Ashby was watching her, his forehead furrowed, confusion etched into the handsome lines of his face. Then, his gaze slid slowly over her, raking her from head to toe. The confusion in his bright green eyes was apparent as he turned slowly back to Braith. His eyes were questioning, dark, full of wonder and disbelief. “Where are the guards?” Braith inquired his voice a low growl.
Ashby swallowed, he rubbed his throat again, but he didn’t speak. Braith grabbed hold of his shoulders, slamming him off the wall as he shook him roughly. Ashby staggered slightly but swiftly caught his balance again. His lips curled into a sneer, his fangs extended but he did not come at Braith, he was too smart for that. They both knew that he would not win. Braith was older, stronger, and well sated.
“Where are the guards?” he demanded again.
Ashby straightened his shoulders, fixing his shirt as he straightened away from the wall. He had always been meticulously dressed and groomed. “Dead.” Braith nodded slowly as he glanced around the large room, he had already expected that answer.
His mother’s family had once had the home finely appointed with classical furniture, and works of art. All of those things had been stripped from the house when Ashby had been banished here. Now, though the room was still fairly bare, Braith was not surprised to see that Ashby had managed to find a few nicer things to decorate it with. Ashby had always had fine taste and liked the finer things in life; he would find a way to incorporate them into his home.
“Who speaks with the guards from the palace when they call?”
“I do.”
“So you discovered the code word, and killed them.”
It had not been a question, but Ashby answered anyway. “Yes.”
“When will someone from the palace be getting into contact again?”
“Not until tomorrow morning. They checked in about an hour ago. I won’t tell you the password.” Braith hadn’t suspected that he would. Ashby would stay alive for as long as he was needed. When Ashby’s gaze slid back toward Arianna he stepped in between them. “She’s human.”
“Very astute of you,” Braith growled.
Ashby’s eyes narrowed on Braith. “Why are you here Braith? What the hell are you doing with a human? Why is she not wearing a leash?”
Arianna bristled slightly as she stepped forward. “I am not a blood slave,” she coldly informed Ashby, her jaw clenched tight as she glared at him.
“Arianna.” Braith pushed her slightly back, wanting to keep her as far from Ashby as possible.
Ashby was studying her in surprise and disbelief. Then his gaze drifted down to her shoulder. Her loose shirt had slid slightly down, revealing the marks that marred her porcelain skin. Hunger flashed through his eyes, but something even more flitted across his features. “You’re not a blood slave, and you’re not a palace woman, yet you nurture him?”
Arianna was beginning to grow thoroughly annoyed with Ashby, her hands twitched upon her bow. Braith wouldn’t put it past her to draw an arrow and shoot him just to make herself feel better. He reached out, pulling the collar of her shirt up, stroking her skin for a brief moment before he covered the marks. Her eyes fired with love, her mouth parted slightly.
“How did you know her shirt was down?” Braith turned slowly back to Ashby, a small smile curved his mouth. Ashby’s mouth dropped, his eyes widened. “You can see!” Braith just shrugged in response. “What? How? I don’t understand.” Ashby’s attention turned back to Arianna, he shook his head, causing his dark blond hair to spill across his forehead. He seemed completely mystified by her. “I thought your eyesight was gone for good.”
“Do you have a place where she can lie down?” Braith inquired, unwilling to even begin to ease some of Ashby’s shock and questions.
“I’m not leaving you,” Arianna protested instantly.
“You’re exhausted.”
“I’m fine Braith.”
“Arianna…”
“No, I am not leaving you alone with him!” she retorted fiercely.
“What the hell,” Ashby whispered, his head bouncing rapidly back and forth between them.
“Shut up!” Braith snapped at him. “Arianna…”
“I’m fine Braith, really. I slept on the way here, remember. I don’t want to leave you alone, or be alone right now.” Her response was so honest, so vulnerable that it tugged at his heart. He didn’t want her anywhere near Ashby, but he couldn’t force her away. Especially not now that he realized that beneath her defiant expression and posture, she was terrified.
“Sit down.”
He wasn’t surprised when she didn’t move but simply stood immobile with her hands clenched around the bow. “Jesus,” Ashby said softly. “What the hell is going on Braith? Why are you here? And what the hell is she to you!?”
“That’s not your concern,” Braith informed him. “Who are you expecting?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Ashby replied, trying hard to appear nonchalant and failing miserably.
“You were whistling when you opened the door, you weren’t worried that there may be a threat on the other side. Who are you expecting?”
Ashby tilted his chin to glare at Braith. “You have your secrets and I have mine,” he responded softly.
“I have my secrets but I can, and will, rip your throat out.” Braith pushed him back, keeping him tight to the wall. “I already owe you one Ashby; you think I won’t take great pleasure in drawing your death out.”
Ashby’s turned toward Arianna, his eyebrows drew sharply together. “She doesn’t look too pleased by that notion.”
“I don’t have to watch,” Arianna informed him tautly.
Braith gave her an approving nod before turning his attention back to Ashby. The knock on the door snapped all of their heads around. Ashby opened his mouth to shout a warning, but Braith seized hold of his throat, cutting his cry swiftly off. Before Ashby could react Braith delivered a swift blow that knocked him out, rendering him unconscious. Arianna was gaping at him, her eyes wide with shock. He placed his finger to his lip, directing her to remain silent as he made his way toward the door. He heard the arrow being knocked back against the bow, but he did not look back.
He pulled aside the curtain a little. He could not see who was on the porch, but he was satisfied that it was only one person. He threw the door opened, not at all surprised to see the girl standing outside. She was, however, stunned to see him. Her mouth dropped, her eyes widened, a small cry escaped her as Braith seized hold of her arm and pulled her swiftly into the house.