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The female jumped from the carriage with fluid grace, the sword strapped across her back barely moving.

Beautiful. Deadly. Arianna swallowed.

Those in the carriages behind hers exited, eyes darting everywhere as they took in the manor and gardens. One female stood just behind the ambassador and rested a hand on her weapon. Her personal guard, Arianna realized.

Servants poured from the manor, rushing to make themselves useful, then the wind tugged at Arianna’s loose hair. Slowly the ambassador of Fiadh lifted her eyes up and up and up until they locked with Arianna’s.

Arianna scarcely risked a breath beneath her gaze. But it wasn’t Arianna the female lingered on. It was the male at her side.

A possessive instinct coursed through her body and Arianna bared her teeth. “Have you ever met her?”

Rion pulled Arianna closer. “No. And I’m certainly not interested in a female who looks ready to slaughter her way through the city.”

Arianna remembered dressing to make herself look intimidating. She’d hoped it might encourage the council to listen to her. But she knew, somehow, that this female didn’t dress for show. She was just as deadly as the knives strapped to her chest.

When the female broke eye contact and disappeared through the main doors, Arianna loosed a breath of relief. Rion tilted her head back and captured her lips in a greedy kiss that sent shivers of desire through her body. His tongue grazed her bottom lip and he moved to whisper in her ear. “I’ve never let anyone touch me like this and I never will. I belong to you, body and soul.”

Arianna smiled. “You think the bond ever wears off?”

He feathered kisses down her throat. “I can’t say I want it to.”

“I’d like to not feel the need to strangle every female who looks at you.”

Rion hummed against her open mouth. “I like it.” She scoffed, but Rion drew her closer, his hands wandering over her body, leaving fire strumming through her in their wake. “To know someone wants to fight for me. Kill for me. It’s . . . not a feeling I have words for.”

He didn’t need words, not when she could feel it. A veil still separated them, like reaching through a murky pond, but she felt enough, especially when they were so close.

“Your sister will be here tomorrow,” Arianna said. They’d received the reports that morning. “Do you plan on greeting her?”

“If it gets us out of morning dance lessons? Yes.”

Arianna laughed. “I thought you enjoyed those.”

Rion arched a brow. “I detest having a male touch you day in and day out.”

Arianna didn’t partially like Ellie touching him either, but she’d adjusted to it and hardly took notice anymore. Arianna eyed the carriage and those loosening the straps on the horses. “Will you be all right at the ball?”

Rion clenched his jaw. “I won’t lie and say I’ll enjoy it, but I’ll control myself. That much I promise.” He glanced away. “I won’t behave like I did when we first arrived.”

“You think that bothered me?”

“Didn’t it?”

Arianna nuzzled his neck and nipped the tender skin at the base of his throat. A soft moan escaped his lips. “Maybe you aren’t the only one who enjoys their mate’s possessiveness.”

Chapter Thirty-seven

Arianna

Arianna chased Rion down the hall, her stomach swimming with butterflies.

Saoirse. His sister. The one person who hadn’t deemed Rion a monster simply from the magic he possessed. She’d saved him and hidden him from the world until he was old enough to defend himself.

But she’d also let him live in exile with the world believing he’d murdered their father. She understood why. Sort of. Arianna knew it sounded logical, but she couldn’t help the spike of anger at how one could let a family member suffer so much. But maybe the truth wouldn’t have made a difference either way.

“My Lady.” A former slave bowed in passing. Many were still shaken from the bloody event a few days ago, but they were adjusting. The male had been escorted to Levea, along with the two females he’d protected. Arianna hoped they’d find peace there.

Arianna politely inclined her head. She glanced out the window, watching those previously shackled wander the gardens as they saw fit. They were free from burden and she’d seen some of the light return to their eyes.