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But what did that mean to her now?

They broke from the main part of the chaos in a blaze of swirling water and earth. Rion drew his sword and ripped his way through any who stood in their path. Arianna blocked objects flying at them both, protecting their bodies as best she could, and realized they weren’t running into the battle, but rather, away from it.

Rion was trying to get her away from the ambush he hadn’t seen coming. Was it because of her? Had she distracted him and made them all vulnerable?

A noise echoed nearby, and Arianna’s Fae ears perked as she tried to locate the origin of the sound. The battle was fading, but Rion showed no signs of stopping and after listening, she understood why.

At least a dozen warriors were pursuing them, but with the wind’s direction, she couldn’t scent what side they fought for. If it were Móirín, she might be able to convince them to stop, but if it were warriors from Brónach, they’d have another fight on their hands. Not that Rion couldn’t handle a dozen on his own.

The noise continued, over and over, like a constant swish. Arianna kept searching for it. She calmed her racing heart and mind, eyes roaming until she finally locked onto its source.

Breathing.

Intensely labored breathing.

Arianna’s gaze shot to Rion and then to the sweat pouring down his face. “Rion?”

“I’m fine, keep running.”

She scanned his body. He most certainly wasn’t fine. Not even close. This was a male she’d seen conquer dozens of warriors. A male who ran week-long expeditions with ease. He’d fought on the frontlines for a decade and yet—

Another step. Another ragged breath. Arianna glanced behind, trying to gauge how close their enemies were and how much time they had.

He was slowing. Slowing. Slowing. His face was pale and dark bags hung beneath his eyes.

Rion tripped and cursed, growling at his own body as if it were the enemy. But he rolled back to his feet and grabbed her hand again before launching back into a sprint.

Gods help them. She had to find a place to hide, anywhere so she could access his body and find the source of pain.

The pair of them broke from the trees and entered a familiar clearing. The river, she realized. Rion was trying to lead them to the river. She’d have the advantage there, and it’d give them an easy escape route.

She could smell the water, almost hear it flowing. Just a little further. She was already forming a plan. They could dive beneath the water’s surface. She cou—

Rion hit his knees and screamed.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Arianna

Arianna pivoted and caught Rion’s falling form before he could hit the ground. Her elbow collided against the hard earth and lighting-like pain shot straight through her fingertips.

He panted, gripping his shirt so hard his knuckles turned white while Arianna frantically searched his body, trying to find—she gripped the knife in his thigh and yanked it out.

Arianna healed the minor wound, but he hardly seemed to notice. His iron grip didn’t loosen from his chest as if the pain were coming from there. She tried to move his hands, searching for any sign of injury, but his skin was intact, and the rest of his body unmarred.

Voices neared and the sound of stomping feet had her heart beating faster. She looked out over the field, panic rising. There was no place to hide. Nothing she could do.

“Rion,” she murmured, running her hands through his hair. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I. Can’t. Breathe.”

Couldn’t breathe? She scrambled for the blade, brought it to her nose, and recoiled, hurling the knife as far across the field as possible.

Poison. And it’d reacted fast, which meant she didn’t have much time.

A mocking laugh echoed from the tree line, and Arianna growled as their pursuers emerged one by one.

“How does that serum feel, general?” He spat the last word with a mocking tone, and Rion turned a murderous glare toward the male. It took her a long moment to recognize him, then she placed his scent.