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“I thought I was dreaming the first time she kissed me. Thought I’d fallen into some kind of fairy tale. Then she put her knife in my back and I realized Iwastheir mission.

“I think something broke in me that night. Something even Saoirse couldn’t fix. Alec and I never spoke about it. I accepted the silent challenge. To see who would win in the end. Me or his warriors.

“I marched to the borders fulfilling every mission for about a decade. I’d organize their troops, disband those who were failing and kill those who disobeyed. It was an easy existence. I knew where I stood.

“But one evening I returned and a group came after me. By this point, I didn’t care who it was, I killed them without a second thought. I—I relished in their leader’s final breaths, at least until Saoirse rounded the corner. I’ll never forget the look on her face or the overwhelming despair when she knelt before his bloody corpse.

“You see, that male had been someone she’d grown up with. Someone she cared for. And I knew I had to leave.”

“That’s when you went to the mountains?”

He nodded. “The knowledge that I’d hurt my sister after everything she’d done for me was my undoing. I won’t say I went there expecting to die. If anything I thought the monsters would present a challenge, maybe help me work off my anger. But the creatures I encountered weren’t anything like the ones in my history book.

“Looking back, part of me wishes I would have stayed on that mountain. Maybe I missed my sister. Maybe I was lonely.” He shrugged. “The moment I crossed back into Nàdair, I realized nothing had changed.

“Everyday was a power struggle. I avoided Saoirse for her own sake, to make sure I couldn’t hurt her again and took on any job my brother threw at me. Occasionally I’d disappear back to the mountain. Sometimes for days, other times months or years. At some point I guess I just stopped caring.”

“But you helped the slaves.”

Rion lowered his head. “If you knew how many innocents I’ve killed, you wouldn’t use the slaves as a way to excuse my actions. Looking at the slaves felt like looking at myself. I saw that ten-year-old boy who didn’t have a choice in the magic he received. But the Fae from my country? I’ve looked civilians in the eye and robbed them of their lives because I thought—no, I knew they’d do the same to me.”

“Civilians—” She scented a spike of fear from him. “All of them?” She’d assumed he had some level of restraint since he cared about the slaves. But if he didn’t. What if—

“Children. That’s what you want to ask me about.” She didn’t move. “I never hurt them physically, but I’m certain the mental anguish they suffered will leave a scar of its own. I sent the orphans to Saoirse and never inquired about them afterward.”

“Even those from Móirín?”

He nodded. “From any country. But the others,” he continued. “I showed no mercy.”

“Do you regret it?”

“Some I do, others I’d put down again without a second thought.” His voice trembled. “Part of me wonders how many were unnecessary. How many could have been someone like you or Saoirse?”

Arianna swallowed hard. A child. He’d been a child the first time he’d had to defend himself. The atrocities he’d suffered would be enough to tip anyone toward the edge of madness.

She knew he’d never be able to repent for all the lives taken and that there would always be a stain, but she was willing to endure that with him. She’d accept the shadows that came with her mate, as he would accept hers.

Silence followed and the fire crackled. Footsteps approached from outside and Arianna snarled. They slowed and a tendril of magic slipped beneath the front door. A slender vine appeared, trailing across the floorboards in serpentine movements. It carried a single metal key. He’d done it. Somehow Eoghan had gotten her exactly what she needed.

Arianna left the warm blankets to retrieve it and removed the dreadful iron from Rion’s ankles and wrists. “You should let me go.” He choked on the words. “You know it’s for the best. I’m thankful Arianna, so very thankful, but I am the monster they claim me to be and no matter how much time passes, there is nothing I can do to change that.”

“Were.” His brow furrowed. “You were the monster. You’re not that person anymore.”

Rion bowed his head. “You’re important to them.”

“And you’re important to me.”

Arianna pushed him back into the pillows and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I love you, Rion. I will always love you, no matter what you’ve done.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You will never,neverhave to spend another day in this life alone. I won’t allow it.”

His body trembled then Rion flipped her over, devouring her mouth all over again. He tasted of salt and passion. Of fire and earth, but the hands caressing her body were gentle. Familiar.

“Promise me something.”

“Anything,” he breathed.

“Never leave me again.” He pulled back to look at her. “No matter what you might think is best. Promise you’ll never leave.”

“I promise. So long as you don’t order me away, I’ll stay by your side for the rest of my existence.”