Aria sat on the edge of the couch with her hands clasped before her, but she could grab the bow and quiver by her feet in an instant. Ashby was holding a rag to his cut lip. Aria leaned forward, not liking the look in Ashby's bright green eyes as he watched Braith.
He was exceptionally good looking in an easy going, charming way. His dark blond hair was shaggy as it fell forward in waves across the carved planes of his face. There was an air of indifference surrounding him, and yet Aria sensed that there was something more to him, something that even Braith didn't know about. Something that Ashby had managed to keep hidden from everyone that had ever known him.
She didn't know why she was so convinced of this; perhaps it was years of learning to read people within the forest. But she couldn't shake the feeling that there was far more to Ashby than met the eye.
The young girl sat across from him, her brown eyes darting frantically around as she nervously watched them. She was pretty, with dark hair that fell in thick waves about her delicate shoulders. She was older than Aria, about twenty two or three in appearance. Though there was no way to know her real age, as she was not human. A fact that had been made clear when she'd attempted to attack Braith, only to be quickly rebuffed.
He had tied her hands behind her back, and then secured her to a beam in the ceiling with enough rope to allow her to keep her hands down. Her legs were also tied, with another length of rope that ran to a different beam. Aria was edgy, nervous about this situation, uncertain as to what they were doing here, and what Braith planned for these two.
Ashby appeared just as uncertain as he watched Braith suspiciously. "What have you gotten yourself into Braith?" he inquired.
"I don't see how that is any of your concern."
She felt the spark of curiosity that raced through Ashby as his eyes raked over her again. Aria shifted, hating the way he continued to look at her like she was something to eat, or an oddity that he couldn't explain. Aria forced herself not to squirm beneath his scrutiny, forced herself to steadfastly return his gaze.
"You've come to me Braith; that makes it my concern. You have brought whatever trouble you are in into my world. I have a right to know what that is."
Braith turned to him, but his jaw was taut, and Aria was well aware of the fact that he was not going to talk to Ashby. She was just as curious as Ashby was, just as puzzled as to what Braith had planned, but if Braith was unwilling to say it in front of Ashby than she wasn't going to press him. "This isn't your world Ashby, it's your prison. Or at least it was supposed to be. Who is the girl?"
"Who is your girl?" Ashby retorted.
A low growl of frustration escaped Braith. The hair on Aria's neck and arms stood on end as he stalked toward Ashby. She was afraid that he was going to kill Ashby; apparently Ashby felt the same way as he recoiled from Braith's approach. Aria leapt to her feet to stop Braith when the girl charged at her with a violent hiss. Aria spun, but she was caught off guard by the girl's sudden attack. Taken aback by the brutality the girl radiated, Aria fell back as she lunged forward with a ferocious snarl, red eyes, and hooked fingers.
She was defenseless, having left her bow by the sofa. Reacting on instinct alone, she slammed a fist into the girl's cheek, putting the full force of her weight behind it. Aria's blow barely did anything to affect the vampire, but the ropes caught suddenly, roughly jerking her back. The girl fell on her ass; a frustrated cry escaped her as she slammed her hands on the floor.
Braith was before her, his hands grasping hold of her arms. "Are you ok?" he demanded. Aria swallowed heavily as she tried to calm the frantic beat of her heart. "Arianna?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine," she assured him.
He grasped hold of her chin, turning her face toward him. His eyes were dark and simmering with the barely contained bloodlust that pulsated through him. She had seen that look a few times from him before, but it still scared her, mainly because she knew there was nothing that she could do to stop whatever it was he had in mind. "Braith…"
But it was not the girl that Braith took his anger out on, it was her. His mouth seized hers in a desperate, needy way that left her staggered and shaken. He took firm possession of her, pulling her roughly against him. Though she was originally shocked into immobility by his fervent desire, she felt herself melting against him. She gave into his wild desire, mainly because she couldn't refuse him anything, but also because she needed this as badly as he did. His hand was firm in her hair; his fingers cradled her head as he deepened the kiss. His tongue was hot and heady as it swept into her mouth.
He reluctantly pulled away from her; his arms trembled as he rested his forehead against hers. Aria couldn't catch her breath as she struggled to calm the hum of passion his volatile kiss had ignited. She gripped his strong, corded arms as she sought to keep herself grounded in this strange new world and the overwhelming sensations that he evoked in her.
"I need you to go into the other room."
"Braith…"
"Just for a minute Arianna, I don't want you to see this."
Disbelief and disgust tore through her as she realized what he planned to do. They were outnumbered here, between Ashby and the girl they were under constant threat of attack. But the girl was tied up, defenseless. It wasn't right. She was shaking her head, trying to get words out, but he was already pushing her toward the door of another room.
"Braith wait." She frantically grasped at his arms. "Don't do this, not like this Braith."
"I'm not going to kill her."
"But…"
"It's ok Arianna; go on now, just for a moment."
She was frowning at him, but he had already managed to navigate her through the doors and into a room that appeared to be a library. Braith glanced around; displeasure crossed his features as he took in the vast array of books. "Braith?"
He kissed her quickly before spinning away from her. "I just need some time alone with them, with him. Stay in here."
She didn't have time to argue with him as he closed the door. Exasperation and disbelief surged through when she heard the click of the lock pop into place. Her hands fisted, she bit her bottom lip in frustration as she fought the urge to race at the door and pound on it until he opened it again. It would appear childish, she knew that, but she also knew that she was not going to be confined to this damn room, and she was not going to let him order her around like this.
She made her way rapidly through the other rooms. As she moved through the ramshackle house the rooms and doorways became more haphazard. It was easy to tell what had been the original house, and what the newest additions to the massive tree structure were. The floor creaked beneath her, but she wasn't worried that it might collapse, it seemed solid enough. She passed by an extended version of the library, a rather large and surprisingly well equipped kitchen, a den, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms with showers. Blessed showers, that if they were here long enough, and things settled down, she was going to enjoy.
Then, there were the empty rooms, apparently built just to keep Ashby busy during his time of confinement. The additions weaved deeper through the forest, branching off into new and different angles. Limbs from the trees had been used for support and incorporated into the rambling structure. Despite its empty air, and somewhat lonely feel, there was something about the strange house that intrigued her. She had always been more at home within the trees than anywhere else; this was the kind of place that she could live in. This was the kind of place that she could one day call home. It was a strange realization, one that was astounding even to her, as she'd never thought about having a stable home, but it felt right somehow.
She came to the end of the structure, stopping as she came face to face with the wall before her. Frustration filled her, she had been hoping that this meandering labyrinth somehow came back around on itself, but it didn't. Fighting the urge to kick the wall, Aria fisted her hands and spun back around. She yearned to be with Braith, but she wasn't going to be relegated to this small role, she was not goin
g to be ordered about and hidden away like a child that couldn't fend for herself.
She could fend for herself; in fact she was far better at it than almost anyone else she knew.
Maybe she wasn't as quick and strong as a vampire, but she had her own set of skills that elevated her above most humans. She stormed back through the rooms, determined to have it out with Braith. She was making her way through the kitchen when he appeared in the doorway. She could see the barely contained tension simmering beneath his surface; sense the thin thread of control that he had over himself.
Aria froze as she took him in. He was being pushy and overbearing, but for the first time she glimpsed the fear he was trying to keep from her. The fear that he wasn't going to be able to keep her safe, that he would lose her. She also saw the strain he was going through at having to face Ashby.
Braith's eyes were smoldering, his shoulders rigid. His thirst was nearly palpable within the room. He had fed recently, but the stress of their current situation was clearly wearing on him. She felt that he hadn't even realized how strenuous and draining this would be on him.
She couldn't promise him that they would be safe, that they would make it through this, but she could help to ease the burning thirst throbbing from him. She pulled her shirt down to bare the fresh marks upon her skin to him. His eyes sparked with hunger, she could see the press of his fangs against the inside of his clamped mouth. A muscle twitched in his cheek. She didn't jump when he slammed his hand against the wall, causing a few pots within one of the cabinets to shift and fall with a muted rattle.
"It's too soon. No."
The words were grated at her, harsh with the exertion he was using to maintain control of himself. "I can take it."
"You were hurt pretty badly today. No."
He was going to fight her, she knew that. No matter how much he needed this, her safety was number one with him. And if he felt that he was going to harm her, or that this would be a danger to her, than he wasn't going to do it. But she was far more stubborn then he was, and she wanted this just as badly as he needed it. She was beginning to realize that she craved him feeding from her as much as he craved her blood. Despite the brief pain the experience brought her, it also brought moments of pure, unadulterated joy. It was thrilling and wondrous to be able to sustain him with blood, her body. It was exhilarating to have him on her, in her, gaining strength from her. She may not be the only one that he could gain such nourishment from, but she was the only one that he wanted to feed from anymore. If he was going to have any sort of relief, she was the only one that could give it to him.
Her heart thumped with the excitement of that knowledge as she moved toward him. "Arianna."
His voice was a soft plea but she couldn't back down from this. He may not feel it was safe to feed from her right now, but he had to. She stopped before him. He pulled her shirt up but she caught hold of his hand, resting it against her chest, over top of her heartbeat.
"Do you feel that?" His eyes were dark, stormy as he raised his gaze to hers. She knew that he could feel it, it was impossible not to feel the forceful beat of it. "It's yours. I am yours Braith. I'm strong, I can handle this; take what you have to from me."
Though he was still vibrating with hunger, his eyes were also filled with awe. His fingers curled against her chest, he bent to kiss her forehead, then her cheek, and ear. "I am yours also Arianna, never doubt that."
"I never will," she vowed.
His hand curled in her hair, caressing her tenderly. Though his finger trailed over the old marks, he didn't bite her, but simply stood over her, soothing and stroking her. He shuddered, his muscles rippled against her, she felt his weakening. He kissed her neck gingerly, the hard press of his fangs caused her heart to lurch with excitement. A low moan of pleasure escaped, her knees nearly buckled as he bit into her, joining them once again. She was clinging to him, shaking as waves of ecstasy crashed over her. No matter how awful the world around them was, this exchange, this one moment of perfect bliss, and pleasure, was worth every horror she was certain was coming their way, if it wasn't already here.
He nuzzled her as he licked the lingering drops of blood from her skin. He hadn't taken as much as he normally would have. "You must take more…"
"I'm fine."
"Braith, you have to stay strong, take more."
"It is too soon for you."
She swallowed heavily, trying to rid herself of the lump forming in her throat. Though the next words were going to kill her, she managed to strangle them out. "Then you must go to someone else."
His hands stilled on her, he lifted her face to him. She couldn't hide the sorrow that such a thought caused her. It would be awful for him to turn to someone else for this, awful for her, but he had to feed. He had to stay strong, especially now, and she couldn't give him all that he required right now. Maybe one day, when there wasn't so much pressure and strain on him, she could be enough. But that wasn't today, and it probably wasn't going to be anytime soon. They both had to accept the fact that he would have to go somewhere else, to someone else, and there was nothing that either of them could do to stop it from happening.
"That thought doesn't make you happy."
"Of course not, but I would rather you stay strong than have you get hurt because you were hungry, or weak."
"I will not be either one of those things."
"Braith…"
"I will find other ways Arianna. I will substitute what you cannot give me with animals."
"Is that the same?" she whispered.
He smiled as he kissed her nose lightly. "It may not taste as good, but it is just as nourishing. Nothing tastes as good as you." She shook her head at him as he pushed her hair back. "You're the most delicious thing I've ever encountered."
Aria shuddered; a thrill of pleasure ran down her spine as her body swayed closer to his. "You don't have to say that," she breathed.
"It's true." His hand was on her neck, his palm pressed over the marks there. His marks. "I don't want anyone but you Arianna. The idea of it is repulsive to me, especially since I know it upsets you."
"I won't let you suffer."
"I will not suffer and I will not turn to someone else. You are mine, you will always be mine." His voice rang with possessiveness, she could feel his tension spiking again. It was the first time she realized that it wasn't just this entire situation that had him so out of sorts, but also her. It was a frightening and disconcerting realization, she didn't know how to help him, how to ease the stress thrumming through him. "The thought of you turning to someone else, for anything, makes me want to destroy this entire place, makes me want to shred someone limb from limb. I wouldn't inflict such hurt upon you by using another to sustain me."
She stared at him in surprise, disturbed by the rapid change she sensed in him. Disturbed by the fact that she was a large part of the instability she sensed growing inside of him. "I would never do that," she promised. He was dark, remorseless, and distant in a way that he hadn't been since she had first met him within the palace walls. For a moment it seemed as if he didn't see her, as if he was trapped in the thought of her with another man. "Braith, I would never turn to someone else. You are the only one that has ever made me feel like this."
He swallowed heavily, she didn't think he was aware of the fact that his sudden instability had caused his fangs to sprout forth again. He closed his eyes for a moment, when he opened them again she was relieved to see a softening in his gaze. "I know Arianna. I know you wouldn't."
"Never Braith. Never." She hoped that her insistence would help to get through to him, but she still sensed something dark and turbulent beneath his calm exterior. His hand was tense upon her neck, his grip almost bruising. "The thought is repulsive to me."
"I know."
"Then why do you seem so troubled? So angry?"
He looked startled by her observation, his gaze darted to his hand. He shook his head, his eyes filled with a self hatred that rattled her. He pulled his
hand away as he took a small step back from her. "I'm sorry Arianna; I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You didn't," she assured him quickly, terrified by the strange gap she felt expanding between them. A gap she didn't understand, just as she didn't understand what was going on with him. She enfolded his hand in hers. "Braith you could never hurt me."
He didn't look appeased by her words. He didn't even look as if he believed them. "We should return."
"Braith, what is wrong?" she demanded, becoming frightened by the strange air that now encompassed him.
He grabbed hold of her, pulling her against him. A small gasp of surprise escaped her as he fell to his knees before her. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he rested his head against her stomach. "You humble me Arianna. I don't deserve you; I did nothing to earn your love, or the gift of sight that your presence has brought back to my life." Aria was frozen, astounded at the picture of the most powerful creature she had ever known, her prince, on his knees before her, broken by the anguish pouring from him. Anguish she did not understand.
Tears spilled from her, her chest constricted in distress. She buried her hands in his hair as a low cry escaped her. She bowed over him, cradling him against her, fighting not to give into the powerful sobs threatening to escape her. He was humbled by her, he felt that he didn't deserve her, and yet if it hadn't been for him she would still be dead and lost inside. She may well be dead if he hadn't been there to intervene. If it wasn't for him, she never would have known the joy of love, the wonder of things that she'd never understood until he walked into her life. If it wasn't for him, she never would have learned what life was truly about, she would have lost out on so much without his love to save her.
She slid to her knees before him, clinging to him as he enveloped her, rocking her against him, holding her, and touching her so reverently that she could barely breathe through the love swirling and building within her. His presence overwhelmed her; it floored her, and rocked her with its intensity. His hands were in her hair; his mouth and tongue had fierce possession of hers. His kiss was passionate, burning with a desperation that left her shaken. For the first time she realized that though he didn't pressure her, didn't push her toward anything, there was something else that he wanted even more than her blood.