"It's ok," she breathed, her fingers curling into his thick hair. "It's ok Braith."
He didn't hesitate, but bit down, reopening the bite marks and causing her blood to spurt once more. Aria arched against him, but the sting was sharp and fleeting. Then she felt the familiar tug of her blood into his body. But unlike the first time, he was not half starved and almost out of his mind with hunger. He was far more serene, and far more caring as he moved over her. She clung to his rigid arms, tears streaming down her face as she savored in the wondrous joy of the moment. She never wanted it to end, never wanted to part from him as his pleasure slipped into her and his happiness filled her.
He pulled away from her, holding her as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Don't cry Arianna."
She couldn't stifle the tears or the emotions streaming from her. She ran her hands over his beloved face, trying to memorize every detail of him before they were separated again, this time for good. He slightly pulled away from her and bit deep into his wrist. She couldn't tear her gaze away as blood flowed from him. Unlike the last time, she would remember this exchange.
She felt she should be repulsed by the idea of drinking his blood. The vampires were her enemies after all, they always had been, but she didn't feel revulsion as he held his wrist out to her. The need in his eyes was glaringly obvious, and she wasn't going to turn him down. She would never hurt him in such away. She watched him as she brought his wrist to her mouth. His eyes sparked with desire and love.
His blood was sweet as it flowed into her, powerful as it seeped into her cells. He kissed her forehead, his nose rubbed briefly against hers as he nuzzled her neck. "I love you too Arianna," he breathed, his mouth hot against her ear. His words only caused more tears to flow.
***
Aria woke to the smell of something delicious cooking. She smiled contentedly, stretching out upon the comfortable bed as her stomach rumbled in eager anticipation. She didn't know what he was cooking for her now, but it smelled fantastic. Upon crawling out of bed, she discovered the bathroom, and the shower. Drawn by the lure of hot water, she was unable to resist climbing into the shower. She discovered the robe on the back of the bathroom door after forcefully removing herself from the dwindling heat.
The robe smelled of him, which made it even more irresistible to slip on. The velvety material felt fantastic against her bare skin. She hesitated a moment, self conscious about going bare beneath the robe, but she wasn't ready to put her clothes back on. They weren't filthy, but they most certainly weren't as clean as the robe, and she was going to enjoy her brief reprieve for a little while longer. She didn't think Braith would mind.
She slipped from the room, following her nose as she padded silently down the hall. "Something smells amazing, and I've decided the shower is the best invention ever."
She turned the corner, holding the knot on the front of her robe as Braith came into view. He was standing in the kitchen doorway, his back to her. She frowned, uncertain as to what he was doing there. His head turned toward her, his gaze was dark and stormy as he spotted her. She hesitated, confused by his obvious distress. They'd been fine when they'd fallen asleep, better than fine even. She'd never felt so content and happy in her life, never felt so close to someone else.
And now it seemed as if the sight of her was enough to send him into a rage. Aria began to shake; her hands trembled on the knot of the robe. What was going on?
His eyes narrowed severely, and then his hand slammed into the doorway with enough force to splinter the wood. Aria jumped as the wood cracked loudly and bits of it scattered to the floor. Her heart leapt in surprise, but she still didn't feel any fear, not of him anyway. He wouldn't harm her she knew that, she just didn't understand what was wrong with him right now.
He turned away from her; his back ramrod straight, his muscles quivering beneath the thin fabric of his shirt. Aria looked away from his rigid back, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped when she spotted Jack on the other side of the room. He was standing by the outside door, staring at her. There was surprise in his features, but there was also confusion and a resonating sadness that shook her.
It was then that she realized their wonderful world of bliss had been forever shattered once more. "Aria," Jack greeted.
She itched to reach out to Braith, but her hand remained frozen on her robe. She didn't know what to say or what to do. She was practically naked, standing in their family house, her hair wet and straggling. She knew what it all looked like, and she didn't care. What she cared about was the fact that Jack had found them. That he had come here to ruin their brief time together, again. Irritation shot through her, they'd had so little time together as it was, especially as equals, and now it was over.
She glared at him, her hands fisting at her sides. Jack quirked an eyebrow as he studied her questioningly. "I'm assuming you didn't force her here," he stated flatly.
"No," Aria responded, when Braith didn't.
Jack stared at her for a moment before turning his attention to his brother. "What are you doing Braith?" Jack muttered.
Braith's body remained rigid but the arm that slammed into the wall shook as his knuckles turned white. Aria knew that it was more than just Jack being here that was shaking him, but also the fact that their time together was over. They both knew Jack was here to take her back, and there was nothing that either of them could do to stop it. She had to go back to her world, just as Braith had to return to his.
"That's none of your business," Braith grumbled.
Jack's eyes flashed with annoyance. "It is my business. She's a young girl, you have no right…"
"I'm not a child!" Aria interrupted sharply. "And you are not my father, or my brother, Jack."
Jack's gaze was remorseless. "No, your father and brothers would have come in here looking to kill; they would have been appalled to find you like this." Aria recoiled from his harsh words, she felt as if she'd been slapped by him.
"Don't," Braith snarled. "Don't talk to her like that."
"You have no idea what you have gotten yourself messed up with here Aria," Jack continued as if Braith had never spoken. "And yes, you are a child. Especially when compared to us. You are a small blink in our lifespan Aria. You should know better Braith, I thought better of you than to do this with a young girl, a human girl no less! What are you doing!?"
Braith bristled at the reprimand, the muscles in his back rippled. "Like I said before, that's none of your business."
Jack's upper lip curled as his eye did some twitching motion that would have been amusing if this wasn't so awful. "How did you even find her? What are you even doing outside of the palace?" Neither Braith nor Aria answered him. Jack glanced rapidly between them, then his shoulders slumped and his gaze landed upon her. "You lied to me."
Aria shook her head. "I didn't lie to you."
"Then what do you call it!?" he exploded. "I asked you if he had shared his blood with you! You told me no!"
"I'm not going to tell you again to watch how you talk to her!" Braith bellowed.
Aria grasped hold of his arm as she sensed his rapidly unraveling control; he was nearing a volatile snapping point. She wasn't going to let them fight, not only were they brothers, but she had a feeling that they would destroy this house, and each other, if they did. She wasn't about to let that happen because of her.
"It's ok Braith." He relaxed somewhat, but a tremor remained in his muscles, and she wasn't fooled into thinking that he wouldn't attack at a moment's notice. "I didn't remember Jack; I thought it was a dream. I didn't lie to you on purpose, it was…" She didn't know what it was, she couldn't explain it. "I'm sorry Jack."
"Don't apologize to him," Braith told her.
"You put us all in jeopardy," Jack scolded.
Aria stepped closer to Braith, needing his touch to ease her raw nerves. He glanced back at her, his eyes softening as he took her in. She stared up at him for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. He finally released his hold on the wall
to pull her against him, and move her behind him a little to try to block her from Jack's scrutiny.
Aria rested her forehead against Braith's chest as she took a deep breath, trying to calm her raw, savaged nerves. Braith wrapped his hand around the back of her head, holding her for a prolonged moment as he bent his head to hers. "Why don't you go get dressed Arianna," he whispered in her ear.
She shook her head; her gaze darted back toward Jack. "No, I'm not leaving you."
"It will be fine," he assured her. "I'd much prefer you in clothes though, ok?"
She felt vulnerable at the moment and would love clothes, but she was unwilling to leave the two of them alone together. "No Braith."
He grunted impatiently, she could sense his frustration with her, but she was not leaving here if there was even the smallest chance that they were going to attack each other. "Go Aria," Jack told her.
"Jack, we may be friends, but you have to stop treating me like a child." Jack's brows lifted in surprise. "Both of you," she added, turning her attention back to Braith. "I'm not as old as you, but I've seen and experienced a lot. So no, I am not leaving here until I am certain that you will not kill each other."
Braith's jaw clenched in annoyance, Jack's mouth quirked in sardonic amusement. "Well apparently she disobeys everyone, even the mighty future king," Jack drawled. Braith shot him a ferocious look. "Are you going to be his queen Aria? Oh, but you could never be the queen there's already somebody set up to produce heirs for him. Will you be the mistress then, the kept woman?"
She flinched from the sharp reminder that she couldn't be his queen; that she never would be. Her fingers dug tighter into Braith, she labored to breathe through the anguish constricting her chest. "That's enough!" Braith bellowed. "You say one more word and I'll tear your tongue out Jericho, do you understand me!?"
"One more word of the truth?" Jack demanded.
Aria held on to Braith as he tried to pull away, tried to lunge at his brother. "Stop Braith, please. Just stop, both of you, stop!" Braith tried to shake her free, but she somehow managed to insert herself in between the two of them. "Stop!"
Aria was breathing heavily, she was terrified she was about to witness two brothers kill each other. She didn't realize that the sleeve of her robe had fallen down to expose her shoulder, until Braith grabbed hold of her. Pulling her back, he yanked the sleeve up to cover her skin, and the dark mark upon it. It was too late though, Jack hadn't missed the fresh bite upon her. He stared at her covered shoulder, before finally lifting his startled gaze to hers.
"I told you, I am here willingly," Aria informed him.
- CHAPTER 6 -
Braith clasped the robe around her, surprised to realize that she was not wearing anything underneath. He had at least expected the thin nightgown he had set out for her, but perhaps she hadn't noticed it, or she had simply chosen not to put it on. Either way, she was not wearing clothes. He didn't know if he was more excited by this prospect, or infuriated by it. Though, if his brother hadn't been standing there, Braith knew what the resounding answer to that question would have been.
Arianna seemed oblivious to his surprise over this new development as she continued to glare defiantly at Jack. Braith's gaze turned back to his brother. "I came here willingly, and I know that there is no future for us Jack. You don't have to continuously remind me of something that I am painfully aware of. I wanted this. I needed this."
Though her voice was strong, Braith could see the tears in her eyes. "Aria," Jack said morosely, looking lost and dumbfounded.
Her fingers curled around Braith's arms. "I know everything," she told him. "I know it all, and I accept it for what it is Jack."
"Do you know about the blood slaves?" Jack demanded. "The many he has kept in the past few months? Do you know what he has done to them, with them Aria? You are not special!"
Though Braith still thought of him as his brother, he was beginning to realize more and more that this man before them was not the Jericho he had known, but was in fact more the Jack that Arianna knew him as. This was not the same brother that had left the palace six years ago, it was not the same Jericho that Braith had grown up with and been close to. This man was a stranger, one that seemed determined to tear Arianna away from him. He didn't think it was because Jericho had romantic feelings for her, but in fact had come to think of her as a sister, or a good friend. One that he was trying to protect, unfortunately Jericho was trying to protect her from him. Jericho also seemed determined to hurt her in his attempt to get her away from him.
Jericho just didn't realize that he was trying to keep her safe from someone that would die to make sure that she stayed that way also. Braith knew that the man across from him was not Jericho, but was in fact the man that he had rebuilt himself into. He was now this man called Jack and Arianna knew him far better than Braith did.
Arianna glanced up at him, biting on her bottom lip as her eyes swam with tears. Anger surged through Braith; she had been jerked around enough. He couldn't stand the fact that she had to experience even more of it. He cradled her face in his hands, savoring in the feel of her silken skin. "I know about them too," she said quietly.
Braith rested his forehead against hers; taking a small moment to enjoy the peace and splendor she brought to his hectic world. The last thing he'd ever wanted was to reveal to her what a monster he'd been these past couple of months, but he was now immensely glad he'd done it before Jack had. "You are special," he assured her.
"Shit," Jack whispered. He pulled a chair out from the table and limply slid into it. "What have you done Braith? What have the two of you done?"
Braith kissed her lingeringly before pulling back. "I put some clothes out for you; they're on the chest in my room. Please go get dressed Arianna." She glanced at Jack, her forehead furrowing in consternation. "We'll be fine," he assured her.
She paused for a moment more before finally nodding her consent. He watched as she hastily moved down the hall, warily glancing back at them before slipping around the corner and disappearing from view. Braith turned back to his brother; he folded his arms firmly over his chest as he studied him. Jack didn't know that Braith could see the incredulous look on his face, didn't know that he was watching his brother's every move.
"What is this between you Braith?" he inquired.
"I don't know," he answered honestly.
Jack frowned at him, his hands curled upon the table. "She may think that she can handle this, but she can't. She's strong Braith, she's seen a lot, but she's also very innocent to the ways of the world. You didn't see her after I took her away from there. You don't know her the way that I know her…"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Braith demanded.
Jack sighed as he leaned forward in his chair and clasped his hands before him on the table. "I've been in the woods for six years Braith. I've seen firsthand what these people suffer through, what our kind has forced them to suffer through. I've known Aria for over four years now, she's proud, she's wild, and she has one of the kindest hearts I've ever known. She's been broken ever since I pulled her out of that palace, ever since I took her from you. She may think she can handle this, she may even feel that she is prepared for it, but compared to us she is just a child and it's obvious that she's in love with you."
Braith shifted as he glanced behind him to see if she was coming back yet. He was bristling, resentful of his brother's words, and the fact that Jack seemed to think he knew so much more about her. "She is more than a child," he grated.
"She is seventeen years old! You are to be king; you are to be married…"
"I don't need you constantly reminding me, or her, of that fact!" Braith snarled. "I was not lucky enough to be born the middle, or the youngest son. I was not lucky enough to get the chance to leave that place, and all of my responsibilities, behind. I was not lucky enough to escape father's brutality!"
Jack pondered his words before finally answering. "I know that Braith, probably more than anyone, it was why I
left in the first place. Though, at first I'd thought to win father's favor by doing something daring and perilous. I aimed to earn his respect, and I was going to make him realize that I was more than just a punching bag. Once I was free though, I realized just what a monster he is by living amongst the people that he has mistreated even worse than us. Aria's family, and Aria herself, are the biggest contributors to this realization and I care for them. You're my brother, I love you, but I'll never return there and we no longer share the same goals. These are my people now, I will protect them."
"And you think that I won't protect her?"
There was a hopeless air around Jack as he studied Braith. "I think you will try, but there is only so much you can do. You hate father as much as I, but you have always been big on responsibility and duty. You will not turn your back on that. That is why I didn't tell you that I was going to take her. I knew you would stop me simply because it would weigh heavily on your conscience to be involved with such treason."
"You have been gone for awhile Jack; you don't have a clue as to what you're talking about," Braith growled.
Jack's hands sprawled on top of the table as he half rose from the chair. "And why is that?" he demanded. Braith glanced back down the hall. Arianna was still out of sight, but she would return soon. He turned back to his brother, Jack had become a man in the time he had been gone, but Braith still saw the little boy in him. "You're to be married Braith, you are to take over for father. That is your world, this is not…"
"She is my world," Braith interrupted sharply.
Jack's gaze slid past him but Braith's hand had extended toward Arianna before she arrived at his side. She took hold of his hand, squeezing it between both of hers as she held it before her. Jack studied the two of them before sliding back into his chair.