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Arianna

Arianna’s eyes fluttered open and a pulse beat against the back of her head, echoing throughout her entire body. Her stomach rolled, but when Arianna tried to turn over, she found her body once again bound to the cold table.

Niall.

The male’s very name sent a pulse of anger strumming through her.

Tears still stained her cheeks from the pain he and his father had inflicted on her mind. She wouldn’t forget either of them anytime soon. Them or their magic.

Arianna never wanted it to touch her again. As soon as she got back to the rebels, she was going to demand Sive teach her every mind blocking rune in existence no matter how complicated. She’d tattoo them across her entire body if that’s what it took.

Anger pulsed through her again, burning hotter than anything she’d ever experienced before.

Arianna yanked at her restraints, then slammed her head against the metal table in frustration. A fresh wave of pain and nausea swept through her. She tilted to the side and vomited onto the table. Half of it splattered onto the floor while the other half covered her hair.

She rested her head against the table once again. It didn’t matter. She was already covered in her own filth. Trust the males from Pádraigín not to care about a prisoner’s physical needs.

Arianna squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them to stare at the bright light overhead. It hummed, pulsing with magic. Her skin prickled from the sound.

A chill had gooseflesh rising on her arms and legs. Arianna clenched her teeth, then her magic rolled, moving from the top of her head all the way to her feet. It spread a blanket of warmth through her, as if trying to both comfort and urge her to take action.

Action against what? She was wrapped in iron with no hope of escape. Her skin burned hot enough to tell her she’d already tried multiple times.

But the creature within her writhed, as if commanding her to try. If she didn’t—what? Urgency rippled through her. Was Talon in trouble? Had he been captured too? Was something about to happen to her sister?

Ellie had a mate. Would Vairik experiment on his own family? Of course he would. They meant nothing to him. Arianna recalled that experimental room and fear engulfed her. If he did that to Ellie … if he ripped open her body …

The creature inside her pulsed again, twisting like a snake trapped inside a too small cage. It pushed against her, begging her to find a way.

Something else was wrong. Something far away. She needed to get out, break free, do whatever was necessary to ensure she escaped this room.

A pulse of adrenaline shot through her.

Let me out , it cooed softly

Set me free.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

She wanted to. Gods, she was so tired of these chains. So tired of being treated like she was weak. Tired of acting like it too.

She’d promised to lock the weak version of herself away and yet here she was, vulnerable all over again. A scared youngling trapped against her will.

Arianna slammed against her shackles, thrashing like a feral creature trapped in a cage. Fighting just like the magic pulsing beneath her skin. She raged and gritted her teeth. Metal bit into her flesh, bruising it as she twisted and turned.

She strained again, pushing, pushing, pushing before letting her body fall slack.

The creature within her paced.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

Arianna stilled. She closed her eyes and took a long, slow breath. She wasn’t a frightened youngling anymore. She was a queen and after today, she’d make damn sure the world knew it. That Niall and Vairik knew it too.

She just had to wait, bide her time for the perfect opportunity.

Arianna settled into herself and began counting.

One.

Two.

Three.

She let her body relax. Her magic did the same, curling up and conserving its power.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Once she attained freedom, Arianna would burn this whole place to the ground.