Page 208

“Do you want a shower or food first?” Neither. He didn’t want to move.

“Is sleep an option?” he asked.

“Only after you eat.”

“Shower, then.” Because once he ate he’d probably fall asleep standing. “But you go first.”

She pulled back. “You’re the one who’s been—” but she couldn’t finish the sentence. Locked away. Trapped.

“Please.”

Arianna studied the plea in his gaze. “Okay. Will you be all right in here for a minute?” He nodded because if he spoke, it would be a lie. He wasn’t all right at all. He needed her close. Another small strand braided together. He would relish the day their bond finally solidified.

Thankfully, Arianna didn’t even need to leave the room. Avalon had anticipated their needs and one of his warriors stood outside the door with fresh clothes, towels, soap, and a tray of steaming food.

Arianna offered the female her thanks before closing the door again. She set the tray on the dresser beside the bed, then deposited the rest of the supplies in the bathroom.

She paused on the threshold. “Are you sure you don’t want to go first?”

“I’m sure.” Rion just needed to know his mate was cared for before he took care of himself.

She flipped on the shower, gave him a final look, then closed the door.

***

Arianna let the hot water cascade over her sore shoulders and warm her frozen core. She’d hissed when it hit her injuries, but once her wounds were clean, she didn’t linger.

She used the soap and shampoo without bothering to smell them, then jumped out and dried off before searching through the pile of clothes.

They’d given her an assortment of things. A soft shirt and shorts, a sweater and pants, two outfits for her mate to choose from, a pair of toothbrushes, a comb, and salve for their wounds.

She threw on the sweater and shorts and wrapped a towel around her hair for later.

Arianna paused at the closed door. Her heart rate picked up again and she felt down the bond, searching for him.

They’d kissed and it had been just as glorious as she remembered. She would have liked to kiss him for the rest of the night, perhaps tempt herself with wandering hands, but Rion needed a shower and food and sleep.

“I’m beside the door,” he said, his voice whisper soft.

Arianna rallied her determination and inched it open. He was indeed beside the door, right beside it, sitting on the floor with his back to the wall. He tilted his head up, eyes half-lidded as if he’d fallen asleep.

“Your turn,” she offered. “I put your towel on the counter and there’s a change of clothes, too.”

Rion peered inside without standing. His throat bobbed and she followed his gaze into the steamy room. It looked normal enough to her.

“Do you mind if I leave the door open?”

It hit her then. The white walls. The cold tile. The tiny square space.

“Of course not,” she said, her throat constricting. What had Niall put him through? “And I’ll be right here. I won’t leave this room.”

He swallowed again and nodded before hauling himself to his feet. She might have healed his wounds, but Arianna could tell Rion was still in pain from the stiffness in his joints. She wasn’t sure if she could do anything about that, but she’d try once he finished.

She’d left the water running and averted her eyes to give him some privacy.

Arianna heard Rion’s clothes hit the floor before he stepped beneath the water. She eyed the place he’d just been sitting, the dirt stain on the wood. Then she looked at the one on the rug and decided getting rid of it would be better than Rion seeing he’d ruined it. Not that she cared.

Arianna used her magic to gather his dirty clothes and threw them on the rug before rolling it up. She dried her hair, then used the towel to clean up the watery stain on the floor.