“Don’t.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Arianna
“Don’t.” Her timid voice was enough to suck the air from the room. Arianna’s head whipped around to find Ellie standing, actuallylookingat her. Talon, Raevina, and Avalon stood at Ellie’s side, the latter with his hands resting on his daughter’s shoulders.
“Don’t hurt him,” Ellie pleaded, her raw voice cracking. Her body trembled, then her eyes drifted to the floor. “Don’t hurt him,” she repeated. A tear slipped free, and a heaving sob tore through Ellie’s chest. “Don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt him.” Ellie collapsed, but Talon grabbed her arm, preventing Ellie’s knees from cracking against the marble floor.
Then her sister screamed.
Arianna’s heart leapt and she let the blade clatter to the ground as she shoved off from The Demon, her anger forgotten. Arianna sank down at Ellie’s side. Tears rolled down her sister’s face. Ellie’s hands were deep in her hair, tugging at the roots. Her eyes were clamped shut, and she just kept screaming and screaming and screaming.
Talon sank down on Ellie’s other side and Arianna gripped her sister’s shoulders, trying to pull her hands free from her hair. Ellie’s body jerked, then her sister doubled over and it took Arianna a moment to realize it was because the iron anklet had prevented Ellie from using her magic.
“Sedate her,” Avalon demanded, stepping forward as if he’d do it himself. But Arianna didn’t know how to do that without hurting Ellie even more. Runes. She needed to remember the runes, but her heart was beating too fast, hands shaking as Ellie’s screaming sobs continued to fill the room.
Zylah appeared then and quickly traced symbols across Ellie’s back. Ellie’s body jerked again, then she collapsed into Talon’s arms, her chest still heaving. Talon moved Ellie’s hair back. Gavin knelt at her side. His eyes had misted over, too. Then Avalon was there, scooping his youngest daughter into his arms.
“There are infirmary rooms upstairs,” Alec said, his voice far softer than it had been when he first entered. “One of the servants will guide you.” Avalon nodded, his face grim. A pair of servants already had the door open, gesturing him to follow. Gavin rose with them, his eyes trained on Ellie.
“Where are you going?” Arianna demanded.
Gavin had already taken two steps before he turned. “With her.”
“No, you’re not.” She wouldn’t have Gavin messing with her sister’s head.
Gavin bowed at the waist, but determined eyes met hers when he rose. “With all due respect, my Queen.” There was nothing mocking in his tone. “I have already pledged myself to you and your sister. I escaped my uncle and grandfather and risked my life to help you retrieve Lady Evelyn. I have been beaten and bruised for my actions, some deserved, others questionable, and I’ve done it all without complaint. So put me in iron if you must, shackle me if you wish, but I’m going.”
Arianna’s lips parted for only a moment before her gaze hardened. “Iron, then.” She tossed the bracelet to him and Gavin caught it before slipping it over his wrist and jogging after Avalon. Her father was already down the hall, his heavy boots barely audible. The doors closed, leaving the entire hall in utter silence.
“I’m not certain you should permit such behavior from your underlings, least of all those who are the offspring of our enemy.” They all turned toward the new voice. He wore greenrobes, the fabric loose around his body with a golden brooch of a vine stretching across one shoulder. A few others walked in behind him, dressed in similar fashion, though their brooches were silver.
The council.
Each fanned out around the lead male, their hands clasped to their fronts as if awaiting instructions from their High Lord.
Arianna’s jaw worked, but she ignored his comment and turned to Alec instead. Alec whispered to another servant, then a flurry of activity exploded through the room. Tables, chairs, food, and drinks were all assembled before Alec’s throne. She watched in fascination as dozens moved quickly to get everything together.
She briefly glanced toward The Demon. He’d gotten to his feet long ago and stood beside Saoirse. He wiped the blood from his neck, but Arianna could still see the minor cut. Her stomach dropped at the sight of it. She turned away from the urge to heal something so trivial.
Once the servants had finished, Alec walked toward the table head and stood behind the seat, his eyes roaming over everyone else as if counting those missing from their assembly.
More warriors entered the room, and Arianna noticed the exact moment The Demon visibly stiffened. She followed his gaze, noting the male that had stolen his attention. This new male, with sandy blonde hair and dark eyes, noticed him as well. His lips were set into a grim line and he looked The Demon up and down, taking in everything from his clothes to the blood and cuts across his body.
Enemies? Likely, given his reputation, but The Demon wasn’t glaring as if this new male was a threat. If anything, Arianna thought she saw longing in his gaze.
Whatever flashed between the pair was quickly put to rest when Alec commanded everyone to sit. The council obeyed and within seconds, chairs were scooting across the floor and light chatter filled the room. For the first time since she’d announced herself as The Divine, Arianna felt … ignored. The lead council member clearly knew who she was. His subordinates, too. But only a few even passed her a glance.
They filled their plates with smiles on their faces, acting as though the citizens of Levea hadn’t just marched through the door having lost everything.
Alec hadn’t sat. Neither Saoirse nor Rion had moved. Even the new male remained standing, his warriors behind him watching the council with a level of disgust.
Arianna stepped forward, anger pulsing through her anew. “Isn’t it considered rude to eat before your High Lord?”
The entire council paused, each turning to her, some with food halfway to their mouths. The lead councilman examined her with a critical eye before turning to look at Alec on the other end of the table. He sat his fork down and cleared his throat. “Forgive us, we’ve all just come from a very long council session. At the command to sit, I assumed we were free to partake. Perhaps things are done a bit more formally in Levea. Or …weredone more formally.”
Arianna clenched her fists at his tone. He didn’t sound saddened by the news of Levea’s destruction whatsoever. “Now that we’re here,” the male continued. “What is so important, my Lord?”
