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Another.

Then the shackle snapped.

Rion spun around the warrior, his wrist bleeding, and buried his blade in the male’s gut.

Her eyes went wide. Of course. He was breaking his shackles. Rion was setting himself free.

Just one more to go.

Arianna moved with her mate, clearing Rion’s path as he glided between the warriors and their magic. Icy knives kept flying from behind, courtesy of Talon.

Ice and water and metal moved as one, pushing and pulling. A back and forth as if they’d practiced these movements a thousand times over.

Metal rang out again and blood rolled down her mate’s wrist. He pivoted, stepped back, moved with his attacker, then the blade struck again. Arianna winced at the crack of bones and the way the blade sank deep into Rion’s flesh.

Her mate retreated a few steps and Arianna blasted his pursuer.

Rion clawed at the metal digging into his wrist. He grabbed it with his teeth and she could have sworn he ripped away flesh when the iron bent. Rion pulled at the cuff from a different side, his movements desperate and frantic. Then it opened and finally hit the ground.

A familiar cloud rose, shaking the earth they stood upon with its deadly force. It spread in all directions and those who’d previously looked ready to sacrifice their lives for their High Lord’s orders retreated a step. They closed ranks as if they might stand a chance together.

Arianna knew they wouldn’t.

The grains of sand and earth rose around Rion’s body in a billowing storm as if it, too, had been held by the iron. Or maybe that was just his rage. Months of it bottled and finally set free.

A crunch of boots from behind had Arianna pivoting and scenting the air. She tugged at her magic, ready to protect Talon and the others, but a familiar face with dark skin and serious eyes sent relief washing through her.

Flames danced around Raevina’s body undeterred by the rain. Even Talon sagged with relief.

One motion from her hands and the warriors accompanying Raevina fanned out, charging those gathering around Rion.

They kept their distance from the male, as if scenting the anger rolling through him.

Raevina assessed her queen, looking her over twice before letting her gaze drift toward Rion. She studied the magic snapping around his body as one might study a battlefield and Arianna wondered if Raevina didn’t quite believe her mate’s innocence.

Rion knew nothing of Raevina’s newly pledged loyalty. She was standing too close to his mother and he was already closing in.

Rion’s billowing cloud of sand and stone drew closer. He growled, a warning meant for Raevina, but it was Arianna’s heart that jolted with the sound. Images of his twisted face had her gasping for breath, then his magic fell away as if someone had flipped a switch.

Arianna watched the ground, praying it wouldn’t move again. Rion stood between her and Raevina. He eyed Talon, too.

“Stand down,” Raevina commanded. She adjusted the grip on her sword, then gauged the distance between Rion and Arianna

Rion bared his teeth. “I’ll stand down when my queen commands it.”

His queen. Not mate. Queen. The title felt so distant and formal.

Raevina scrunched her nose with distaste. She didn’t lower her weapon as she addressed Arianna. “My Lady, we have your sister, and my scouts are keeping track of Niall’s movements. The High Lord of Móirín is set to arrive in two days. Discreetly, of course. He’ll have further suggestions upon his arrival."

Right, because they couldn’t go back to Ruadhán. Would she have to lay low for a while? Form her own court to challenge Niall’s rule? Would that just incite another war and lay waste to the land?

Arianna nodded and Rion seemed to note the faint movement.

“It’s okay,” Arianna assured him. “She’s on our side.”

Raevina studied Eimear and even though recognition flashed across her face, she didn’t ask questions. Raevina was a warrior on a mission. “We shouldn’t linger. Niall has sent a lot of scouts to find you and your scents are all over the place.”

Which explained how the second group had moved in so quickly. All the blood might as well have been a beacon.