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She doesn’t want you, something in him whispered, but somehow Rion knew it wasn’t true. That didn’t stop the accompanying terror. He knew she deserved better, but he didn’t want her to have better. He didn’t want another male touching her.

But what if she did? Would he let her go? Could he let her go if she chose another? Females could release the bond at will, at least until it solidified. If this kept up, if Niall kept pushing, would she eventually let it fall?

Niall chewed on something and Rion’s stomach knotted. “You realize she can feel everything you’re feeling right?” That stopped him short. “You’re making her suffer with you.”

No, you’re making her suffer, he wanted to scream, but couldn’t. Because blood filled his mouth and coated his teeth. It trickled down his chest, leaked from his wounds, and kept up that incessant dripping onto the stone.

The cold, cold stone.

He was so cold.

“I’m growing bored,” Niall said and threw down whatever he’d been holding. Rion thought he saw the glint of a blade, but before he could open his mouth, Niall had once again buried it in his side.

Chapter Sixty-nine

Arianna

Glamoured. The thought was outlandish and yet made so much sense that Arianna felt stupid for not realizing it sooner.

Gavin had explained that Niall glamoured the entire city to make it appear grander than it actually was. He’d claimed it was to spread news about Ruadhán’s splendor so the four countries would continue to pay tribute.

Arianna wondered if Niall had ever believed The Divine might arrive or if he planned to eventually run the continent on his own, claiming his actions were what The Divine would want.

Now Gavin sat on a maroon sofa with his hands splayed out before him as he explained how they could break said glamour, or in her case, glamours.

Apparently Gavin had sensed Niall casting his magic multiple times around her, and the very thought sent anger flowing through her like molten rock.

Arianna had known about the time with the slaves, but she hadn’t imagined he’d done it again. Of course he had. He’d likely controlled half of her decisions since arriving.

Arianna had offered to go first, but Raevina had cut in to test whether Gavin could be trusted. Talon had opened his mouth to protest, but one look from the female warrior had stopped her friend in his tracks.

Raevina was taking the glamour quite personally.

“You can’t force it,” Gavin said. “It’s about reconnecting with your surroundings and how your senses absorb the world. Taste the air, feel the stool you’re sitting on, look closely at the specks in the rug, and you’ll feel the glamour warping your reality.”

Raevina was silent only a moment before she said, “I feel it.”

Well that certainly hadn’t taken long. Even Talon lifted a brow in surprise.

“Now shatter it. Imagine something sharp carving right through the veil and break through.”

More silence. Arianna wondered if it would be so easy. Gavin had gaped and almost scolded her upon learning she’d allowed Niall to enter her mind once. He claimed doing so allowed Niall to manipulate her more easily. Niall would be able to build upon the images he had already placed and she would be less perceptive to future magic.

Glamours even allowed Fae to lie if their magic was strong enough. Arianna clenched her fists. How many times had Niall lied to her, then?

The entire room sat pensive, waiting, then Raevina gasped and jumped back as if someone had splashed cold water over her. The female stared at the room, glancing from one corner to the other. She blinked several times, then cleared her throat and said, “That’s quite—”

“Jarring, I know. The feeling will pass.”

“Will he know she’s free?” Talon asked, eying Raevina with something like concern.

Gavin shook his head. “Only if he tries to feed her something else and she doesn’t respond.”

Talon studied him. Ellie didn’t move and neither did Saoirse, but when Arianna stepped forward, they all seemed to intervene at once.

“How do we know you’re not going to cast anything on her?” Talon jerked his eyes toward Arianna. “She’s the queen. Having her under your control might prove beneficial.”

Gavin shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that. It’s not mind control. At least, mine isn’t.”