“Well imagine that,” Ashby said darkly.
Melinda’s smile faded, she reached out to stroke Ashby’s face. “Did he hurt you?”
Ashby shrugged, but there was nothing carefree about his demeanor now. “Just my pride. You going to untie me?”
Melinda planted her hands on her hips as she surveyed him with interest. “I think I might like you this way.”
“You would.”
Though Aria was lost in dismay, she could feel the heat creeping rapidly up her face as their conversation and looks turned sexual. “Don’t,” Braith warned when Melinda reached for the ropes restraining Ashby.
“Braith,” Melinda said plaintively, her demeanor changing rapidly as pure despair blazed from her.
“Do not untie him Melinda,” Braith replied forcefully.
“He won’t hurt her.”
“No, apparently you were always the true traitor amongst us. If you make one more move to untie him, believe me it won’t be Arianna that will have to worry about getting hurt.”
Ashby straightened, his eyes flashed briefly red as his lips curled in a snarl at the threat. He did not lunge against the ropes, did not make a move though as he eyed Braith for the first time with anger. Melinda touched Ashby’s arm briefly before folding her hands before her. Though she appeared demure, Arianna knew that it was only an act. She had often used the same conduct in the palace when she was trying to appear far more docile than she was. It hadn’t fooled Braith then, it would not fool him now.
“You don’t understand,” Melinda said softly.
“That you and Ashby conspired to overthrow father, and blinded me in the process. Yes Melinda, I realize that now, and I do understand it. Even if I don’t understand the motive behind it.”
For the first time Melinda looked truly desperate and frightened as she glanced anxiously at Arianna. “If it was her…”
“You don’t know her!” Braith snarled.
Melinda tilted her chin up, her jaw clenched tight as her eyes narrowed in fury. “You are right I don’t know her, but I do know that if she was in danger then you would do whatever it took to save her.”
“Neither of you were ever in danger inside the palace.”
Melinda glanced longingly at Ashby; her heart was in her eyes as she gazed at him. “I was married to Natasha, Braith,” Ashby said softly. “We were in danger.”
“So you were having an affair and feared for your lives?” Braith’s body was fairly vibrating with the anger rattling through him. Aria wanted to soothe him, wanted to ease his betrayal and hurt, but she didn’t think there was much she could do in this situation. If it was her, and William or Daniel had betrayed her in such a way, she didn’t think she would ever be able to get over that.
“No, there was no affair. From the moment that we met, there was no longer a Natasha. There was no longer any other woman. It was just us, and if anyone else had known that, if your family had known that, they would have done everything they could to destroy what was between us.”
Braith appeared doubtful as he raked them both with scathing glances. Melinda’s eyes were fervent, desperate as she looked briefly at Aria before focusing her full attention on her brother once more. “Do you really think you could have married Lilith?” she whispered forlornly. “And even if you did manage to force yourself to marry her, do you think you could have lain with her, exchanged blood with her?” Aria hadn’t known who Lilith was until that description. At those words her stomach twisted, and Braith looked nearly as repulsed as she felt.
“I didn’t think so. If you could, then you would still be in the palace, still be preparing for your wedding. In fact, I’ve noticed that for the past week you didn’t return to your parade of blood slaves, and women. I didn’t put two and two together until you disappeared into the forest. But then, how was I to know that you had found your escaped little blood slave again, and that you were once again using her to nourish you?”
“I’m not a blood slave!” Aria retorted sharply, growing highly annoyed by the fact that she was still thought of as piece of property.
Melinda raised a haughty eyebrow at her, but there was a gleam of admiration in her eyes. “She’s a feisty one,” Ashby said softly.
Melinda managed a wan smile as she folded her arms over her chest. “I see that.”
“I don’t use her,” Braith grated.
“You feed from her, do you not?”
“That is not using her,” he snarled.
Melinda rolled her eyes; she tapped her foot impatiently on the ground. “I understand that she is willing, or I assume she is.”
“Of course I am,” Aria told her.
“Why?”
“Excuse me?” Aria asked in surprise, startled by the question.
“Why are you willing? You are a human; you are a rebel, why would you give yourself to my brother like that? Why did you give yourself over to what I am certain you considered your greatest enemy when you brought into that palace?”
Aria looked up at Braith, captivated by his masculine beauty, and the tender soul that he only revealed to her. She thought of him on his knees before her, humbled by her, his heart and soul bared for her to take, or to turn away. She thought of all of his gentleness, the care and protection he had always offered to her, even when he had owned her. He was wonderful, he was everything, and he was hers.
“Because I love him,” she whispered. “I always will.”
“How sweet,” the girl vampire drawled, drawing fierce looks from everyone else in the room. She glowered at them but remained wisely silent.
Melinda was silent, her grey eyes as cold as steel. “Can you believe it?” Ashby inquired softly.
“No,” Melinda responded.
“I don’t care what you believe! It’s the truth!” Arianna snapped at her.
Melinda’s mouth twisted into a smile, Ashby chuckled annoyingly. Aria took a frustrated step forward, but Braith pushed her swiftly back. “Stay back,” he growled in warning.
“I believe you love him, I truly do,” Melinda soothed. “I just can’t believe that it has happened to Braith, of all vampires. Mr. Duty, Mr. Responsibility, Mr. Walk A Straight Line has succumbed to the darkest side of himself.”
“Like hell,” Braith grated. Aria was surprised to realize that his fangs had extended. His anger and frustration was rapidly unraveling the firm control, and restraint he exhibited over himself around others.