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Talon snorted. “Convenient to deny it now.”

“Everyone already believed me a monster.” Rion glanced at his hand. “And at my core, maybe I am. Maybe there’s nothing I can do to cleanse my soul. I kidnapped her as part of some political bargain. The High Lord needed access to a nearby piece of land. I was to set her free afterward.” Rion ground his teeth. “But a shadow crept into her room that night and by the time I scented his presence, it was too late.”

“A shadow?”

“From Fiadh.”

Talon’s eyes widened. “We’ve had peace with them for fifty years, why would they—” Unless theywantedMóirínand Brónach to go to war. Their two countries had been prosperous and powerful. The two smaller countries didn’t stand a chance against their combined forces.

Talon shook his head. He’d consult with the other commanders and work through those details later. “If you didn’t murder the Lady of Móirín then why take credit for it?”

Rion gave him a hard look. “Who would have believed me? You? Your lord? My brother?” He shook his head. “Why fight to clear your name of one murder when your hands are already stained with so many?”

“It started the war.”

“And gave me freedom.” Talon’s mouth gaped. “You’ve never experienced the hatred I have. You’ve never had to defend yourself in your home from your own brethren. You’ve never scented malice from your kinfolk and walked down familiar streets with a target on your back. When the opportunity arose for me to leave, I relished in it. And because of that, I met her.” Rion looked behind him, toward the sleeping female by the fire.

Talon looked at her too. But if she stayed with him—

“All the more reason for you to let her go.”

“And how would you have me do that?”

“You said it yourself. Everyone believes you a monster.”

A low growl. “I willnothurt her.”

“So, you’ll have her track you through miles upon miles of enemy territory? You’ll have her taint her good name just so you don’t have to lose her?” Rion didn’t respond. “You’ve pretended before. It shouldn’t be hard for you to do it again.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Arianna

Arianna jolted awake, adrenaline flooding her body before she remembered she was in a small den with Talon and Rion. Safe. At least for the time being. They were still in the middle of a war zone.

She sat up and stretched her sore body. So many things had happened yesterday. Brónach’s main camp had fallen. She thought she’d lost the male she loved. She’d been reunited with a childhood friend.

But today would be harder. Today, she had decisions to make.

Rion sat at the entrance, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he stared through the brush into the world beyond. Something was off. Did he feel the heaviness she felt, or was there something else weighing on his mind?

Talon sat across from him, clutching his weapon in one hand. She wondered if they had spoken or sat in silence all night. Insulted one another more like.

Both males turned when she stood. Talon was the first to speak. “It’s time to go.”

Her heart fluttered and Rion seemed to sit straighter. She had a lot to figure out and a short amount of time to do it. Perhaps they could stop somewhere on the outskirts of Móirín’s capital city, and she could go explain things to her father. After all, Rion was just another warrior. A dangerous one, yes, but one that no longer posed a threat to her country.

Talon stomped out their small fire, then turned to Rion, studying the male warily. She knew Talon would struggle with the change too. He’d been fighting Brónach on the front lines for most of his teenage and adult life. And he’d have to explain to her father why he hadn’t killed The Demon on sight.

Rion stood. “I’ll leave her in your care then.”

Arianna’s heart jolted. “You’re not coming with us?”

He didn’t look at her. “I can’t go to Móirín.”

“We’ll find a way,” she promised. “I’m sure I can convince—”

“I don’t want to go to Móirín.”