon.

He smiled and walked into the room with the same male trailing him from yesterday.

Arianna surveyed the male now. Tall and muscular with short cropped dark hair and matching eyes. His posture spoke of years of training, perhaps even decades. Her father’s new personal guard. Arianna wondered if Talon recognized the male.

Avalon seated himself on the left most cushion of the sofa and his guard stood directly behind him, eyeing everyone in the room as if they might be a threat to his High Lord. Arianna was certain his promotion had come recently.

To Arianna’s surprise, Zylah entered the room next, followed by a young male that Arianna thought she recognized, but couldn’t place. Raevina followed behind them, but unlike the others, she didn’t set her weapons by the door.

Talon eyed her but said nothing.

Ellie entered last with an injured Kirian at her side and Gavin trailing close behind.

Arianna was on her feet in an instant. “What happened?” She’d already crossed the room before they could answer. Kirian’s left eye was black and swollen shut and the way he leaned to one side told Arianna enough about how his ribs were faring.

Her sister wasn’t free of bruises, either. Blue lined her jaw and a dark slash stretched along her forearm from wrist to elbow.

“We escaped,” Ellie said simply.

Arianna placed her hand over Kirian’s eye. He flinched slightly but kept still. “Escaped what?”

Ellie eyed their father. “Niall. A lot happened after you left.” Niall had hurt her? He’d beaten Kirian? Had he discovered their plan just as Gavin claimed he would? Arianna finished with Kirian and worked on her sister.

Their father’s voice interrupted before Arianna could ask her sister a dozen questions. “Have a seat.”

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