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Rion wrapped a towel around her fingers then he caught her tears and Arianna finally glanced up at him. Her heart ached at the anguished look covering his face.

She buried her head in his chest. “It’s never going away, is it?” He knew what she meant. She’d woken up screaming almost every night, her nightmares carrying her back to a time of chains and carnage.

“It’ll ease with time.”

Had it eased for him? For her father? Talon? Had they all grown numb to the years on the battlefield, killing their way toward victory?

Arianna let out a long breath and pulled back. “I’m sorry.” She shouldn’t be crying. She’d chosen her own path and he carried far more regret. She was sure they all did.

Rion gently hooked a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. She gazed into those deep, emerald eyes so alight with flame. “Don’t ever apologize for the way you feel.”

“It just seems wrong.”

His gaze softened and he rubbed his thumb back and forth along her jaw before leaning close. Arianna’s breath hitched when Rion’s lips brushed against her own. “Does this feel wrong?” She hummed against his mouth. Rion trailed his nose down her cheek and she tilted her head, letting him place another kiss to her throat. “This?”

“No.” She could hardly breathe.

He pulled back slightly. “Then let your other feelings be just as valid. Let—”

A female cleared her throat and Arianna’s gaze shot toward the older woman standing in the doorway with graying, shoulder length hair. Her wrinkled face was tight with concern. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but we could really use your help. It’s urgent.”

Arianna bolted after the woman, following her down the hall to find a male sprawled across a table, two Fae desperately trying to stop the bright red blood pouring from his thigh.

Their eyes lifted upon scenting her and one of the females tending to him stepped aside, loosing a breath of relief at her presence. Arianna began pouring her magic into the wound. She found the artery first.

“It was a training exercise,” his friend said, watching her from the end of the table. “I didn’t think—”

“He’ll be all right,” she assured.

Arianna felt Rion’s presence behind her and the territorial aggression down their bond as he gazed upon the two males. One was injured on the table before her and the other was standing far too close. She felt his rage and restraint warring against one another, then the male standing at her side snarled, pulling his lips back to reveal razor sharp teeth.

But it wasn’t Rion who lunged for him, crashing into his full frame. Before she knew what she’d done, Arianna had the male pinned beneath her body, her hand at his throat, and her fangs bared.

His eyes flew open wide and his hands released their grip on her arms, pulling back to open his palms in surrender.

She couldn’t stop the growl in her voice. “Threaten him again and it will be the last threat you make.”

The room fell silent and the male only nodded, his gaze darting toward others in the room as if they’d intervene. But no one moved.

Arianna regained her composure and pulled herself upright, shame already creeping through her body. She quickly finished healing the male’s leg, knitting the skin and muscle tissue back together before she stepped away, her hands once again covered in blood.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and ducked from the room.

***

Rion followed his mate. Guilt and shame shot down their newly formed bond and Arianna’s magic flared with her emotions, water and snow circling her body in a mild storm. Her abilities were stronger in Levea, no doubt fed from the abundant supply of waterways throughout their massive city.

He hurried after her, ignoring the way everyone stared at the pair racing through the halls.

They loved their queen already, their awestruck gazes told him as much. It was him they had an issue with. He was a blight. A sickness cast upon her they hoped to remove.

But he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d already made a promise. At least unless she gave him the order.

Arianna wound her way through the corridors, past the main hall to her usual sanctuary: a pool of water closed off from the rest of the estate with a small bridge overhead.

She’d jumped straight into the clear pool and hidden herself beneath the shadow of that bridge.

Rion’s heart pulled at his mate’s distress. He’d allowed her solitude the first time, thinking his company unwelcome, but she’d tugged at their bond so hard it had sent him into a frenzy. She wanted solitude, just not from him.