Page 72

And if that rage ever turned on his best friend, Talon would put an end to the creature himself.

Chapter Twenty-four

Arianna

Her little sister was missing. Well, not missing exactly. It seemed everyone had seen her at one point or another, but tracking her down was equivalent to locating a ghost.

“Can you have her meet me in the library?” Arianna finally asked one of the servants.

“Of course, my Lady.” The female had bowed and run off, hopefully to find someone who could find Ellie.

“She’s the ambassador of Móirín,” Rion pointed out.

“If she’s just doing her job,” which would be a first for Ellie, “then why can’t anyone find her? She should be with someone.” Arianna wrung her hands together. “And she’s not exactly the workaholic type."

Ellie and Kirian had given her father enough grief to last a lifetime. They were always skipping classes together and sneaking into places they shouldn’t.

“Maybe this is different,” Rion offered. Or maybe her little sister had grown up far more than Arianna had realized. Arianna had been gone for almost two years. What if Ellie wasn’t the same young female who snuck out of her history lessons? What if she and Kirian no longer met beneath the stars to steal a kiss and share their secrets?

Arianna tried not to let worry plague her. “I just hope she’s not getting herself into trouble.”

“Avalon wouldn’t have sent her if he doubted her abilities.” Rion had a point. Her father was strict and expected great things from his daughters. But the knowledge only made Arianna wonder if she knew her little sister at all.

***

The pair entered the library and proceeded to the third floor. A stack of books sat atop the table they’d occupied yesterday. She almost chose a different place to sit, but the folded piece of parchment resting on top of the stack drew her attention.

Her name was written across the center in elegant script. Curious, she unfolded the sheet and read:

The table is yours by order of the head librarian; therefore, I left you a few books to help with your studies. They’re some of my favorites and easier to understand than the ones Lord Niall will try to offer you.

P.S. Don’t let him read this.

Gavin

Arianna glanced at the first title and sighed. History. “This is going to be torture.”

Rion chuckled, took the second book and flipped through a few pages. “I thought you enjoyed books.”

She made a disgusted sound. “Not boring ones.”

He turned the book over, examining the back. “Turn it into a story,” Rion offered. “Don’t think about the names and dates. Pick a general and learn about their life, then connect it to others that lived in the same time period.” He smiled. "It’ll read more interesting that way.”

“Is that what you did?”

He shrugged. “More or less. The more you know about someone, the more you understand the reasons behind their actions. I focused on their strategy—or lack thereof—then what ultimately led to their downfall so I wouldn’t repeat their mistakes.”

“As I said, torture.”

He chucked again and Arianna lifted the third book from the pile. She opened it to a map of Alastríona and lingered there.

There were so many places she had yet to see. So much to learn and do. Her fingers glided over the page starting at the human lands in the north, then traveled down to the islands off the coast of Móirín’s southern borders.

This was a world she had yet to see but would one day know like the back of her hand. She’d learn everything she needed to know about Ruadhán first. She would earn the council’s favor, make a few changes, then begin a slow journey across the continent.

They would visit the capitol cities, where she’d spend time with the High Lords and Ladies. Afterward, she’d venture to other major cities and make a name for herself. And maybe she’d finally figure out what peace meant along the way.

“Do you th—” Arianna paused when she found Rion at the end of the aisle staring at something on a shelf. Grateful for the excuse, Arianna set the book down and wandered over to find him studying a glass chess set.