Page 52 of The Revered and the Pariah

“You’re asking me?” A playful smile.

Right. “Well, what would your sister do?”

Rion laughed, his voice echoing through the halls. “Trust me when I say Saoirse is the last person you’d want to take advice from. She’d have the servants shining her shoes and ironing every garment she wore.”

“I didn’t realize she was so intense.” Dread swept through her. She’d eventually have to meet his sister. She wanted to meet his sister and yet—

“She can be if the situation calls for it, but she has a softer side, too. I think the power would go to her head through. It’s why, despite his overly serious demeanor, I’m sure the citizens of Brónach are glad to have Alec as the older sibling.”

A shadow flickered to her right and Arianna’s head snapped toward the door that led into the hall. She squinted, trying to find the individual she was certain had just walked through it. She scented the air but found nothing.

“Something wrong?” he asked following her gaze.

“No, the light must be playing tricks on me.” She glanced back only once before studying the space where the musicians had sat last night. Perhaps she would have gotten to hear them again if they’d been on time for breakfast.

The first servant emerged, carrying a large tray laden with cheeses, bagels, fruits, and steaming chocolate pastries. Arianna sat straighter, ready to dig in, but another servant followed a second later, his tray full of eggs, bacon, sausage, and dishes she couldn’t identify.

Each wore long sleeves, their dark tunics clean and tight against their frames.

Another emerged with a tray of steaming breads and silverware. The female hesitated at first and decided to lean across the table to set the plates before them. Arianna wondered if it was because of Rion’s reputation or due to the new mating bond.

Arianna thanked them, but before she reached for anything, another servant emerged. Then another and Arianna’s mouth gaped as they placed tray after tray before the pair.

She turned to Rion when the servants left and kept her voice low. “Surely they don’t expect us to eat all this.”

He eyed the food, but his gaze didn’t swim with uncertainty. He seemed excited and Arianna wondered how often he’d gotten to enjoy extravagant food in his life. “I’d venture to say the cooks are trying to make a good impression.”

A moment later, Victoria appeared, her expression nervous as she clasped her hands together. “Is everything to your liking?”

Arianna tried to choose her words carefully, afraid to upset the female again. “It all looks delightful.” She almost chewed her lip, then stopped herself. “Do you know if my sister has eaten?”

Victoria nodded. “They were all here this morning.” The female clenched her hands tighter when Arianna’s face fell. “But,” she continued. “It’s almost the lunch hour. I could send for them if you wish for their company?”

Arianna’s face brightened. “That would be wonderful.”

Victoria beamed, bowed, then pivoted on her heels and all but fled from the hall. Arianna eyed the food. “Please tell me you’re going to help me eat this.”

Her mate stabbed a pancake and the simple motion almost had her laughing. “Considering you’re the queen, I seriously doubt anyone is going to make an attempt at poisoning you. At least not yet, so yes.” He poured her a cup of orange juice from the glass pitcher before filling his own. “I think I will.”

Rion froze and Arianna sucked in a breath, her gaze darting around the room to find the source of his distress. “What is it?” she whispered.

“I didn’t ask if you liked it.”

She blinked, struggling to discern his meaning, then couldn’t hide her laugh. “I thought something bad was about to happen and you’re just afraid I don’t like orange juice?”

He gave her an amused look that quickly faded. “I want to know everything about you.”

She stabbed her own pancake. “No need to get dramatic over breakfast.”

Rion took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. The motion sent heat coursing straight through her. “No detail is too small.” They locked eyes and Arianna seriously considered skipping breakfast altogether, or having the servants deliver it to their rooms. Maybe they’d hide for the rest of the week wrapped in one another’s embrace.

“Ugh, I’m invited to breakfast and you two are already ogling each other like you’ve been apart for weeks. Honestly, how is a girl supposed to eat?”

Arianna grinned at her sister. “Good morning, Ellie.”

“More like afternoon, but I suppose the queen gets her meals anytime she wants.” Kirian followed close behind with a book in his hand that made Arianna curious. She knew Ruadhán had a library and judging from the extravagance she’d already witnessed, Arianna was willing to bet it would be the grandest thing she’d ever seen.

“It’s nice to see you, Lady Arianna,” Kirian said, bowing his head.

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