Chapter Sixty-Three
Arianna
Arianna's eyes fluttered open in the dim room, catching on the sun's rays sneaking beyond the cracks of the cabin's drawn curtains. A smile spread across her face. That light reminded her of the hope now filling not only her heart, but their entire world.
Everything had finally come to a stop.
A pause.
A breath.
It was a peace she'd craved for so long. A fairytale she’d never thought would come to life. And Arianna never wanted to leave.
Sadly, her body had other priorities.
Arianna rolled to one side, or tried to, but a pair of strong arms tightened around her waist and drew her back. Arianna giggled and pushed against his iron hold, earning a grunt of disapproval from the male at her side.
He reached up with one leg, bare skin sliding against her own, and pulled her closer, pinning her body against his. Rion settled again, not even bothering to open his eyes.
Arianna wiggled her arm up and out of his grasp, then ran her fingertips down the side of his face. She nuzzled into his neck and trailed feather-light kisses down the column of his throat.
Rion hummed this time, craning his neck back to give her better access.
“I need—”
“Shh.”
She relished the sound and settled against him for another moment. Arianna kissed the bottom of his chin. “Rion.” He didn’t respond, but the slight tug of a smile told her he hadn’t fallen back asleep. “You’re so lazy.”
“Resting,” he corrected, his voice raspy from sleep. “Just as my queen commanded.”
Arianna smiled again. She’d been doing a lot of that the past week too, but it wasn’t just her who’d given Rion the command. Their entire inner court had sat the pair down and demanded they go on a short holiday, have some alone time, as couples were normally permitted when a bond appeared.
Rion and Arianna had stayed in Nàdair for three months to help build the foundation of their new world’s infrastructure.
It had taken a great deal of convincing from all parties to assure her their newfound system wouldn’t crumble in two weeks.
With all the work to be done, no one was likely to notice their absence anyway.
Though still reluctant, Arianna had finally looked at her mate’s eager face and agreed.
Arianna breathed deep, taking in the crisp air of their tiny sanctuary hidden away inside the forbidden forest. They’d arrived dumbfounded and off kilter. There wasn’t a war to fight. No one was coming to stalk them. Their people were safe and cared for.
They were free.
Neither had left the bed for two days. Afterward, the repairs had begun.
She had once asked Rion to build her a cabin of their own. She had intended for it to be a place of refuge.
Turns out, they already had one.
Now all the cracks were sealed. The walls repaired. The windows clean. The floors and blankets aired out and fresh. And they’d developed a routine Arianna could gladly repeat for the rest of her days.
After breakfast, Rion would work on his figurines, showing her how he carved them from start to finish. At night, Arianna would read out loud, getting lost in stories with happily-ever-afters.
Just like theirs.
Arianna’s gaze lifted to the ceiling, following the markings her mate had carved upon the surface so many years ago during a time when he’d been rejected by the world. She’d thought this place might hold too many sad memories, but he claimed the opposite.
Rion had told her this place was where his life had truly begun. Where he’d found his purpose for living. Who knew a distinguished Fae general could be so sentimental.
Arianna tried to wriggle away again. Rion tightened his hold. “Why?” he moaned, the deep sound sending a shiver skittering through her body.
“I need the bathroom.” Rion huffed and begrudgingly released her, finally opening his eyes to drink her in. She scooted to the edge of the bed and watched him stretch his arms upward, revealing the toned muscles in his chest and stomach. “I’ll be right back,” she promised.
The silk sheets fell away from her body and a chill swept through her. Their mornings had turned cool again, the weather nearly ready to shift to a new season.
A new beginning.
Arianna relieved herself in the small bathroom, then stared at her reflection in the mirror. She hadn’t bothered the first time she’d visited. Her reflection hadn’t been something she’d enjoyed viewing. Back then, she’d seen all her failures etched across her face.
She had felt lost.
But the person staring back at her now wasn’t that broken person anymore. She had grown and finally embraced everything about herself that she’d ever perceived as weak or ill-fitting.
It wasn’t wrong to be kind or soft or merciful. It gave her a quiet sort of strength, one that would only aid in her position and the difficult decisions in their future.
Arianna glanced toward the small tub in the corner. She smiled at the memories. Back then, she’d thought her only obstacle was convincing Rion to trust her. But they had overcome so much more.
Arianna studied her face again. The way her cheeks had filled out.
The bags that had all but vanished from beneath her eyes.
Her glowing skin. The blue in her irises that looked so much like her mother’s.
And finally, after all the years of worrying, Arianna accepted that Lillian would have been proud of who she had become.
Arianna tilted her head in the mirror, examining the new scar resting just beneath the right side of her jaw. She’d carry it forever, along with so many others. But the real change rested beneath her skin where a creature had once dwelt, restless and ready to tear the world apart.
That creature was gone now, Laoirse finally laid to rest. Arianna’s power remained her own. Calm and steady.
Free.
“Arianna?”
She dipped from the bathroom and found Rion up on his elbows, staring at her, eyes fully alert. Arianna leaned against the door frame, drinking in his ruffled hair and the way the rays of sunlight reflected the green in his eyes.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
Arianna wasn’t sure the smile would ever vanish from her face. She crossed the room and crawled over him. Rion laced his fingers through her hair and pulled her in for a slow kiss. After a moment, he leaned back, examining her, the question still in his eyes.
“Perfectly content,” she said.
Rion flipped her over, his warrior’s body pressing hers into the soft mattress. His hot breath left burning trails across her skin. “Not perfectly,” he countered.
ARIANNA ENJOYED the silence the most. It was hauntingly beautiful in a way that felt like forever. Here, in this little sanctuary, free from responsibility and battles and pain, that silence was a drug she’d already grown addicted to.
She’d heated last night’s leftovers for breakfast before the two took their morning stroll. The serenity had bred relaxed conversations and enough solitude to talk through their plans for the future.
And gods, did they have plans.
The two shared their darkness as well. With the bond solidified, Arianna could feel all of Rion’s emotions and nearly read his thoughts as he detailed the most difficult parts of his life.
She did the same, both of them unlocking the cages of their innermost demons.
There would be no secrets between them ever again. No pain the other wouldn’t understand.
Her memories had mostly returned, but there were still occasional holes. Trivial things, like the color of objects she couldn’t quite force to solidify. Rion filled in the gaps for her, promising he’d always be there to do so.
They paused beside a wooden bench he’d built their first night here.
It was simple, the wood still sharp along the edges, but he’d already shown her plans for its design.
He would smooth the surface and carve swirling patterns reminiscent of those from Levea.
Maybe one day soon, she’d get to visit the ruins of her old home.
Arianna wanted to put a flower bed around the bench, maybe include a few herbs among the flora, should she ever have need of them.
Despite the peace, Arianna still found herself constantly on edge, preparing for a day when they’d have to face hardship all over again.
Rion was the same, constantly checking their perimeter with his magic, even if he tried to hide it.
She wondered if that part of them would ever fade.
Rion’s leg bounced with nervous energy. The first bit he’d experienced since they’d arrived. Arianna interlaced her fingers with his, squeezing lightly. He calmed slightly, staring at their hands as if they were a miracle. Maybe to him, they were.
The two had made a deal with their court.
They’d only go if someone agreed to send a weekly update.
Talon had promised to write. He had added that they could take longer than two weeks.
She’d promised to think about it. At the time, she’d felt that two weeks would be more than enough.
But now, now she’d gladly remain here for months, if the world allowed it.
Minutes ticked by.
A gust of wind pulled a leaf from a tree, then a tiny creature appeared from under the brush, carrying a sealed envelope that was nearly the size of its body. Two others followed, both dancing and singing as if the delivery deserved its own procession.
Arianna couldn’t help but giggle; even Rion smirked as he rose and took the note from the little being with a bundle of forget-me-nots sprouting from its head. “Thank you.”
It chirped, then flitted away, gone as suddenly as it had arrived. Rion handed her the letter.
Sive had been the one to discover the Fairy Folk could do such things. She hadn’t had the opportunity to ask how. Sive was too busy with her infant, doting on the child as one would a queen.
They were finally free, too.
Arianna ran her fingertips over the golden wax seal with the sigil of a phoenix stamped into it. They hadn’t known what it meant back in Ruadhán. Arianna led Rion back to the bench before breaking it open.
Talon’s elegant script read:
Arianna,
First, tell our King he can relax; I’m certain he’s breathing down your neck.
Rion scoffed and Arianna giggled at the fact that Rion had indeed been leaning over her shoulder.
Not much has changed, but I’m writing just as you requested. Avalon and Alec are running things in your stead, and we built the final house last night. Everyone displaced has a home, just as you requested. We’re now working on a school for the orphans, a project Eimear has decided to head herself.
There’s still no word on Fiadh’s High Lord and the Dark Fae have remained in hiding. A recent scout returned to report that many of the creatures have taken refuge in Púróg’s mountains. Raevina would like to discuss travel plans upon your return.
Ellie is
Arianna noted the way the ink had blotted on the paper, as if he’d hesitated before writing.
She’s still eating. Not much else has changed. Don’t worry, she’ll come around. Everyone grieves in their own time. She’s allowed Myrna to visit more.
Take your time, relax. All is well here. I’ll write next week.
Much love,
Talon
Arianna handed her mate the letter and Rion read it again, his eyes scanning the paper as if searching for a hidden meaning. Arianna pried it out of his hands after the third pass. “They’re fine.”
“We should probably go back soon.”
“I don’t know,” Arianna said. “I kind of like it here. Maybe we should stay for a while.” She tilted her head. “After all, you did promise you’d take me away if I ever asked.”
He chuckled, pulled her close, and pressed a kiss to the side of her hair. “Maybe we can go flying later?”
Her heart jolted at the prospect. “They told us to keep a low profile.”
“I didn’t realize we were the ones who had to obey orders.” Mischief danced in his eyes. They hadn't shifted again since the last battle. Fae needed the shift on occasion, craved it, but the creatures within still seemed content. No, not creatures, their very souls.
“Come on,” he stood, pulling her up with him.
“Where are we going?”
“To cause chaos.”
“You’re going to make Talon regret sending us off.”
Rion spun her to his front and kissed her, deep and unrelenting. His hand tangled in her hair, then he drew back, looking straight into her eyes. “We have all the time in the world.”
Arianna stared back, heart pounding as she realized he was right. They had forever.
Rion took her hand again and began running. Sprinting. The world blurred around them. His body changed first, faster than it had the first time. His hand released hers, morphing into claws that would help carve the future of their world.
Arianna tilted her head back, let her arms expand to either side, and called to that innermost part of her body.
Power rumbled through her chest and in an instant, she had wings.
Beautiful, powerful wings. She pumped them hard and leapt into the air where they carried her high above the treetops, soaring over a world they would rebuild together.
One day at a time.
At one point in her life, it had been a mantra. A countdown to help her overcome the hardest days of her life.
Now, it was a promise.
One day at a time.
A clock continuously moving, painting beautiful memories across the vast expanse of their universe.
One day at a time.
Forever.
The end.