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She tightened her hand around Rion’s and wondered how his father had coped with the pain. To feel that bond, alive and thriving, and be unable to reach the one you cherished above all others. Perhaps he’d declared his mate dead for the sake of his children. Maybe he’d continued the search in secret.

Arianna sighed and tried to shift her thoughts to tomorrow. She’d be alone with the council, a group of people she didn’t know. Rion couldn’t come with her, at least not yet. It was another thing she’d address with the council, but the more she thought about everything, the more she wondered if she even wanted to be here.

“Are you really okay with Talon escorting me tomorrow?”

He played with a strand of her hair. “No, but given no alternative, I’d choose him to protect you a thousand times over.”

He might hate Talon, but at least Rion trusted her friend enough to protect her.

“Will you be okay while I’m gone?”

He huffed out a laugh. “Honestly?” She nodded. “Tomorrow is going to completely wreck me. I detest the thought of you under another’s protection. I hate everything about it and it makes me want to roar at the stars for the hand fate dealt me.” He paused, collecting himself. “I trust you, please don’t mistake that. It’s not you that—”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “I’m going tomorrow.” He nodded. “But only tomorrow. I’ll tell them if they want another meeting with me, then my mate will be there or I won’t. I will not let them shove me around.”

“Good.” Rion tilted her head and trailed kisses down her throat. His magic danced across her skin, caressing her with a featherlight touch.

“I love that,” she breathed.

Rion’s lips trailed along the shell of her ear. “Love what?”

“Your magic. The feel of it.”

He pulled back just enough to stare into her eyes. “I thought I might have been annoying you with it.”

She raised up on her toes and Rion tilted his head to the side, granting her access to his neck. A gesture he’d do for no other. “How far can you reach with it?”

“Far.” His hands were already under her shirt, fingers playing at the edge of her pants.

“Far enough to keep it with me tomorrow?”

“You’d want that?”

“Yes.”

His lips met hers again. “Then you’ll have it. Even if I have to sit right outside.”

She giggled. “And if I asked for the moon?”

He tilted his head up toward the half crescent in the starry sky. “Then I’ll spend the rest of my life reaching for it.”

Chapter Twenty-two

Arianna

Arianna stood inside their closet wearing a light green silk gown with thin straps at the shoulders. They’d just gotten out of a warm bath where she’d taken full advantage of the soaps, shampoos, and lotions.

But now she was faced with an impossible decision. The dresses hanging before her were all delicate flowing masterpieces fit for a queen. She loved them and knew someone had poured their heart and soul into the fabrics. But no matter how long she stared, Arianna couldn’t convince herself to put one on.

She’d woken early from another nightmare and Rion had kissed away the remnants of her darkest days. But the haunting feelings continued to plague her, making Arianna feel vulnerable in a way she hated.

Arianna ran her hands over the fabrics again and sighed. She’d worn a dress for her father, but that was when she’d been numb to the world. When she’d missed Rion so much it felt as though her heart was bleeding. And she hadn’t even discovered they were mates yet.

Rion stood on the threshold, fully dressed in midnight black. The short sleeves wrapped around his muscled arms in a way that had her thoughts diverting from her decision.

Arianna cleared her throat. “They want to see a queen,” she said as if that was enough explanation for how long she was taking. But she didn’t feel like a queen.

“Who do you want to see?” he asked.