Page 23

Arianna

Perched behind one of the mountain’s jagged edges, Arianna stared down at the massive city below. City. Not village or town. The place was crawling with citizens and sentinels. Animals perched on the rooftops watched the crowd closely. The guards in their Fae forms were just as keen, their gazes catching every shadow that moved.

Her stomach twisted in knots as she watched the first few groups slip inside undetected. Someone from Pádraigín accompanied each small group, using their magic to blend them in with the environment. She’d been afraid of detection, but Conall had assured them the magic would blend in enough. There certainly wasn’t a shortage of it, despite the entire place reeking of iron.

The oily magic crawled all over her, like a parasite trying to leach its way into her body. She’d experienced it so much without even realizing it thanks to Niall. He’d made it seem pleasant, more like a butterfly’s wing beat. Now it felt more like the slime left by a snail.

Her stomach rolled. She hated what Niall had done to her. She hated that she’d been so susceptible to it and how easily she’d fallen prey to his suggestive prodding. Rion had suffered as a result. Perhaps his nightmares were her fault after all. If she’d just been more aware. More—

Rion’s hand threaded through hers and Arianna shook the thoughts away. Later. Right now they were in the middle of phase one. Infiltration.

Another group moved into position, keeping close together as they approached the gate and the guards. Wind whipped at her hair, pulling on the edges of her tight braid as though even it were a spy, just waiting to tell Vairik of their arrival.

The group of six slipped past the guards and blended into the crowded street moments later. Arianna’s gaze lifted to Vairik’s castle in the distance. It loomed above everything, tall and menacing. The structure promised twisting halls that would have them all second guessing their plans.

Tall spikes rose from the top, as if prepared to impale anything that might fly in from above. Large crossbows stood between the spires too. Arianna didn’t want to imagine what kind of creatures Vairik might fear to have something like those in his arsenal.

Another group moved and Rion pulled her closer, crouching down as he watched.

They were next.

Her, Talon, Rion, and a male from Pádraigín that would lead them inside.

Arianna pulled her hood up, as did her companions. Once inside, they’d look like everyone else dressed in the faded green that almost appeared gray.

Raevina was accompanying Gavin and three of Conall’s warriors. Saoirse had refused to leave Zylah’s side. They would be joined by four others.

Arianna tried to calm her racing heart. They’d reconvene inside, but after the underground cells were empty, they’d separate all over again. She wished they could stay altogether, but they’d all agreed that solely relying on a group of strangers probably wasn’t in their best interest.

Raevina and Talon would split off to gather information while Saoirse and Zylah would focus on securing their escape route. Once they had Ellie in hand, alarms would likely start blaring through the city. They’d have minutes before Vairik confronted them personally.

Arianna chewed her lip. There was a very real possibility that one of them could end up captured. Possibly killed. Her heart pounded at the thought. If she were ever put in a position to choose between Talon or Ellie her heart might literally shatter.

Rion had gone still beside her, his eyes scanning the field and bodies below. He wasn’t pensive like the others. No, her mate was steady. He was in his element here, ready to tackle the challenge of infiltrating one of the most guarded places on the continent.

The male accompanying them nodded, indicating they were about to move. Arianna tried to steady her breathing. They needed to blend in and go unnoticed.

Her gaze scanned the fence line again. This was a training exercise, nothing more. It was just her, Talon, Rion and a stranger running through a routine.

Her heart slowed and the male’s magic sprang to life, circling them like a blanket before trickling over their bodies like rain. Her skin tingled and Rion stiffened at her side.

She waited for the magic to prod her mind, but this manipulation was different. It only acted on the outside of their bodies, blending them in with their surroundings. So long as they kept quiet, the glamour would go unnoticed.

The male stepped over the ledge they’d been hiding behind and Rion followed, pulling her along. Talon stayed close behind. Rion didn’t release her hand and she briefly wondered who he was trying to comfort. Himself or her.

They marched downward at a brisk, yet steady pace, directly in the line of sight of the guards. None stood to attention or lifted the long range weapons that hung at their sides.

The contraptions looked like crossbows but promised iron balls in place of arrows. One hit and it’d render a Fae’s magic useless.

Thankfully, no one looked up.

They slipped through a narrow section of the gate that had been ripped open, carefully moving around the boards and metal to avoid making any noise.

She glanced behind, but Rion pushed her forward, keeping his gaze locked on the buildings just ahead. Within minutes, they were blending with the crowd, keeping close to one another as they followed the male from Pádraigín.

Their movements slowed as the crowd thickened. Arianna kept her gaze on her feet and the crooked cobblestones that promised to trip her any moment. Rion’s hand never left hers.

It took far too long to enter the small storehouse. Their first checkpoint. The male from Pádraigín closed the door and removed his hood, though his magic remained in place.

“You remember where to go?” he asked.

Talon nodded. “We have it from here.”

The male bowed at the waist, first to her, then to Rion. “Be careful and stay low.”

“We will,” she whispered.

She knew the rules from here on out. Absolutely no magic from any of them. Especially Rion. Hers was already crawling beneath her skin at the command, as if it wanted to rage against being told to remain silent.

Just for a little while , she promised as if it were a sentient being. She clenched her fists. Just a little while, then she’d unleash hell on them all.

The male’s glamour left with him, and a chill skittered across her skin. Talon met their gazes before peeking his head outside the doorway. Rion reluctantly released her hand and Arianna ran her fingers over her knives to assure herself they were still there.

Talon stepped outside and they followed.

A light drizzle had started. A blessing. Conall assured them they wouldn’t have to worry, but Arianna welcomed anything that would help conceal their scents as they moved through the most dangerous city on the continent. She had to assume everyone present was an enemy who would turn her over to Vairik without hesitation.

The crowds closed in again and Arianna noted the scents from the four nations. Far more than she’d previously thought might be present. Clearly Vairik understood the advantages of them all working together.

But of course he would. He’d been born during a time when the nations functioned as a unit.

Arianna wondered if anyone here knew the real truth and what they might do if it were revealed.

The city itself was a dank place, with too much gray stone where life and greenery should have been. Drums collected rain water on every other corner, but even it looked dark and unwelcoming.

The slanted roofs were all slightly crooked, each one with oddly colored shingles.

She wrinkled her nose at the scents that drifted by, the smoke and sweat, and iron.

People walked through the streets with their shoulders hunched from the weight of their cargo. Some with wood, others boxes or sacks of grain.

A loud voice echoed across the expanse as one Fae cursed another when a rope snapped and logs rolled everywhere. Another kicked the firewood, and none bothered to help the male that was scrambling to pick it all up.

Arianna studied their haggard faces. This wasn’t a place of prosperity. It was a prison and the holder of the keys held no love for its inmates.

They appeared to have adequate food, clothing, and shelter, but the fire had left their eyes. As if slowly chipped away by the rudimentary schedule of an unchanging existence.

For the Fae who lived forever, it was as good as dying. To never know change. To never travel and see the far places of their beautiful continent. Everything surrounding her was gray and colorless, as if rain had dripped on the pages for so long that it’d washed all the vibrance away.

The winding roads continued in a maze, each building seemingly placed at various puzzling intervals that were designed to confuse any attempting to infiltrate. Gavin had said Vairik was rather proud of its construction.

Talon and Rion had memorized the paths, leaving her to follow their lead. She’d focused on memorizing the quickest exits, though if it came down to running, they all knew to head straight for the ocean. It’d give them the best chances even with the dark creatures that swam in the icy depths.

A scream echoed across the expanse, and Arianna bristled against the sound.

Her first instinct was to run toward whoever might be in pain but a light tug on the bond kept her walking.

To her utmost horror, no one else reacted. The citizens didn’t even seem phased by the sound. As if they heard it every day.

The world stilled again and the trio continued weaving through the maze-like pattern of the buildings. Talon veered down what appeared to be an alley, then emerged on the other side of a busy market. He turned again and she was certain they were heading away from the castle until another sharp turn had them moving in the right direction again.

Talon paused a few times, as if studying his surroundings. A ploy so they looked like a normal patrol. She resisted the urge to glance at the bracelets on her wrist.

The first one’s beads had faded altogether, the rocks dull once more. They’d been late entering the city. Not by much, but enough that she wanted to run to that channel and get inside as fast as possible. Any minute they could spare was another minute to search for Ellie.

Another scream pierced the air. Arianna’s head whipped toward the sound. There, in the distance between two buildings, she caught a glimpse of a group of people in chains.

Arianna couldn’t tear her gaze away. Her eyes traced down their new clothes, their bodies that were still healthy as they pulled against their restraints and fought their captors.

Humans.

Humans that were fresh from the northern continent.

One hit her knees, begging for them to just kill her and get it over with. The Fae surrounding her laughed, pointing and jeering. Then a boot collided with the woman’s ribs and she rolled through the mud.

Another human beside her lunged and grabbed one of the males, doing everything in her power to bring him down. She kicked and screamed and bit into his flesh. The scene felt all too real.

The Fae male sneered down at her in disgust but mostly seemed annoyed before he threw her to the ground. Arianna recognized that fire in the woman’s eyes. The face of a warrior willing to die before allowing herself to be used like an animal.

The male drew his sword. Arianna took an involuntary step, but it was too late. The blade came down, severing the woman’s head from her shoulders in one movement. Rion stepped into her line of sight before the woman’s head hit the ground. Arianna still heard it. Her body shook with rage. The magic in her veins did the same, pushing against its invisible cage.

Rion guided her away, urging her forward through their bond. He willed a sense of calm through her, but it did nothing to ease that burning fire or the memories it drug up from the recesses of her subconscious.

Just a few months ago, that had been her, kneeling in the mud, accepting her fate. It’d been a miracle that Lan and hadn’t killed her then. Miracle, or divine intervention.

Maybe the gods did look down on them. Maybe they’d brought her and Rion together on purpose so they could liberate these people from their hardships.

Maybe Ashling was exactly where she’d needed to be.

Arianna gritted her teeth and forced breath through her lungs. She tried to ignore the rattle of chains and the pleas for mercy. Soon, she promised. She’d free them all soon.

They rounded the next set of buildings and her heart sank all over again. Lines upon lines of humans and half-breeds filled the square. All were in chains. All were tied to one another, each waiting to step onto a platform where Fae would call out bids.

Men. Women. Children. It didn’t matter.

A man stood on one of those platforms now, his shoulders sagging in defeat. He might have been in his mid thirties. Nothing protected his bare torso or head from the rain. He was cattle on display for potential buyers.

A female below him watched with equally numb eyes. A look Arianna had seen far too often. Something she’d experienced too.

It was better to be hollow, to be nobody and let your mind drift off somewhere else.

Her gaze traveled from one soul to another then a hand wrapped around her arm and gently pulled her back. She moved as if in a daze, letting the building block them from view once again.

How could she just leave them here? How could she face anyone if—

I have no intention of leaving anyone in chains.

Arianna glanced up at her mate and saw the sadness on his face. The ache down their bond mirrored her own. Rion had warned her. He’d asked if she wanted to stay behind because of this. He’d been in the field for decades. He’d seen the worst.

But if she chose to fight now. If she released these slaves and revealed them to Vairik, how many of the prisoners would die in their cold cells? How would her sister fare if she were never released?

Arianna clenched her jaw but she couldn’t stop the wave of tears as they burned down her cheeks. She knew what the right move was, even if she didn’t like it. They had a plan, one that would free everyone from Vairik’s control.

She was a queen. One who could make any move but was trapped into making only one. Go straight for the king and leave the pawns to their fate.

Her stomach twisted as she turned away from their plight.

Voices rose as numbers were called out, several bidding on the male standing on that platform. He’d be at someone’s mercy within the hour. Arianna used her other hand to finger the bracelet around her wrist. Less than twelve and he’d be free. She’d never be able to erase what he suffered today, but she might be able to prevent what might torment him tomorrow.

Arianna steeled herself and tried to block her resolve from flowing down the bond. If she encountered Vairik today, she wasn’t running, she’d fight and end it all today.

Arianna followed Talon and Rion as they wound their way toward the castle looming above them like a vulture on a perch. She was glad Conall planned to destroy it. Ridding the land of this foul monument would do it some good.

“You.” A deep male voice shot a pang of fear through her so fast there was no way to hide it.