Page 71 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Rion, despite his trembling body, offered Arianna a gentle smile before stepping forward without a reply.

Sunlight peeked through crevices in the rocks above and sconces that had been nailed into the wall chased away the looming shadows.

The air grew thicker. Water ran off the walls, trickling onto the floor before disappearing again into tiny cracks in the stone.

There were several forks in the road ahead. They followed Cara’s instructions and veered right before pausing in front of the second tunnel.

A tiny wooden sign hung on a loose nail that’d been driven into the rock. Arianna flipped it around so it read occupied, then Rion pulled her down the narrow passage.

She might have been more nervous under so much rock were it not for the knowledge that her mate could quite literally lift the entire mountain by himself. He’d held a falling city, after all.

Or maybe that had been too much. His magic had been worn down for nearly a week afterward, barely rising to his call.

The tunnel opened to a circular room and Arianna’s eyes widened at the site of the steaming pool of blue water. It was far from uniform, bending and dipping with the natural stones. A large section of overhanging rock stretched over the backside of the pool with a small waterfall trickling down its smooth surface. Arianna stepped forward to peer up through a gaping hole in the ceiling that revealed traces of the cloudless sky above.

She released Rion’s hand and knelt at the edge to test the temperature. “This is incredible. I never thought I’d get to see one in person.”

Rion untied his robe and let the material glide to the floor. Arianna’s mouth went dry at the sight of his reforming muscles. She looked away, cheeks heating.

Rion seemed to ignore her reaction. “It’s about the most relaxing thing you’ll ever experience.” Arianna peered back over at him with her brow raised. “I spent time in Fiadh.”

Right, because he’d been hunting her mother’s murderer.

“It’s hard to picture you ever relaxing. Especially out on a mission.”

Rion smirked. “I’m not immune to the allure.” He said it with his gaze on her in a way that made her blood heat all over again. The truth was, there were still so many things she needed to learn about her mate.

Rion lowered himself into the water and a groan escaped him that shot straight to her core. He still didn’t turn. Was he trying to give her privacy? It wasn’t as if Rion hadn’t made it his mission to explore every inch of her.

You’re in control.She swore she could hear the words echoing down their bond. He always gave her a choice. Their bond still hadn’t solidified, but it was close. So close, she was certain it’d click over any moment.

Arianna let the robe fall from her shoulders and sat on the edge of the rock before jumping in. She hissed when the liquid hit her abdomen, the skin still new and pink. Without Sive’s help, the wound would still be open. She’d be bedridden … or dead.

It’d happened so fast. One moment she’d been smiling at her mate, certain their victory was at hand. The next, darkness had consumed her, pulling her under against her will.

Is that what dying would feel like? Or fading when her time came?

Once Arianna submerged herself, Rion turned. He leaned against the far wall opposite her and the pleasant sound oftrickling water filled the space. The bottom of the pool was smooth beneath her feet, though whether that was natural, she had no way of knowing. Arianna hedged the ledge wrapping around the perimeter wasn’t.

She walked beneath the small waterfall and let the warm liquid cascade over her hair, rolling down the sides of her face. Arianna drank it in, staying there for a moment before emerging to find Rion with his head leaned back and eyes closed.

Steam curled up around his features and for once, she didn’t scent his magic. She wondered if the runes Sive had painted across his skin had something to do with it.

Arianna thought they might wash off, but whatever the Weaver had used possessed some sort of dye that’d stained Rion’s skin, giving him the appearance of a tattoo. If something so simple worked for him, then perhaps they should be permanent. If that was something he wanted, of course.

Arianna’s gaze slid down to his exposed throat. She paused at the pulse there and the muscles that flexed when he swallowed. Then her eyes dipped to his chest and the lines of muscle he’d been working to regain. He looked nearly the same as the first time she’d seen him shirtless. Only now, he carried far more scars, most Niall’s doing.

“You’re staring.”

“Am I not allowed to stare at my mate?”

He cracked open an emerald eye and Arianna’s body flooded with heat at the carnal desire in his gaze. Rion had refused to touch her while she was injured and while it’d only been a few days, it’d felt like months. Years.

“Come here.” It wasn’t an order. It couldn’t be with how breathless he’d gone, but Arianna obeyed the husky tone that promised to bring all her fantasies to life.

They could talk later. About the war. The mission. The future. But here, in this small space, they were free. It mightonly be a few moments, but she’d cherish them as if they were her last. Once they walked under that mountain and into enemy territory, there was no guarantee they’d ever come back.

Rion gently pulled her onto his lap. She ran her hands through his hair, wetting the strands.

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