Arianna followed the female through the palace. The halls were grand, and those same markings had been carved into every column and pillar. They were so realistic that Arianna wondered if they were carvings at all. Perhaps the Fae of old had actually grown vines and plants inside the halls, and over time, they’d imprinted themselves into the very stone.
She took in the large vases full of flowers, the paintings that lined the walls. The extravagance. So similar to Ruadhán. Arianna remembered having a conversation with someone about it. She remembered—sharp pain lanced through her head. She reached for the wall, her body tottering, but Zylah was there a second later, drawing the same runes across her back. They helped, but their effect was waning, as if the pain was stronger somehow.
The half-breed guiding them twisted her hands together, clearly concerned. “Lord Alec ordered food and drinks brought to your room. He had them made only by those he trusts.”
“Are you one of those few?” Rion asked.
“I trust her,” Saoirse said from somewhere behind. Arianna’s head was still spinning.
Zylah spoke next, words that had the tension returning all over again. “Did she free you?”
Arianna looked up to see the half-breed glance toward Saoirse, then back to Zylah. Her head dipped a bit, as if she were so used to bowing that she couldn’t help herself. “I served her for a long time. My previous owner wasn’t … kind, but Lady Saoirse freed me even before the command came from our queen. She’s been teaching me to read and write and I just started learning to play piano last month.” Her face lit up. “I never imagined I would get to do more than clean those beautiful keys. The melodies on it are so grand. I’ve been rotating other work to see if there’s anything else I’d enjoy, but nothing has compared to working for Lady Saoirse.”
Saoirse inclined her head. “You flatter me.”
The half-breed laughed. “You gave me everything.”
Zylah’s face twisted at the comment. Gave her everything. No, Saoirse and people like her hadtakeneverything. They’d purchased her, kept her in chains, treated her as lesser.
But the smile on the half-breed’s face gave Arianna pause. Saoirse had made changes. The palace had made changes. Shouldn’t those changes be recognized? When did the fighting and animosity stop? It wasn’t as if everything could reach perfection overnight.
It took someone like Saoirse, willing to admit their faults and change. Someone like this half-breed, willing to accept said change and not to harbor ill intent. People like them would carve out the foundations for their future. The pain could never be erased; it went too deep, but perhaps, someday, they could learn to move past it.
After several more turns and another flight of stairs, the female pulled out a ring of keys. She tugged one off and insertedit into the lock. The female let the door swing open then stepped back. “For you, my Queen. Lord Alec wanted you to have the grandest guest room available.”
Arianna stepped over the threshold and peeked inside. A low fire already crackled in the hearth. Somehow, the interior part of the palace was cooler despite the warm air outside. She’d welcome the burning embers and likely the plush blanket draped over one of the armchairs.
Talon entered with her, inspecting every inch of the space while the half-breed waited outside. If she were offended, the female didn’t show it. Arianna leaned against the door frame, her body angled so she could watch both Talon and The De—Rion. Rion. She needed to start calling him by his name. Her mate. Her heart rate spiked at the very thought.
Talon finished with the bathroom and paused just inside the room. He furrowed his brow and addressed the half-breed. “Where is my room, exactly?”
The female gestured. “Right down the hall.”
Talon grimaced. “I think I’d prefer us to be closer.” Arianna couldn’t really blame him. “Would it be too strange for you if we shared a room?” Rion’s fists clenched, and he stood straighter, his jaw tightening as he looked Talon over. Some part of her felt as though they’d fought before. She remembered … something.
“I think—I think I’d just like some time to myself.”
Talon shifted on his feet. “Are you good?”
Arianna wrapped one arm around her middle, feeling the heaviness of the world crash down around her. “I’m not sure ‘good’ is in my vocabulary right now.”
She felt so at odds with herself, but she couldn’t put it all into words. Who was she really? What secrets from her past had been locked away from her memory? How many of the feelings running through her were actually her own?
Talon ran a hand through his messy hair. They all needed a night to clean up, rest, piece everything that had happened together, and prepare for the events about to unfold.
“Okay,” he relented. “Did the iron at least help to ease your mind? About all of us?” He gestured in a small circle, but she knew what he meant.
Arianna held her midsection tighter and stepped further into the room, wanting to retreat. “Yes and no.” Sadness flickered across his face. “I trust you,” she whispered.
Talon’s shoulders relaxed a little. “But you don’t trust him.” Gods above, did they have to talk about this right now in front of an audience?
Anger rose through her again. Anger at the situation. Anger at her own faults. Anger that she was being cornered when she’d done nothing wrong. “Can you honestly tell me,” she bit out, “that he’s never hurt me? Not one time?”
Talon’s lips parted, but another voice, this one far darker and seductive, answered for him. “He can’t.” Rion stood with one arm on the threshold, staring at her like his life depended on the next few moments.
“Why?” she demanded, tone icy. She hated this anger, too. Hated that she didn’t even know if it was her own.
The Demon didn’t answer. She turned to Talon, brows raised, waiting, but Talon stepped around Rion, effectively trading places with the male. “I should probably let you two have this conversation without me.”
