“Ari doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s just a child! And after that trial they are al curious about her. Questions have been raised. The old rumors about the Seal are resurfacing and it won’t be long before they come after her.” She cursed vehemently. “I wish I could trust that you care enough about her to put her first… like you put me first.”
“You can’t.” Red whirled around, eyes blazing into hers. “I can’t even trust that of myself.” At the sad despair in her eyes, Red desperately wanted to reach for her.
Instead he shook his head. “I… you care about her. You do. And you’re strong. Go to her. Protect her.”
Stunned, she took a tentative step towards him. “You said you didn’t want me putting myself in danger. You practicaly forbade it if I remember correctly.”
“Yes, wel…” feeling his throat close with emotion at the thought of anything happening to her, Red couldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m beginning to understand your need to protect Ari. I won’t hold you back from that anymore. You would only resent me if something were to happen to her.”
“Red…” she whispered longingly.
He glanced up sharply, desperate to be rid of her before he broke his tight control. “But remember I wil never forgive you if something happens to you…so stay hidden and only intervene if you absolutely must.”
She smiled sweetly, seductively. “Of course. I’m not suicidal, my love.”
A harsh wind tore through the State of Zubair, the land in which The White King ruled on Mount Qaf. Fabric snapped inwards from his balcony as the icy torrent tried to blast its way inside, seeking any warmth it found and snuffing it out in cruel triumph. White stared out at the balcony from his seat near the empty fireplace in his bedroom. The wind would find no warmth here—only a companion who understood its desperation and felt none of its brutal cold.
“She has taken you by surprise, Master,” Rabir murmured carefuly from the corner of the room.
White glanced up at his servant, his expression bland and calm despite his inner storm. “Ari changed the game.”
“I was certain the blackmail would have worked, Master.”
“Oh it would have. However, she no longer intends to let her affection for the people in her life rule her actions. My daughter has more of me in her than I anticipated.”
“So what now, Master? I fear we no longer have time to take it slowly. The trial has resurfaced the old rumors. Your people have grown curious and I fear what they may unearth. I fear they may seek Ari out before you have her in your grasp.”
White nodded a little numbly now. Time was running out. He needed a new plan. If only he could make her understand what was at stake. If only he could make her see that her sacrifice would save them al. “I fear you are right, Rabir. I must reconsider tactics. And quickly.”
Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, White glanced up to see Rabir was standing beside the purple bottle he kept safe in his bedroom. Throwing him a very tentative smile, Rabir gestured at the bottle. “And what Ari said about Sala, Master? Is that out of the question?”
His first instinct was to rage at Rabir’s impudence. To even suggest such a thing… White shuddered inwardly, pushing the fury down so he could think more clearly.
Finaly, when he felt calm enough to speak, he shot the bottle that throbbed with the taste of Sala’s essence an unfathomably dark look before snapping his gaze away and back at the storm outside.
“I’l think about it.”
10 - Without Fear, I Wrap My Shadows Around You
“What are you guys doing?” Charlie asked with laughter in his voice as he eyed Mikey and Ari. They were in the Creagh’s kitchen surrounded by
newspaper, paint and paste. And there was some kind of lump in between them that had their complete focus.
Ari pasted another piece of newspaper onto the lump, biting her lip in concentration. Seeming satisfied that it was wrinkle-free, she picked up another
strip without looking at him. “Mikey’s art project is due tomorrow so I’m helping him.”
Scooting onto the stool across from them, Charlie tried to stifle his smile as Mikey frowned at the plans in front of him and then at the lump Ari was so busy with. “Uh… and what’s your project, Mikey?”
His little brother looked up at him, a pained expression on his young face. “We had to make a household item but with a theme. I picked space.”
“Oh,” Charlie nodded and gestured at the lump. “Are you making a moon ornament?” A lopsided moon ornament, he added inwardly.
“No,” Ari huffed, glaring at him now.
Charlie tried not to smile. “You’ve got a blob of paste on your nose.”
She wiped it roughly away and blew her hair out of her face. “It’s a lampshade. A lampshade shaped like an alien.”