With me.
I expect her to refuse. Maybe part of me even hopes she does. But she doesn't. Instead, she crawls into my large bed and takes a side, as if she belongs there. She pats the other side. "I'm not going to kick you out of your bed. We slept together once, technically. We can do it again." Baron jumps onto the bed with her and she scratches behind his ear. "Besides, I think he'll put up a fight if you try anything while I'm asleep."
I half expect she's right about that. I'm glad Baron's looking out for her, because though I swore to protect her, I might not always be around.
Normally I sleep naked, but tonight I keep my pants on and slide under the covers. Her body is covered only in a thin cotton gown, and though it is a big bed, she is not on the edge. I can feel her skin against mine. Her shape curving in closer to me as she settles in to sleep.
I lay there for an hour or so before her breathing finally steadies and I know she is asleep. Even then I cannot follow easily. There is too much temptation to touch her, to hold her, and having her so close but not quite close enough is a sweet kind of torture I am unused to.
At some point, though, my body takes over, and I finally drift.
***
My arm is around her, and her body is pressed against mine when I awaken aroused and thirsty. My mouth is at her throat, her vein pulsing under pale delicate skin. It would be so easy to sink my teeth into her. And it is so hard to release her and pull myself out of bed. I allowed myself to sleep too long and now I am behind.
I use the washroom and dress for the day. As I pull on my boots, Ari sits up in bed. "What time is it?" she asks.
"Well past dawn," I tell her. I know she wants an hour and minute, like in her world, but we do not track time in the same way.
She climbs out of bed and stretches. "Thank you for letting me stay here last night."
Baron, who slept by her side all night, springs out of bed and paces the room. He needs to be let out to run, to hunt. And I need to feed. It has been too long and I can feel the bloodlust building in me. Sleeping with Arianna only made it worse.
"It was no trouble," I say. A small lie. "Get dressed and we'll eat. Then I have work to do. In a few days, I'll need to head back to High Castle."
She frowns at my words. "Why?"
"I need to continue the investigation into my father's death."
"Don't forget you also promised to teach me how to sword fight."
"I haven't forgotten," I say. "When I can't be with you, I'm going to leave Baron and two guards I trust to make sure you're safe."
She nods and leaves the room, and the space feels too empty without her.
While she's changing, I take Baron to the woods outside the city. I need to chase something, to catch prey and drain its blood. I need to feed before my cravings overcome me. I can't afford any weakness while Arianna is here. Until she is gone for good, I must remain in control.
The sun is high in the sky and the air is cool but not frigid. We still have a fortnight at least before the coldest part of winter sets in. "Ready to hunt, boy?"
Baron raises his head to the sky and howls. I am faster than my wolf, but I pace myself to keep stride with him. It's better to run with him than alone. Blood pumps through my body, invigorating my senses. Everything around me is heightened. The scent of the lingering snow on the ground, the crunch of branches underfoot, the insects swarming deep undercover of brush and bark, the critters scampering through trees and bushes to get out of the way of the predators they sense coming into their world.
There are small creatures we could hunt, but I need something larger. Something that will put up a fight. So we go deeper into the woods, running so fast, so far, that I can no longer see Stonehill. It is then that I smell what I'm after. A black bear.
Baron backs away, uncertain, but he knows I'll watch his back, so he follows. I tear through the trees until I see the bear emerging from a cave. It shouldn't be so close to the village. It's a risk to my people. These are my justifications as I throw myself at the beast, teeth extended, power surging, and end its life.
After my blood lust is quenched—as quenched as it can be on animal blood and not human—I sit on a rock in the sun as Baron hunts smaller prey. He's content with his rabbit for breakfast, and then we return to Stonehill.
***
Ari is already sitting at the dining table when we arrive. Baron rushes to lie at her feet, and she pets his head with affection. I sit across from her.
She's dressed for a day of training in pants and a form-fitting tunic. Her hair is pulled back in braids.