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Arianna pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. It’d been three days since the incident with Lan, and she could still smell the blood outside. Someone had cleaned up the bodies, and she’d remained in the cabin ever since, unsure if traveling outside the front door was wise or if she’d even be welcome among the slaves.
But she needed supplies. Food. Wood. Soap. Without those things, she was useless, and she was already treading a fine line.
Snow fell outside, the window long since frozen over. Drifts blew through cracks in the wall, making her shiver, but it wasn’t the cold that caused the bleakness in her now.
Their winter solstice festival was right around the corner. A holiday each nation celebrated collectively with the Fairy Folk. The small creatures were the only reason she knew it hadn’t passed, and how she kept track of time. Not even Brónach’s warriors would dare harm them. They were sacred, connected to the earth in ways even the Fae didn’t fully understand.
And on the solstices they danced. Danced and danced and danced. They’d make their own music, so quiet a human could never hear. An ethereal tune with reeds and leaves and flowers.
Her people would celebrate too, watching the folk while they held their own festival. Back home, the rivers and lakes would be frozen over, the waterfalls would have a thin layer of ice covering the roaring waters beneath and they would lay crowns of ice upon the heads of the royals.
She sighed, reaching frozen fingertips toward the fire. Talon would have given her a rose. A beautiful frozen flower that would be in so much likeliness to the real thing she could have traced the veins of each petal. She would have given him a shy smile and treasured it until spring came to melt such things away.
She wondered what Talon would do now. What her whole family would do? Her father was easy. He had his duties to the people. He’d sit in his usual chair, accepting various gifts from those who sought his favor.
Her sister would likely run from stall to stall, examining new trinkets and buying far more than she should. Ellie would cry for her, but if she knew her sister well enough, she’d imagine Arianna alive and well, enjoying the solstice as best she could. Her sister had always been hopefully optimistic.
But Talon. She didn’t know what he’d do. Maybe he’d sulk in a corner, blaming himself for her disappearance. Maybe he wouldn’t go to the festival at all and lock himself in his room to plan for their next battle. Or maybe he’d gift a rose to another female. Maybe he’d given up, maybe—
Arianna clenched her jaw. No. Never. Talon would search until the end of his days. Until he brought her back alive or delivered her bones to her father.
But part of her wished he would. She wished he’d find his own happiness and live life as he pleased. But they were Fae and eternity was a very, very long time.
Arianna touched her lips. A kiss. That’s all they’d shared. The very night slavers had taken her away. They weren’t mates, no bond had formed in the years they’d known one another, but his feelings for her weren’t a secret.
She wrapped her arms around her torso. It scared her. To think she could develop feelings for someone and have them torn away once their mate showed up. It was always a possibility. Maybe they’d get a hundred years together, two hundred. The love wouldn’t vanish, but the pull of the mating bond would always call, beckoning their partner. And the relationship would never be the same.
A silent tear rolled down her cheek. She hadn’t scented him in over a year and his was one she’d known from birth. She hadn’t seen her father, her sister, anyone. And she missed them so much her heart felt like it might split right down its center. She should be grateful really. The Demon hadn’t tied her down or tortured her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t.
This Rion knew she was a member of the royal family, but that bloodline stretched wide. Some only carried a drop, but her father still housed those individuals at the royal estate. Even the half-breeds.
But if he learned the truth. Her hands shook. If he learned she was a direct descendant and the first healer in millennia. Would he kill her?
A knock sounded at the door. Quick and loud. Arianna didn’t hesitate this time. She ran across the wooden floor, letting the blanket fall from her shoulders and pulled open the door before the female could knock again.
Zylah stared at her, lips parting as she took in Arianna’s changed form. She scented the air but Arianna’s fears dissipated when the female gave her a faint smile and handed her a large basket. “I wasn’t certain if you could leave so I brought you these.” Zylah stepped back, glancing at the surrounding tents. “Come when you can. I’ll drop off firewood tonight.” And with that Zylah bounded from the front of the cabin and disappeared into the throng of tents.
Zylah didn’t hate her. Arianna thought the female might think differently of her in her Fae form, but malice hadn’t shone in Zylah’s warm eyes, nor was there suspicion. Arianna couldn’t help the small smile that crept to her face as she hauled the basket into the kitchen and knelt to sort through its contents.
Gratitude welled up in her throat. Inside were three cups of soap and new rags, more than enough to get her through two weeks of cleaning. There was also a thicker sweater and pants, along with socks that were certain to keep her warm if she needed to venture into the harsh snow. But it was the assorted feast that brought tears to her eyes. It ensured Arianna could still serve The Demon a warm meal and thus ensure her survival.
Raised voices outside drew her attention and she shot to her feet at the scent of blood. A lot of blood. Heart pounding, Arianna raced toward the small window and used her sleeve to scrub away the frost.
It’s not Zylah. It’s not Zylah. It’s not Zylah.
Snow flurried past, carried by a harsh wind. Blood splattered against the pure, white snow. A body flew, broken and bleeding, hitting the ground with a sickening twist. Another body joined its predecessor and Arianna’s blood shifted to ice when a male roared. His scent hit her first, rage layering it like a thick coat, and she stepped back when he emerged from behind the line of tents.
His magic raged around his body like a violent storm, billowing in thick clouds that cast shadows over his body. They snaked out, striking anything close to him and she took several steps back. Panic swept through her as she searched for a place to hide.
Instead of running to her corner, Arianna retreated to the kitchen, pressing her back against the far wall before the door burst open. The frame splintered and wood flew across the room. His magic spilled in like raging water, covering the floor in inches of earth and sand. It shot toward the corners and crawled up the walls as if it had a mind of its own and she jumped again when the door slammed shut.
Thankfully, the magic didn’t reach too far into the kitchen. She stood frozen, a fawn at the mercy of the lion. His scent seemed to spark through the air and his magic danced like a snake, tiny particles still circling his body as if someone might strike. He was death incarnate, a serpent ready to squeeze the life from her as he’d done to so many others.
The Demon’s knees hit the floor and a chill ran down Arianna’s spine when he coughed, the sound wet and rattled. Blood splattered against the wooden planks she’d mopped just hours before.
Not his enemy’s blood. His blood.
The Demon pulled his hand away from his abdomen, examined his palm, and cursed, curling into himself. Her lips parted as she watched him clenching his pain-wracked body. She thought she might have heard a sob but couldn’t be sure.
