The Captive Series 1-5 Page 7

  Aria took pleasure in his smile and interjected at times with the few words she knew. She found herself smiling at him as he taught her to read with an endless patience she was troubled to realize she found endearing.

  Chapter Seven

  Braith observed Arianna as she sat on the window seat. Her long legs were curled up beneath her; her dark hair was aglow in the daylight filtering through the windows. Though the book was in her lap, she wasn’t looking at it. Instead, her hands were pressed against the glass, her nose nearly touching the pane as she stared outside.

  It was only then he realized what these past two weeks must have been like for her. She was used to being free, running wild, and being outdoors. This was probably the most time she’d ever spent indoors, perhaps the most time she’d ever spent with a roof over her head and a steady supply of food on her plate.

  Food, which he was pleased to notice, that was already putting weight on her. The weight had rounded out her pointed edges; her collarbone didn’t stick out as much, her ribs and spine weren’t as visible beneath the dresses she wore. Her face had filled out, and her cheekbones weren’t so sharp anymore.

  She appeared more youthful now; something he wasn’t sure was a good thing. Innocence radiated from her, but when she was thinner, she’d looked worldlier and slightly harsher. He found it easier to be indifferent to her then, but not so much now, especially when she stared out the window with that look on her face.

  He moved slowly toward her and touched her shoulder lightly. She tensed briefly, but didn’t jump away, recoil, or stiffen as she had when she first arrived here. Her doe eyes were brilliantly blue as she stared at him.

  He found it difficult to believe he hadn’t seen her as beautiful when she first arrived. Yes, she’d been bedraggled, defiant, smelly, and far too thin, but her spirit had been there. Her splendid inner glow always resided within her, and it was one of the most exquisite things he’d ever encountered. He was too astonished by the sight of her to have noticed it. He couldn’t help but see it now, just as he couldn’t help but see her desire to be free.

  “Would you like to go for a walk in the gardens?” he asked.

  Hope sprang forth in her eyes, her mouth parted as joy radiated from her. It was such a small thing he offered her, and yet she reacted as if he handed her the world.

  “Can I?” she inquired eagerly.

  He nodded as his gaze darted to the brightly colored world beyond the window. It had been a while since he enjoyed a walk in the gardens himself, he found he looked forward to it.

  “Yes, I’ll take you.”

  She jumped to her feet, and her full lips curved into a grin that bewildered him. She rarely smiled, and when she did, it was never as lovely as this.

  “That would be great!” she gushed.

  He tried to gather his scattered thoughts as she beamed at him. “Come along then.”

  Keegan rose and yawned as he roused from his nap. Braith rested his hand on the wolf’s head and reassuringly rubbed his fur. Arianna nearly skipped as she hurried forward. She wouldn’t remain so happy for long, of that he was confident; unfortunately, it couldn’t be prevented.

  Walking over to a closet beside the door, he reached in and removed the chain from inside. “Arianna, you must wear this.”

  Her head tilted to the side as he lifted the thin chain before her. It hung between them, dangling to the ground in a four-foot long pool of gold. She frowned at it, unable to understand what it was he held.

  “All blood slaves must wear them in public,” he explained, hating the words as he uttered them.

  “What is it?”

  He didn’t like doing this to her; he despised the idea of binding such a free spirit. But it was the rules, and the rules must be obeyed, especially between them. There were already rumors about the two of them drifting through the palace. Whispers about the first blood slave he’d ever kept, gossip about what went on between them, and why he decided to save her, of all people.

  It was gossip he didn’t plan to answer, but he couldn’t allow it to grow more by allowing her to leave this room without wearing the chain. Any hint of caring between a master and their blood slave was strictly forbidden as was any caring between a vampire and a human.

  If they suspected he might be developing feelings for Arianna, they would take her from him, and they would kill her. His role as prince wouldn’t stop them.

  He couldn’t let that happen. He may not care for her, but he also didn’t plan to see her destroyed in the brutal way they would do it. It wasn’t fair to her, and he wasn’t willing to let the light she brought to his life go. Not yet anyway, not until he knew what it all meant.

  “It’s a leash, to keep you bound to me,” he explained.

  Her brow furrowed as she gave a confused shake of her head. “I don’t understand. Leashes are for...”

  Her gaze darted to Keegan; understanding filled her eyes before they narrowed. Keegan didn’t wear a leash.

  “I see,” she grated.

  “If you are to go out in public you must wear this; it is our custom.”

  “I’ve heard rumors of the blood chain,” she muttered. “But I thought they were just that, rumors.”

  If her jaw clenched any tighter, he was certain she would crack her teeth. Her hands fisted at her sides. She radiated rage, but beneath it, he could sense her unhappiness and feelings of betrayal.

  She turned toward the window, and her shoulders slumped. He hated the crushing sense of defeat he detected, but even if she couldn’t see it, this was best for both of them.

  “Okay.” Her voice hitched, but her need to go outside outweighed her pride. “I’ll wear it.”

  He wasn’t going to remind her she didn’t have a choice; she looked defeated enough. She eyed the gold chain as if it were a poisonous snake she was considering decapitating. They were meant to be worn around the neck, or the wrist, depending on what the owner preferred, but he couldn’t add to her degradation by placing it around her neck.

  He took her hand, slipped it around her wrist and tightened it tenderly. He was the only one who could remove it now that he’d placed it on her. The one who owned and controlled her; everyone would know she belonged to him. He wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about that, he didn’t like owning her. He did, however, like everyone knowing she belonged to him, and they couldn’t touch her. Ever.

  She lifted her head and met his gaze. Her upset air vanished as she tilted her chin higher. She may be humiliated, and under his control, but she wasn’t going to allow herself to be beaten down.

  For the first time, he admitted to himself that he admired this wisp of a human. He’d never thought much of their species (they were beneath him after all), never even given them more than a moment’s thought, except for when it came to food and pleasure.

  But this girl made him question his opinions of the human race and made him wonder if perhaps they were worth a little more. Or at the very least, maybe she was.

  Holding her hand, he disliked the feel of the chain against her supple skin. For a second, he almost pulled it off her, but the consequences of such an action would be dire.

  “Okay then,” he murmured regretfully.

  He held the chain as he grabbed his cane. Arianna followed him out the door and slowed as she gazed around the hallway. There wasn’t as much awe on her face this time, and he sensed a calculating air behind her troubled eyes.

  He glanced at her chest, wondering if today might be the day she tried to use the weapon she had stashed there. The leash might have been the straw to break her back.

  He had nothing to be concerned about with the stake. She would have no success if she tried to use it against him. He probably should take it from her, but he was curious to see if she would try something against him. Also, it seemed to comfort her as she hadn’t been as jumpy since she acquired it.

  He found himself hoping she would grow to trust him enough not to try to attack him. He didn’t relish the idea of po
ssibly having to kill her.

  The cunning look in her eyes reminded him that no matter how entranced he was by her, she was a rebel. Someone who would take any chance they had to escape if the opportunity were to present itself. He couldn’t allow that to happen.

  He took her down the back stairs, unwilling to risk running into his relatives again. Two of his bodyguards trailed them; their surprise was evident when they saw Arianna emerge, looking far different than when she went in.

  He led her down another hallway before arriving at the doors leading out to the gardens. Keegan stopped at the doors before Braith did; he rubbed briefly against his master’s legs before sitting. Braith patted his head, thanking his friend for aiding him, even if it wasn’t necessary right now. Something Braith was almost sure the wolf was aware of, just as he was aware of his master’s desire to keep it hidden.

  “Leave us,” he ordered the guards.

  The men stepped back into the hallway as Braith pushed the doors open. Keegan sprang forth, eager to be outside. Amazement filtered over Aria’s features as she gazed over the gardens they entered.

  “It’s even more beautiful down here,” she breathed.

  Braith glanced over the gardens. He’d once found them mildly attractive, but that was a long time ago. He enjoyed them far more seeing them through her eyes.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she murmured.

  She moved with subtle grace down the colorful rows of flowers, hedges, and statues.

  “You don’t have flowers in the woods?” he inquired, hoping to draw her into a conversation about her home as she rarely said anything about it, and seemed almost fearful whenever it was mentioned.

  “Oh, of course, we have flowers,” she replied, her face aglow with the admiration suffusing her. Love radiated from her at the mention of her home, and her eyes sparkled in the light. “But nothing such as these.” Her hands trailed over the yellow roses before she bent low to inhale their scent. “Beautiful.”

  “They’re roses.”

  “Roses,” she repeated, running her fingers nimbly over the petals. “I love them.”

  He released the gold chain; he didn’t think she was aware of her freedom as she roamed through the garden. In fact, she was so oblivious to it; he feared she might trip over it as she walked toward the lilacs.

  He found this woman captivating and utterly unique in this colorful world of flowers, shrubs, and garden statues. She breathed in the lilacs next. Her nose scrunched as she stepped hastily back, shook her head, and wiped her nose.

  “Lilacs,” he informed her.

  “Hmm.”

  She eyed them before strolling away, apparently not at all pleased by their aroma. He named each flower for her as they continued their tour of the garden. Though she hadn’t liked the lilacs, it didn’t stop her from pausing to sniff every other flower along the way. Most of them passed her inspection; some did not.

  She froze when they made it to the greenhouse area within the gardens. Her eyes widened as another gasp of pleasure escaped her.

  “Oh,” she breathed, her hands flying to her mouth in delight. “Oh, it’s wonderful.”

  Braith studied the large, ornate fountain. It had been years since he’d seen it, but he never fully appreciated the beauty of the delicate sculpture until seeing it now. The water flowing from it changed colors in the sunlight beating down on the man and woman staring longingly at each other but never touching.

  Arianna’s steps were hesitant as she approached the fountain. She reached out to touch the ornate basin with trembling fingertips. The tears in her eyes didn’t surprise him; he knew it occurred whenever something awed her. It happened when they were reading together, and the story moved her. He didn’t think she was aware of the tears most of the time.

  A beautiful smile lit her face as she peered into the fountain; she laughed when she spotted the fish swimming in the shallow pool. It was the first time he’d heard her laugh, and he had to admit it was a beautiful, refreshing sound. One he enjoyed.

  She sat on the edge of the fountain and held her hair back as she watched the fish darting around. Her fingers trailed over the water as she traced their movements. He moved closer to her, picked the leash up and placed it on the fountain beside her.

  He didn’t think she would try to escape, but if she did, she wouldn’t be able to get far with the chain on her wrist. The chain was designed for him and him alone, and he would always be able to find it. No matter how far she got.

  “They’re beautiful,” she said.

  He peered into the clear water, momentarily admiring the brilliant colors of the dozens of fish before turning his attention back to her. He found her much more interesting to watch. When she released it, her hair fell about her in dark red waves that glimmered in the sun’s rays flowing through the fruit trees surrounding them.

  Keegan lifted his head from his paws; his ears perked up as he watched her stand and stroll away from the fountain. She stopped suddenly, tilting her head back and closing her eyes as she absorbed the rays of the sun.

  To Braith’s utter surprise, and delight, she threw her arms out and laughed as she twirled around in circles, basking in the sunshine.

  He couldn’t tear his eyes from her; it took everything he had not to grab her and kiss her. He craved so badly to know what that luscious mouth would taste like, what her body would feel like against his, but he wouldn’t interrupt this moment for her with his selfish wants.

  If he touched her, her joy would vanish. For the first time, he understood the fountain statues and the yearning on their faces. He was starting to realize that to always look, but never be able to touch, was a particular kind of torment.

  What kind of hell had he gotten himself into with her?

  Aria stood uncertainly in the doorway, uncertain as to whether she should enter the sitting room or not. The prince was in there having a quiet conversation with another man; their dark heads bent close together.

  She should probably retreat to her room and stay away until this stranger left, but she was curious about this other man. She was also lonely, and her choices were severely limited when it came to company.

  Plus, she almost enjoyed the prince’s company now, or at least being around him had been fairly pleasant earlier today.

  However, she didn’t feel like now was the right time to make her presence known. She stepped back, intending to retreat into the shadows when Keegan spotted her and padded over to greet her.

  Their attention was drawn to her by the wolf. The prince rose to his feet instantly; his hand seized his cane as he turned toward her. The other man remained seated for a moment, shock evident on his features. Then, he leisurely rose also.

  “I’m sorry,” Aria apologized.

  No matter how well the prince treated her, she was a blood slave; she should know her place, and that was not to interrupt him when he was in the middle of what appeared to be an important conversation. The prince’s mouth compressed into a disapproving line; his knuckles turned white on his cane.

  “I didn’t mean to... I’m sorry,” she stammered as she started to retreat.

  Instinctively, she knew she’d done something wrong, that her safe position within this household had just been shaken.

  “Wait.”

  It wasn’t the prince who spoke, but she froze anyway, her heart raced as the strange vampire studied her keenly. She almost looked to the prince for help, for some sign of reassurance, but she didn’t dare let this stranger think she may trust, or like, the prince. No, this was the time to play the role of docile and beaten.

  “Come here,” the stranger commanded.

  Aria’s pride pricked, anger shot through her, but she managed to keep her face impassive as she played the role of meek human to the best of her ability. The prince bristled and moved forward; he placed his cane before him as he folded his hands on the handle.

  Unsure of the situation she’d placed herself in, Aria hesitated, but she couldn’t r
efuse. Her owner may be a prince, but under blood slave rules she wasn’t allowed to disobey any vampire unless they asked things of her only her owner was allowed to take. Such as her blood or her body, and neither of those things was being asked for now.

  Swallowing heavily, she clasped her hands before her and strode forward. Though she was often defiant, confident, and bold with the prince, she instinctively sensed those three things had no place here. She kept her eyes downcast, knowing not to look the visitor in the eye as she stopped before them.

  The stranger approached her, circling her like she’d seen the packs of wild dogs in the woods circle their prey before attacking. She hoped for strength and patience to help her get through this humiliating, experience. She had to hold her tongue if she was to remain safe.

  She chanced a glance at the prince, but he remained mute as he leaned back on his heels. Though he appeared casual, she could see the tension in his shoulders and the tautness of his solid muscles. She didn’t know what was going on here, but she sensed it was more than met the eye.

  “Not bad brother, not bad.”

  Aria couldn’t stop her head from snapping up as the stranger stopped before her. His hair was the same dark color as the prince’s, his features similar, though his nose was somewhat larger and sharper, and his lips thinner. His eyes, unhindered by dark shades, were a deep forest green, and surprisingly beautiful. He was shorter than the prince too, but his shoulders were broader as he stepped closer to her.

  Aria had no choice but to move back as he used his height and size to maneuver her. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he pressed closer to her, causing her to retreat another step.

  Resentment shot through her, she longed to pull her stake out and drive it straight into his heart. She itched to kill this thing, but revealing her stake now would only earn her certain death. This was not the time to be reckless, not the time to be foolish. If she was ever going to get a chance to escape, she couldn’t blow it by losing her temper now.