Her heart beat just a little faster as she stared at the small gift wrapped at the bottom of the bag. She’d purchased it in Ruadhán, but she’d never worked up the courage to give it to him. Right now seemed as good a time as any.
It was a promise that she’d be his forever once they were old enough to talk about forever. She recalled all the males she’d seen get down on one knee, but somehow, she wanted to be the one to do it. She was a future High Lady. She wanted Kirian to know how much he meant to her and that status held no place in her heart. She’d love whoever she wished to love.
Instead of reaching for it, Ellie wrapped the bag up and placed it on her other side where Kirian wouldn’t be able to reach it. “So, since the council has me constantly doing things these days, I wondered if you’d like a desk beside mine. We’d be working, but at least we’d be able to spend some time together. Maybe then you could use that brain of yours to help me sort through all the crazy piling up on me. The gossip between the council members is outstanding, by the way.”
Her father was taking her future roleveryseriously. If they hadn’t all just fought for their lives, she might have resented such things. But her father was tired, even if he wouldn’t admit it. She’d do her part to take some pressure off his shoulders.
School wouldn’t resume for a few months. Shelter and food were still their primary focus; that and rebuilding and learning to work with their neighboring nations. Arianna andRion had taken their rightful places as monarchs. The world was changing fast.
She glanced up at Kirian when he didn’t respond. He still hadn’t moved. Wind blew through his copper hair, the slight curls brushing against the shell of his ear. His very human-looking ear. She wouldn’t dwell on what that meant, either.
“Kirian?” She tried, hoping to pull him from his reverie. He wasn’t normally so stoic.
When he still didn’t respond, Ellie moved their sandwiches to the side and scooted closer. Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “Kirian?”
“I love you.” Her heart skipped at his tone. The way he said those words—emotion swelled through her chest.
It sounded too much like a goodbye.
Ellie swallowed the lump in her throat, fighting to keep her voice steady. “No need to get sentimental on me.” She took his hand and jolted at how cold it felt. Nearly lifeless. “We’re fine now. Everything is over.”
“I love you.” That same tone echoed through her again, spearing through her chest, pouring salt in a wound she hadn’t even realized was there. Her hands began shaking. Her voice, too.
Ellie took him by his shoulders and forced him to face her. “Kirian—”
His eyes locked with hers and breath left her body. “I love you,” he repeated, his breath ragged. “And when you wake from this nightmare,” his body jerked. “Know that I forgive you.”
Tears filled her eyes as he leaned forward, lips ready to brush hers in a kiss that never made it. His head hit her chest, then darkness engulfed her world.
Chapter Six
Arianna
Ellie stared at the wall, her face utterly empty.
Arianna studied her sister, holding her too-thin hand between her own. She whispered her name again, willing Ellie to react, to tilt her head, to do anything other than sit there, hollow and silent.
When they’d woken her, Zylah had drawn a large rune over Ellie’s chest and stepped away. The entire room had held its breath for the few moments it’d taken Ellie to open her eyes.
She’d sat up slowly, seeming to take in the bed, pillows, and sheets. The clean room. The people surrounding her. Ellie had looked down at her hands and Arianna’s heart had crawled into her throat as she braced for the scream and tears and devastation. But her little sister had simply scooted back on the bed, then stared at the opposite wall without moving again.
A puppet without a master to pull the strings.
No one had dared to break the silence.
The couple who owned the house waited just in the hall, keeping their distance as instructed by Raevina. The Demon guarded the doorway, as if he intended to protect the pair, or prevent Ellie’s escape.
Saoirse and Raevina stood against the back wall, waiting with their magic at the ready. They’d already put iron around Ellie’s ankle and secured her to the bedpost with a chain.
Zylah was at Arianna’s side, her hands up, prepared to redraw the rune that would render Ellie unconscious again. Talon leaned against the foot of Ellie’s bed, bracing to yank Arianna back should Ellie lunge for her throat. Gavin waited beside Talon, anguish written all over his young face at seeing his mate finally waking from her induced slumber.
Everyone had been ready to move at the slightest hint of Ellie lashing out.
No one had been prepared for … nothing.
Ellie hadn’t moved.
She’d barely blinked.
