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Keeping still as only the Fae could, Rion watched her flow from one movement to another. He watched the morning sun as it reflected from the droplets and found himself envying the way the water crawled across her skin.

Something else caught his attention then.

Something was moving in the river. Many somethings, but before he could sprint toward her, a flower lifted from the water’s surface. Another emerged from beneath a log. Figures floated against the river’s current, all coming to surround the female manipulating the shallowest section of the river.

The Fairy Folk were gathering.

One by one they inched closer to her dancing form, playing in the ripples.

He thought he saw her smile. Arianna reached down and to his utmost surprise, they reached back.

His lips parted as she picked one up, speaking to it in hushed tones, and for the first time in his existence, Rion found himself believing in fairytales.

Chapter Fifteen

Arianna

Arianna smiled at the little creature in her palm. She ran a gentle finger along one petal, eliciting a singsong laugh from it, then set the floral being back in the water.

She tilted her chin toward the sun, soaking in the light and warmth of the world. The last hour had been the closest to home she’d felt in a long while and despite knowing she should have run and could very likely have succeeded, she didn’t regret staying.

Several of the Fairy Folk swam toward the bank and she followed, setting her numb feet on the hard ground.

Her gaze continued to travel upward as they ran, waddling their way through the forest when awestruck eyes locked with her own.

Arianna froze. She should have scented him sooner, been more aware of her surroundings, but it was too late for that now.

She expected anger from him, but Rion simply stared at her, his lips parted and arms lightly crossed as he leaned against a wide oak. Her heart started racing again at the sight of those curious eyes.

His gaze traveled back to the Fairy Folk walking across the forest floor. Some turned over leaves, others poked their heads into logs, but none fled from his presence as she’d expected.

She picked up her shoes and took a few steps toward him.

“They’re not afraid of you,” he said.

Arianna shook her head. “They never have been.”

He stood there for several moments, seeming to contemplate, then pushed off from the tree. She expected the Fairy Folk to flee and return to their burrows that blended so well with the forest, not even a Fae could spot them.

But the creatures didn’t move. The nearest tilted its little head, the spindles of bare branches above it shifting with the movement.

Arianna thought she saw the ghost of a smile cross his face, but her heart sped with fear as the earth shifted around the little creature.

She took several steps toward them, but it leapt into the particles, eliciting that same singsong laugh she’d heard just moments before.

Her own lips parted when the tiny being jumped straight into his outstretched hand.

“They’re… not afraid of you either.” His green eyes met hers. “I’ve never seen them get close to anyone else.”

Rion set the sprite on the ground and stood again, returning to lean against the oak with his arms crossed. But his earth didn’t stop spiraling between them as Fairy Folk of all shapes and sizes came out to play in his magic.

“You didn’t run,” he whispered, almost as if he didn’t believe it himself.

“I figured I wouldn’t get far.” She hoped he could smell the lie. She hadn’t wanted to leave. The very thought hurt so much her heart ached.

And she couldn’t understand why.

Arianna slipped her shoes back on, walked up the small hill, and leaned against the tree opposite him. They both stood in silence, watching the sprites as they chased one another around the trunks.