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“Trust me. I want to.” But he needed to appear indifferent. Keep his temper in check, both for Arianna’s sake and because every eye in this room was waiting for The Demon to make an appearance.

“Well, the mask is good.” Ellie watched Arianna with something that resembled pride. Rion did the same. “Have you learned anything?” Rion only nodded. In the moments since they’d walked down those stairs, he’d learned more about his mate than he had in the weeks since his attempted execution.

He’d seen her laugh finally, the sound full of a kind of joy he’d never heard before. They’d spent so much time in darkness, surrounded by war and fear that had almost suffocated that part of her. The part flourishing as she danced. She wasn’t comfortable with Niall, that much was certain, but she was at home here. Among the people who offered smiles and words of greeting and encouragement.

“She’s happy,” he finally said, realizing Ellie was waiting for an answer. “I never realized how much she worried about my reactions.”

“She worries because she cares.”

“She has enough to worry about without adding my feelings to the mix.”

Ellie sighed. “There you go again. You know, asking her not to care about your feelings is like asking you not to care about hers. Would you ever do that?”

“Of course not.”

“Then stop acting like everything should be one sided. She knows all this is difficult for you and she just wants to make sure you’re not pushed beyond your limits.”

They watched her and Niall dance a little longer. Rion never looked away from the male’s hands. He didn’t think the male would push things when he was trying to earn Arianna’s favor, but he wasn’t about to leave her alone with him, either.

“Talon is watching, too.” Rion’s gaze followed Ellie’s across the room to find the male standing with a drink in his hand. “He doesn’t trust Niall either.”

“Do you?”

Ellie shrugged. “After the stunt with the slaves, I’m fairly disgusted, but we’re not in Móirín, so I’m trying to be understanding about it. I feel like he has intentions toward Arianna, but I can’t tell if it’s for his own interests or for the continent, like he claims.”

Ellie tilted her head toward Kirian. The male was well dressed with his copper hair combed back. He was watching them closely. “We’ll know soon enough.”

Rion looked at her then. “You found something?”

“Maybe.” Her brow furrowed. “But I wonder if I’m trying too hard and seeing things that aren’t really there.”

“What do your instincts tell you?”

“That those ledgers weren’t just for supplies. At least of the normal sort.” Rion waited. “I got into Declan’s office."

“And?” For the first time since he’d known her, Ellie didn’t appear sure of herself.

“Pádraigín using the strait that separates this continent from the west to send boats to Fiadh.”

“They’ve always used that strait. It’s faster than traveling by land.”

Ellie watched the dancers and waited until a couple was out of earshot before continuing, her voice low. “They’re transporting iron cages and judging from the dimensions, I’d wager there aren’t slaves inside.”

“Why would the Fae want anything to do with iron?”

Ellie had gone a shade paler than usual. “I think they’re transporting The Dark Fae across the continent. Some of the names they used line up with them, anyway.” She shuddered. “I hope I’m wrong. It could just be code.”

The Dark Fae. Why would Pádraigín or Fiadh have any interest in the creatures and what did they plan to do with them?

“So the two have an alliance then?” he asked.

“Oh, most definitely. I should find out more in a few days. Fina’s office is across the hall.”

Rion studied Niall again, then Arianna. “Don’t get caught.”

She grinned. “Never.”

Chapter Forty-two