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Eoghan dipped his head. “I’m keeping a close eye on those who come and go.”
“I’d like to see her.”
He glanced around. “I believe they reassigned her to the infirmary tents after,” he paused. “Well, after yesterday. I can send someone to get her if—”
Arianna shook her head. “I can go to her. I want to make sure she’s all right.” And if she wasn’t, what then? Would she reveal her powers to another? Zylah hadn’t reacted negatively when Arianna had turned into a Fae so perhaps this wouldn’t be any different.
Eoghan sighed and shook his head. “You’re not going to make my job easy, are you?”
“What job?”
“Protecting you.” So Rionhadspoken to him.
“You can protect my sanity by letting me out of this cabin.”
He dipped his head again. “I’d never dream of locking you up, but those within the infirmary tents might be…dangerous.” Because she was from Móirín. Because she smelled like their enemy.
“I’ll be careful.”
Eoghan eyed her before turning to lead the way. Arianna followed. Everyone in the camp, both slave and warrior alike, rushed from her presence as if she were Rion himself. Eoghan cleared his throat. “I know it’s not my place, and I’d never presume to question your judgment, but I’m not sure how much your people know about our history.” He paused a moment then softened his voice. “You realize he isn’t permitted a mate.” Arianna’s head shot toward him, and he lowered his eyes. “It’s not because of any law made by our leaders. It’s something instilled by the gods.”
Arianna tried to control the anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I’m aware.”
He waited for her to say more before continuing. “I can still get you out of here. I know you care for him, and I know it might seem cruel, but you should consider the potential outcome when your mate does come along. How do you think the general would react?”
She stopped walking. Her mate? She couldn’t fathom loving anyone as much as she did Rion, and she knew exactly how Rion would react if another male tried to claim her. He’d become territorial and possessive, like Fae males were known to do. She’d given him a glimmer of hope. It wasn’t as though he’d simply fade back into the shadows and vanish.
But how would she feel? She wasn’t obligated to be with her mate. There weren’t any laws against denying the bond and as a female, she could ignore it altogether. Sure, it’d linger in the back of her mind, but it’d be little more than a nuisance. As long as her future mate didn’t attack Rion—but wouldn’t he?
Arianna shook her head, unwilling to entertain the thought further, and began walking again. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
Her mother had described the bond once. She’d told her daughters it was a feeling deep in the soul. An uncontrollable need for another life force and without them, you couldn’t breathe.
But that’s exactly how she felt about Rion.
Except, the cord was missing.
Her mother had also described a line that tethered mates to one another. In the early stages, it was fragile, a piece of string barely holding on. But as the relationship developed, that bond solidified until it was unbreakable, like a steel rope no blade could sever.
Eoghan gave her a sympathetic look but thankfully dropped the subject. Instead, he pointed her west, posturing and growling at any male who so much as looked their way too long. Arianna found the display unnecessary, but she also wasn’t from Brónach. Their people were harsher than those from Móirín and operated on a hierarchy system as old as the race itself.
She was still their enemy.
The scent of blood and sickness met her long before they came upon the first tent. It stood a bit larger than the one Rion had taken her to for his meeting, but size was the last thing on her mind as they approached.
Because around every tent, they’d practically piled bodies on top of one another. Bodies who still drew breath.
Eoghan pulled back the first tent flap to reveal the interior floors and Arianna sucked in a breath. More warriors lined the area with barely enough room to walk between them. They’d piled dirty rags in the corners. Flies swarmed and maggots crawled over their festering wounds.
Eoghan let the flap close, but Arianna caught it and held it open. Zylah could wait.
They’d been here all along, dying. Every single day she’d been in this camp, curled up next to a warm fire, comfortable, despite her circumstances, Fae were dying.
Of course, they were dying. This was war, casualties were a given but—her gaze wandered across the expanse, lingering on rotted flesh and stained rags. She almost gagged from the thick air within that reeked of old sweat and blood.
Half-breeds darted between the injured, but there weren’t enough tents or healthy bodies to aid everyone. And those outside. She peeked around the flap. Were they just left there to die?
Arianna’s heart clenched.
