“You mean the one that had a statue in Ruadhán?”
Rion nodded and Talon ran a nervous hand through his hair. “I know it’s probably inevitable, but I’m not sure I’m ready to face it just yet.”
“You faced the reality of me, I’m confident you’ll handle him just fine.”
“Him?”
Rion paused. “I guess it could be a her. Not sure the Fairy Folk or Guardians have genders. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen offspring. Maybe they don’t procreate at all.”
“Not something I really want to think about.”
Rion chuckled again, then the creature blinked, and it was gone, bounding through the forest’s soft underbrush one giant leap at a time.
“Come on,” Rion said, trudging forward. “I have one more, then we can head back.”
Chapter Fourteen
Arianna
She couldn’t believe it. They’d actually gone hunting. Arianna had thought it a ruse for the pair to get away and discuss what might be done about her outburst, but then they’d waltzed back into camp with seven rabbits. She’d just stared, unable to process the sight of Talon and The Demon together. Not that they were laughing; if anything, despite their success, both males looked downright miserable.
The pair prepped the creatures outside while the rest of them got things ready for a hearty stew. Zylah washed the pot and dishes while Saoirse stepped out to collect herbs and vegetables. It was nice, she admitted, to have someone from Brónach with them. It would have taken Arianna hours to forage what Saoirse brought back in minutes.
“You can thank me for fixing your garden later,” Saoirse called. It took Arianna too long to realize she was speaking to The Demon. The creature ignored his sister. She huffed, then pulled out a knife and began cutting everything into bite-sized chunks.
Arianna felt like a fool just sitting at her sister’s bedside. A bed that looked far too familiar for reasons she couldn’t place. Her fingertips brushed along the edges of a fur. For some reason, a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, then a blush rose to her cheeks. She glanced up to find The Demon watching. Arianna quickly snatched her hand away and studied her sister’s sleeping face. Zylah had promised to wake her once the meal was finished.
Talon stepped closer, and the hairs on Arianna’s arms rose. He lightly cleared his throat. “Do you … feel up to cooking?” She turned to her friend, lips parting slightly at the … simplicity of his request. Others looked up too, many with their brows furrowed. But Arianna only saw that child-like hope in his eyes. It reminded her of all the times when they were children. It was the same look he’d held when the three of them had waitedto open presents during the solstice. It was the one he’d held when they offered their promises and dreams to the stars.
Arianna nodded and stood, allowing him to stand vigil over Ellie in her stead. She sorted through the herbs Saoirse had gathered and requested two more. Saoirse obliged, then moved aside.
The task was methodical. Something she’d done a hundred times. It didn’t take long for the earthy aroma to fill the small cabin. Somehow, that simple scent nearly erased the tension from the room. Nearly. She could still feel The Demon watching her every move. She did her best to ignore him and the familiarity of it.
Her gaze drifted to Gavin, but his eyes were locked on Ellie. Arianna wasn’t sure he ever looked away. It was as though his very life rode on the anticipation of Ellie’s next breath. Maybe as her mate, it did.
Arianna stirred the pot, and images floated through her mind of doing the same in another cabin. It had been colder and full of fear. The image wasn’t a comforting one. She continued stirring, her brow knitted in concentration. Something about her cooking had—pain lanced through her skull and Arianna gripped the side of her head. Zylah’s hands were on her moments later, drawing runes that flooded her neck with icy relief.
“I’ll take it from here.” Arianna relinquished the spoon to Zylah, then returned to Ellie’s bedside.
Gods, she was losing her mind.
They ate in silence after that. Zylah woke Ellie, but it took The Demon commanding her to eat before she’d taken a single bite of food. To Arianna’s disappointment, Ellie remained a vacant shell.
Arianna curled up in the bed beside her sister, and everyone else took various places on the floor or chairs.None bothered arranging a watch. They were surrounded by Fairy Folk and Guardians, not to mention the ominous trees themselves. She supposed that would be enough to put anyone at ease.
The Demon stormed out after eating and Arianna relaxed into the furs, waiting patiently for sleep to claim her. She wanted to fall into its blissful arms and become lost in dreams of a pleasant future where Ellie was alive and happy. But sleep eluded her, slipping away from her grasp.
She tilted her head into the furs, taking in the scents. Part belonged to The Demon, but the other—Arianna hadn’t wanted to believe it earlier. She’d chalked her addled mind up to something Gavin had done, but—that was her scent lingering on the furs. It was faint, but there. Unless that was just another illusion. Everything here felt so familiar. Important. But if she’d been here before, then that meant everything they’d been telling her wasn’t a lie, and that the male currently outside—
Arianna sat up carefully and took in the small space. Most were sleeping, though Raevina nonchalantly played with a spark of fire between her fingertips.
Arianna’s gaze roamed over the table and the vase in the corner. It’s where their dirty bowls had been left until morning. No one had possessed the energy to clean them. But Arianna swore she had a memory of something else sitting there. Her eyes traced the intricate carvings in the ceiling, then roamed to a few figurines nestled on the mantle of the fireplace. There were others in the kitchen too, all carved from wood. She wondered what skilled hand had created such things. Did the artist know their creations now rested in the dwelling of a monster?
She looked through the window next to the darkness beyond, before rising and padding toward the door. Raevina watched, but remained still even as Arianna slipped outside. She just needed—what did she need? Air, she just needed to breathesome fresh air and get away from the familiar sights and scents that tugged on forgotten memories.
Arianna scanned the treetops first, searching through each one for a shadowy figure. She peered around each side of the cabin next, then scented the air. He was close. Why weren’t the others concerned? What if he was out meeting someone? What if he’d been hurt? Arianna’s heart lurched at the possibility and she scented the air again. No blood.
She stopped in her tracks. She shouldn’t be concerned for his well-being. She didn’t need to be. If he was killed, that was just one less obstacle for her to overcome.
