Refugee (The Captive #3)(55)
“I understand,” he grated through clenched teeth. “Not here, not on this cot, and not with your family surrounding us. Not for you Arianna. I want better for you, it will be better.”
When he opened his eyes to look at her, he was surprised to find her watching him with a look of absolute love that nearly shattered him. She unwrapped her arms from his waist and ever so slowly pulled the hair back from her neck. Marks from his other feeding were still visible upon her porcelain skin. He pulled her shirt slowly down to reveal the nearly invisible marks from the first time he’d fed from her. His fingers brushed over it as she pressed against him, her breasts firm against his chest.
“Do you remember this?” His voice was tense.
“How could I forget?”
“I almost killed you that night.”
“Braith…”
“Yet you continue to give yourself to me.”
“I love you.”
“Is it so simple then?”
“Yes. This is not an easy life.”
It wasn’t, but he hadn’t once wished that he was back in that hideous palace with its vast supply of blood and every imaginable luxury. He would wade through a thousand swamps before he ever let her go again. “And I wouldn’t change a thing,” he whispered against her cheek.
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
“Is it so simple then?”
He smiled back at her. “Yes.”
“Good.”
She silently guided his head to her neck. His fingers slid up the back of her shirt to press flat against the slender curve of her back. A faint whimper escaped her, goose bumps broke out across her skin. He bypassed the marks on her neck to rest his lips gently against the first bite he had placed upon her; the first time he had marked her as his.
She moaned when he bit into her, reopening the wounds that had bound them irrevocably to each other. She slumped against him as the rest of the world faded away.
CHAPTER 15
Aria looked up from the shirt she had been sewing as Jack stepped into the room. She hated sewing, she’d stabbed herself numerous times already, but she needed the shirt. She swore as she jabbed herself again and stuck her wounded finger in her mouth.
Jack quirked an eyebrow at her. “You’re not very good at that.”
“I know,” she mumbled. He rocked slowly back on his heels as he folded his hands behind him. She frowned as she dropped the shirt down. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to speak with you.”
“Ok.”
“Not here. Take a walk with me?”
She wasn’t sure why he would want to take a walk, there was no one around. “Uh yeah, sure.”
Placing the shirt on top of the table, she climbed to her feet and followed him as he led the way out of the house. Braith had gone with Gideon, Xavier, her father, and Daniel to meet with the rebels her father had gathered to fight, to look over the supplies they’d accrued, and to do some hunting. Aria had opted to stay behind, she was tired, and she thought that perhaps it would be a chance for Braith to bond with her family. He hadn’t liked it in the beginning, but Jack and Ashby had agreed to stay behind.
Ashby was standing by the woods when they emerged from the house. Remorse radiated from his eyes as he fell into step beside them. She glanced between the two of them, suddenly feeling very small and vulnerable. Why hadn’t she grabbed her bow? She shook off the crazy thought. This was Jack and Ashby, they wouldn’t hurt her.
“What’s going on?” Neither of them answered her. Aria became aware of the pounding of her pulse in her ears. “Jack?” She was ashamed of the tremor in her voice.
“Just going for a walk Aria, we have to talk.”
“About what?” He didn’t answer her. She stopped abruptly, refusing to take one more step until she received some answers. “About what?” she demanded.
“The lake is just ahead, ok?”
Aria bristled at his placating tone. She almost refused to move further, almost turned around and walked away. She was certain she didn’t want to hear what they had to say. She knew she couldn’t run away though. “Fine,” she relented.
Aria fell back as Jack led the way to a pristine lake. She stood for a moment, taking in the scene before her as it spread out in a glimmering array of sunshine and blue. Something inside of her chest eased, she took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the crisp water. Forgetting all about Jack and Ashby, she took a step closer to the water. She itched to dive into it, to swim out as far as she could and simply be.
The clearing of Jack’s throat alerted her to the fact that was not going to happen. Sighing impatiently, Aria turned to him. “What do you want to talk to me about?”
Jack and Ashby exchanged a look, but it was Jack that spoke. “Braith.”
Aria folded her arms over her chest as she studied them both. Ashby could barely meet her gaze; his eyes darted continuously away from her as if he were ashamed. There was a hollow pit in her stomach; it felt as if a rock had settled in there. She could barely breathe anymore. No, she definitely was not going to like this. “Perhaps you should talk to him then.”
“I’ve tried, and so have Ashby, and Gideon. He needs to lead Aria.”