Page 135 of The Revered and the Pariah

If they mentioned wives or children, it was an afterthought. Maybe she needed to create her own stories. Perhaps even write them down for future generations.

Many had taken multiple lovers throughout their lives and the conflicts from that alone echoed through generations. Their children—

An alarm blared through the library and Arianna shot to her feet and covered her ears, bracing against the sudden shrill sound.

Those in the library began scrambling toward their peers. The double doors slammed opened and the Fae male who seemed to run the library whispered to a colleague before he began shouting orders for everyone to take cover.

Arianna followed the panicked crowd down the stairs, trying to push past their frenzy. She grabbed the male barking orders by his sleeve, wishing she could remember his name. “What’s going on?”

“There’s been an attack.”

Her blood turned to ice. “On the city?”

The male shook his head. “On a village nearby. The injured are arriving now, but the one responsible hasn’t been apprehended.” Recognition flashed across his face and the male promptly bowed his head. “My Lady, I’m so sorry.”

She furrowed her brow. “About what?”

He licked his lips, unsure at first, then lowered his voice to a near whisper. “I’m told The Demon is responsible.”

The room went cold and she staggered back a step. “The Demon?”

The male nodded, his expression grim. “Please, let us take you somewhere safe. The guards are afraid—my Lady!”

Arianna hadn’t waited for him to finish speaking before she was sprinting through the hall, dodging those filing toward the safest rooms in the manor. Rooms that would be heavily guarded.

They’d mentioned protocol at one point, but Arianna hadn’t absorbed the information. She wasn’t certain if she was supposed to join the civilians or if they had a special place where they hid The Divine. Not that she’d allow herself to be separated.

Arianna desperately searched the silent bond. Why hadn’t she felt anything? Why couldn’t she find him now, when the alarms were echoing through the city and everything had been plunged into chaos?

Rion, where are you?

Arianna tried to ignore the whispers as she passed, her feet pounding against the polished floors.

I thought he’d changed.

I can’t believe he’d betray the crown.

Did you see the victims?

Monster.

Demon.

Traitor.

The crowds by the front door were too thick so she stopped at a window and threw it open. The scent of blood hit her then, thick and repulsive.

She backed away, her breathing coming faster and faster.

Rion didn’t do this. He wouldn’t.

“My queen.” A guard stopped before her and dropped to one knee. “Please, come inside, let us—”

But she was running again. He called her name, but Arianna ignored the guard and raced up the stairs. She darted down a hall they never frequented, her legs carried by some unseen force.

Then she felt him. Finally. His desperation. His pain. The plea as he tugged on their bond in a frantic rhythm, almost as if he’d been doing it for hours.

But before she could sort through the reasons, a hand shot out from behind a door and dragged her inside.

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