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The male youngling from earlier stood and pointed to his friend. Rion remained where his was, but his magic trailed Arianna’s every step. Many watched the grains floating around the strange female before them, seeming to marvel that she wasn’t screaming in terror.
They stepped back, pushing themselves into the wooden walls as if they could blend in with them.
Arianna crouched before the girl and pulled back the blanket to examine the wound, then she placed her hands on the girl’s ankle. The child groaned, but the adult female held her still, desperate eyes watching Arianna’s every move.
When her hands began glowing, every Fae watching in the cabin sucked in a collected breath. More than one hit their knees, sending whispered prayers to the gods above.
None moved, caught in a trance as they watched the queen in their midst. Arianna pulled foul smelling liquid from a small wound and the swelling visibly decreased. The redness leached back and skin that had once been purplish and ashen returned to its normal color.
Tears ran down the adult female’s face and she bowed her head in thanks even as sobs raked her thin body.
“I’d heard the rumors,” a male whispered from the opposite corner. “But I didn’t believe—” he took a tentative step forward. “The Divine is among us. The prophecy is true.”
“She shouldn’t be,” another woman said, her voice low. Arianna glanced at her and the female bowed her head. “It’s too dangerous out here, your Grace. If you knew what some were saying . . .”
But she did know. From the attack in Levea and the one just recently. But Arianna didn’t share those stories. She just looked at him with those bright gorgeous eyes and smiled. “I’m in good hands.” Their gazes followed hers and studied Rion, taking in the male they’d been told was a monster. A male who had acted as one for most of his life.
Arianna stood. “I’ll make sure to have more supplies delivered first thing tomorrow. There’s also medicine in the bag that should help bring down her fever.”
“Will you return to the royal city tonight?” another male asked.
Arianna studied the cabin. “I think I’ll stay here, if that’s all right.”
Six jumped to their feet and Rion’s magic responded. They regarded him carefully, but somehow with Arianna near, they didn’t appear as afraid as before. “We don’t have much, but—”
Arianna held up a hand and shook her head. “I don’t require anything from you. Really, it will be nice to be outside of the manor for a while.”
They stared at her, their mouths gaping as she exited the crowded cabin. Rion followed and watched as she stopped in the center of what he’d built. She examined the space, taking in all the posts that marked where more cabins would go. Where they would build fences for animals and where he hoped to plant a few more trees. She smiled then looked up at the stars.
Rion wrapped his arms around her from behind and Arianna leaned her head against him.
“Thank you,” he said.
Rion thought he felt her smile. “You seem happy.”
“I am.” He squeezed her tighter, his heart pounding just from a small touch. That he was allowed to touch her. “And even happier now that you’re here.”
“It’s so quiet.”
He listened to her easy breathing and looked at the sky with her. “I could build you a home here.” She tilted her head. “If you wanted a place to escape every now and then.”
Arianna smiled again and his heart swelled. “Only if it remains a secret. Otherwise, it won’t be quiet for long.”
Rion looked at those watching them from the doorway. “I doubt they’d say anything.”
“Then it’s a deal.”
Chapter Fifty-one
Arianna
They spent the night in one of Rion’s unfinished cabins. It didn’t have windows and the chimney wasn’t quite done, but knowing she was in a structure he’d built brought her joy.
And the people. There were people here. She’d sensed how much concern her mate carried for the girl’s wellbeing and it had made her heart soar.
They were important to him, so Arianna would make their welfare a priority. She’d visit every week as long as the villagers promised to keep those visits a secret.
She smiled to herself. A home. Rion was going to build them a home right here in this little piece of heaven. Maybe he’d design the interior the way he’d done at his old cabin in the woods.
