Page 18

Arianna

Arianna opened her eyes to find Rion already staring at her. She blinked sleepily, her body heavy with exhaustion. Sunlight already filtered through the small windows, casting a pleasant glow across the floor.

She looked at her mate again. The bags beneath his eyes had faded slightly but were still present. She imagined they would be until they rescued Ellie and put an end to the mess their world had become.

Arianna wondered if they could rescue Ellie and end Vairik in one blow. Perhaps the gods would recognize all their past hardships and grant them that mercy.

Not likely.

Ten thousand. Arianna still couldn’t wrap her mind around the number. How much knowledge had he gathered over the years? How much had he learned? How prepared was he for an infiltration?

They’d been lied to at every turn.

The Dark Fae in the forbidden mountains were actually their guardians. There were Weavers. Fae had been locked in prisons, held against their will for decades, possibly even centuries. And Rion … Rion was the king of their people.

“It’s too early,” he chastised.

“Don’t pretend you aren’t thinking about it all too.”

His hand rose and cupped her cheek. Rion moved his thumb back and forth, drinking her in as if she were some sort of miracle. “How are you feeling?”

Arianna stretched her side and winced slightly. Rion’s jaw worked. “Well, my head isn’t splitting open today, so that’s a pleasant change.”

“Good.” He didn’t move.

“We can’t stay in here all day.”

Rion looked her over again, twirling the loose strands of her hair. “Not yet,” he whispered.

She rested one hand on top of his and relished in his warmth. “I think I can hear your sister pacing.”

“She can wait.”

“What if I said, I’m hungry?”

His eyes met hers. “Are you?”

“A little.”

Rion threw off the covers and was dressed faster than she could even sit up. He got her clothes together too, then helped her scoot to the edge of the bed. She stood easier today, but despite wanting to walk, Rion was having none of it.

Saoirse was speaking with one of the guards when Rion opened the door. She raised a brow. “Are you planning to carry her forever?”

“Only until she’s out of pain.”

His sister made a face. “The Weaver’s magic didn’t help?”

“It did,” Arianna answered. “She just said it’ll take time. It doesn’t work the same as mine.”

“Not sure what good it’ll do out on the battlefield then. They mentioned wanting to teach us, but if the results are that slow—”

“It saved her life,” Rion countered. “That’s good enough for me.”

“You always were up for learning new things,” Saoirse said. “Never could keep him out of the library when he was a kid.”

Arianna liked the image that brought about. A small Rion, pouring over piles of books, perhaps even taking notes before running off to try something new.

“Where is everyone else?” Arianna asked.

“Talon and Raevina are already grilling Conall. Cara and Zylah are talking to the locals. Gavin is sulking in a corner.”

“Meaning Talon won’t let him leave his side.”

“Pretty much.”

Arianna sighed. She knew Gavin hadn’t had anything to do with Ellie’s capture. Not really. He was just as much a victim as anyone else. But at least Talon wasn’t demanding him to remain in chains.

They began walking toward Conall’s cabin. “The villagers have been talking about what you did last night. For the infant.”

“Is she okay?”

“Perfectly fine this morning. Screaming and crying like any other youngling.” Saoirse grimaced, but Arianna saw the smile behind it. The relief that a young life could be spared and given a chance to grow.

“Are Conall’s warriors back yet?” Rion asked.

Saoirse shook her head. “He claims they could be here any day. He wants to give them a chance to rest before we move out. I can’t say, from a commander’s standpoint, that I disagree.” Arianna’s stomach dropped.

“You think he has the numbers?”

“He claims he does. From what I’ve pieced together so far, the mission will rely on stealth, therefore numbers aren’t what’s needed, at least, assuming everything goes according to plan.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Arianna asked.

“Then we storm the place. Or blow it up if everyone manages to get out safely.”

“I wish you would have brought more warriors,” Rion said.

“We had to lay low, just in case Niall or his father were watching from the shadows. Those who escorted us here claim he has spies everywhere.”

“It seems surreal, doesn’t it?” Arianna asked. “To imagine a single person having that much control over the world?”

“One person controls a country. I’m sure his magic works the same. He likely has a council who closely believe in his cause and that council has trusted warriors under their belts. Those warriors have their own commanders and the commanders have soldiers. It’s all a line of power and if no one stands up against it, the power never shifts.”

“But this is a continent,” Arianna said. “The sheer amount of people—”

“Keep in mind he’s had nearly a millennium.”

Millennium. It was still an unfathomable amount of time. Arianna kept hoping she’d wake up from a dream. But that’s exactly what they were trying to do. Wake everyone up and recover their lost history.

They arrived to find Talon, Raevina and Conall leaning over a map. Talon was pointing to something, in the middle of a question when the trio turned at their approach.

Gavin was indeed sulking, though he sat in the same circle, watching with his hands neatly placed in his lap.

“My Lady,” Conall said, standing before bowing at the waist. He didn’t rise before saying, “My Lord. What can we do for you this morning?”

“Your queen is hungry,” Rion declared, making her face flush. “And quite frankly, so am I. Where is breakfast served?”

Conall only smiled. “It’s nearly done and will be brought out shortly. Do you need anything else?”

“A bath,” Saoirse said, her tone just as clipped as her brothers.

“You two are horrible,” Arianna grumbled.

The siblings exchanged a glance, then Saoirse snickered. Rion couldn’t hide his smile either.

“Can you please aid us in satisfying our hunger and point us in the direction of a warm bath? Saoirse mocked. She turned to Arianna. “Is that better?”

Even Conall laughed. “As I said, breakfast is on the way and baths can be discussed once we have a plan laid out.”

“Don’t stop on our account,” Saoirse said before straddling one of the empty chairs backwards. Rion helped Arianna settle into the one beside Talon, but Rion remained standing, his eyes already roaming across the detailed map and the points they’d marked.

“Once we’re inside, our first objective will be sneaking into the lower dungeons to retrieve the prisoners. We’re already aware many of the Fae will be in less than optimal condition, so we’ve made arrangements to sedate them to prevent any unnecessary outbursts.”

“Do you think Ellie is in those dungeons?” Arianna asked hopefully.

Conall grimaced and shook his head. “We’d have to be very, very lucky. Unfortunately, being that she’s your sister, she’s likely kept closer to Vairik.”

“She is,” Gavin confirmed. “She’s often in his study and when she’s not there, she’s in a cell below it.”

A chill swept down her spine. “What is he doing to her in there?”

Gavin clenched his fist. “I don’t know. I was never allowed to stay long.”

“How are we supposed to get her out if you don’t want a confrontation with Vairik?” Talon asked.

“Distraction. If something big starts happening in his city, then he’ll have no choice but to investigate and handle it himself. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about him, it’s that he craves power and control.”

“I don’t suppose you’re going to share the details about said distraction?” Raevina pushed.

“I have several in mind, but isn’t that why were here? To formulate the plan?” They all nodded and Arianna was surprised to find herself relieved. Conall wanted to build this mission from the ground up with help from her and her companions. She wondered if he knew how much that likely meant to them and the trust it bred.

Conall continued. “Getting past the guards and inside is simple enough. Navigating the lower levels is even easier, especially given that they’re not routinely patrolled, but we’ve never attempted to go higher, which means,” His eyes turned to Gavin. “Unfortunately, we have to rely on you for information.”

Gavin straightened. “If it’s for Evelyn, I’ll tell you anything you want to know, but I have a condition.”

Talon growled. “You’re not exactly in a place to negotiate conditions. I thought you wanted to save Evelyn?”

“I do, but Conall mentioned blowing the place up. I just want safe passage for my mom and sisters.”

Silence fell over the space before Conall said, “Your mom is Vairik’s daughter. Niall’s sister. Doesn’t that mean she’ll be protected by him too?”

Gavin shook his head. “Vairik has many children. He—he picks females based on the power of their magic and breeds with them for the sole purpose of producing a strong heir. Very few have met his expectations and his drive for … producing another has dwindled over the years.”

“That’s disgusting,” Zylah said, emerging from Conall’s cabin with a tray of food in each hand. Cara followed after, along with several others and placed the trays in everyone’s laps.

“Agreed,” Gavin replied. “They live on the outskirts. I just don’t want them caught in the aftermath.”

“They’re not within the main city?”

Gavin shook his head and Talon sat back. “I’m surprised he doesn’t keep you all close.”

“He has Niall check in from time to time. I showed some promise a few years ago, which is why I’m there now instead of with my mother. I’m rarely allowed to visit, but I still know where they live.” He looked between them. “They’re not at fault for anything. I just don’t want them punished along with … the others.”

Conall’s gaze softened. “We don’t punish those who are innocent.”

Gavin glanced down at the iron bracelet circling his wrist. “It shows.”

They were all silent again. Arianna had never wanted Gavin in chains, but Talon and the others had placed cuffs on him and beaten him from the moment he’d arrived. They’d blamed him for things beyond his control. He’d grown up at the mercy of the oldest Fae on the continent and they’d not given him the benefit of the doubt.

Gavin hadn’t had a choice. Perhaps he’d never had one. Maybe his first choice had been running from Niall and Vairik. It was an action that’d labeled him a traitor and prevented him from ever returning to his home country.

Even so, neither Talon nor Rion appeared apologetic.

“Your mother didn’t take someone dear to us,” Rion said. “You did.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Maybe. You aid us in getting Ellie out and we’ll clear your name.”

Gavin’s eyes lit up. “You mean it?”

“So long as she doesn’t tell us otherwise,” Talon said. “If you did anything to hurt her—”

“Could you hurt Raevina?” Gavin countered, unfamiliar anger flaring in his eyes. Talon’s lips parted and Conall stared at the pair, realization sparking in his eyes.

“Careful,” Talon seethed.

“Then don’t insult me. I’d never do anything to harm Evelyn.”

“Are we finished with the pissing contest?” Saoirse said. “I’d like to get back to discussing the actual mission.”

“Right,” Conall said, addressing Gavin again. “We need you to draw a map with every detail you can think of. We need to know where guards are stationed, when rotations shift, and what magic they use.” Conall pulled several sheets of paper out from under his current map. “We also need to know where the offices for his council are located and what time of day the council members are most likely to visit.”

“You think I know all of that?”

“Just give us what you can,” Arianna said gently. “Anything will help.”

Gavin stood and crossed the space, taking the pen and paper from Conall’s hands. “I’ll do my best.”

“While Gavin’s busy with that,” Saoirse said. “How exactly are we getting inside?”

“There’s a series of underground tunnels through the mountain that start just over the ridge there,” Conall pointed. “And opens up at the edge of the ocean, right beside Ashling. The exit point requires us to scale down the cliffs.”

“Won’t they notice us?” Saoirse asked. “I mean, you all have a barrier around this place. Don’t they have the same?”

“They do, but the tunnels allow us to sneak past it. The High Lord, at present, doesn’t know about them.”

“Let’s hope he hasn’t made a recent discovery then,” Talon said. “How do we blend in?”

“We’ll enter a few at a time and pose as a security patrol. There are hundreds of them. As long as we keep our hoods up and don’t make a ruckus, we can pass through the city undetected.”

“They won’t scent us?”

“It’ll be irrelevant if they do, plenty of Fae from the various nations call Ashling home. Despite separating the rest of the continent, Vairik understands the strength of a unified city.

“Once we’re beyond the perimeter guard and through the city, you’ll find a channel of water that flows under the castle and exits into the ocean. It’s where waste is discarded, but the channel is large enough to accommodate several bodies at one time. We’ll use the current to move into the underground chamber. Everything is easy from there.”

Talon glanced down at the map and followed an invisible line with his eyes, as if he were already following Conall’s instructions in his head. “That seems like quite a vulnerable point to leave open.”

“It’s not open, there are guards, but those with Pádraigín’s magic will blend us into the environment. There is enough of it already at work that they won’t notice a bit more.”

“Sounds simple enough, if not disgusting,” Raevina commented.

“With enough room for a million things to go wrong,” Talon added.

“If they go wrong, we pull out and retreat to the tunnels. Veer toward the ocean if you have no other option.” Conall turned to Arianna. “Your ability to control water will work to your advantage, but Fae from Móirín also guard the shoreline so you’ll have to be careful.”

Arianna nodded. “I will be.”

“Once Gavin finishes, we’ll talk more. For now, I encourage each of you to learn as many runes as you’re able. My warriors will also have additional insights and opinions upon their return.”

Arianna stared at the map and the black castle that had been drawn at the edge of the ocean. It stood in stark contrast to everything else. It felt like a blight on the land.

“My Queen,” Arianna glanced up at Conall. “We’ll make every effort to rescue your sister. But if it comes down to losing everything or letting her go—”

Arianna’s gaze turned icy and her magic sparked in her veins. Conall straightened as if he could sense the shift. “I will not leave without her. You do what you must for your people, but I’m staying as long as it takes to find Ellie.”

“Even if it means the fall of the continent?”

“Even if it means the fall of the world.”

Conall looked ready to protest but nodded instead. The action … surprised her. Most would have argued or threatened to leave her behind if she didn’t comply. But this male didn’t.

“Now, about that bath,” Conall said. Saoirse’s eyes sparked like a child who’d been offered a sweet. “We have natural hot springs nearby if you’re interested.”

“Hell yes, we’re interested,” Raevina said before anyone could object. “I haven’t soaked in a natural spring since leaving Purog.”

Conall chuckled then stood. “I’ll have Cara lead the way then.”