Page 172

Talon let out a long sigh. “I know.” His voice lowered into a growl. “But when I find the one responsible for casting that glamour—” His teeth clenched and she understood. There’d be no mercy. Even if it was Niall himself.

Talon stepped closer and reached out a hand. “May I?”

Arianna offered him her arm. His thumbs moved across her forearm gently at first, then narrowed in on the injury. She flinched and he mumbled an apology before lightening his touch.

Talon ran his fingers over the area in soothing circular motions. He stretched her wrist and bent her fingers and elbow, pulling and pushing the muscles until they released the tension they’d gathered.

Arianna just watched in fascination. “Where did you learn that?”

“From someone on the field. She liked to keep us moving and claimed the manipulation healed injuries faster.”

“Did it?”

Talon gave her a wide grin. “I wouldn’t be doing it if it didn’t.”

She watched his hands work. “Is it—” Arianna stopped herself and chewed her bottom lip.

“What?” He slowed.

Arianna shook her head and swallowed back her tears. Her voice was still thick when she said, “What if I’m afraid of him?”

Talon’s fingers stopped moving. “What do you mean?”

She chewed her lip again. She hadn’t even voiced her fear to Ellie. “I keep having these nightmares.” She risked a glance at Talon and quickly turned away. “About that day.” She knew he understood. “And whenever I see him in my dreams, I’m happy, but I’m also—” Arianna chewed her lip again, shame and doubt consuming her.

“Then I’d say you’re completely normal.” Arianna studied the sympathy in his gaze. “He attacked you. Even if he didn’t mean to, the natural response to that is fear.”

“But he’ll know.”

“And you’ll work through it.” She turned away and Talon released her arm. He scratched the back of his head. “You know, Ellie is better suited for this kind of conversation.”

“Yeah, well, Ellie likes him too much.”

Talon stiffened. “Do you want me to talk you out of saving him?”

“Gods no, I don’t want him in pain. I love him. I’d kill for him, but the only thing I keep seeing is that—” She hesitated. "That dark look on his face. The way he—” she choked on the word. “I just want everything to be like it was.”

Talon was silent for a long time and both watched the rain puddle on ground. “Let him move first,” he offered. “See where that takes you.”

Arianna waited. “That’s it?”

He chuckled. “I told you, this is a conversation you should have had with Ellie. I’m not exac—” Talon cut himself off and his gaze darted toward the ice now making its way toward them.

It coated the grass one blade at a time and frost shot through the puddles, freezing the water in its wake. Talon’s breath clouded in the air. “Is that you?” he whispered. When she shook her head, Talon’s face went pale.

He backed away and she followed, watching that ice inch its way toward the threshold until it coated the wooden stairs. Talon took her elbow and guided her toward the back on silent feet. They climbed through the broken boards without disturbing them and stepped several paces away from the nearly crumbled building.

The ice continued to move.

It coated everything it touched: the ramshackle structure, the trees in its path, and even the rain as it was still falling.

Arianna tried to draw Talon’s gaze, afraid to speak in the unnatural stillness, but he pressed a finger to his lips. She sucked in a breath at the urgency in his eyes. The fear.

She’d never seen Talon afraid. Not since the day he’d sent her up river with a promise.

The ice began crawling faster, consuming everything in its path as if it were fire. Talon pulled her back further before spinning her in a silent, dizzying motion and pressing her body into the nearest tree.

He stepped close and clamped a tight hand over her mouth before pulling the collar of his shirt up to cover his own.