Page 80

She searched the sea of faces. Their clothing might not have holes, but their wrists still carried deep scars. Their bodies might be freshly washed, but none were granted the privacy they all deserved. They might be fed, but they didn’t choose their meals. And they might have the ability to roam the most beautiful city in Alastríona, but none were free to make their own choices.

Arianna pivoted toward one of the guards standing watch. She didn’t bother to soften her tone. “I want every single slave, owner, council member, and anyone else who matters brought to the main dining hall in ten minutes.”

He glanced at those standing behind her as if they might try to talk some sense into her. When they didn’t move, the male stammered, “Most have retired for the evening.”

Arianna squared her shoulders, anger bubbling to the surface. “Then wake them. That’s an order.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

Arianna

The slaves readied themselves and Arianna instructed the guards to lead Ellie to the other buildings and anywhere else slaves might be kept against their will. She didn’t trust all were afforded a roof over their heads. Not for a minute.

Ellie’s wrath matched her own. Arianna knew her little sister would ensure the slaves weren’t treated cruelly. She’d be the first to intervene if they were.

Some slaves tried to put on their formal attire, but Arianna told them it wasn’t necessary. As gently as she could, Arianna asked them to dress casually and wear whatever was comfortable. Most were uneasy and their whispered worries reminded Arianna exactly why she’d come to this city.

She wanted to destroy all this. Form a new world. She knew Móirín was the only nation that had outlawed slavery, but before coming, she’d been certain Ruadhán shared similar ideals. So much for peace.

“What’s your plan?” Rion asked, his tone far gentler than it usually was. She hadn’t meant to snap at him, especially not in front of others. She just didn’t want the slaves scared, not when they already feared so much.

“I’m giving them an ultimatum.” Arianna watched groups file from the warehouse-like building they claimed as home. “I won’t spend another night in this city if there are slaves.”

Her mate only smiled. “Good.”

Arianna knew she was outnumbered in her beliefs and that making demands would likely only result in more enemies that wanted her dead, but she had vowed to make a difference. How was she supposed to look Zylah in the eye if she didn’t honor those vows?

Arianna and Rion followed the last of the slaves from the building, bringing up the rear. Zylah had gone ahead with Ellie.

Zylah. She still couldn’t believe the female was alive. But who had kept her away and why had they deemed it appropriate to toss her letters aside? Was it because the female was a half-breed, or had the letters contained information others didn’t want her to see?

Arianna’s heart tugged and broke, bleeding and patching itself together again. Their reunion should have been different. The females should have run straight to the kitchens and stayed up all night talking about their time spent apart while they stuffed themselves sick with chocolates and pastries.

But Zylah’s eyes had barely left the slaves. Arianna’s, too. Zylah had suffered in captivity far longer than Arianna, surviving in a world hell-bent on breaking her.

It hadn’t succeeded.

They reached the dining hall and Fae were already filing in, but Arianna paid them little attention. Her focus was upon Ellie as she entered the room, jaw tight as two females trailed after clutching tiny bundles in their arms. Chains dangled from their wrists.

Icy rage flickered in Arianna’s veins, rumbling beneath the surface of her skin.

Mothers. Mothers of newborn infants and they had chains around their bodies.

Niall strolled in next and the Fae crowded him for answers. He spoke in reassuring tones, promising an explanation soon. Niall shook their hands, greeted them with a smile, then walked right past the females cradling their infants as if they were nothing.

The slaves bowed their heads low when he passed, confirming what she already knew. It was him. Niall had given the order to keep slaves and to keep them hidden from her. He was the Regent, the one who watched over Ruadhán in The Divine’s place. Of course he’d been the one to implement the policy.

Arianna stormed to the front of the hall, the very place where her table was. Ellie, Rion, Talon, and Zylah flanked her and a hushed silence fell over the space.

Niall, still circled by several court Fae, gently pushed them aside to address her. His brow furrowed and he gestured around the room. “Can I ask why we are here at this hour?” She hated the calmness in his tone. The way he outright ignored the slaves as if they were furniture.

Ice had started to form, crawling from beneath her black boots. It had already spread a few inches out, coating the marble floor in a thick jagged layer. Niall eyed it, then shifted his gaze back to her.

“You hid them from me,” she seethed, unable to control her temper. “You knew how I’d feel about it and you hid them anyway.”

He didn’t look surprised. A first for him, though maybe everything before this point had been a show to win her over. “Things are done differently in Móirín. I simply didn’t wish to upset or overwhelm you with—”

“I will not stand for slaves.”