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“Neither do you.”

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I’m starting to learn you might not like sandwiches.”

“I don’t make a habit of eating food from—” He stopped himself, remembering this was Arianna’s sister.

“Strangers?” she finished. “I get it. I mean, I’ve never had people try to kill me so I wouldn’t really know, but,” she met his gaze, “I can promise you one thing: I would never hurt my sister and as I said before, if anything were to happen to you, it would hurt her far more than anything anyone has ever done to her physically.”

His heart swelled with the knowledge. To have someone care for him so deeply was a concept he’d never grow accustomed to. To think he was worth something to someone . . .

“You mentioned a plan.”

“Right,” she stood, “since they already know your scent and your magic, you can pretty much guarantee they’ll have an entire unit dedicated to keeping you out of the city walls. But what if they can’t scent you?”

Rion furrowed his brow. “What do you have in mind?”

“Covering it with my magic. Making you smell like Móirín.”

“How?” Gods he hoped she didn’t mean—

Ellie stepped closer and he watched her magic slowly rise. His answered in kind but Ellie observed it with child-like fascination. Not an ounce of fear. “Arianna mentioned you didn’t like physical touch, but what about magical?”

“I’m not fond of either.”

She studied the grains floating in the air. “You could create a barrier beneath it. You’ll be fully robed, no one would notice.”

“What’s your plan exactly?”

“To cover your skin in a thin layer of water just long enough for you to get into the city. After that, they’d have to demand something of their queen, which, as you can imagine, won’t go over well.”

Her magic would be so close. The thought of just having a small layer separating himself from someone as powerful as Ellie made his skin crawl, but what other choice did he have? He could try to fight his way in, but they all knew it would end in a disaster.

Rion’s magic collected around his body and he swallowed down years of dread. “Do it.”

Chapter Nine

Arianna

Arianna stood on the threshold of the familiar office and stared at her father. His lips were pressed into a thin line and sunlight filtered in through the window to their left, giving his short dark hair a brownish hue. His eyes were cautious, darting between her, Talon, and the door as if waiting for someone else to join them.

Thank the gods Rion wasn’t with her. Arianna’s nostrils flared at her father’s scent and molten anger coursed through her body, wild and unrestrained.

He had hurt her mate and the horrid magic they’d used was still hurting him. She hadn’t been able to pinpoint the source of the icy current flowing through Rion’s body. And it drove her mad.

Avalon’s eyes narrowed. Eyes that had judged her since her mother’s death. He’d deemed her worthless and had stripped her of the title as his heir.

She’d been fourteen and her sister only twelve. Ellie had never forgiven him. Likely never would, and though Arianna had grown up as the submissive daughter, she thought now, in this moment, that perhaps she’d never forgive him either.

The guards outside hadn’t moved and Arianna wondered if they’d been commanded to restrain her in the event she lost her temper.

“What’s going on?” she demanded, unable to keep the growl from her tone.

Avalon clenched his jaw and gestured to the cushioned chairs at the table. “Have a seat.”

She debated refusing or turning and leaving, ignoring him altogether, but Talon stepped forward and pulled a chair out for her.

Calm, she reminded herself. Just remain calm and get it over with.

Arianna sat and Talon slid into the chair beside her, watching father and daughter as if he weren’t sure what to do with himself.