Page 76 of The Revered and the Pariah

Niall gave Rion a sidelong glance and Arianna thought she saw malice glint through his gray eyes, but she blinked and it was gone. “We’ve been preoccupied with other matters. I can’t oversee every meeting while also acting as the regent to Ruadhán.”

“You don’t think the High Lord of Fiadh had any part in the war?” Arinna asked.

Niall’s gaze softened. “I don’t. Lady Lillian,” Niall stopped himself and shook his head. “It’s too early to speak of tragedy. I think it’s better if we focus on your studies instead.”

Arianna wanted to argue it was too early for that too, but she didn’t want to risk sounding like a whining child.

They’d finished dance lessons before breakfast, stuffed themselves on cream pastries and breakfast meats, then she’d found herself face to face with Niall. She’d been informed her studies were to begin this week.

Niall pushed open the library doors. “You’ve learned a great deal about Móirín, and I’m certain with your social standing that you know a bit about the other countries as well.”

“Probably not as much as I should,” she admitted.

Niall laughed and led them to the top floor. “The books up here generally don’t leave this area. Many are delicate from age and it’s important we preserve them.”

“Are there any books unavailable to the public?”

“Forbidden, you mean?” He chuckled. “I’m afraid you might have read a few too many fictional tales.” Her face heated. “As I said before, we have some texts that are written in a language we can’t decipher, but aside from those, no, nothing in this library is forbidden."

The trio turned down an aisle to find a librarian balancing on the end of a ladder as he placed a heavy tome between two others. He’d shaved his hair off and it made the male look more like a general than someone who spent time around books.

The male’s eyes lit up when he saw her. “My Queen.” He clambered down the ladder. “It’s such an honor to have you grace our halls.”

She nodded in return. “It’s good to be here. The library is beautiful."

He looked around as if seeing it for the first time. “We put a lot of time and hard work into preserving this small paradise.” He clasped his hands together. “How can I be of service?”

“Our queen will begin her studies soon and I thought your suggestions would be a good place to start. We have the welcome ball coming up and I want her to be prepared for those in attendance.”

“Oh, of course, right over here.” The male gestured them down a side aisle, prattling on about the collections he’d gathered over the years, but a shadow caught Arianna’s eye and she paused to study a bookcase in the corner. She squinted at it and a pair of eyes encased in darkness widened upon meeting her stare. She blinked and they were gone.

Arianna couldn’t explain why, but she sprinted toward the shelf as if she might prevent the person or thing from running. But when she rounded the corner, the space was empty. Arianna looked between the aisles and Rion watched, likely trying to piece together why she’d suddenly taken off.

“What is it?” Rion asked, keeping his voice low.

“I just saw someone,” Arianna answered. She was sure of it. She didn’t know how or why, but she was certain a person had been standing there just a second ago.

Niall called after them. “Find something interesting?”

Arianna shook her head and rubbed her eyes. “I must be seeing things.” She tried to smile through the lie. Arianna knew they could smell it, but Niall’s smile only widened.

Warning bells were echoing through her head as she continued following Niall and the librarian, not bothering to listen to their conversation on balls and who might be attending.

Something was off; she could tell from the way her hair stood on end. Had Niall or another with the power to glamour used their magic to veil a person from her sight? And if so, why?

She hadn’t scented magic or felt the thickness of it in the room, but she was certain of one thing: When two individuals locked eyes, no matter how quickly, it usually meant trouble. And Niall was most definitely hiding something from her. She just had to find out what.

***

Dinner was more than fulfilling and Arianna couldn’t help but giggle at her sister’s enthusiasm. Honestly, she acted as though she’d never had a meal before.

The ethereal violinist made another surprise appearance that had the entire dinner hall erupting into applause. Arianna wanted to meet her and ask the performer about her life and how long she’d practiced to sound so otherworldly breathtaking.

But even with those distractions, Arianna couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Rion walked hand in hand with her to their bedroom. “Something’s bothering you,” he said.

Arianna looked around as if she might glimpse another pair of eyes watching her from the shadows. “Have you noticed anything weird?”

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