Rion pulled a small vial from his pocket and set it beside her tray. “It’s medicine. It’ll help with the pain.”
Arianna eyed it warily. “You made it?”
“No, you did, right before we went after Ellie.”
Ellie. He said her sister’s name as if they were friends. Anyone not friends with her sister always called her Evelyn. Arianna studied the vial, and images of her and Zylah stirring a pot in the middle of a small cabin surfaced. Zylah had been teaching her while they simultaneously practiced new healing runes. Arianna’s brow furrowed.
“I won’t crowd you,” he said, his gaze returning to the tray. “I just—” his jaw clenched. “I’m here. If you need anything.Zylah will be in once you’re done and we’ll see if we can wake Ellie.”
Arianna’s heart jolted. She hadn’t expected them towantto wake her sister. If Ellie knew the truth about everything … unless … unless they didn’t think she’d remember. And if Ellie did remember—Arianna’s heart tugged as she recalled Kirian. How was she supposed to comfort her sister after something like that?
“I’m—” The Demon stopped himself, then shook his head before spinning for the door. This powerful male looked … defeated. His hand clutched the doorframe, and he hesitated again. Arianna watched his fists clench and unclench. She thought he might say something else, but then he was gone, his heavy footfalls stomping down the stairs. The front door opened and slammed shut a moment later, and a hushed silence fell around the group below.
Arianna peered out the window, but all she could see was ash falling from the sky. Her gaze traveled to the dinner on the tray. A thick broth with meat, potatoes, and vegetables. A glass of orange juice stood beside it. She furrowed her brow. All things she loved, right down to the oozing chocolate pastry in the corner.
Chapter Five
Ellie
Ellie sprinted across the open rocky terrain, the wind whipping her hair across her face. She breathed in the crisp scent of the ocean in the distance and smirked in delight as she leapt over rocks and ducked under stray branches, diving into a thinly wooded area.
Sure, she was late, but given the staggering number of tasks she was assigned on a daily basis, it couldn’t really be helped. He knew the council members were far too long-winded anyway, not that they didn’t have a reason to be these days.
Ellie smiled again. Days. They had days, weeks, months. An infinite amount of time to finally just exist in this spectacular world.
The trees faded slowly, opening into a wide open plain. Ellie paused, breath heaving as she looked out over the expanse, searching for—
Kirian.
The half-breed she’d fallen for sat atop a large boulder, back straight, staring out over the sea of tall grass. He appeared far too pensive for her liking, but that wasn’t something that could be helped, either. They were all taking things one day at a time.
Ellie searched the rest of the field. Her father’s guards were here somewhere. No one was allowed this far from Levea without an escort, especially her.
The wind must be in their favor today. She couldn’t scent them.
She was thankful they’d agreed to keep their distance, just to give her and Kirian some much-needed privacy. She didn’t need a group of Fae at her father’s command rushing back to telltheir High Lord everything his daughter said and did. Especially when it concerned a half-breed her father didn’t approve of. Ellie placed a finger over her lips; then again, maybe it would be best to remind said guards they’d be serving her one day. She could use the advantage to keep her personal life private.
Ellie sighed. She’d practically had to beg to come here today. It was only after whining about being trapped in her own city that her father had finally relented, under the condition that Arianna and Rion accompanied her, of course.
She scanned the forest again. They should be arriving anytime now. She was thankful they’d agreed to come, too. They had their own trials and a relationship they were rebuilding after the atrocities they’d overcome.
Shadows of the war danced through her mind, but Ellie shoved them away. She’d already given herself a pep talk. Not today. Whatever haunted her could wait a full twenty-four hours before plaguing her again.
Right now, they were alive.
Right now, they were free.
Ellie leapt from the trees, the fresh grass bending beneath her feet as she crossed the vast space toward the one male who knew her better than anyone else. Well, aside from her sister, that was. Sisters held secrets no one else could ever carry.
She plopped down beside the male, her breath pleasantly ragged as she held up a bag in triumph. “I know, I know, I’m late. The council was a pain, as usual, but at least I didn’t forget this!”
Kirian didn’t move.
Her smile faltered for half a second before Ellie recovered and began rustling through the bag. She couldn’t expect everyone to be able to keep the darkness at bay. Rion said she possessed an uncanny ability for positivity and that the others fed on it. If her light was what they needed, then she’d shine for them all, for however long it took.
Ellie fished a pair of sandwiches from the bag, laying hers beside her hip before reaching to place the other before Kirian. She pulled a set of pastries out next, then two loaves of freshly baked bread.
She’d made the sandwiches herself, something that Kirian usually did. She’d wanted to take the initiative this time. He was always the one surprising her. Since baking wasn’t in her skill set, she’d simply snatched the other items from the kitchen.