Read Refugee (The Captive Series Book 3) for Free Online

contents of her stomach all over
the floor. William looked like he was about to cry, his hand on her
back had begun to shake, and she had never seen a look of such
abject terror on his face. Not even when their mother had been
killed. Then, they’d had no time to react, and had been too shocked
and horrified to show any real emotion. Now he’d had plenty of time
to sit here and agonize about what had happened, and what might
become of her.
    “I’m fine William, really.” She
squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him with her strength, but it
seemed weak even to her. “Just a little disoriented. But that’s
better than the alternative.”
    She’d hoped to elicit a chuckle from
him, he only stared stone faced back at her. “The
blood…”
    “He’s given it to me before when I was
wounded. It won’t hurt me.”
    His gaze darted behind her again as he
leaned closer. “But won’t it, you know...”
    Aria frowned at him. She started to
shake her head but realized the motion would only bring on another
bout of nausea. She forced herself to remain still as she swallowed
heavily. “No. I don’t know. I’m not entirely sure how that all
works.”
    “You’ve never discussed it?”
    She lifted her hand slowly; trembling
as she wiped a strand of hair back from her face. “Not that
part.”
    “Huh, I had assumed that you had.”
William sat back on his heels; his eyes inquisitive as he studied
her.
    “William?” she asked
worriedly.
    “He really does love you.”
    Aria started in surprise. “Did you
think he didn’t?”
    He shrugged; his fingers tapping
against the floor alerted Aria to the fact that it was not solid
wood beneath her, but worn carpet. The carpet was beneath her too,
but she couldn’t feel it as her fingers were somewhat numb at the
moment. It was an unsettling feeling not to have the full sensation
of touch. She hoped the numbness went away soon. “I don’t know what
to think,” William admitted. “I’d like to believe it, but it’s all
really strange Aria.”
    She wasn’t going to argue with that.
“But seeing him today, the way he was with you, I don’t doubt it
anymore. All I can do is wonder why?” Aria glared at him, but she
couldn’t hold up the pretense of being mad at him as he finally
managed a smile for her. “You had me worried kid.”
    “You’re all of an hour older than
me.”
    “But it was a glorious hour of
solitude,” he quipped.
    “Jerk.”
    “Brat.”
    She awkwardly embraced him with her
injured arms. “Where is Braith?”
    William exhaled noisily as he pulled
back. “They had to...” His gaze traveled to her wrapped arms. “Go
outside.”
    Aria nodded slowly, sorrow and regret
twisted her insides. “This is difficult for them.”
    “It’s difficult for all of
us.”
    She tilted her head, her heart picked
up as her body instinctively began to react. “Help me
up.”
    “Aria…”
    “He’s coming William, I can’t be
sitting down.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “I just do, please William.”
    He was about to argue further but
decided against it as he slid his arms under her and gently lifted
her up. He was steadying her when Braith appeared in the doorway. A
muscle twitched in his cheek, his shoulders were rigid, but those
hated glasses were in place so she was unable to see his eyes,
unable to get a read on what he was really thinking, what he
intended.
    “It’s ok William,” she told him,
sensing that her brother was hesitant to leave them alone as Braith
seemed unstable.
    William stood uncertainly before
nodding slowly and leaving them. Braith’s broad shoulders almost
filled the entire doorframe as he watched her in silence. Aria
swallowed nervously, shifting slightly as she tried to gather what
little strength she had left.
    “You’re not sending me away Braith.”
The silence was killing her. Braith was not the strong, silent
type. When he was angry or when he was upset or frustrated, he
didn’t hide it, especially not with her.