My pride wounded us both when I left with Jack. She felt the blood drain from her face but somehow managed to keep her chin up as she glared at him. She recoiled at the reminder of all of those things. 'Not just today Aria, but the first time I took your blood, in the woods, the fact that I was previously engaged. She watched him, sensing something more beneath the tension radiating from him. He pushed himself up, launching to his feet as he stalked across the room. 'How are you so accepting of all of this, of me? I hurt you.' His jaw clenched and unclenched as he studied her. 'But you're going to have to use them more when animals aren't readily available.' If you insist on not using other humans as much, fine.' That was just fine and dandy with her also, but she couldn't stand to see him suffering anymore. 'Next time I will be fine too because you are going to start feeding better. Her skin tingled and heated everywhere he touched. Her heart lurched as excitement pulsed through her and her mouth went dry. His fingers brushed nimbly along the top of the towel. 'You can't keep denying yourself, and I'm fine.' 'Wait Arianna, just wait.' His left hand entwined in her hair, she became acutely aware of the fact that she was only wearing a towel as it dropped a little. She went to climb out of the bed but he grabbed hold of her, pulling her back. Of course she had to worry, her brother was stuck in this place and she was curled up sleeping with Braith. 'I took care of it Aria, and William is with Ashby, you don't have to worry.' 'But Gideon is waiting for us and he doesn't seem all that patient.

'We were supposed to only be an hour Braith.'

She stretched and pressed closer to him as she was swamped with the realization that she had been the one to give him what he so desperately needed. Her blood had revitalized him, his body had been nourished.

The strain he had been exhibiting, the nearly mechanical movements he had been going through were gone as he gazed at her. Though his eyes were filled with concern, the lines around his lips and eyes had nearly vanished. The glasses, thankfully, were not in place. She lifted her head slowly, blinking down at him as she found him staring back at her. He was still with her when she woke again feeling more refreshed and a little livelier. She allowed herself to simply drift in the pleasure of that realization and managed to doze off once more. She was momentarily confused, she barely recalled the last time she'd been in a bed, or the last time she had awoken with Braith still beside her. Her fingers curled, she had expected to find the unyielding bite of the ground but instead she felt the solid muscle of Braith's chest, and the yielding give of a mattress. She was drowsy, her muscles felt weak, but the strange sensation of being sated clung to her. It was sometime later before Aria stirred.

Refugee by Erica Stevens