Read When Shadows Call for Free Online Page B
Authors: Amanda Bonilla
shadows?” Azriel countered. “I won’t entertain your questions today. I’m hungry. I want to eat. Now, arise from your perch little bird, and let me feed you.”
I looked down at my torn and tattered dress and ran my fingers through the tangles of my hair. “I must look a fright,” I said. “I’m hardly presentable.”
Azriel went to the closet and presented me with a delicate lace shawl I recognized as one of my own, and motioned to a small vanity in the far corner of the room. “Run a comb through your hair. And let us be on our way.”
I’d been trained by Henry’s fist to be an obedient wife. I’d always thought it better to do as he said and not risk his ire. So as Azriel commanded, I sat at the vanity and began to work the tangles from my hair with a wide brush. I closed my still sleepy eyes as I brushed my hair when I felt a presence at my back. Azriel took the brush from my hand and stroked down the length of my strawberry-blonde curls.
“You have beautiful hair,” he said. “I imagine it would feel like satin against my naked skin.” I stiffened at his bold statement, and his chuckle sent a pleasant ripple across my scalp. “Will you wear it down for me today?” He murmured against the top of my head.
“But, Azriel,” I said. “I don’t have a hat. It wouldn’t be appropriate.” People would be likely to stare if my hair was left loose and curling around my shoulders. Add to that the absence of a hat . . . well . . . proper women just didn’t traipse around in public without at least a hat. Even women of the poorer working classes wore hats.
“No hats,” Azriel said. “I do not care for what humans think is appropriate, or proper, or in good taste. The wide brim of a silly hat would hide your beauty. I want to see your face and your hair shining and unfettered in the noonday sun.”
“Yes,” I whispered as he continued to brush my hair. Anything. I’ll do anything for you .
I nearly fell back to sleep as Azriel passed the brush over my hair again and again. When he set it down on the vanity, the sound barely registered in my ears. “All done,” he said. “Now, be a good girl and cover yourself with that shawl. Going out without a hat is one thing. A torn dress is another. We’ll eat and see the city. And,” he leaned over and planted a light kiss on the top of my head, “we’ll get you a new dress or two.”
I did as he asked and made sure to hide my destroyed dress with the lacy shawl. Azriel offered me his arm and I accepted it gladly. He didn’t make the gesture for anyone’s benefit. His gallantry had nothing to do with keeping up appearances or placating the town gossips. No, his actions were for me and me alone.
He’d won me over with a hairbrush and a proffered arm. And suddenly, forever didn’t seem long enough.
* * *
We walked through the hotel lobby arm in arm. Heads turned as we passed. The smug expression that I’d grown to appreciate returned to Azriel’s face. He enjoyed the attention, reveled in it.
Our breakfast was decadent, the hotel staff more than attentive. I did my best not to ask any questions, but instead allowed Azriel to draw me into simple conversation. Henry had never been interested in my thoughts or feelings on any matter. Azriel listened with genuine interest; he laughed when I said something that amused him, and his eyes gleamed with a heated spark when I said something witty or intelligent. We lingered long after our meal was finished, sipping coffee and talking in hushed tones.
“I’ve never had coffee before,” I said as a waiter refreshed my cup. “It’s delicious.”
“Are you serious?” Azriel asked. A smile spread across his mouth that made my skin tingle and my bones turn soft. “This is the first time you’ve ever had it?”
“Proper ladies drink tea,” I laughed. “Henry insisted that I be the epitome of a proper lady.”
“I take great satisfaction in knowing that I’ve introduced you to
I looked down at my torn and tattered dress and ran my fingers through the tangles of my hair. “I must look a fright,” I said. “I’m hardly presentable.”
Azriel went to the closet and presented me with a delicate lace shawl I recognized as one of my own, and motioned to a small vanity in the far corner of the room. “Run a comb through your hair. And let us be on our way.”
I’d been trained by Henry’s fist to be an obedient wife. I’d always thought it better to do as he said and not risk his ire. So as Azriel commanded, I sat at the vanity and began to work the tangles from my hair with a wide brush. I closed my still sleepy eyes as I brushed my hair when I felt a presence at my back. Azriel took the brush from my hand and stroked down the length of my strawberry-blonde curls.
“You have beautiful hair,” he said. “I imagine it would feel like satin against my naked skin.” I stiffened at his bold statement, and his chuckle sent a pleasant ripple across my scalp. “Will you wear it down for me today?” He murmured against the top of my head.
“But, Azriel,” I said. “I don’t have a hat. It wouldn’t be appropriate.” People would be likely to stare if my hair was left loose and curling around my shoulders. Add to that the absence of a hat . . . well . . . proper women just didn’t traipse around in public without at least a hat. Even women of the poorer working classes wore hats.
“No hats,” Azriel said. “I do not care for what humans think is appropriate, or proper, or in good taste. The wide brim of a silly hat would hide your beauty. I want to see your face and your hair shining and unfettered in the noonday sun.”
“Yes,” I whispered as he continued to brush my hair. Anything. I’ll do anything for you .
I nearly fell back to sleep as Azriel passed the brush over my hair again and again. When he set it down on the vanity, the sound barely registered in my ears. “All done,” he said. “Now, be a good girl and cover yourself with that shawl. Going out without a hat is one thing. A torn dress is another. We’ll eat and see the city. And,” he leaned over and planted a light kiss on the top of my head, “we’ll get you a new dress or two.”
I did as he asked and made sure to hide my destroyed dress with the lacy shawl. Azriel offered me his arm and I accepted it gladly. He didn’t make the gesture for anyone’s benefit. His gallantry had nothing to do with keeping up appearances or placating the town gossips. No, his actions were for me and me alone.
He’d won me over with a hairbrush and a proffered arm. And suddenly, forever didn’t seem long enough.
* * *
We walked through the hotel lobby arm in arm. Heads turned as we passed. The smug expression that I’d grown to appreciate returned to Azriel’s face. He enjoyed the attention, reveled in it.
Our breakfast was decadent, the hotel staff more than attentive. I did my best not to ask any questions, but instead allowed Azriel to draw me into simple conversation. Henry had never been interested in my thoughts or feelings on any matter. Azriel listened with genuine interest; he laughed when I said something that amused him, and his eyes gleamed with a heated spark when I said something witty or intelligent. We lingered long after our meal was finished, sipping coffee and talking in hushed tones.
“I’ve never had coffee before,” I said as a waiter refreshed my cup. “It’s delicious.”
“Are you serious?” Azriel asked. A smile spread across his mouth that made my skin tingle and my bones turn soft. “This is the first time you’ve ever had it?”
“Proper ladies drink tea,” I laughed. “Henry insisted that I be the epitome of a proper lady.”
“I take great satisfaction in knowing that I’ve introduced you to