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Rion settled across from her and crossed his legs on the bed. He was so difficult to read. His thoughts a complete mystery.

Arianna cleared her throat. “How long are we staying here?”

“As long as you want. Forever.” He glanced at her and though she’d love nothing more than to disappear from the world with Rion at her side, she couldn’t abandon her loved ones.

“My little sister wouldn’t appreciate that very much.”

Rion took another bite from his jerky before replying. “Tell me about her.”

“She’s a feral little thing. Stubborn, and knows herself better than most a century old. She can hold her own in a fight, loves chocolate more than life, and is always going against our father’s wishes. She’s in love with a half-breed, though only myself and Talon know how serious they’ve become.” Rion stiffened at the name. Arianna reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “He kissed me once. That’s all, then sent me in a canoe upriver. I probably wouldn’t be here if not for him.”

“Do you love him?”

Arianna tilted her head, scenting his jealousy. “He loved me, likely still does. I grew up with him, so love is a given, but it’s not the same love I feel for you.” His lips parted and a shy smile spread across Arianna’s lips. “I love you, Rion.”

He leapt on her, tears falling from his face once more and they lost themselves in one another’s embrace again.

ARIANNA’S STOMACH grumbled as she lay there rubbing lazy circles on the back of Rion’s hand. She couldn’t believe how sore her body felt, but she wasn’t about to deny Rion either. She probably couldn’t even if she wanted to. Sore or not, her body wouldn’t allow it.

“We need to hunt,” he said. When he pulled away from her this time, Rion put his regular pants and shirt on.

“Can I come with?”

He smirked. “I wasn’t very well going to leave you behind. Have you hunted before?”

“Not really.” Food had always been plentiful in Móirín.

“I cheat a bit. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I didn’t think you were one for rules, anyway.”

She dressed and though Rion gave her an appreciative glance, their growling stomachs kept them from indulging themselves further.

She followed him out into the cold. Her breath clouded in the air, but Rion only took a few steps from the cabin door before he knelt and closed his eyes.

“What are you doing?” She knelt beside him, keeping her voice low.

“Feeling for vibrations.”

“You can tell what’s walking through the forest by that alone?”

He chuckled. “Glad to know you have so much faith in my abilities, but no, not always. The weight of their gait tells me how large the creature is, how fast they move gives me another idea, but I never kill anything until I see what I’ve caught. The Dark Fae don’t appreciate being held against their will, but they’re usually quick to forgive if I capture them by mistake.”

They sat like that until Arianna’s knees went numb, then Rion finally stood. She followed him through the snow, vowing to bring thicker shoes the next time they visited this place.

Perhaps they could make an occasion of it. She could learn more about the Dark Fae and she’d definitely be asking questions when she returned home.

“You told me about your sister last night. What about the rest of your family?”

Rion didn’t look back at her. “My brother hates me as much as the rest of our country and my father died a long time ago.” He hesitated before continuing. “My mother disappeared when I was a child. No one knows exactly what happened, but as you can imagine, I get the blame.”

Arianna chewed the inside of her lip. “I lost my mother when I was young too.”

Rion stopped walking. “Your mother…was very kind.”

“You knew her?” Arianna gaped at him.

“I,” he paused. He turned back so she could see his face, but Rion refused to meet her gaze. His jaw feathered and tension returned to his shoulders. “I used to meet her at the border. We never spoke, but I saw the way she cared for the slaves.”