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She never wanted to see the inside of a carriage again. Her legs and backside were cramped, every bump jostled her nauseated stomach, and if she had one more guard tell her the inside of a tiny box was safer than walking alongside it, she thought she might scream.

Three long days had passed and she’d counted the swirling lines on the carriage’s lacquered interior at least a hundred times. She knew the back left wheel was looser than the others, its constant squeak driving her to the brink of insanity. Then there were the hooded priests and priestesses who whispered words of reverence whenever she passed. Arianna didn’t understand why those in Ruadhán had sent them along. Maybe to pray to the gods for their safe passage. Maybe to appease her with some sort of religious acknowledgement.

Arianna shivered. Every one of them made her skin crawl. And she wasn’t the only one trying to avoid them. Móirín’s warriors barely sat beside them at mealtimes and made a point of staying far away during their morning and evening prayers.

Maybe it was the way they covered their hair and faces, save for their eyes, that brought her unease. Or the fact that they so rarely left the temples.

She shook her head. But today Arianna didn’t care who she encountered when she opened the small side door and jumped to the ground. She hadn’t bothered commanding them to slow down. It would just waste more time and she wanted this journey over.

Móirín and Ruadhán guards swarmed toward her, concern knitting their brows but she waved them off with a silent gesture.

“My Lady,” one said, his head bowed.

But she interrupted him. “I just need to stretch my legs.” He nodded and gave a signal to those from Ruadhán. The guards switched their formation and her face heated from the attention.

Talon joined her, a hand resting lightly on the pommel of his sword. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of seasoned warriors so jumpy. One would think them inexperienced.”

Two shot Talon a glare and she elbowed him in the ribs. “Say it a little louder why don’t you?”

He smirked and Arianna had the distinct impression Talon was enjoying their discomfort. At least one of them was having fun.

Arianna eyed the carriage. Her sister sat within, head back and eyes closed. To an onlooker, she simply appeared road worn and weary, but Arianna knew the truth.

Arianna’s gaze roamed across the faces of her entourage. Her mate was somewhere among them, concealed with Ellie’s magic.

Just yesterday, Rion had been at her side. He’d stood watch while she bathed in the nearby river, much to her guard’s dismay. She wouldn’t enter Ruadhán smelling of old sweat and gods only knew what else.

She’d undressed beneath the protection of Rion’s magic and her body had ignited with the way his heated gaze scorched her skin.

It had been three days since she’d had him in her arms. Three days since his hands caressed her skin and his lips pulled moans of ecstasy from her throat.

Three days and she was ready to combust.

But that was yesterday. Today she was ready to explode for entirely different reasons.

She’d watched Ellie lead Rion away early that morning. The bond had pulled tight, their worry mirroring one another’s. The plan was in motion and she had to remind herself that he’d be back at her side within a matter of hours. So long as everything went smoothly.

Arianna chewed her bottom lip. She didn’t miss the way the warriors had relaxed with Rion’s absence. Though they remained vigilant, their hands no longer hovered above their weapons. Their moods had lightened and she even caught a few laughing.

Sadness washed through her. She wondered how long it would take others to grow accustomed to her mate. Would they ever laugh with him? Smile instead of grimace in his presence?

After an hour of walking and at least three guards begging, Arianna finally relented and crawled back inside the carriage. Talon remained outside and Ellie helped her change back into the blue tailcoat. She spent the rest of the trip seated on the floor with Ellie working to tame her hair with pins from her bag and wildflowers an attendant had picked that morning.

“Where is he?” she asked her sister.

Arianna could feel Ellie’s smug smile even if she couldn’t see it. “He’s here, don’t worry.”

Arianna tried not to pout. “I really don’t see the harm in telling me.”

Ellie stood and pulled Arianna up to sit across from her, then pinned stray strands away from her face. “Because if I do, you’ll look at him every five seconds and blow our cover.”

She wanted to argue, but Ellie wasn’t wrong. She would look at him. Then she’d look at those beside him and wonder if they were too close. She’d want to know whether he was okay and—Arianna bit the inside of her cheek and breathed.

“There you go,” her sister said. “Relax. I think we’re almost there.”

Her heart threatened to beat from her chest, but she could do this. She was ready. Rion was close by, he just couldn’t use his magic right now. Ellie and Talon were with her, too.

But her stomach churned with nervous tension.