Page 29 of Snapped
Chapter 18 | S O S
Cirian jerked, sitting straight up, dazed and confused. It took a moment before everything came rushing back. He’d fallen asleep on the couch in the library, and his husband was still missing, presumably taken by his psychotic brother. Taryn and Theresa were busy poring over papers and maps at the table on the other side of the room. Tanis stood by the window, staring out into the darkness, his hand resting on the handle of the sword at his waist. Aiyan sat on the couch across from him, his husband’s head in his lap while he slept restlessly.
God, why is this happening? Why are me and my family being judged for decisions we had no choice in?
Gabriel sat a cup of coffee down in front of Cirian before taking a seat beside him on the couch. “You’ll drive yerself crazy trying to figure out why, son. I hate that you and yer family are paying for mine and Kiernan’s mistakes, but it is what it is. All we can do now is find your husband and put an end to this madness once and for all.”
Cirian eyed his father warily before nodding in agreement. The chill that had taken root in his bones began to thaw as the warmth from the coffee infiltrated his bloodstream. Looking around the room, he noticed neither Hector nor the Outkast were there. “Where’s Hector and that red-haired jobby?”
“Hector took him back to his room so they could get some rest, I think.” Tanis turned to face him.
Cirian’s lip curled in disgust. “He’s taken quite a shine to the rat bastard; what’s that all about?”
Tanis seemed to ponder Cirian’s question. “I’m not sure, exactly.”
“Not sure about what?” Hector asked as he came into the room with the alleged rat bastard right behind him.
“You.” Cirian growled, standing only to be pulled back down by his father.
“I see where your daughter gets it from.” August stood his ground. Arms crossed over his chest, he watched Cirian calmly.
Hector stifled a laugh, covering his mouth and pretending to clear his throat. Tanis looked his way, one eyebrow slowly lifting.Really?he mouthed, which made Hector chuckle.
“I’m happy we amuse you, Hector. Now, maybe yourfriendthere can clue us in on where his leader might be stashing my husband.” Cirian’s eyes stayed on August as he spoke.
August rolled his eyes, turning to Tanis. “You mentioned I was the only person left with a pulse, but I heard a guard in the hall saying someone else was being held.”
“Yes, that’s right. He was found hiding out in the stable when it was searched. A big, black man full of piss and vinegar,” Tanis responded.
Cirian stood abruptly. “Why, do ya think he knows something?”
August’s brow furrowed. “He may. It was Robert—the big pissed-off black guy, myself and Cillian that planned everything out.” Anger sparked in Cirian’s eyes at the words. August took a step back, holding his hands up. “Before, Cirian…we planned it out before I knew the truth of it all. I’m no danger to you anymore, I swear.”
Hector reached out and pulled August behind him, which only infuriated Cirian more. “I swear to Christ Almighty above, Hector, you won’t be able to protect him if anything happens to Rian. So I’ll remind you to stay out of my way!”
“Perhaps we should all calm down and go talk to this Robert guy, see what he can tell us,” Tanis suggested.
“Yes, let’s.” Cirian snarled, brushing past August roughly, slamming into August with his shoulder deliberately.
Waiting to follow behind everyone else, August grabbed his arm, flinching. “Ouch.”
“Yeah, he packs a mean punch.” Hector laughed, following the others down the hall.
Robert refused to talk, glaring at Cirian and Tanis with nothing but anger and contempt. August tried to step around Cirian, wanting to explain to Robert how they’d been duped by Cillian, but Cirian shoved him back. Hector reached for him, pulling August closer to him and then, then Robert decided to speak. “What the hell Augie? You turned on us?”
Robert was as big, if not bigger than Cillian, and he was fit to be tied. It took six guards to restrain him while Tanis went to get Raven so he could sedate the pissed-off rebel before he tore the palace apart. They all stood and watched with rapt attention as the shot Raven gave Robert began to take hold. His posture relaxed and his eyes glazed over. It was then, once they’d gotten Robert calmed down, that Cirian heard a faint ticking sound.
“What is that infernal sound?” he asked, his eyes darting around the room. They all looked at him oddly, obviously not hearing anything.
“I don’t hear…” Aiyan was cut off mid-sentence when Raven waved his hand in the air.
“Everyone, quiet,” Raven whispered loudly. He looked around the room, looking past the people at something unseen. “It’s very familiar.”
“What is it, Raven?” Cirian asked, desperation evident in his tone.
Raven raised a finger, silently asking for a moment. Following the sound, Raven walked out into the hallway with Cirian right behind him. At the end of the hall, there was a stairwell leading down and out to the garden—the stairwell had been the entry point for the rebels when they breached the palace. “Three short, three long, three short.” Raven kept repeating it over and over as he walked in a circle in the hallway. Then he stopped rather abruptly. “Oh my God!” Everyone gasped; hearing Raven take the lord’s name in vain was a rarity. He shrieked as he spun around and grabbed Cirian by the shoulders. “It’s Morse code. Rian would know it from his training.”
“What’s he saying?” Cirian all but shouted the question.
