More concerned than ever, Valteri quickened his pace, and finally caught her as she entered the hall. “Ariel? Did you not hear my call?”
She looked up at him with an amused stare. “Aye, I heard you. But I needed to come in here before you stopped me.”
“To what purpose?”
She opened the door wider and smiled so that he could see a large feast had been prepared. “A celebration for you.”
He scowled at her. “Pardon?”
“Wace told me that you’d been declared the lord of these lands. I thought a celebration was in order. Come, Valteri, Lord of Ravenswood.”
He hesitated. “Milady, please. Do you not remember what happened the last time we attempted such a thing?”
Thorn and Shadow came up behind him.
“That was before I was here, brother.” Thorn clapped him on the shoulder. “I dare anyone to say a word now.”
“As do I. ’Less they wish to feast on their own entrails.” Shadow winked at him. “I say we drink, feast, and wench!”
“Shadow!” Ariel chided.
“Well, not Val. He has you. But I can wench aplenty.”
Thorn snorted. “How are you not diseased?”
“Who says I’m not?” Shadow raked him with a frown. “I just hope it’s terminal. Let me out of this life. I’m done with it.”
She was aghast. “You’re awful!”
Shadow grinned at her. “Incorrigible from my first breath to my last.” And with that, he went off in search of wine.
Thorn headed off after him.
Valteri shook his head. “Those two are so strange.”
“Indeed, they are.”
“Yet I like them and can’t figure out why.”
With a sigh, she nodded. “I know. I feel the same.”
He laughed. “But they’re your brothers. You should like them.”
She arched a brow at his comment.
“My brothers are different. They’re asses. Giant ones, point of fact.”
“As can be mine. Much of the time.” Taking his arm, she led him toward the table that was set with all the foods Wace had told her were Valteri’s favorites.
Ariel debated if she should try again to tell him the truth.
That they weren’t her brothers.
They were more akin to his.
He won’t believe you.
Besides, he was happy, and that was such a rare thing for him that she didn’t want anything to taint it.
