He’d never seen her so … ferocious. When she regained her memories, Rion wondered how she’d feel about this feral side of herself. A side that had finally broken free from her previous reservations. Not that the Dark Fae warranted any.
A horn sounded in the distance, echoing across the plains. Rion spun around, watching as a fleet of warriors emerged on the horizon, barreling straight toward them. Many balked at the sight, their terror rekindling. But Rion raised one arm and roared in triumph. The warrior’s answering call was enough. And right at the front, leading the fray, was the High Lord of Brónach himself, Alec.
Chapter Twenty-One
Arianna
Arianna had never met Brónach’s High Lord. She’d been too young when their nations were allied, then the war had kept their people apart, and there’d been no opportunity since the two had made amends.
The male she’d previously envisioned as cold and calculating now fussed over an unconscious Eimear who they’d laid on a dirty cloak right over the bloodied grass. Zylah was working on her, applying runes. Arianna didn’t miss the way Saoirse had placed her body protectively between her older brother and the half-breed. Alec didn’t appear to miss it either. He hovered near Eimear’s legs, one hand constantly moving the fabric she rested upon as if he could straighten it.
The Demon was beside them too, standing on the other side. The two brothers had barely looked at one another. She supposed even family ties couldn’t ignore some atrocities. Arianna still didn’t understand how Saoirse could interact with The Demon as if he were normal.
He’d helped again. Her fists clenched. The Demon had done so much to stall for their victory. Her gaze roamed over the dozens of dirt mounds, now all collapsed into slight heaps on the ground. No one had commanded him to protect the innocent.
“Arianna!” She spun to see her father jogging across the field, his warriors at his side. Her lips parted at the sight of Talon and Raevina and relief swept through her like a tidal wave. They were filthy, covered in gore and blood. They had scrapes and burns and cuts all over their bodies. But they were all alive. Every single one of them was alive. Either they were the luckiest group of Fae on the continent, or the gods really were looking down on them.
Emotion barreled through her and Arianna took off, jumping into her father’s outstretched arms as if she were still five years old. He cradled her close, wrapping one hand behind her head. His breaths were ragged, his worry palpable. Avalon pulled back to look her over, noting the blood splattered across her tunic, arms, and face.
“You fought.” Arianna’s magic surged beneath her skin in answer, ready to meet another onslaught of carnage if the need arose. She wanted to take flight and soar across the vast forest that had exploded into existence. Something in her wanted to eradicate all the horrible things on the other side.
Avalon smiled at her in a way she’d rarely seen. As if he were … proud. “Is Ellie okay?” He might as well have dipped her beneath the ice and frozen her there himself. Avalon didn’t miss the way her smile faded. His hands tightened around her shoulders, but before he could say anything else …
“She’s alive.”
His mouth opened. Shut. “Where is she?”
“Still on the mountain.”
“I can retrieve her,” Raevina offered.
Avalon looked between her and Talon. “Please do.”
Raevina shifted and a second later, Talon followed, the pair soaring high into the clouds. Arianna watched them a moment, then turned back to her father. He quirked a brow in question. Arianna only smiled. “I’ll let him tell you.”
“I don’t think he needs to.” Arianna thought she saw something like longing flash across her father’s face.
The Dark Fae were all but gone now. Warriors paced the fields, searching for bodies that still drew breath. Many were loaded onto wagons. The dead were piled, placed with their arms over their chests before fire consumed them.
Eventually, the High Lord of Brónach picked up his mother. Saoirse helped situate her, then the two began walking,quietly conversing amongst themselves. The royal guard took up positions around them. The Demon didn’t follow; instead, he turned. Their eyes locked and Arianna’s breath hitched.
Don’t come over here, don’t come over here, don’t come over—too late. The Demon walked toward her slowly, his gaze never dropping. She didn’t dare look away. She wouldn’t be seen as a coward. But before the male even made it halfway, a small child screamed and sprinted through the crowd.
Both their gazes snapped toward the little girl and Rion braced himself as she threw her arms around his legs. He stood there frozen for a moment, the child sobbing into his bloody pant leg before he knelt to console her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck next. Rion patted her back, then stood with her in his arms, cradling her small body close. Arianna approached hesitantly, watching how The Demon rubbed the little girl’s back, shushing her the way any adult would attempt to calm a young child.
Arianna caught the youngling’s scent as she drew closer. Kaylee. The little girl’s name was Kaylee. She was a half-breed that Eimear had cared for, but … why had she run to this creature instead of someone like Saoirse?
Another youngling sprinted right up to The Demon, gaze locked on Kaylee as she sobbed into Rion’s neck.
Whelan. She noted the iron bracelet around his wrist, then the blood across his shirt. He had a gash on his arm, too. Her throat tightened. Gods, what had the younglings seen? Endured?
“You all right?” Rion asked. Whelan nodded, though she noted the way his chin wobbled. Whelan bit back his tears, clenching his jaw in defiance. “Come on, let’s go then.”
Arianna followed, observing the trio from a short distance. She kept a careful eye on The Demon and the way heheld Kaylee. His magic didn’t stir at his feet, and the little girl certainly didn’t seem as if she’d release him anytime soon.
She mumbled unintelligible words into his shirt. The Demon ran his hand across her back again, but she sat up slightly, tears still pouring down her young face. “You weren’t here,” she sobbed, her little voice cracking. “I was so scared and you weren’t here.”
