“Did you enjoy my gift?” Gideon inquired, refusing to acknowledge Ashby’s dig at him. “Was she to your liking?”
“She was fine,” Ashby answered absently. “How did you know where we were?”
Gideon grinned at him, his fingers bounced lightly on the desk as he pushed himself off of it. “I have eyes all over these lands; a man in my position must always be alert. So, to what do I owe the honor of the heir apparent and the fallen brother-in-law coming into my humble town?”
“We’ve come to gain your support,” Braith informed him bluntly, knowing that Gideon didn’t do well with subterfuge.
Gideon was thoughtful, his eyes doubtful and questioning as he frowned at Braith. For the first time he didn’t appear even faintly amused or smug. In fact, he seemed almost hopeful. “Support for what?”
“To overthrow the king.”
Gideon released a low curse; his fingers stopped their incessant moving as he leaned forward. “You’re serious.”
“I am.”
Gideon was speechless, he gawked for a moment. Then his jaw snapped closed, his nostrils flared, and his dark eyebrows drew sharply together as his focus became riveted upon Aria. He came out from around the desk, striding forcefully toward her. Braith instinctively stepped in front of her, pulling her back as Gideon reached for her. “Don’t!” Braith snapped slamming his hand into Gideon’s chest and knocking him back a step.
Ashby seized hold of Gideon’s upper arm when Gideon lunged at Aria again. “Are you an idiot?” Ashby demanded.
“Let go of me,” Gideon snarled as he shoved Ashby’s hands away.
Braith widened his stance, bracing himself for Gideon as the vampire spun back on them. He was prepared to kill the man they had come to seek help from. Gideon’s eyes were fevered as they raked Braith from head to toe. Aria’s head popped out from around him, the hood had fallen back from her face to reveal her cascade of auburn hair and the paleness of her features.
Braith was afraid to take his focus off of Gideon for even a moment to pull her hood back up. “You can see,” Gideon said in amazement. Braith remained silent, he wasn’t going to respond to him, wasn’t going to relax until Gideon moved away from them. “And it’s because of her.”
“Gideon,” Ashby cautioned.
“You did not feed from my gift.”
“We are not here to discuss this,” Braith informed him.
“Have you lost your mind!?” Gideon exploded. “She’s a human Braith.”
“We are not here to discuss this!” Braith roared trying to control his rising temper as Gideon focused on Aria again. “This topic is off limits, for now,” he amended, knowing that it would have to be addressed one day, but not today.
Gideon stalked back to his desk. “I should just have you all killed now,” he muttered. “Save myself the aggravation.”
Fury boiled through Braith at the mere thought that Gideon might do something to one of them, to her. It took everything he had not to leap over the desk and beat Gideon into a bloody pulp, but beating him senseless, or just flat out killing him, wouldn’t do any of them any good.
“If you think you could,” Braith grated.
Gideon glared at him. “You’re in my world now Braith, I rule here!”
“And just what do you rule?” Braith demanded. “Some brothels and bars, farms, a trade ring, a smuggling business? You rule nothing Gideon. This is a poor substitute for the life you used to have and you know it. With your help Gideon, we may be able to get that life back for you. But don’t think I won’t destroy you if you try to harm one of us. You don’t have to help us, but you will not threaten us.”
Gideon turned slowly back toward Braith, but it was not Braith he focused on. His fascination with Aria was pushing Braith closer and closer to a deadly precipice. “What is it that you require?”
“You must still have friends; you must have stayed in contact with the other collaborators that were against my father.”
Gideon grunted in displeasure and slid into the chair behind his desk. “I may still have contacts, but what exactly is your plan here Braith? What do you propose?”
“To take control from my father.”
Surprise flickered briefly over his features. “And you are going to lead? You are going to be the man that rights the wrongs?” Gideon’s tone was sarcastic, almost hostile as his gaze focused on Aria again.
Braith pressed Aria against the wall, pinning her against his side. Her displeasure was obvious as she tried to push away but he was not going to let her out. “It doesn’t have to be me.”
Gideon motioned to someone behind them. Aria inhaled sharply as a servant girl hurried passed them wearing almost no clothing. Bite marks marred her neck, but she didn’t seem overly used as she flashed a smile at Braith and Ashby before bending to pour a glass of liquor for Gideon. 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. Aria shot the girl a dark look that would have amused Braith at any other time. Right now though, he was too hungry and 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.