Heart of Torment (Breath of Mist Book 2)

T W E N T Y F I V E - Ariana

I lowered the girl down onto an open bed in the servant's bunker. She weighed close to nothing. It took far too little effort to wrap her in a blanket and carry her from that torture room and through the city.

Shay found me as I carried her and followed us to the servant's compound in silence, releasing a soft whine only after I placed the girl on the bed.

"Who is she?" Erik asked, looking over at her as the blanket fell away from her face, revealing one that did not belong to his sister. His shoulders sagged a touch with relief at seeing a stranger in such a state and not Iona.

"They kept her chained in a whorehouse," I said, running to get a cold compress to hold to her forehead.

"You should take her back." One of the servants stated coldly. "This will only bring trouble."

I froze, turning to view a Sidhe man with a scowl curving his lips. "I could not just leave her there." All eyes of the entire room were on me.

My attention settled on the wolf as a decision came to me with clarity. "It's time. Go."

Shay released a throaty rumble and ran out of the room at once. The time of suffering under Clause's rule would not continue. His people were going to get a choice of the kind of life they wished to live.

It was going to start soon, within the next day my army would arrive. Those trapped and wishing for a different life would be liberated. That would be my only demand.

"Your bleeding heart is going to be your downfall." The servant stated boldly.

"Shut it." Erik snapped at him before turning to view me. "What of Iona?"

I pulled my lips into my mouth, taking a moment to ponder how best to reply. "I found her, but she did not wish to leave."

"What?" Disbelief tainted his voice. He even stepped away, as though the words blew him back.

My heart hurt for him. All of this, the scars on his back, were to get to this moment, to find her and rescue her. Yet she was no damsel waiting for rescue. Instead, she entered the dragon's den willingly and made a home there. "Iona said she runs the whore house and is happy there. She knew they kept this girl in one of her rooms and did nothing to help."

"I suppose all of that is close enough to the truth." Iona's voice cut into the room just before she sauntered in. Her stony gaze moved through the space like a serpent's eye until landing on Erik. "Brother."

Tension flooded the room, and everyone turned to view the cause.

Erik froze, eyes wide, moving over his sister, recognizing her. He was stunned into silence, and Iona used that to her advantage as she stepped deeper into the cabin yet remained by the door. "What are you doing here, Erik?"

"I came to help free our people," he stated, staring at her as though viewing a ghost.

Her jaw clenched. "Well then, I am sorry, but you have wasted your time. Please let father know he should be wiser than to send his heir into a world he knows nothing about."

Erik shook his head. "Father is dead."

Iona's eyes widened. For the first time, a look of troubled surprise painted her features.

"What, expect your king to have filled you in on that detail?" I stated, moving to stand at Erik's side.

He glanced at me as my words sank in and he then turned to Iona. "Your King?"

The trouble melted from her eyes, replaced by a mask. She shrugged, feinting indifference. "He actually wanted me. While dad never came for me."

The air around Erik warmed, as though he burned beneath his skin. "He had an entire people to care for."