It was a peace she'd craved for so long. A fairytale she’d never thought would come to life. And Arianna never wanted to leave.
Sadly, her body had other priorities.
Arianna rolled to one side, or tried to, but a pair of strong arms tightened around her waist and drew her back. Arianna giggled and pushed against his iron hold, earning a grunt of disapproval from the male at her side.
He reached up with one leg, bare skin sliding against her own, and pulled her closer, pinning her body against his. Rion settled again, not even bothering to open his eyes.
Arianna wiggled her arm up and out of his grasp, then ran her fingertips down the side of his face. She nuzzled into his neck and trailed feather-light kisses down the column of his throat.
Rion hummed this time, craning his neck back to give her better access.
“I need—”
“Shh.”
She relished the sound and settled against him for another moment. Arianna kissed the bottom of his chin. “Rion.”He didn’t respond, but the slight tug of a smile told her he hadn’t fallen back asleep. “You’re so lazy.”
“Resting,” he corrected, his voice raspy from sleep. “Just as my queen commanded.”
Arianna smiled again. She’d been doing a lot of that the past week too, but it wasn’t just her who’d given Rion the command. Their entire inner court had sat the pair down and demanded they go on a short holiday, have some alone time, as couples were normally permitted when a bond appeared.
Rion and Arianna had stayed in Nàdair for three months to help build the foundation of their new world’s infrastructure. It had taken a great deal of convincing from all parties to assure her their newfound system wouldn’t crumble in two weeks. With all the work to be done, no one was likely to notice their absence anyway.
Though still reluctant, Arianna had finally looked at her mate’s eager face and agreed.
Arianna breathed deep, taking in the crisp air of their tiny sanctuary hidden away inside the forbidden forest. They’d arrived dumbfounded and off kilter. There wasn’t a war to fight. No one was coming to stalk them. Their people were safe and cared for.
They were free.
Neither had left the bed for two days. Afterward, the repairs had begun.
She had once asked Rion to build her a cabin of their own. She had intended for it to be a place of refuge.
Turns out, they already had one.
Now all the cracks were sealed. The walls repaired. The windows clean. The floors and blankets aired out and fresh. And they’d developed a routine Arianna could gladly repeat for the rest of her days.
After breakfast, Rion would work on his figurines, showing her how he carved them from start to finish.At night, Arianna would read out loud, getting lost in stories with happily-ever-afters.
Just like theirs.
Arianna’s gaze lifted to the ceiling, following the markings her mate had carved upon the surface so many years ago during a time when he’d been rejected by the world. She’d thought this place might hold too many sad memories, but he claimed the opposite.
Rion had told her this place was where his life had truly begun. Where he’d found his purpose for living. Who knew a distinguished Fae general could be so sentimental.
Arianna tried to wriggle away again. Rion tightened his hold. “Why?” he moaned, the deep sound sending a shiver skittering through her body.
“I need the bathroom.” Rion huffed and begrudgingly released her, finally opening his eyes to drink her in. She scooted to the edge of the bed and watched him stretch his arms upward, revealing the toned muscles in his chest and stomach. “I’ll be right back,” she promised.
The silk sheets fell away from her body and a chill swept through her. Their mornings had turned cool again, the weather nearly ready to shift to a new season.
A new beginning.
Arianna relieved herself in the small bathroom, then stared at her reflection in the mirror. She hadn’t bothered the first time she’d visited. Her reflection hadn’t been something she’d enjoyed viewing. Back then, she’d seen all her failures etched across her face.
She had felt lost.
But the person staring back at her now wasn’t that broken person anymore. She had grown and finally embracedeverything about herself that she’d ever perceived as weak or ill-fitting.
