“Braith,” she whispered, fighting the chills and tears that burned her eyes.
“Just keep your eyes closed, it will be over quickly and I don’t want you to see this.”
She closed her eyes, unable to resist obeying him. She did not want to see what he was going to do, and she would not be able to stop him either. She bit on her bottom lip, forcing herself to remain calm as she tried, and failed, to block out the sounds of the ensuing slaughter.
Chapter 11
Arianna curled against his chest, her hand entwined in his shirt as she slept soundly within his grasp. Braith had hoped that they would be at their destination by now, but the fight with the other vampires, and the tending of her wounds, had put them behind schedule. It was night again; she was exhausted, and beaten. His blood would help her to heal faster, but she still moaned every once in awhile, and her face was still scrunched slightly with pain.
He watched her as he moved; still awed by the fact that he could even see her. Still surprised by the fact that he had not found her beautiful at first. Yes, she was thinner than he liked, even now he wished there was more weight upon her, and he had always preferred lighter hair color, and a more refined beauty. But her features, though sharpened by her thinness, were soft, gentle, and yet possessed a strength and character that was entirely captivating.
They certainly captivated him anyway. He could not take his eyes away from her full mouth, slightly pointed nose, and dark eyelashes as they curled against her lightly freckled cheeks. When she had been in the palace, out of the rays of the sun, those freckles had almost disappeared completely.
She stirred, her eyelids fluttered open. Her sapphire eyes blazed up at him, a soft smile curved her mouth as she cuddled tighter against him. That smile was painfully rare, yet stunning and achingly beautiful. He knew that she had been shocked and horrified by what she had witnessed earlier, but she had not held it against him, or blamed him for his dark nature. She had not turned away from him in revulsion and fear.
“We’re almost there,” he told her.
She winced slightly as her wounded shoulder was jarred slightly. Anger spurted through him, but he swiftly buried it before she could see it, or sense it. She had seen enough mayhem today without needing to see anymore from him right now. She stared around the forest, her delicate forehead furrowed in confusion. It didn’t look as if the woods were going to end, but they would soon.
“I can walk,” she said softly.
“That’s ok.”
She turned back toward him, her dark eyebrows drawn tightly together. “Your arms must be tired.”
“I’m fine Arianna; you weigh as much as a feather.”
Displeasure flashed across her face. He bent over her to press a soft kiss on her nose, hoping to ease her irritation with him. “Are we going to be safe?”
He wanted to tell her that, yes, they would be. He wanted to be able to give her that much, but he couldn’t. She had never known safety, had never known a place to call home where she could feel secure, and one day he would give her that, but unfortunately it would not be today. It probably would not be for a long time. Sadness crept into her eyes, she leaned her head against his chest.
“We’ll stay together, right?” she asked softly.
“Yes.”
“That’s all that matters then.”
His hands clenched tighter around her, he would try to give her the moon if she asked for it, but she had never asked much from him, if anything. She did not want money and jewels, did not want clothes; she only wanted safety, a place to call home, and him. He just didn’t have the ability to give her everything she wanted right now. But one day he would, he promised himself that. The woods gave way, opening into a large clearing. The house stood in the center of the clearing, lights blazing from the windows lit the ground around it.
Arianna was staring at it in wide eyed wonder, her hands curled tight in his shirt as she gazed up at it. The house was on stilts, high up in the air, parts of it were actually built into the trees surrounding the clearing. The sides were all clapboard, though parts of it looked far more weathered than others. The house had been built up even more since the last time Braith had seen it; it seemed to disappear into the woods behind it now, spreading outward in a ramble of buildings and rooms.
Someone had been busy.
“Wow,” Arianna breathed. She wiggled in his arms, and this time he allowed her to drop to her feet. Her mouth was parted slightly, her eyes wide as she tilted her head back to stare up at the giant tree house. She was most comfortable amongst the trees; this was something spectacular, and wonderful, to her. “What is this place?”
Braith stared at the growing ensemble of buildings and hallways connecting them. “It belonged to my mother’s family originally.”
She turned toward him, her gaze questioning. “And now?”
“And now it belongs to my brother in law.” Arianna’s mouth dropped, she turned slowly back to the tree house.
“Where is your sister?” she asked softly, apparently deciding not to press the issue.
“You met Natasha, briefly. She did not leave the palace when Ashby was placed here.”
“Not even for her husband?”
Braith slipped his hand into Arianna’s, pulling her closer to him. “Not all relationships are like this Arianna, not everyone chooses who they want to be with. Natasha and Ashby were forced together by their families. Natasha is spoiled, rich, and well accustomed to the lap of luxury. Even if she had come to care for Ashby in their time together, she would never leave that behind for him. She wouldn’t leave it behind for anyone.”
Her mouth was slightly parted, her eyes brimmed with tears. “You left it for me.”
He nodded, stroking her cheek briefly. “I’d do anything for you.” A single tear slipped free. He brushed it gently away before bending to kiss her softly.
“Why was Ashby put here?” she asked softly.
Braith turned slowly back to the tree house, and its ramshackle buildings. “During the war with the humans Ashby’s family took the side of the humans. As punishment they were all slaughtered, but Ashby was sent to live in exile here, where he was to stay alone, and starving. Though it appears he has decided to add even more buildings to the original structure.”
“Why was he kept alive?”
“My father felt that this would be a better punishment for him. No luxury, no ready human blood, and no women. Ashby was well known for his love of women and blood. All people, and vampires within the area, were ordered to stay away. There used to be guards here, but they seem to have disappeared, or perhaps Ashby is not as weak and deprived as my father had intended. At one time the guards had reported that he was so famished and decimated that he was no longer capable of movement.” Fear flashed over Arianna’s face, she glanced sharply back at the buildings. “I won’t let him anywhere near you Arianna.”