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Arianna leapt from the balcony, using her magic to slow her fall. Rion followed close behind. Her heart thundered in her chest, beating with an ache of impossibility. She had recognized that scent and voice.
The sentries jumped to their feet, ready to strike, but they pivoted upon hearing Arianna’s approach. “Stay back,” a male commanded. “We don’t know—”
“Zylah?”
The female whipped her head toward Arianna and the guards hesitated. Their gazes darted to their commander, waiting for instructions. The commander watched Arianna.
But the only one Arianna was watching was the female before her. A female who’d been her friend and had accepted her as she was. A companion she had thought she’d lost in the blast against Rion’s camp.
Zylah placed her hands on her hips. She was free. No chains. No shackles. “Do you have any idea how hard it’s been to see you?”
Zylah. Arianna’s lips quivered. Zylah. She ran, unsure if she was saying the name in her head or out loud. Arianna threw her arms around the female and Zylah gasped, hesitating before returning the embrace. “I guess no one brought you my letters, either.”
Arianna clutched the female a moment longer before pulling back, swiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks. Zylah smiled. “You’re a queen, you’re not supposed to break down and cry.”
“I don’t care,” Arianna said, her voice cracking. “I thought you were—I thought everyone had—”
“I’m more resourceful than that,” Zylah said, but her gaze softened. “I got Irial and a few others out, too. The warriors from Móirín took us to Levea, then set us free.”
Freedom. They’d done it, at least for a few.
“You have magic,” Arianna said, gaping at her. “I had no idea.”
“We all have our secrets.”
“My Queen,” the commanding guard said in a careful tone. Arianna turned to watch his gaze flicker toward Rion before returning to her. “The half-breed snuck in without authorization. We have strict rules and safety protocols that—”
“My name is not ‘half-breed,’” Zylah sneered.
The male stiffened and anger blotted his face, but Arianna interrupted before he could speak again. “It’s okay, she’s with me.”
“With all due respect—”
“I’ve always hated anything that came after those words,” Zylah said. “They’re never wise or beneficial.”
The male’s face pulled taut, but Zylah ignored him. “They have slaves here.”
Arianna’s stomach dropped. “In Ruadhán?”
Zylah nodded. “And you’re not going to like what you see.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
Arianna
Fear drifted from the guards and Arianna realized she wasn’t supposed to know about the slaves. But who were the guards afraid of? The council? Niall? The entire lot of them?
Arianna and Rion followed her friend with the guards trailing after. They wound through the hedge maze, exited the rear gate, and crossed the immaculate yard.
Arianna could feel the anger radiating from Zylah. Were there really slaves in Ruadhán? The royal city, of all places? This was a sacred city with the sole purpose of allowing her a space to bring about peace. What sort of peace could they hope to gain on the backs of the oppressed?
Their small group walked through another metal gate. Vegetation grew wild here along a gravel path, the area clearly not as maintained as the manor’s yard.
Lights faded, leaving them surrounded by darkness, and Arianna didn’t notice the buildings ahead until they were almost upon them.
“Who’s there?” Another guard, but the commander trailing strode ahead, making his presence known. Zylah didn’t stop as the commander informed the guard of the situation in hushed tones.
The buildings were the complete opposite of everything she’d seen in and around the city. Instead of fancy gardens and stone paths, Arianna’s boots crunched across plain gravel. The buildings, three in total, were sturdy and well-kept, but they were painfully plain.
