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Then it scurried away, darting between the feet of everyone else until it stood before Rion.
His heart cracked even as he leaned down to greet the small creature. Those little arms reached up and he lowered one hand to scoop it into his palm. He couldn’t tell whether it smiled or not, but he understood when it lightly touched his face.
Welcome back, it seemed to say.
Rion didn’t realize he had an audience until he glanced up to find their group surrounded. Many stood with their mouths gaping, watching The Demon with the sacred creature.
A creature no one else had ever touched. Except Arianna, of course, but he doubted they knew that yet.
Rion placed it back down and it scurried to Arianna. She touched its tiny hand in greeting before it raced into the brush without looking back. Then the Fairy Folk were gone, blending into the forest where they dwelled and spun their mysterious magic.
No one spoke as they continued walking, but Arianna spared him a glance and Rion’s heart soared as he glimpsed the ghost of a smile across her face.
***
Rion couldn’t help but sigh in relief when a large cabin entered their view. A small clearing surrounded it on all sides and a wisp of smoke rose from the stone chimney. Rion spotted a few rocking chairs on the porch, but otherwise the exterior was bare.
He wondered if those from Pádraigín were using their magic to conceal the safe house from unwelcome eyes. Of course they were, he just wished he could sense it. But he imagined he was missing a lot with exhaustion hanging over him like a heavy cloud.
The door swung open, creaking on its hinges, and Arianna’s father stepped beyond the threshold. Rion clenched his jaw, ready for Avalon’s verbal assault, but Arianna’s overwhelming sense of relief sent her sprinting the last few feet to her father.
His mate dove into Avalon’s arms and Avalon returned the embrace, clutching his daughter tight.
Before leaving Levea, Arianna had been furious with her father, and for good reason. Maybe she still harbored some of those feelings, but right now he was simply her parent. And as any parent should, he’d come to his daughter’s aid.
Rion’s gaze traveled toward his mother and he found her staring right back. She still didn’t look at him with anything other than a mother’s love. Perhaps his life would have been different had she remained in it. He’d never forgive Niall. Not for a million reasons.
Rion’s heart ached. Their reunion should have been just as emotional. It should have been filled with warm embraces and tears. Questions and no shortage of rambling as he tried to explain how they’d endlessly searched for her. Yet it had been tainted instead with fangs and dirt and chains.
A growl echoed from behind Avalon that had everyone straightening. “Why is that creature allowed to wander free?” The male had already drawn his weapon. Water droplets formed to his front, all solidifying into icy spears ready to fly through Rion’s heart.
Rion studied the male but didn’t recognize him. He felt a growl rise in his throat, though he stifled it when he noticed Arianna watching. Rion uncurled his fists. “If my queen wants me in chains, she has but to ask.”
Hurt flashed across her face, but he didn’t understand it. Nor could he risk searching the frayed bond for answers. She deserved his respect, had more than earned it, but the way she reacted to his words seemed strange. Like it made her sad somehow.
Arianna raised her voice. “If one more person touches him with chains, they’ll find those shackles around themselves.”
The male’s mouth gaped but when he realized no one else was ready to fight, he dropped his magic and bowed. Avalon didn’t reprimand his guard or his daughter. In fact, he looked at Arianna with reverence. Pride.
Saoirse slipped through the door next and Rion’s world froze. She looked him over once, then his sister was running. Actually running before her body slammed into his. He barely braced enough to stay upright, but the motion left him in shocked silence.
“Just let me,” she said, voice thick with emotion. He wasn’t sure he could have pushed her off even if he’d wanted to. How many years had it been since he’d felt his sister’s embrace? Too many. Far, far too many.
Slowly, Rion returned it, patting his sister on the shoulder. She pulled back to look him over again. “You’re all right?”
“As okay as I can be.”
She gave him a halfhearted smile, but Rion nodded behind her and Saoirse followed his gaze. His sister stiffened, then her lips parted. Their mother was smiling at the pair. Smiling at her children and the relationship they shared.
Saoirse stepped once, but when Eimear opened her arms, a strangled sound escaped his sister and she was sprinting with tears streaming down her face. Eimear pulled her daughter in close and the females sank to the ground, both sobbing and asking questions through their tears that no one could understand.
Something deep in Rion’s heart mended then. A hole he hadn’t realized he’d carried. He just watched his mother stroke Saoirse’s hair as if the female were five years old again. If Saoirse cared that anyone watched, she didn’t show it.
“Come on,” Avalon said, a hand still resting on his daughter’s shoulder. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
***
The cabin had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Saoirse entered one room with their mother and Kaylee. Four of Saoirse’s guards followed with two large washbasins, a pair of scissors, new clothes, and towels in tow. Someone from Móirín entered too, likely to fill the tub. Minutes later, everyone exited, leaving Saoirse, Eimear, and the girl alone in the room. Rion imagined they wouldn’t be out for a long, long while.
