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Two months. Two months and she was certain those pants had been the same ones he’d been wearing the day he left. Anger rolled through her. The things Niall had done to him . . . Arianna clenched her jaw, then cracked open their door to push the rolled up rug outside.

The guard eyed her but she gave her a gentle smile before saying, “Burn it.” Rion didn’t need the reminder of what he’d been through and neither did she.

She studied the bond and listened to her mate as he scrubbed away weeks and weeks of filth. She wouldn’t disturb him; he could take as long as he needed.

Arianna pulled the brush through her hair then sat on the bed eyeing the trays. The smell of roast had filled the small room and left her mouth watering. She just hoped Rion would be able to hold it down.

Her foot throbbed. Arianna took the tiny tin of salve and dabbed it over the puncture wounds, paying careful attention to the deeper one from the creature’s claw. She wrapped a fresh bandage around her limb, then felt the marks along her shoulder.

They were raised and burned but Arianna couldn’t wrap the wounds herself.

The water turned off and Arianna was glad she couldn’t see through the doorway from where she sat. She heard shuffling, more water running as he brushed his teeth, then Rion peered around the corner.

His hair dripped; it had grown a bit past his ears again. He wore a fresh short sleeve shirt and a comfortable pair of pants.

Bags hung heavy beneath his eyes.

Arianna scooted herself back on the mattress and beckoned him over. Rion still moved slowly, determined not to frighten her.

The springs groaned beneath his weight and Rion shifted so he sat with his legs crossed directly across from her. Arianna carefully balanced the tray and set it between them.

Rion’s face turned a shade paler.

“Just try to eat some,” she said. “The bread isn’t as hard as it looks.” He had to be hungry. She had no idea how long he had been running with his mother, nor how long it’d been since either of them ate.

He tore off a piece, dipped it into the broth, then placed it in his mouth. Rion’s eyes closed and he chewed as if it were the best thing he’d ever tasted.

“Yours is better,” he said after a few minutes. “Not that I’m being picky.”

She smiled. “I’ll be sure to make you some once we’re back in Levea.”

Rion swallowed hard and averted his gaze. “Is that where we’re going?”

Arianna looked into her own broth and swirled the vegetables within. “I don’t know, honestly.” Too much had happened and she hadn’t allowed herself to think this far ahead. She hadn’t even expected her father to get here so soon. “We should probably sleep before we make any life-changing decisions.”

Rion nodded, took another bite, then she followed his gaze to her arm. “Can I see it?” She knew what he meant. Did he really want to torture himself further?

Arianna extended her arm and Rion scooted the tray to the side. She wished he would eat more, but her attention snapped to Rion’s fingers as he carefully rolled up her heavy sleeve.

She could hear his thundering heart and the way he sucked in a breath at the sight of the thick scar across her skin. His fingers traced it, then ever so slowly he bent and pressed a delicate kiss to her skin.

“Forgive me,” he said, his voice barely audible.

She pushed him up and brushed the wet hair away from his face. “I forgive you.” His lips parted and Arianna watched his heated gaze drag down to her lips, then to the other scar hidden by her sweater. He didn’t ask to see that one.

But rather than study her further, his eyes drifted.

“Sleep,” she ordered him. Rion didn’t bother moving the blankets before he laid down, pulling her hand down with him.

“Stay,” he asked, exhaustion dragging him down. His eyes were already closed.

“Always.”

Chapter Eighty-two

Arianna

Arianna woke to a light tapping on the door. She didn’t know what time they’d fallen asleep nor how long they’d been out. It felt like minutes.