Page 43 of City of Promise and Light (Mates of Gods and Fae #1)

Kieran

M y fingers drum against the round, wooden table.

I’ve been sitting in the council room for hours now, recalling memory after memory of our previous mission.

About what tipped off the guards regarding Lady Lowell’s escape, of how Lord Astaroth ran out with Lord Pasian and a healer following him to stitch mine and Orin’s wounds, of the strange look in Lord Pasian’s eyes as he waited for the healer to look over Lady Lowell.

I lost more soldiers than I thought I would and not knowing the reason behind it ate away at me.

“Am I interrupting?” Viv’s soft voice snapped me out of my thoughts, my gaze slamming to hers.

“Lord Pasian and Lady Lowell,” I murmured.

“Are they close?” Viv opened her mouth, ready to answer when I lifted my hand, silencing her.

“No, never mind. It’s not important.” Flattening my hand against the table, I let out a heavy sigh.

Lady Lowell agreed to help with the rebellion, that was the most important matter. “Is there something to report? ”

“Yes, actually.” Viv straightened, her shoulders tense. “I’ve received word that Arbus didn’t show up for his weekly check-in.” The silence stretched taut between us, the pressure in the room growing. “Kieran,” Viv warned.

Pulling my magic back to me, my hands curled into a fists. “I heard you. Has Samian sent word?”

Sybil was being sent to Lowbrook today with General Darktree and Commander Fenleth. We knew that there was a plan against Sybil, but for now, it was just a waiting game.

“No, still no word,” Viv exhaled, falling into a seat. “Nothing from Edris either. It’s like he is still unsure of how the future is going to turn out.”

A weak laugh escaped my lips. “I wouldn’t say that too loud. The bastard isn’t one quick to forgive.”

“I guess out of anyone, you would know,” Viv mused, biting back her laugh.

I hummed, thinking back to the last time I was in the god’s presence, how it ended with him in the middle of Zarina’s treasure hoard and the water dragon’s hostile welcoming . It took three days of hiding and battling the fierce dragon to escape Zarina’s clutches, and he hasn’t forgiven me since.

“It was just a harmless prank,” I grumbled. Edris had not been amused after almost losing an arm, but it was the least I could do after his prank of sending me to Dubnos, the lower realm.

“So,” Viv said hesitantly. “Arbus?”

My fingers started their drumming against the table’s surface again. “I’ll sneak into the palace and see what I can find out. It’s not like him to miss a check-in.”

Viv nodded, her expression darkening. “Will you be okay going in alone?”

I shot her a glare, my magic stirring beneath my skin. “They haven’t noticed me yet, nor will they this time. I know how to get around the palace unseen. Just keep Bryony occupied while I am gone. We don’t need her to overhear some idiot before we know more.”

Viv would kill me if she knew where I was right now.

Not even I thought I would end up on the streets of Volmire, watching the parade of palace soldiers riding through the streets to Lowbrook.

However, each passage exit was blocked by guards and servants running through the halls, helping the soldiers prepare for their trip.

They started later than I expected, but there she was, riding on the proud black horse with General Darktree. My chest ached at the sight of her, feeling that strange pull toward her. I couldn’t help but stop, to watch her leave the city, anxiety gnawing on my soul for her.

She scanned the crowd, taking in their wary faces until her gaze landed on mine.

I saw her eyes widen as they lingered on me, though she couldn’t see my face underneath the hood covering me.

She couldn’t see the fire taking over me, pushing me closer to her.

Her throat bobbing, Sybil quickly turned away, focusing on the cobbled road in front of her, cutting off the strange feeling overtaking my body.

Rolling my neck, I shook Sybil from my thoughts and stepped through the crowd to find the hidden tunnel we used to leave the city. Luckily, the guards left the area to control the mass of citizens watching the soldiers leave the city.

Dipping into the passageway unseen, I followed the darkened path to the route leading into the dungeons.

Usually empty, save for the few guards going on their rounds, I easily climbed out of the small opening, dropping quietly to the floor, careful to not disturb the heavy silence hanging in the air.

I quietly followed the hall that would take me to the next entrance that would lead me to Samian’s room.

Blood, piss, and death stung my nose, and I pulled the scarf around my face tighter, hoping to block the smell.

I walked carefully along the cells, eyeing the prisoners sleeping on lumps of hay.

The occupied cells were becoming more dispersed, as if they wanted to keep this area clear of unwanted attention, until finally every cell was empty.

A pained scream tore through the silence, and I put my hand on the hilt of the dagger strapped to my side, stopping to listen to the groans sounding from three cells ahead.

I crept up to the cell, peering around the corner. I swallowed my curse, my eyes went wide when I saw Ambrose standing in front of Arbus’s limp form, tied to a chair.

Ambrose’s muffled voice hissed out a question, the muscles in his arms flexing when Arbus refused to answer. Ambrose raised his hand, his dagger glinting harshly in the cold light, and slammed it into Arbus’s leg.

I swallowed down my repulsion, making sure my mental shields were up, keeping my emotions locked inside my head, as I watched Ambrose lean close, whispering into his ear.

Arbus shook his head, tears mixed with blood, pouring down his face in a crimson streak.

My hand tightened around my dagger, so tight that my fingers ached.

I needed to do something—to stop Ambrose from his interrogation.

But there were too many guards around, too many for me to handle on my own.

Instead, I backed into the next cell, my jaw clenching tight. I hid within the shadows, waiting until Ambrose roared out a curse, throwing his dagger against the wall. Ambrose briskly left the cell, his guards warily trailing after him, giving me the chance to help Arbus escape .

Rushing into the room, I didn’t stop until I was kneeling in front of him, inspecting the severity of his wounds.

His eyes were blackened and swollen, with an ugly gash along his brow.

His body was littered with cuts, slashes splitting his skin.

Blood poured from the stab wounds on his thighs.

He panted, his chest heaving with every raspy breath.

My throat tightened and my hand found his. Arbus moaned, his eyes slowly opening to slits. He blinked the haze away, focusing his gaze on me. His pupils flared when he recognized who was kneeling before him.

“You’re okay,” I murmured, turning my focus on the chains tying him to the chair. “How long have you been here?”

“He caught me three days ago,” Arbus croaked, a tremor wracking through his body. “I didn’t realize Ambrose was close by until it was too late.”

“It’s okay,” I breathed, trying to break the metal links. “We’re going to get you out of here so you can get back to Bryony.”

Arbus coughed, blood flowing out of his mouth and down his chin. “He is going to be back any moment.”

“Then I will?—”

Voices cut off my words before I could even finish my thought.

Two guards grumbled about the heaviness of the table they carried, the sound of metal scraping across the stone floor bouncing off the walls.

I swore, working faster to break the chains before they could get to the cell.

I could fight them off, then carry Arbus out of here.

“Leave,” Arbus begged, his voice a raspy whisper. “Leave before he catches you.”

“I almost have it,” I whispered. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“Kieran, tell her,” Arbus paused, taking a gravelly breath, “Please tell her that I love her and that I’m sorry.”

“I’m not?—”

“Hey,” a guard roared, the sound of the table dropping cutting me off.

I whirled toward them, drawing my dagger.

With this confined space, my sword would be useless.

The guards charged me, and I braced myself, letting one of them barrel into me, shoving me against the stone wall.

Grunting, I lifted my arm, crashing my elbow against his back.

The guard cried out, his arms loosening as he fell to his knees.

Catching his face, I rammed my knee straight into his nose.

The crunch of bone breaking sent a thrill up my spine when Arbus yelled out my name.

Looking up, more guards ran into the cell.

I released a sharp breath and moved, sending my fists toward the closest guard.

My hand connected with his jaw, his head snapping back from my blow.

Another guard lunged toward me, and I caught him, sending my knee into his gut.

He coughed, the breath leaving his lungs as I hurled him into the guard behind me.

The rest of the guards surrounded me, blindly throwing hits in my direction as footsteps echoed down the hall. If I waited any longer, I would be overrun by them and I would end up sitting next to Arbus awaiting my own interrogation.

Blocking their throws, I glanced to Arbus, his wide eyes frozen in fear. His eyes whipped to the entrance before meeting mine again. “Go!” he cried out. “You need to go now!”

My heart broke at the sound of his voice, begging me to leave. He was a friend and loyal soldier, a guide when I needed someone to talk to. I squeezed my eyes shut, taking a sharp breath. My magic was useless in closed spaces. It needed the open air to be effective.

I opened my eyes, resolve settling deep in my bones.

I threw Arbus one last glance before bellowing, attacking any guard close enough for me to strike.

Chaos circled me as I fought my way through the horde of soldiers until I made it out of the cell and ran like hell.

Reaching the hidden passage door, I wrenched it open, throwing myself in and swiftly closing the door behind me.

I held my breath, watching the guards pass me by through a small gap in the door, yelling out commands, searching for any hint of my presence.

Once I caught my breath, I ran down the dark hall, passing a grated window that looked out to the courtyard of the palace.

A monstrous black horse galloped at high speed, sliding to a stop in front of the palace.

I swallowed my curse when I saw Sybil covered in dirt and blood, her eyes distant and unseeing.

General Darktree’s movements were frantic as he pulled her off his horse, carrying her inside the palace.

My soul screamed for me to follow, but guards filled the courtyard, and it was time for me to go.

I pushed down that siren’s call, tugging me to Sybil and followed the passage out of the palace. I didn’t stop until I was safely in the forest, fearing that if I paused, I would lose the fight to return to Sybil.

I made it halfway into the forest when the trees to my right groaned, their branches snapping, falling to the ground with heavy thuds. I stilled, holding my breath, careful not to make any sudden movements. Sliding my gaze to the noise, my heart stopped.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings as I should have, and now I was about to pay the price.

I called my magic to me, letting the wind shift my scent to the opposite direction. The beithir jerked, its nose raised in the air. Its massive head turned away from me and I moved, sprinting to the largest tree I could find. I climbed as high as I could go and pressed my back into the rough bark .

The beithir hissed, its enormous body bounding in my direction, searching for me as I hid along the branches, still using the wind to mask my scent.

Its forked tongue flicked in the air, still searching for my location.

Calmly pulling my dagger out of its sheath, I listened as the leaves crunched beneath the beithir’s body as it moved closer to the tree.

The air around me grew heavy with my magic and I pushed it to a tree in the distance, creating a tunnel of wind sharp enough to cut a branch in two. The beithir’s head whipped at the thump of the limb hitting the forest floor, hesitating before finally slithering away.