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Arianna made a promise to herself. She wouldn’t be that weak little female plagued by darkness and memories any more. She’d place that female in a box full of plush blankets and books and chocolates and protect her from the outside world. She’d give that female love and comfort and nothing, absolutely nothing, would ever hurt her again.
The magic still roared beneath her veins, crawling and writhing like a creature who wanted to fight. She looked at her hands and the thin layer of ice that coated her fingers, crawling and spreading before melting again.
Kill them, it still seemed to beg. Arianna furrowed her brow.
No.
Kill them, it pushed, more demanding. Kill them now.
No.
The power flickered as if angry, then vanished entirely. It yanked from her body so suddenly Arianna gasped and hit her knees.
Talon crossed the field in a matter of seconds and caught her shoulders before she fell. He held her close as she gasped for breath. Her head spun and spots lined her vision, then she felt the desperate pounding again.
A wild, hysterical fear filled her head and it took Arianna a moment to realize it wasn’t her feelings at all.
It was Rion’s.
Rion who felt like he was unraveling at the seams.
Rion who was begging for some kind of answer.
Arianna tugged back, trying to assure him, but she was flooded with so many emotions she couldn’t sort through them all. Not at this distance and not with his fear so palpable it felt like her own.
“Are you all right?” Talon asked.
Arianna lifted her head, the sudden silence of the night pressing in on her from all sides. She looked him over, noting the cuts on his arms, torso, and the burns across his legs.
“You’re hurt.”
“So are you.” Arianna looked at herself then, at the large gash in her right forearm. The slice across her upper thigh. She hadn’t noticed either during the fight.
Arianna ignored her wounds and reached for Talon. Her magic was sluggish and heavy, but she pushed it, determined to close the worse of his wounds and heal the burns. The ones on his legs would scar, but there was nothing she could do aside from make a salve that he likely wouldn’t use.
Arianna let her body collapse and ran a hand over her face, still trying to catch her breath.
Then someone cried out, screaming a name, and Arianna saw the blood. She moved without thinking and set to healing wounds, one warrior at a time.
Those in captivity were chained together and corralled into a small space beside the trees. None tried to speak, but they visibly shrank away when she passed by. Arianna supposed because being caught and almost suffocated by ice would be enough to quiet even the brashest of warriors.
The male from Fiadh who’d taken an arrow lit a fire and guided her over to it. He draped his cloak around her body and Arianna thanked him. Cole. Cole was his name, and when they got back to Ruadhán she was appointing him as part of her personal guard. He’d stepped up to defend her against impossible odds, stepped up to defend his commanding officer, too.
Arianna’s breathing slowly returned to normal, but her body still trembled.
Talon sank down at her side, his body angled so he could keep an eye on those they’d taken prisoner. “You hesitated,” Talon said. It wasn’t exactly a reprimand. More like an offer if she wanted to talk.
Arianna replied, “You didn’t.” Because Talon would fight for her until the end of time and if he hadn’t been here—Arianna shook her head. He’d never let her fall into chains again.
The guards built more fires at Talon’s command and they pulled bandages from their packs to nurse superficial wounds. Niall would meet up with them soon and they’d travel the rest of the way with his group. For now, they’d stay put and rest.
Hopefully the smell of blood would keep anyone else far, far away.
Her eyes had just started to drift shut when rapid footsteps made every warrior jump to their feet. Talon had warned his warriors to stand aside when Rion arrived and stay far away from the male.
Arianna could feel Rion’s apprehension and scent his fear as he took in the blood and bodies.
Arianna stood and shouted a single command. “Step aside.” None wanted to, she could see it on their faces, but they obeyed. Rion’s snarl tore through the air as a warning.
