CHAPTER 12
Braith watched the light play off of Arianna’s vibrant hair. Her head was bent, her legs drawn up beneath her as she sat curled within the window seat. She had moved on from Ivanhoe and now held, Of Mice and Men, before her. Her instincts were quick and well honed, she had actually managed to slap him after all, but she hadn’t yet noticed his arrival. He was actually able to observe her while she was enthralled by the thin novel.
She may not be the most elegant or refined woman, but the longer he stood and stared at her, the more he realized that to him, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and always would be. He felt a strange surge of emotion as he watched her; it was an emotion he had never felt before, and one that he couldn’t figure out right now.
She finally realized that he was there as she lifted her head and blinked at him in surprise. A small smile spread over her face, it lit her delicate features and sparkled in her sapphire eyes. She swung her feet down and placed the book beside her as she rose. Her wrist and fingers were still bandaged; the white cotton was a stark contrast against the golden hue of her skin.
She was mouthwatering, alluring without meaning to be, beautiful without even trying, and she was his. The possessive feeling was so strong it almost consumed him. In that moment, he knew it was true, he knew that she was his, and he would do everything in his power to keep her safe.
“Hello.” Her gaze darted shyly away as her cheeks flooded with color. He had left her sleeping this morning, unwilling to wake her after the events of yesterday. Now her uncertainty raced to the forefront as she fiddled with the bandages and shifted nervously.
“Arianna,” he greeted, smiling as he placed his cane next to the door. It was astonishing to be able to see once again, but the best thing was being able to see her. Keegan padded into the room, and settled by her feet. Braith had not missed the fact that even the wolf seemed infatuated with her. “Did you eat?”
She nodded; her smile was tremulous as she looked at the tray of food. He could almost see the wheels spinning within her mind, as more than thoughts of food crossed her mind. Her expression cleared as she met his gaze again. He could sense the questions lingering just beneath her calm exterior. He was surprised when she held her tongue, realizing that was a first since he had met her.
“Arianna?”
She smiled brightly at him, but it was a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “This book is very good.”
He glanced at the novel resting upon the seat. He pulled his coat off and rolled his tense shoulders as he tossed it over the coat rack by the door. He could guess at what troubled her, but if she didn’t choose to speak about it, then he wasn’t going to force her to. It wasn’t something that he really cared to discuss anyway. He wasn’t going to make her do anything that she wasn’t willing to do, but he still had to feed. Even if he found the women he took blood from undesirable now, even if it was really her blood that he craved. He still had to sate his thirst elsewhere otherwise he might injure her without meaning to. “It is one of my favorites.”
She watched him as he silently moved toward her. He was itching to touch her again, to feel her once more. Her head tilted back as she stared up at him and her breath came more rapidly. He could hear the increased beat of her heart; smell her increased passion. He smiled at her, pleased to know that he affected her as much as she affected him.
He caressed her face, his hand twining into her thick hair. Her eyes were bright as she looked up at him. She truly was the most breathtaking thing he had ever seen. He bent over her as he pressed a soft kiss to her full lips. His arm encircled her waist; he lifted her against him, holding her tight as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
She melted against him, nestling easily into his body. He was amazed by how incredible she felt, how right all of this was. Like the missing piece of a puzzle, she blended seamlessly against him, melding to him in all the right places. How on earth had it come to this? That he, of all vampires, had managed to find himself in this situation, ensnared by the allure of a human. A rebel human, it was unthinkable and at the moment he found himself not caring as he lost himself to the feel of her mouth and body against his.
He was so lost to her that he didn’t hear the knock on the door until it was too late. It was Keegan’s low growl that alerted him to someone’s presence. Braith froze, his hands stilled on Arianna as he pulled slightly away from her. Dazed passion still darkened her eyes as a blush colored her face. Though Braith couldn’t see his brother, he knew that it was Caleb that had entered. He could feel the force of Caleb’s gaze boring into his back.
“Don’t let me interrupt you brother,” Caleb purred as he closed the door behind him. “You know I don’t mind.”
Apprehension shot through Arianna’s eyes, her appalled gaze darted toward Caleb, but Braith held her still as he kept her sheltered from Caleb’s scrutiny. A scrutiny he knew would be cruel, and far more leering than Braith would like to expose her to. He held her for a moment more before sliding her feet gradually back to the ground. How had he missed Caleb’s approach? He usually sensed his brother the moment he hit the hallway. Caleb carried a wave of cruel depravity with him that was impossible to miss.
“You have to go to my room,” he instructed her.
“By all means continue,” Caleb drawled. “I’ll wait. I’d even enjoy watching.”
Horror bloomed in Arianna’s gaze, she tried again to look at Caleb, but Braith held the back of her head. “Arianna,” Braith growled. Her attention came back to him, her lips, still swollen from his kiss, began to tremble. He could sense her revulsion. He wished that he could shelter her from his brother, but it was too late for that. Caleb was amongst them now, and he was one of the nastiest sons of a bitch’s that Braith had ever known. He didn’t like him anywhere near Arianna. “Go.”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. He released her, taking a step back as she squared her shoulders and locked her jaw. She turned away from him, keeping her chin raised as she strode across the room, not looking at Caleb as she moved. “Wait!” Braith bristled, stepping forward as Caleb barked out the harsh command. He didn’t want anyone ordering her around, least of all his little brother, but he couldn’t do much without possibly exposing his growing feelings for her. Arianna stopped, her head turned toward Caleb. She didn’t waver, didn’t hesitate as she kept her shoulders proudly back. Caleb lifted an eyebrow, amusement flitted over his face, but Braith saw the depravity in his brother’s gaze as it raked sharply over Arianna.
“She’s not really your type Braith, not that you can see that, but she’s not. I, on the other hand, always liked a redhead. I really think you should give me a turn at her.”
Disgust flashed across Arianna’s face, her gaze darted frantically toward Braith. He hated that she was being exposed to this, hated his brother for doing it to her, but he couldn’t stop it, if he did, her life would surely be forfeit. “I don’t share.”
Caleb shrugged absently, folding his arms over his chest as his gaze leisurely raked Arianna from head to toe again. “Anymore,” Caleb purred. “Things were different just a month ago.”
“Go!” Braith snarled at her, fighting the urge to punch his brother in the face. Amusement flickered over Caleb’s handsome features, but he didn’t try to stop Arianna again as she hurried from the room. Though she hid it well, Braith could still sense her confusion and fear over Caleb’s statements. Braith kept his attention on his brother. He had to grapple to keep his temper under control and his face impassive. He wasn’t sure he succeeded though as Caleb was staring at him questioningly. A gaze he didn’t realize that Braith could now see.
“What are you doing here Caleb?” he inquired when he heard the faint click of the door closing behind Arianna. Though his vision darkened without her beside him, he was still able to dimly make out his brother. Caleb shrugged as he moved into the room, settling himself leisurely upon one of the sofas. Braith bristled, but didn’t show any reaction to his brother’s cavalier attitud
e.
“Father has decided to hold a banquet tonight.”
“Why?”
Caleb draped his arm over the back of the couch as he stretched his long legs before him. “Jericho has returned.” Braith stiffened, Keegan padded over to him, brushing up against his legs as he sensed Braith’s sudden turmoil. “And do you know what it means if little brother has returned?”
“The war will resume,” Braith answered as his gaze darted toward the closed door. He didn’t want Arianna to know about this, not yet anyway.
“Yes,” Caleb agreed. “I wonder what he has learned.”
Braith didn’t respond; there was no use in trying to guess at what Jericho had learned during his time away. He hadn’t agreed with Jericho being sent out to try and assimilate with the rebels in the first place. Jericho was young, and reckless. Braith felt it was too risky to send a prince into enemy territory but Jericho had insisted upon going, insisted upon doing something for their cause, and had meant to prove that he was something more than the youngest son. Their father had been all too happy to send him, eager to see what Jericho might learn about the rebel faction, and not really caring if he lost his youngest. He had two other sons after all.
Jericho was the only member of their family that Braith had even remotely been close to, and he hadn’t wanted to lose him. However, his protests that if Jericho was captured he could be used as a weapon against them had fallen on deaf ears. His father had made it very clear that he would not rescue Jericho if something went wrong.
Now Jericho was back, and if he was back that meant he had discovered a way to bring down the rebel faction and destroy their enemies. Braith wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to hear what it was.