Page 53 of The Revered and the Pariah

Ellie chuckled. “You don’t have to do that.” She grabbed a plate, plopped down in the seat next to Rion’s, and began filling it. Arianna gaped at her little sister, but it wasn’t until Ellie took her first bite that she noticed.

“What?”

Arianna shook her head, the ghost of a smile creeping to her face. “Nothing.” Ellie had helped sneak Rion into the royal city, but she didn’t know when her sister had gotten so comfortable around her mate. Even Rion looked surprised. Ellie ate and passed food to Kirian. She either pretended not to notice the grains of sand floating around the table or didn’t care.

Talon’s scent drifted in when he burst through the door breathless, one hand on the weapon at his side. He surveyed the scene, took in the food, his friends seated at the table, then straightened.

“When you summoned me, I assumed the worst.”

“Serves you right for assuming,” Ellie said, raising her glass.

Talon studied the table again. “Was there something you needed?”

Arianna waved her hand toward the steaming trays. “Help eating. Apparently they think I need a feast.”

Talon’s shoulders relaxed, but she didn’t miss the dark circles beneath his eyes. She wondered if he’d gotten any sleep.

Ellie reached for seconds. “If she gets a meal like this every day, I’m joining.”

Talon hesitated when Rion’s sharp eyes pinned him in place, but Arianna tapped his leg and her mate relaxed, allowing her friend to sit beside the half-breed.

Arianna reached for her drink. “I’m going to talk to them today. I’m only one person. I can’t stand seeing all this go to waste.” Ellie and Talon exchanged glances, but Arianna tried to ignore it. She didn’t want to dwell on the dark thoughts crossing their minds. She knew she was thinner than before. It was a task to put on lost weight when the body was accustomed to living off so little.

“As I understand it,” Talon said. “The leftovers are packed up and delivered to the citizens in the town below. They’ve taken in a fair amount of refugees and Ruadhán helps care for them.”

Arianna’s eyes brightened. “Really?”

Ellie added. “They’re struggling from what I’ve heard. There’s too many refugees, and not enough houses to go around.”

Talon tore a biscuit in half. “They claim they’re working on it.”

Her sister downed a glass of water. “Clearly not fast enough.”

So Ruadhán was doing something. Perhaps Ellie was right, maybe it wasn’t enough, but a small effort could be expanded upon. It gave her a foothold.

Rion’s jaw ticked. Arianna knew the refugees weighed on him, especially with his part in the war, but the blame couldn’t be placed on one person.

The High Lords, generals, captains, and warriors had all made decisions with lasting consequences. And she was no exception.

***

Arianna sat back, full and content until a strange scent drifted toward her as if carried in on a phantom breeze. Rion stiffened, Talon sat straighter, and Ellie’s eyes darted toward the doorway where the smoky eyed male from yesterday stood. The Regent.

He still wore black, a color she’d always associated with mourning. She wondered if she could convince the council to change Ruadhán’s banners to something a little brighter.

The male’s gaze lingered on the food before her then rose until their eyes locked. Arianna didn’t move, afraid even swallowing would result in his judgement. She could have sworn something shimmered in her mind, gliding along some invisible barrier like the cool caress of a finger.

Every muscle in Rion’s body coiled in on itself and he stood, drawing everyone’s gaze. His magic rose and Arianna reached for his hand, locking her fingers with his. A low growl rumbled through her mate’s chest.

The Regent’s eyes narrowed a moment, then that easy smile spread across his face and he ambled toward them as if Rion wasn’t preparing to tear him apart. “I hope the food was to your liking.”

Arianna eyed the leftovers. “It was delicious, though a bit over the top,” she admitted.

“I’ll be sure to pass your compliments along. The cooks were eager to please and I’m afraid talking them out of a single dish proved impossible.”

He pivoted and gestured toward the main doors. “Do you feel up for a tour?”

Arianna folded her napkin and rose, pulling Rion along. She didn’t release her mate’s hand, afraid the simple movement would have him lunging.

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