Page 78

Twist, pull, pivot. Keep moving. Keep breathing. Hold nothing back.

She became one with the water, a current of her own making even as a clock ticked in the back of her mind. A clock carrying the sound of Rion’s every breath.

It slowed with each warrior that fell. Arianna moved faster. It slowed again. Faster. She could do this. She had to.

Hurry. Rion ceased growling at their enemies. He didn’t pull at the magic in his veins or try to twist his head to follow her movements.

Tears slid down her face as that clock grew even slower. Weaker. She wasn’t going to make it. No matter how hard she fought, no matter how bad she wanted it, she wasn’t going—a knife plunged into her side. Then a fist slammed against her face. Arianna tried to catch her breath, but a foot collided with her chest, stealing the air from her lungs.

She fell right beside Rion and coiled in on herself.

“Arianna.” His voice was barely a whisper. She lifted her head and peered into those beautiful emerald eyes, studied the golden specks that no longer danced.

There were tears there, just like when they’d first made love. “Please,” he begged. “Please. Don’t make me watch you die.”

Death. She’d never given much thought as to how it’d greet her. She thought she’d have endless years to watch her sister grow into a wise leader. She thought she’d have the chance to marry, raise children of her own and fade with the land when her time came.

But if death was going to reach out its gruesome hand, then she’d bring it a gift. Because if she couldn’t save him, if she failed, then every last one of those responsible were coming with her.

Her magic flared, circling their bodies in a violent storm of sharpened ice and stinging snow. With a cry, Arianna scooted a foot beneath her body and yanked the knife from her side. She stared into Rion’s dimming gaze, craving nothing more than to see a smile on his face once more. She choked on the tears.

If he died...if he died...

An earth-shattering roar filled her ears and Arianna threw her body over Rion’s, cradling his head against her chest. Warriors broke from the tree line and those who’d been advancing on her found themselves at the end of a blade. One male sliced through her enemies in an elegant dance.

Her heart pounded, hope blossoming amidst the panic and despair.

Talon’s honey-brown hair gleamed in the sunlight as he cut down warrior after warrior, twirling through them with a grace she’d always envied. His magic moved in unison with his body, water flowing from one limb to the next, striking and returning and striking again.

He’d found her.

Talon had finally found her.

“It’s okay now,” she whispered through grateful tears. “Everything is going to be okay.” She rocked Rion and ran her fingers through his sweat-soaked hair, his entire body tense. His eyes moved without seeing and his breathing—gods, she needed to do something about his breathing. She needed time, space, concentration.

She wasn’t even sure her plan would work.

Talon felled the last of their enemy by ripping out his throat. He spit it on the ground then turned to her, blood dripping down his chin and gore splattered across his torso. Their eyes met and tears fell from her face as relief flooded his. He was here. Gods, Talon was really here.

Talon signaled for his comrades and barked orders that had them dispersing in various directions. He was at her side in seconds, lifting her face with his hands, gently brushing her tears away with his thumbs.

“Arianna.” Her name was a prayer on his lips, and she knew he was silently thanking whatever god had finally brought them together. He sat straighter, glanced toward the opposite tree line, and let a low growl rumble through his chest. “We have to go.”

Talon took her wrist, but Arianna turned toward Rion. He was too still, not even bothering to growl at the warriors who surrounded them. Did he know they were from Móirín or had the poison made him unaware?Or worse…

“He comes with us.”

Talon nodded but upon seeing Rion everything in her friend curled in on itself like a viper. The snarl that reverberated from his body echoed through her chest. He gripped his weapon tighter, and water surrounded his body, solidifying to sharpened ice.

Arianna responded in kind. She held Rion’s head protectively, glaring at the confused male before her.

“Do you know who that is?”

“Yes.”

Talon’s jaw ticked and his head whipped around again. She knew by the worry in his gaze that they were in danger. The battle still waged, Móirín and Brónach fighting as they’d done for a decade.

“What’s wrong with him?” he growled.