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They turned a corner and Gavin ran ahead, wrapping his hand around the brass handles attached to a set of thick wooden double doors. “My queen,” he said proudly. “May I present to you the most fantastic room in the entire city of Ruadhán.” He made an exaggerated bow and pulled one door open. “Welcome to the grand library of the elders.”

Arianna thought she had prepared herself. She thought it would be somewhat similar to the one back in Levea. But when Gavin opened the door, Arianna forgot how to breathe.

She wandered inside, utterly captivated, and her gaze swept from top to bottom of the four story library. Three times the size. It had to be at least three times the size of the one in Levea.

A glass roof let in slightly dimmed natural sunlight that shone on a small garden in the center of the room. Water flowed down five stone leaves, each growing smaller until emptying in a crystalline pool. Gold and black koi swam beneath the water’s clear surface, seemingly unaware of the queen who stood at the edge of their world.

Along every wall and spreading across the floor on all levels were shelves upon shelves of books. Vines wrapped around thick wooden bookcases and the heads of various snarling creatures were carved into the aisles. They watched those within as if they knew every secret and every soul who’d ever walked the polished floors.

Magic buzzed heavily in the air and Arianna spotted those responsible. Some manipulated the vines, guiding them to better sunlight or away from precious tomes if they’d grown too close. Others pulled water from the air, keeping the humidity in the space low to preserve their ancient texts. Móirín scribes watered the plants and Arianna thought she even scented someone manning a fire on the second level.

“What do you think?” Gavin asked, his excitement obvious from the way he bounced on his toes.

“It’s marvelous,” she said, taking another step forward and spinning to observe the space. She met Rion’s gaze and found him watching her with a crooked smile.

Gavin bowed. “I have some other things to attend to. I’ll let you enjoy the sights.” She nodded, though knew he only left to give her time to explore. There was so much to look at, so many things to see.

“You like books.”

“I love books,” she corrected. Rion had already seen her room, but perhaps he hadn’t realized how much she adored them. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve read one.”

Rion took her hand and she relished in the feel of his callused palms. “We’ll have to fix that. What do you prefer?”

Arianna’s face flushed. She’d hoped back in her room that he hadn’t looked too closely at the titles. “Nothing you’d read, I’m sure.”

“Try me.”

She lowered her eyes to study one of the green plants in the pond and the fish that nibbled at its roots. “I like romances. Fairy tales.”

Rion snorted. “Of course you do.”

He led her toward the giant carpeted staircase where at least four people could walk shoulder to shoulder comfortably. “What about you?” she asked.

“Nothing of the fiction variety.” Rion scanned the shelves as they walked up and up, seeming to know exactly where he was going. She couldn’t stop gawking at the aisles, the decor, the plants thriving beside delicate volumes that looked as though they needed protection from the foliage.

“Maybe I should take notes from your books,” she said, her eyes still roaming. Arianna imagined Rion reading titles that taught strategy and tracking, and all manner of war related topics that would give him an advantage over his opponents.

They stopped on the third floor and Rion pulled her to the left. “You won’t like them, but they’re irrelevant until you satisfy your craving for a happy ending and true love.” He tilted his head back and gave her a teasing smile that had a blush rising to her cheeks.

“I shouldn’t have told you.”

“I already had an idea from the books in your room, I just wasn’t sure if you still liked them after . . . well, since you’re older.” She was thankful he didn’t linger on the subject of her captivity, even if it had brought them together.

They walked down the main part of the aisle, then Rion slowed as he scanned the categories listed at the end of each shelf. She let him lead her between two of the ancient structures where he paused, gesturing to the spines.

Arianna stepped forward and stopped herself. “I really shouldn’t. Aren’t there other things I should be doing?”

Rion reached over her shoulder and his scent engulfed her, dragging her anxieties to a full halt before he handed her a small book bound in leather.

“You, of all people, deserve a break. There’s nothing wrong with a book.”

Arianna ran her fingertips down the spine, tracing the gold letters pressed into it. Rion guided her further down the aisle where the next row of shelves split wider. Tables lined the area, at least two between each shelf, and her mate pulled a chair out for her to sit.

She lifted her brows. “Wait, right now?”

He smiled, and it reminded Arianna of the child she’d seen in Niall’s memory. She wished the image had been clearer, that Arianna could have watched the boy play at his mother’s feet if only for a few moments more.

“We have at least an hour before dinner.”