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“Well, she can’t just hide in Levea.”

No, she couldn’t and if their High Lord had a say in the matter, it seemed she’d be leaving a lot sooner than any of them planned. “I’ve overhead Avalon mention those in the royal city are coming for her.”

“Soon?”

“I don’t know.”

Ellie scoffed. “I’m sure she’ll love that.”

“She’s the queen. She has responsibilities now.”

Ellie side eyed him and he knew she wanted to retort, but held it in. Instead, she clasped her hands. “Are you going with her?”

“Of course I am.”

“And how will you handle her mate?”

He bristled and that damned anger rose in him again. “I’ve been around him before, I can handle it again.”

“Can you?” she asked. “Because from where I’m standing, you look like a bomb ready to explode.”

Talon ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I don’t mean to be. There’s just so much going on. Diplomacy with Brónach hasn’t exactly been easy. The slaves we rescued are having a hard time adjusting while those from Brónach claim we stole their property. Avalon is riding me about The Demon in his city and Arianna—”

“Is happy,” Ellie said. Talon’s blood ran cold, his anger abated. “She’s happy, Talon. Safe. You don’t have to search for her anymore. She’s home.”

His hands fell. “I know.” But she’d never felt so far away.

Chapter Three

Arianna

Arianna violently scrubbed her palm for the third time, letting the blistering hot water wash away the soap from her callused skin.

She didn’t know how many she’d healed today, only that it would never be enough to fill the chasm of grief in her heart. She’d killed for Rion and her sister and her own survival, but the reasoning didn’t matter. Only that she’d tainted her soul and there was no going back.

The morning after her father attempted to execute Rion, she’d left the safety of their summer cabin with Rion in tow to search for her sister. Ellie had been trying to get out of bed despite her remaining injuries and Arianna had promptly healed her, telling Ellie the same thing she told everyone: She wasn’t a miracle worker, some healing the body had to do itself.

Rion had watched just inside the doorway, holding one hand over his side, nursing wounds of his own. His body was still cold and sluggish, but he didn’t complain.

Because Ellie wasn’t the only one who’d suffered.

Arianna had wanted to run straight to the barracks and heal until her body crumpled, but she couldn’t do that with Rion at her side, let alone an injured Rion. And there was no way in the seven hells she was leaving him behind. He might have saved a few lives during Fiadh’s attack, but the scars he’d inflicted throughout the decades ran deeper than she could reach.

She’d almost cried in frustration, desperately wanting to protect her mate and aid her country.

Then Myrna, the servant who’d been with them since they were children, suggested the estate’s infirmary wing. Myrna had even offered to have those who were critical brought in, to which Arianna was eternally grateful.

Anger flooded through her whenever someone glared at her mate, and Arianna could feel the same anger mirrored down the bond whenever males so much as glanced her way.

Arianna knew they should be alone, letting the bond solidify. They should be laughing at one another’s stories, going on dates throughout the city, eating food until they were ready to burst.

But that wasn’t a life she’d get to live. Not with Rion. And not as The Divine.

She didn’t get to just idly sit by. And maybe she’d never get to rest again. She had responsibilities and she’d shied away from them for too long.

Arianna rinsed her hands and tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she grabbed the soap again, desperate to remove the invisible stain. Rion was there moments later, his palms gently resting atop her trembling shoulders.

His fingers glided down her arms and Arianna let him turn her hands over in the scalding water, then he shifted her body, ignoring the droplets hitting the tiled floors.