Braith squeezed Aria’s hand before releasing her. “She has to have her arms wrapped back up.”
William stared at him for a long moment, his eyebrows furrowed questioningly before he nodded. William glanced at her arms, shaking his head as he pulled the remains of her ruined cloak from the bag on the floor. “Leave it to you sis to nearly get killed by one vamp and make out with another.” Braith shot him a lethal glare as Aria felt her face flare red again. She remained silent though as William tore pieces of cloth with his teeth and hands. “We should find something to clean it with.”
“It won’t get infected,” Ashby assured him as he moved slowly past them.
“And how do you know that?” William demanded.
“Infections don’t live in us.”
William and Aria studied him. “You don’t get sick?” Ashby shook his head in response to William. “Ever?”
“No.”
Aria stood in stunned amazement, lost in thoughts of the rebellion she’d been a part of since birth. “We never had a chance did we?” she asked.
Braith finally turned toward her but he didn’t respond. He didn’t need to, she already knew the answer. William had become still, his fingers were wrapped around the scraps of cloth in his hands as he looked slowly between the two of them. “Aria isn’t one of you though.”
“No, but Braith’s blood has already accelerated the healing process; it will boost her immune system also. The cuts will not get infected.”
She met her brother’s worried gaze for a moment before he finally turned his attention back to ripping the pieces of cloth. He bandaged her arms with fingers that quivered against her skin. She knew how he felt. She was just as rattled by the realization that not only were the vampires faster, stronger, and possessed enhanced senses, but they apparently had never even had one freaking sniffle in their lengthy life spans.
William tied the last knot, squeezed her hand and then stood. Aria was drawn to the doorway, curious about the new arrival as she picked up her bow and arrows. “Is it human?” she inquired.
“It is,” Braith confirmed.
The figure had gotten close enough for Aria to realize that it was a woman. She appeared to be about five years older than Aria with long brown hair that flowed around her shoulders. She wore a dress that hugged her curves and swayed about her feet as she moved. The woman was beautiful as she flashed a bright, disarming smile. Braith was wooden beside her, his hands clenched upon the doorframe as he studied the woman with a flare of his nostrils that caused a knot of apprehension to form in Aria’s stomach.
Here was the food source they’d been lacking.
Aria thought she might be sick as Ashby stepped beside her, practically salivating. Aria remained unmoving, struggling to breathe normally as her heart lumbered. They wouldn’t force this woman to provide blood, or at least Aria didn’t think they would, but she wasn’t entirely certain just how much the depravation of blood may have affected them.
If this woman was willing, then she knew they would have to use her as a food source. They were both hungry and therefore unpredictable and extremely treacherous.
“Gideon sent me.”
Braith’s need for blood seemed to vanish the moment he heard the name.
CHAPTER 4
“What did Gideon send you for?” Braith grated from between clenched teeth.
The woman’s smile widened, she provocatively stuck a hip out as she grinned at them. “What do you think?” she taunted as she pushed her hair back to reveal her slender, unmarked neck. “I was instructed to provide you with anything you might require, and then bring you to him afterward.”
She ignored Aria with an ease that was astounding, and infuriating, as her gaze wandered lustfully between Braith and Ashby. “You can take us to him now.”
The woman was taken aback, her eyes finally focused on Aria for a brief moment before she shook her head, obviously finding nothing remarkable in her. Aria was half tempted to hit her. “Braith,” Ashby hissed.
“If you’d like to feed from her go ahead.” Braith’s words were clipped and harsh. His body vibrated with tension. Ashby was staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Do what you must, but do it quickly. I plan to leave before nightfall.”
Braith turned away, leaving them staring questioningly at his retreating back as he moved deeper into the dwelling. Aria remained unmoving, dismayed by what had just happened. “Aria.” She couldn’t turn her head to look at Ashby, couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze as she stared at the doorway Braith had disappeared through. “Aria you have to talk to him.”
Finally she was able to look away long enough to meet Ashby’s fevered gaze. “He needs to feed Aria, he’s weakening and he’s becoming more unbalanced. Giving you his blood drained him further. He needs this Aria.”
She managed a small nod as she slowly closed her mouth. “He has to understand that you can’t be his only human supply, it’s not possible.” He was right, she knew he was right, but it caused a physical ache in her chest to even think about another woman nourishing Braith. “I don’t like to do it either, it’s most certainly not something I enjoy, but I must, and so must Melinda. Maybe if there were more animals around and you hadn’t been wounded it would be different. He’s not going to put up much of a fight if he’s malnourished, he’ll get injured.”
It was those last three words that spurred her forward. She had to go quickly, or she wouldn’t go at all. If she stopped to think about it…well no, she couldn’t think about it. She just had to focus on getting him to feed, getting him strong again and making sure that he didn’t get hurt.