Renegade (Page 15)

She needed to feel him.

Chapter 5

Aria woke slowly, her eyes were heavy and sleep clung to her. It was the first time she had slept without being plagued by nightmares and loss in so long. The first time she did not wake up in pain, the first time she could awaken and actually breathe easily again. Her gaze fell instantly upon Braith; he was standing by the window, staring out at the darkening night. Aria lay for a moment longer, enjoying this wonderful moment of peace, but realization crashed swiftly back over her.

She bolted upright, horror rolling through her as she stared at the night sky. The day was gone. Braith turned toward her, his eyes troubled as he studied her. “My father is going to be so worried, my family; my friends.” Though the words were going to kill her to say, she said them anyway. “I have to go Braith.”

He turned back to the night, before looking at her again. “It is late Arianna.”

“I know, but…”

“Tonight, just tonight.”

Aria stared silently at him, her mouth parted slightly as her heart hammered in excitement. She so badly wanted to stay with him for this night, and for every night after this, but she couldn’t have those nights. She could have this one. Guilt tugged briefly at her as she thought of her family and friends, but it was only one night. It was the only night she would have for the rest of her life.

“Ok,” she said softly.

His mouth curved in a soft smile, his head tilted slightly to the side. “I expected more of an argument.”

She grinned back at him, her fingers playing with the soft cushion of the couch. “I’m not always difficult.”

“Could have fooled me. Come.” He held his hand out to her as he came over to her. She slipped her hand into his, smiling softly at him.

He led her down a darkened hall, flicking on light switches as he moved. The mouth watering scent of food hit her before they even reached the kitchen. Her mouth parted, her eyes widened in surprise as she stepped into the room. Food was set up on the counters, cheeses, breads, fruits, and meats were stacked neatly upon two plates. She glanced around, wondering who had done this, but she saw no one else within the small house. Her gaze fell upon Braith, who was watching her in amusement.

“You did this.”

“I’m not completely helpless,” he replied lightly. She couldn’t help but grin back at him. It was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for her. She didn’t stop to think about what that said of her life, it wasn’t worth it. She was ok with getting by on very little. “Come on, you’re hungry.”

She didn’t ask him how he knew that, her stomach was rumbling loudly, and repeatedly. She settled into a stool at the counter while he heaped food onto her plate. She cocked an eyebrow at him, amused by the amount of food he was piling on for her. “I’m not starving,” she told him.

“You’ve lost weight again,” he replied, sliding the plate before her.

Aria shrugged; there was no help for it in the forest. They didn’t have enough to eat, and they worked endlessly. “Thank you,” she said softly. He slid into the seat across from her, folding his arms before him. Aria studied him for a moment, feeling slightly self conscious as he watched her eat. “What is this place?” she asked softly.

“It belonged to my mother’s family, it was their summer getaway.”

“Really?” Aria glanced over the large, airy kitchen. “It’s very nice. Will they come looking for you here?”

“Jericho and I were the only ones that ever came here, except for some cleaners once every couple of weeks.”

“Why did the two of you come here?”

Braith shrugged as he sat back. “To hunt, to get away. To be alone for awhile.”

“To get away from what?”

He watched her for a moment longer before leaning back in his seat. “From many things,” he replied evasively. “Eat Arianna.”

She picked up a piece of apple and began to chew on it, barely tasting its sweetness in her mouth as she thought over his words. “Will they come looking for you here?”

“No. I doubt my father even remembers where this place is, and Caleb is busy. They won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“What about Jack? Will he come here looking for me?”

Braith tilted his head slightly; confusion filtered through his eyes, then realization dawned. “I forget you call Jericho that.”

Aria smiled at him, leaning slightly toward him. “It’s what we know him as. He certainly isn’t a prince to us.”

He grinned back at her, poking her nose lightly as he settled back in his seat. “I suppose he isn’t. But no, Jericho will not come here. I doubt he will even think about it.”

Aria nodded, relieved to know that they would not be disturbed tonight. She settled in, a large weight lifting off of her as she eagerly dug into the delicious food. They talked softly, exchanging stories. She told him what it was like to grow up within the forest. She told him about her father, whom she loved dearly, and her brothers Daniel and William. She told him of things she had been too frightened to tell him about before, when he had not known that her father was the leader of the rebels. She didn’t know much about her mother, she had been killed when she and William were children. Her father didn’t talk about her very often, it was too painful for him, but when he did talk of her Aria listened intently, eager to learn anything she could about the woman that she had never known.

Though Braith listened intently to her, he did not say much about his life. His mother had also died when he was young, but young to him had been a hundred and seventy five years. He didn’t speak of his father much, and when he did, Aria got the feeling that he didn’t like him, and that they didn’t get along. He barely mentioned Caleb, or his sisters, he spoke a little more of Jericho, and though she caught the underlying tension in his voice, she also caught the only hint of fondness she’d heard toward any of his family when it came to his youngest brother.

She enjoyed listening to him talk, and thought she could do so forever. Even though she knew that was impossible, she decided to pretend that just for tonight, they could have forever. It was wonderful to be his equal for a change, and not his slave. The moon rose high in the sky, and was beginning its downward descent when he stood. “You must be tired.”

She was tired, but she didn’t want to go to sleep. She didn’t want this night to end. She could sleep tomorrow when he was gone, and she was alone again. “I’m ok.”