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“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I know it does nothing for your pain, but I don’t know what else to say. I can’t ever begin to make up for that night. If I’d just gone with you then maybe—”
She placed a hand on his arm. “You did more for me today than you’ll ever know.”
Talon laid his hand over hers and lightly grasped her fingers. He looked ready to say more when Rion grimaced.
Talon stiffened all over again, but Arianna leaned forward, running her hands through Rion’s hair, whispering words of comfort. Those impossibly beautiful eyes cracked opened, and her tears were already flowing anew.
He was alive. Rion was alive.
He took an unsteady breath and reached up to tenderly run his fingertips down her cheek. “This can’t be hell if you’re here.”
She clutched him closer, sobbing now. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
He wrapped his arm around the back of her head weakly and swallowed to clear his throat. “For what?”
“I had to get the poison out. There wasn’t another way. I couldn’t think of another way to—”
“Arianna.” She pulled back to look at him and he tried wiping her tears away. “Don’t apologize, I—” Rion’s gaze slid to Talon’s. Neither male moved.
Arianna placed a reassuring hand on Rion’s shoulder. “Rion, this is Talon.” She turned to her childhood friend. “And Talon, this is Rion.”
Talon’s gaze flickered to hers, back to Rion, then to her again as if he weren’t sure what to do with himself. Despite the struggle, he sighed and said, “Though I’d love nothing more than to rip your throat from your body,” Arianna growled, “I haven’t seen her in a long, long time and a fight wasn’t in the reunion plan. So, I’ll make a deal with you. Keep your vile magic to yourself and I’ll do the same.”
Rion chuckled, though it was far too strained for her liking. “And here I was going to thank you for saving her life. Glad to know where we stand.”
Talon hissed. “Our issues have nothing to do with her. I’d gladly give my life for Arianna’s sake.”
“As would I.”
“You—”
“Talon.” He quieted at her tone. “I think we’ve all seen enough fighting for one day.” His gaze softened, then looked over her body. Rion’s eyes followed and both males noted her cuts, though she doubted either could see the stab in her side.
“Will you let me see to those?” Talon asked.
Arianna looked at Rion then back to Talon. “I’d like to say no, but—” She stretched her side and winced. Talon was on his feet before she could say another word. He opened his pack and rummaged through its contents, pulling out ointment, a rag, and bandages.
“It’ll be easier if I can see what I’m doing.”
Rion sat up slowly, moving to lean against the den’s wall. She stood and hissed, gripping her side. Talon was there a moment later, guiding her closer to the fire. Arianna lifted the hem of her shirt and both male’s scents shifted with fury.
The knife had entered her body right above the last one. She didn’t miss Talon eyeing her scar.
Talon pulled water from the air to fill a bowl and set to cleaning her wound. She glanced at Rion and found him watching Talon with an intense gaze. Right. Territorial, though if a female were to put her hands on Rion, Arianna wasn’t sure she’d have the strength to remain so calm.
Talon pulled stitching from his pack next, and she closed her eyes to the burning of the needle piercing her flesh. He wrapped a bandage around her stomach, tied it off, and saw to her other wounds. Arianna was too tired to argue otherwise.
Once he finished, Arianna stood, but he grasped her wrist with a gentle touch. Rion’s magic sputtered to life, rising from the ground around her and Talon responded, leaping in front of Arianna, his own magic flaring.
She’d had enough. Enough of the fighting, of crying, of everything. She burst in a kaleidoscope of ice, snow, and water, the magic swirling around their bodies in such suddenness that both males turned to her with their mouths gaping.
“Enough,” she roared then the tears were falling all over again, and Arianna sank to her knees from exhaustion, the magic fading as quickly as it’d come.
Silence filled the space for a time, the tension in the den so thick she could have cut it with a blade.
Rion struggled to his feet, one arm draped across his chest as he limped toward her in pain. He eyed Talon a moment, then moved past him, sinking to his knees before Arianna. He pulled her into his chest and buried his head in her hair. Talon turned away.
Talon’s warrior reported in every so often, though if she didn’t know better, she guessed the male was checking on his commander’s wellbeing.
