Gideon smiled at her and lifted the glass in salute. "Thank you, Dara, my friend here might like to meet with you later."
"Anything he desires," she replied with a saucy smile that lingered on Braith.
The dark look Aria shot the girl would have amused Braith at any other time. Right now, he was too tense about this situation to find anything humorous.
"I'm fine, Gideon," Braith grated.
"Oh not you, Braith; I can tell you're not relinquishing your meal anytime soon. I meant Ashby."
"I'm fine also," Ashby assured him.
"Oh well then, perhaps the young human, he seems rather interested," Gideon said flippantly.
William closed his mouth as he ducked his head and blushed as vibrantly as Aria. Aria’s discomfort was nearly palpable as her fingers curled into his shirt. Braith hated that she had to be in this awful place and exposed to some of the worst forms of debauchery he knew.
But for all his numerous faults and all his sinful tastes, Gideon was a strong vampire and a natural leader. At his core, he was not an evil being. It wasn't easy to discern that at first glance, but Braith had known Gideon for centuries. He knew what resided inside Gideon, or at least what had resided inside of him.
If Gideon were anywhere near the vampire he’d once been, this servant girl was here willingly and not abused.
"Gideon—" Braith started.
"Perhaps I can introduce the human to some of the things we used to enjoy," Gideon continued as if Braith hadn't spoken. He idly twirled his goblet and watched Aria as he weighed her reaction to his words. "Or perhaps you would like me to teach her. That is, of course, unless you haven't already."
"Enough!" Braith snapped as Aria went completely still. "If you mean to punish me for the past hundred years, then so be it. But unless you would like to stay here for another hundred years, then you need to get over it, or I'm going to rip out your damn tongue so you can't say another word!"
Gideon became thoughtful again as he stared at Braith from under hooded lids. "Protective, aren't we?"
"Gideon." This time it was Ashby who spoke in a low, warning tone.
"Oh, it's all in fun. Dara, why don't you show our two young humans to a room so they can clean up?"
"They aren't going anywhere alone," Braith informed him.
"Lighten up, Braith. You're nowhere near as much fun as you used to be. Why don't we all take a small break and meet back in an hour then? You can replenish." Gideon's eyebrows quirked as his gaze ran pointedly over Aria. "And clean yourselves. How does that sound?"
It took all Braith had not to punch Gideon. His increasing need for blood wasn't helping the situation. He didn't have the patience to deal with Gideon's taunting and candid manner right now.
"Show them to the guestrooms upstairs please, Dara," Gideon instructed.
Braith held Aria as they followed the semi-nude woman up the stairs. He led Aria into the first bedroom the girl pointed to, eager to get her away from the girl and Gideon. Eager to have a moment alone as he closed the door and leaned against it.
"Can we trust him?" she blurted instantly.
Braith closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I think we can; he's far more bitter than I anticipated, but I don't think he's dangerous."
"Maybe we should leave, Braith. This place..."
For the first time she glanced at the walls, and her shoulders slumped when she realized they were free of the "artwork" the downstairs possessed.
"This place is awful and strange. We're going to bring these creatures back to help us, and then give them positions of power? What would they do to the rest of us?" Aria asked.
"At one time, these were the vampires who fought for human equality. No matter Gideon's anger, I believe he still wants that equality. The people in this town are amongst the vampires, Aria, and are living with them. It won't be easy, but us working together can and will be done."
She stared inquisitively at him. "Is this what you liked? That girl—"
"I was never like Gideon, or even Ashby, and most certainly never like Caleb. I've never stooped to rape, even after you left the palace and I thought I'd lost you. Though, I suppose taking someone's blood by force is a form of rape."
The color drained from her face; her lower lip trembled as she stepped back. Any reminder of his past was distressing to her, especially that one. He hated doing this to her, but she needed to hear and understand some things.
"As far as I know, neither Ashby or Gideon have ever done such a thing either. If Gideon is anything like he used to be, that girl is here willingly. He never abused a human who didn't agree to it, and he never would have possessed a blood slave. His tastes are more salacious than most, but he was never cruel," Braith said.
"Those teeth, the paintings—"
"I'm sure there's an explanation, and perhaps he will eventually give it to us, but until then you need to be a little more open-minded. Though there may be things in our pasts we aren’t proud of, we are not all monsters. If you are willing to look past my faults and the sins of my past, you should be willing to give Gideon and the others at least a chance. I wouldn't have brought you here if I thought Gideon was dangerous."
"Vampires and people change," she whispered as her eyes raked him.
Self-hatred blazed through him; he shook his head as he looked away from her. "I don't think he's changed as much as he's trying to portray. That girl is not unhappy here."
She shook her head as she turned away. Her fingers trembled while she untied the knot of her cloak. Though he wasn't sure if she wanted his help, he pulled it free of her. When the material slithered to the floor, she didn't bother to pick it up. He watched her as she placed her bow and arrows by the bed; he was disturbed by how thin she’d become again.
"Oh, a shower!" she cried.
With those excited words, she vanished through the doorway in a flash. He couldn't help but smile as the sound of running water filled the room. He admired the delight she found in things he took for granted. He remained by the door as she moved around the bathroom gathering soaps and shampoos in her arms with an eagerness that caused him to laugh softly.
His laughter vanished in an instant as she shed the bindings from her arms and dropped them to the floor. The smell of her blood assaulted him before she disappeared again; the water flow changed when she stepped beneath the shower head.
The melodious sound of her humming drew him forward a step, then another, and another. He trembled as he tried so hard to stop moving that his muscles throbbed from the restraint he failed to exert over himself.
The water turned off. She was wrapping a towel around herself when he stepped into the bathroom doorway. He didn't know what he was doing, didn't know what he intended as she finished tucking the towel into place.
Her back was to him, and her head bowed as her dark hair tumbled about her shoulders in curly wet waves. He could hear the beat of her heart and smell her blood on the cloying steam filling the air.
She grabbed a brush then wiped the mirror with the palm of her hand. Her eyes widened, and she jumped in surprise when she spotted him in the reflective surface. There was a moment where her surprise turned into a small smile, which rapidly faded away. Her hands grasped the towel as she turned toward him; her heartbeat accelerated.
He should leave, but instead, he was drawn toward her like a moth to a flame. He found himself standing before her when he had every intention of leaving the room. The best thing to do would be to get far from her until he was stable enough to trust himself in her presence.
His hand trembled as he brushed the hair back from her very delicate neck. Her pulse leapt wildly; a subtle breath escaped her as his fingers pressed against the previous marks he'd left on her. His fangs sprang free; the hunger pulsing through him clouded his vision.
"Yes," she breathed.
"Too soon." They were the only two words he could choke out.
"It's been almost a day; I'm fine. Your blood strengthened me." S
he pulled his hand away and tilted her head, so he had a better view of his marks on her.
He wanted to tell her no. But it didn't matter; he was no longer in control of himself enough to deny either of them. He was tempted to lurch forward and drive his fangs into her as he finally eased the fire consuming him.
Somehow, he found the strength not to give into that urge; he couldn't injure her in such a way. She shuddered as he pulled her against him. Darkened by desire, her eyes were fearless as her arms entwined around his neck.
She clung to him, so trusting and giving, so unknowing of the ferocious thirst clamoring through him as she offered her vein to him. He braced against her as he struggled to find the strength to pull away, walk out of this room, and find someone else. But there was no one else; there was only her.
The scent of her blood engulfed him; her heartbeat invaded his body and took over his senses. When he bit deep, her sweet life-giving blood surged into his mouth, flowed through his body, and filled his dehydrated cells. Instantly, the clamoring encasing him eased. A groan of ecstasy escaped him as he became lost in her.
Chapter Five
It was sometime later before Aria stirred. She was drowsy, her muscles felt weak, but the strange sensation of being sated clung to her. When her fingers curled, she expected to find the unyielding bite of the ground, but instead, she felt the solid muscle of Braith's chest and the yielding give of a mattress.
Aria barely recalled the last time she'd been in a bed or awoken with Braith beside her.
But he was beneath her now.
She allowed herself to drift in the pleasure of that realization and managed to doze off once more. He was still with her when she woke again feeling more refreshed and a little livelier. She lifted her head and blinked at him when she found him staring back at her. The glasses, thankfully, were not in place.
Though his eyes were filled with concern, the lines around his lips and eyes had nearly vanished. The strain he exhibited before, and the almost mechanical movements he’d been going through, were gone as he gazed at her. She pressed closer to him as she realized she’d given him what he so desperately needed.
"How do you feel?" he inquired.
"A little tired," she admitted. "How long have I been out?"
"Awhile."
Uneasiness filled her. "We were only supposed to be an hour, Braith."
"It's fine."
"But Gideon is waiting for us, and he doesn't seem all that patient. William—"
"I took care of it, Aria, and William is with Ashby; you don't have to worry."
Of course, she had to worry, her brother was stuck in this place, and she was curled up sleeping with Braith. "We should go."
She went to climb out of bed, but he grabbed her and pulled her back. "Braith—"
"Wait, Arianna, just wait." His left hand entwined in her hair; she became acutely aware of the fact she was only wearing a towel as it dropped a little. "It shouldn't have happened like that. I was out of control."
"You can't keep denying yourself, and I'm fine."
His fingers brushed nimbly along the top of the towel. Her heart lurched as excitement pulsed through her, and her mouth went dry. Her skin tingled and heated everywhere he touched.
"You're fine this time,” he said, “but next time—"
"Next time, I’ll be fine too because you’re going to start feeding better. If you insist on not using other humans as much, okay." That was fine and dandy with her also, but she couldn't stand to see him suffer anymore. "But you're going to have to use them more when animals aren't readily available."
His jaw clenched and unclenched as he studied her. "How are you so accepting of all this, of me? I hurt you."
She tilted her head to study him. "You didn't hurt me."
He launched to his feet as he stalked across the room. Watching him, she sensed something more beneath the tension radiating from him.
"Not just today, Aria, but what about the first time I took your blood when I almost killed you? Or the fact I was previously engaged and had other blood slaves after you? How do you accept all those things?"
She recoiled at the reminder of all of them. The blood drained from her face, but somehow she managed to keep her chin up as she glared at him. "And I left you in the palace, Braith. My pride wounded us both when I left with Jack. I didn't believe in you, and because of that, I drove you to those slaves and your lowest depths of deprivation. How do you forgive me for that?"
"You didn't almost kill me."
"I shot an arrow at you!" she snapped.
His head tilted to the side, and his dark hair spilled across his forehead. "That hardly counts."
She clasped the towel to her as she knelt on the bed to face him. "Then give me another one, and this time I'll make it count!" His grin infuriated her. Huffing a little she clutched the towel as she shimmied her way inelegantly off the bed.
He grasped arm before she disappeared into the bathroom and held it tenderly as she glared angrily up at him. "Aria—"
"Love isn't about perfection, Braith! It's about understanding and forgiveness, it's about giving and taking in equal measure. I forgave you for things you are struggling to forgive yourself for because I love you. I know you have done some awful things, and you have hurt me, just as I hurt you. However, you gave up a life of opulence, grace, and a vast supply of blood for a life of deserts, fighting, and starvation for me. I willingly gave you my blood because I would do anything for you. That is love, Braith. I'm seventeen, and even I know that. Maybe, one of these centuries, you will learn it too!"
She jerked her arm free of his slackened grasp and didn't look back as she stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door. She gasped in a breath while she leaned against the door; all her pleasure from earlier had evaporated. He was such an infuriating ass sometimes.
She realized only too late there were no clothes in here for her. Crap, she thought as she released an aggravated breath. She had just blown up on him, and now she had to go back out there to ask him for clothes. It was humiliating.
She remained leaning against the door, reluctant to face him again. A low knock reminded her it was impossible to hide. She opened the door to find his large and imposing frame standing before her. The dress he held looked tiny in his hands.
"I thought you might require some clothing,” he said.
"I do."
"Gideon had it sent up while you were sleeping."
She eyed the dress warily as he stepped into the room. She hadn't worn one of these horrible garments since her time in the palace and had hoped to never wear one again. When she took the dress from him, she barely met his gaze as she draped it over her arm.
"I'll button it for you after you slide it on," he offered.
He turned away, and she dropped the towel to slip the dress over her head. “Okay,” she said, and he faced her again.
His fingers were gentle as he buttoned the back with surprising ease. Pulling her hair over her shoulders, he covered the fresh marks on her neck before turning her to face him.
"I need you to know I'm not a complete monster," he said.
She started in surprise; that's what this was about. "I know that, Braith, I never thought you were." She sought to give him comfort as her fingers wrapped around his wrists. "The past can't be undone, but it doesn't define you. Our future actions will show who we really are and what we'll become."
"I hope so."
"They will," she promised him. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."
He smiled wanly. "I deserved it."
She wasn't going to argue with that.
He kissed her forehead. "I never had anyone to teach me about love before."
Her hands constricted on his forearms and tears burned her eyes. He was stronger than her, faster, and more powerful; his life had been one of luxury and hers one of struggle, yet she realized she’d gotten the better deal.
She knew what it was like to have people who loved her. His siblings, at least Melin
da and Jack, seemed to care for each other, but they weren't anywhere near as close as she was with William and Daniel. Yes, her mother had been killed, but she’d died for her children. Her father had never hidden the fact he loved his kids, even if he was never overly affectionate with them. Her entire life had been about love; his had been about cruelty. It was amazing he turned out as wonderful as he had.
"I'll teach you," she vowed.
"You already have."
Tears spilled down her cheeks when he lifted her face and kissed her tenderly. She was reluctant to have the moment end, but it was time to return to reality.
"We have to go downstairs," she said.
"I know."
He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks before taking her hand and following the sounds of voices back to Gideon's study. Ashby looked up from his place by the window, a drink in his hand, as he spoke quietly with Gideon. He grew silent the minute they entered the room. Gideon sat behind the desk, his feet propped on top, and his hands folded on his stomach.
"Where's my brother?" Aria demanded.
"Relax, Aria, he's fine," Ashby assured her.
"Where is he, Ashby?"
"Dara took him on a tour of the town."
A cold chill crept down her spine and she nearly sputtered in disbelief. "You let him go alone?"
"There's no need to fear anything here, your brother is safe,” Gideon said.
His smug tone irritated her, and she turned her glare at him. "I don't fear anything.”
Gideon quirked an eyebrow as Braith shook his head.
"She's a feisty one," Gideon remarked.
"She is," Ashby agreed before focusing on Aria. "I wouldn't let him go anywhere if I thought he was at risk, I promise. Besides, he's with a human."
Though Ashby smiled, and Gideon seemed somewhat amused, they both studied her with unnerving intensity. Aria refrained from saying that didn't mean much, especially not in a vamp ruled world. She didn't think William should be wandering around alone, and she tried to control her panic at the mere thought of it.
The Captive Series 1-5 Page 41
