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Saoirse shook her head. “There’s no need to explain it to me. I understand how the mating bond works. You probably couldn’t have left even if you’d wanted to.”

He smirked at that. “I still didn’t want to, but something came up.”

“I heard about the attack at the gate. Has she decided to go to Ruadhán?”

He nodded. “She doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“Good luck preventing that,” Saoirse murmured. “What about you, where are you going?”

“With her.”

She raised a brow. “And they’re okay with that?”

“No.”

It was Saoirse’s turn to smirk. “Of course, how silly of me to think my little brother would start caring about the rules now.”

“Ellie has a plan.”

Saoirse scoffed. “A plan from a sixteen-year-old. That should go over well.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate her.”

“I don’t. I just worry she’s in over her head.” Saoirse cared, he realized. About Arianna’s little sister. Ellie had mentioned them having lunch together. Initially, he’d wondered if those meetings had annoyed Saoirse, but now he realized it was quite the opposite.

He changed the subject. “Are you heading back to Nàdiar?”

The kettle whistled and Saoirse poured them each a cup, placing a bag of tea inside. “For now.” She joined him on the sofa and set the cups down to steep. “I’ll be back when Ruadhán calls for us to pledge our allegiance.”

“Arianna wants to meet you.”

“Everyone speaks highly of her. Most were surprised to hear she’d survived.” She studied him. “The warriors didn’t think her strong enough.”

His fists clenched. “Those who opposed her thought that, too.” She was a fierce warrior too many had underestimated.

Saoirse regarded him for a moment then removed the tea bags and handed him his cup. Rion took it and watched Saoirse curl up with her own, drawing her legs up on the sofa.

“I poured them from the same kettle,” she tried.

Rion sighed. “I know.” He eyed the liquid. He hadn’t forgotten his last bout with poison. He’d sworn he’d been condemned to hell. Perhaps he would be someday, but for now he belonged to Arianna.

“I want you to promise me something.” Rion met her gaze. “Don’t go giving up again just because you two have a disagreement. Fights are expected between couples. Mates are no exception.”

“Dying would mean hurting her. I won’t do that.” Not now. Not when the bond tied them together and she’d suffer every agonizing second of it being torn away.

Saoirse gave him a sad smile. “When are you going to start valuing yourself?”

Himself? Probably never.

Chapter Thirteen

Arianna

Darkness cascaded over Arianna as she walked the dirt path that led to the base of Elview Falls. Moonlight trickled between the bare branches overhead and Rion clutched her hand tightly in his.

She breathed in, relishing the cool air and the memories it conjured. Night was a time for whispered secrets and hidden prayers.

When she was a young teen, it had allowed her to wallow in her failures until Talon had come to offer reassurance and quell her fears.