“I’ll teach you,” she vowed.
“You already have.” Tears spilled down her cheeks as he lifted her face and kissed her tenderly. She embraced him, reluctant to have the moment end, but knowing that it must. It was time to return to reality. “We have to go downstairs.”
“I know.”
He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks before taking hold of her hand, and following the sounds of voices back to Gideon’s study. Ashby looked up from his place by the window where he had been staring outside, a drink in his hand as he spoke quietly with Gideon. He grew silent the minute they entered the room. Gideon was sitting behind the desk, his feet propped on top and his hands folded on his stomach.
“Where’s my brother?” Aria demanded.
“Relax Aria, he’s fine,” Ashby assured her.
“Where is he Ashby?”
“Dara took him on a tour of the town.”
A cold chill crept down her spine, she nearly sputtered in disbelief. “You let him go alone?”
“There’s no need to fear anything here, your brother is safe.”
Gideon’s smug tone irritated her as she turned her glare on him. “I don’t fear anything,” she retorted sharply.
Gideon quirked an eyebrow as Braith shook his head. “She’s a feisty one.”
“She is,” Ashby agreed. Though Ashby was smiling, and Gideon seemed somewhat amused, they were both studying her with an intensity that was a little unnerving. “I wouldn’t let him go anywhere if I thought he was at risk, I promise. Besides, he’s with a human.”
Aria refrained from saying that didn’t mean much, especially not in a vamp ruled world. She didn’t think William should be wandering around alone; she tried to control her panic at the mere thought of it. “I’d like to find him,” she said softly.
“Of course,” Gideon purred. “I can have someone take you to him. We have some things to discuss anyway, don’t we Braith?”
Braith shook his head. “Aria will be here for that discussion. We’ll find her brother first.”
Gideon contemplated this before he dropped his feet down and rose with an easy grace. “Why not?” he asked nonchalantly. “I’d like to show you around anyway. I think there is much you’d like to see here.”
A small chill of apprehension raced down her spine, she wasn’t sure she cared to see much of what this town had to offer, but her need to find William outweighed her trepidation. Gideon handed Braith a cloak, this one the same deep blue color as her dress. “It gets cold at night around here,” Gideon explained as she studied it. “The color doesn’t denote any certain position. Not in these lands.”
She nodded slowly and slipped it around her shoulders. Braith tied it for her and pulled the hood up. She was grateful the cloak hid the fresh bandages on her arms, and even more grateful for its warmth as they stepped outside. After the intense heat of the past week, the sudden chill was shocking to her burnt skin. Goosebumps instantly broke out on her flesh, her teeth chattered as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“The water in the area causes the nights to be colder here,” Gideon explained.
Braith slid his arm around her waist, pulling her firmly against his side in an attempt to offer her some warmth. It did little good as the icy air licked at her. “Moving will help,” he told her, seemingly unfazed by the sudden chill.
They made their way through the cobbled streets of the loud and boisterous town. People and vampires littered the crowded streets. They passed by bars and a theatre, and a dimly lit brothel that caused Aria to blush as one of the women called out to them.
Then they were moving out of what seemed to be the party area of the town, and into an area of subdued streets and dimly lit homes. Though the houses were small, they were all in well repair, and it seemed as if the owners took pride in them. She had been unnerved by the seedier parts of the town, but she was surprisingly charmed and a little fascinated by this area. Did humans and vampires actually live side by side in these homes?
“Let’s rest here for a bit.” Aria frowned at the building Gideon had stopped in front of. Large windows in the front revealed the people sitting inside talking as they ate in a cozy, candlelit ambiance she found intriguing. Gideon held the door open, allowing the gentle aroma of food to waft out as he waited expectantly for them to follow him.
Braith kindly nudged her forward into the entrance of the building. People glanced up at them, momentarily riveted as Gideon led them easily through the crowd of tables. Aria’s stomach rumbled far more loudly than she would have liked. Gideon spoke softly with a woman. Aria found it impossible to decide if the woman was human or vampire as she flashed him a smile and nodded.
“This way.” They followed the woman through the room to a booth hidden within the dark shadows at the back.
“We should find William first,” Aria said, trying to ignore the increasing rumble of her stomach as she studied the plate of crackers already on the table.
“Relax young human,” Gideon chided. “I can hear your stomach rumbling from a mile away. Besides, if we are going to fight a war together than at least some level of trust should be formed, don’t you think?”
There did have to be trust and her hunger was making her lightheaded, but she was worried about William.
“I’ll find him Aria, sit and eat,” Ashby assured her.
Relief and gratitude filled her as she nodded. “Thank you Ashby.”
He grinned at her before disappearing into the crowd. Aria slid into the booth, she almost grabbed the plate of crackers and pulled it over to her, but managed to restrain herself from acting like a complete ruffian as she eagerly ate one.