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The male stuffed a thick cloth in her mouth and Arianna gagged on the material. He tied a blindfold over her eyes next and secured the shackles behind her back with a short chain. She tried to gather her bearings, to determine up from down, but black dots were still flying across her vision.

Fear jolted down her spine. They were going to kill her. They’d seen her with Rion and now they were going to use her death as a means to get under his skin. She struggled and though she knew better, Arianna made a desperate grab for her magic only to have an electric current slam through her body. She screamed, the sound muffled, and fought the shocking waves that pulsed beneath her skin.

The male pinning her in place laughed, his voice unfamiliar. “Behave now, the commander would like to have you alive.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “He didn’t say anything about keeping you in one piece, Móirín filth.”

Her nostrils flared, but she still couldn’t focus. Were there five males or six?

Rion.

He’d return soon. He had to and when he did—she faltered. What exactly did she expect from him? To be rescued? They’d shared a single kiss. Hardly an act to warrant his anger. Rion barely trusted her let alone cared.

No. At the very least he’d hunt these males down for invading his territory. Fae instinct was something she could rely on, but deep in her heart, Arianna hoped he came for other reasons.

But I can try.

She wanted to live long enough to see it. She wanted to witness the day Rion let someone in. Arianna wanted to be the one to teach him he could rely on others. Trust them even.

The male lifted her and threw her over his shoulder. Her head still spun, but she knew the moment they exited the cabin. Though she wore long sleeves and pants, the material was too thin to protect her from the elements. A chilling breeze bit through the fabric and she clamped her teeth together to stop them from chattering.

Someone would stop these males. A guard who’d witnessed what happened to Lan and his crew. Someone loyal to their general was about to scream, raise the alarm, and Rion would come running.

Silence.

She waited, her body bouncing with the movement of the male’s running gait.

Still silence.

No one? She tilted her head, trying to listen past the blood rushing through her ears. Not a single warrior stood in these male’s way.

How many wanted Rion dead?

Her head pounded in time with her pulse. She was helpless again, shackled and gagged with no hope for escape. Just like the last year and a half. She’d had an escape plan. She’d had an opportunity and if Rion didn’t come for her, she’d never get one again. The tears slid free. She should have run. She should have grabbed Zylah and been a few days journey from this camp already. But she hadn’t and now it was too late.

HER CAPTOR’S shoulder dug deeper into her ribs with every leap and bound. Arianna winced from both the building pain and the dull thud of her head, and she desperately tried to keep the contents of her stomach in check.

The male leapt again, over what she could only assume was a log, judging from the smell of trees, then he threw her to the ground with a violent thud. Pain shot from her right hip all the way up her shoulder. She tried to pull against her shackles, but the chains were too tight, causing more pain in her already aching body.

“We brought the female,” her captor declared. Arianna tried to tilt her head, to locate whoever he spoke to. She could scent him now. A similar scent to her captor. They were from Brónach. No, wait, all of them were from Brónach.

“Good, now we wait.”

“You’re sure this will work?”

The new male chuckled. “You trespassed on his territory. Even if he doesn’t care for the female, he’ll come.”

Her kidnapper gave a pleasing growl then he yanked Arianna to her feet. “Then there’s no need to keep her alive.” White-hot pain seared through her neck and she screamed despite the rag in her mouth. Arianna felt her skin tear, blood rolled down her neck, then something collided with the side of their bodies, knocking her and her assailant to the ground.

With her senses returned, Arianna had enough mind to back herself away from the male, hot tears trailing down her cheeks.

“Leave the female be.”

Her assailant spit and it splattered on her hand. “She’s from Móirín.”

“I didn’t ask you where she was from, I told you to leave her be.” She heard her assailant rise and the growl that rumbled through his chest sent shivers down her spine. Someone drew a sword. “Challenging me?” The growling ceased and silence spread, their harsh breathing the only thing that told Arianna both males were still there.

“Let it go,” another barked. “Eoghan always did have a soft spot where females were concerned.”

Her assailant spit again. “He wouldn’t feel so merciful if a few more put a blade against his throat.”