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Saoirse passed her a single glance. “Trust me.” She knew Zylah didn’t and maybe she never would, but when presented with the choice of Niall or Saoirse, Zylah chose Saoirse. At least it seemed that way as Saoirse leapt from the floating city’s edge and the pair plummeted through the sky.

Chapter Seventy-six

Rion

Rion panted as they continued trudging across the terrain in the dark. The adrenaline had worn off and suddenly he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep pushing his body. Sweat beaded against his brow and when the rain started, Rion thanked the gods. He tilted his head back, letting the cool water wash away the sweat, grime, and crusted blood coating his entire body.

His mother did the same while Kaylee just held her hands out, trying to catch the droplets.

Then he saw the girl’s smile as she turned to him and Rion’s heart melted. He’d push on, if only for her.

It was the first time she’d looked at him since their run-in with the hounds.

They’d left the ash behind over an hour ago and were greeted with an open rolling landscape dotted with trees. Night still kept them hidden from the world, but there was no telling what they’d face come sunrise. Rion didn’t know if Niall would send warriors to check on his prisoners or to deliver food and supplies to the girl. He should have asked, planned everything out.

“We need to clean your wounds,” his mother said, eyeing him. Rion hadn’t realized how slow he’d been walking until now. He could hardly recall the last few minutes. Gods, his head was throbbing.

“Later,” he said. They had to find shelter first. If Niall discovered them missing and sent a group of warriors to retrieve them, it would all be over.

Rion didn’t want to imagine what Niall would do to his mother or the girl for escaping.

Eimear didn’t argue, nor did she look at him again as they pressed forward. He studied a warrior’s determination and realized she wouldn’t go back. Even if Niall sent a hundred warriors, Eimear would die fighting, content to let her long life end rather than be imprisoned again.

Rion steeled himself, his very bones crying out as he pushed his legs to move faster.

Thunder cracked overhead and Kaylee ran to his mother’s side, clutching her leg. He thought he saw a faint smile trace Eimear’s lips and Rion was suddenly pulled back to a time when he was young. Eimear had given him that smile before, offered it to Saoirse, too. A smile reserved for children and her family.

Emotion swelled through him and he turned away, refusing to look at her again.

The trio continued through the storm, pushing their worn bodies past the brink of exhaustion. It was his mother who pointed out an outcropping of rock and the space beneath it.

Rion sniffed the area and studied the tracks through blurring vision. Nothing large seemed to dwell within and the thick brush surrounding it would give them cover.

The trio crawled inside right as dawn began lightening the sky.

Kaylee, little as she was, walked about without issue, but Rion and his mother were forced to kneel, and eventually Rion just shifted to crawling across the dirt floor. He spotted a few pieces of dry wood in the back and sent up a prayer to the gods for their fortune.

He’d also found a rolled blanket and an empty shoulder pack. Travelers frequented the cave, which meant they weren’t far from a road. Good, his mother and Kaylee could get a proper meal soon.

Rion hadn’t planned to make a fire, but Kaylee’s teeth were chattering and the rain had soaked them all to the bone. He handed her the blanket and the girl draped it across her shoulders.

His mother slumped against the furthest wall and Rion crept as close as he dared before working on a spark. She watched him like a predator assessing its prey, marking every movement and hesitation.

“You can sleep,” Rion said. “I’ll take first watch.” Though he’d probably have to stand in the rain to stay awake.

Smoke. Then a flame, and Rion slowly fed the spark to life. He’d keep it low, just enough to chase the chill from their bones. The smoke curled outside the space but there was little he could do about that. Hopefully the rain would be enough to wash away their tracks and scents. Rion was relying too heavily on Niall’s word that he wouldn’t be back.

“Why save me?” his mother finally asked, her voice a near whisper. Kaylee was already asleep in Eimear’s lap. He wondered if the child had ever had a restful night’s sleep.

Rion couldn’t meet her gaze. “I heard you screaming for weeks. I couldn’t just leave you there.”

Tell her the truth.

No, not yet. Maybe not ever. Because if she learned the truth and he saw disappointment flash across her face, Rion wasn’t sure he could survive it.

She continued to study him, undeterred. “You left the others.”

“Their cells weren’t beside mine. I couldn’t hear them. Not really.” He’d thought he’d heard some echoes, but Niall had distorted his reality so many times, he couldn’t be sure they were real.