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Chapter Sixty-four
Talon
Arianna joined them for breakfast. She was finally getting out of her room, though he hated how much time she spent in Niall’s company. Niall was a male with an agenda. He was the one who was prophesied to rule the continent at Arianna’s side. Now with Rion out of the picture, he seemed inclined to spend every waking moment with their queen.
But should that bother him? The Lord of Pádraigín was said to be her mate. Could Talon blame the male for wanting to get to know her?
He supposed not, but he didn’t want anyone taking advantage of his friend in her fragile state. She’d locked herself in her room for weeks. She needed time to process and plan her next moves without the influence of others.
Talon stood when she entered the room. Arianna stared at the table laden with an assortment of breakfast foods. Familiar pain flashed across her features and had his heart aching.
Somehow Ellie was always one step ahead.
She had removed Rion’s usual chair and had replaced it with her own. Kirian sat beside Ellie as he always did, and if Talon read the room correctly, he was to sit at her opposite side.
Arianna hadn’t moved from the doorway.
For a moment, Talon thought she might retreat back to her room, skip breakfast altogether, which wasn’t the best of ideas considering how thin she’d become. She needed to eat. She needed to train and move and have a purpose.
“I think Ellie has some news,” Talon offered, hoping the way Ellie was fidgeting meant she’d gotten the information she needed from Gavin. It worked. Light stuttered to life in Arianna’s gaze and she joined them at the table. Talon didn’t wait for her to serve herself. He filled a plate with all of Arianna’s favorite things and set it before her.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, but set to slowly chewing a piece of cheese.
Talon filled his own plate and seated himself at her side. “It’s nothing.”
Ellie stared at her empty plate and Talon suddenly noticed her tense shoulders and the way Kirian sat with his hands in his lap, strangely avoiding Ellie’s gaze. Were they arguing?
Talon cleared his throat. “Did you find anything?”
It took a moment for Ellie to register that Talon had addressed her. Ellie’s face flushed and anger rolled through her body. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Arianna furrowed her brow. “Did he tell you anything?”
Ellie clenched her fists. “Nothing that will help us.”
“What does that mean?” Talon asked.
“It means he’s a racist, arrogant ass that I never want to hear from again.”
Talon reassessed Kirian’s discomfort. Gavin must have said something about her relationship with the half-breed, but Talon didn’t understand the anger. She’d dealt with nasty comments just fine in Levea and had put individuals who were centuries older in their place. She hadn’t even backed down from her father.
Ellie withdrew a paper from her pocket and tossed it to Arianna. She grabbed it and Talon leaned over to read a single sentence.
He’s watching.
“Who is this from?” Talon asked.
“The arrogant ass.”
“This is it? That’s all he gave you?”
Ellie relaxed her hands and took a steadying breath. “Yes, now can we move on please?”
“No,” Talon said. “He was supposed to be our lead. I thought you said—”
“Talon,” Ellie warned and he followed her gaze to Arianna. Her face was grave and some of the color had faded from her eyes. “I was wrong. We have to try something else.”
Something else? What else was there to try? Saoirse had a team of her best warriors searching for her brother around the clock. Talon took shifts with those from Móirín and Niall claimed to have sent a few of his warriors out as well, though he wasn’t sure if he trusted the male’s claim. With Rion gone, Niall had Arianna all to himself; he didn’t exactly have a lot of motivation to find Rion.
