“I don’t think that’s true,” Thame replied with a cocky smile. “I can see the heat in your eyes. You want me.”
“Yes, well, I did want you…for lunch, but I’ve rather lost my appetite after you smiled at me with black teeth,” Aribelle said, her eyes going to the door.
Dru turned his head as far as he could to look at his brother. Laughter burst from his mouth as he watched Thame lick his teeth nervously, but the black tint wouldn’t disappear.
“What is wrong with you?” Wren snapped.
Dru’s mirth fled in the face of Wren’s furious outburst. His stomach sank as she opened her mouth, looking as though she was about to decimate the lie they were trying to sell to the Alpha.
“Do not growl at my patients, Wren. What seems to be the problem?” Aeson asked as he stepped into the hut.
The breeze that flittered through the hut with the healer’s entrance had Dru’s hair standing on end as gooseflesh popped along his exposed arms. Dru noticed that although the healer’s words were admonishing, the man did not look particularly concerned with Wren’s shouting.
“I do not believe I have ever heard you talk louder than a whisper. This is good,” Declared a woman who entered on the heels of Aeson.
“Alpha,” Both Aeson and the woman said, bowing their heads to Aribelle.
“Tarja, I’m glad you’re here. Do something about these prisoners and their filth before I vomit. I cannot stand the stench any longer. It’s like days old fish and sweat,” Aribelle commanded.
“I agree, Alpha, it is most unpleasant,” Tarja replied with a wrinkle of her nose.
Tarja took a few steps towards Dru, her hand cupping her cheek while she chewed on her fingernail. Tarja stood at five feet, with long brown hair that hung in tight curls; her body was toned and muscular, with soft curves. Her brown skin was flawless, her big brown eyes expressive, and her sharp bone structure exquisite. The only thing about her appearance that Dru did not much care for were the fangs that flashed as she gnawed on her fingernail.
Dru could feel a change in the air, the prickling at the nape of his neck warning him that danger was near. Warm waves of soothing pulses caressed his skin as Tarja held her hands out in front of her, humming lowly as her magic trickled over him.
“Back to Tarja’s point, I agree. I’ve never heard you shout before. What happened while I was away?” Aeson asked as he dropped a burlap sack stuffed with herbs and medicinal finds onto the tabletop.
“Wren had an itch,” Aribelle said with a sly glance between the woman they were discussing and Dru.
“Oh, my dear,” Aeson said with a pitying look. “Do not sully yourself with the likes of this common peasant. If you wish to corrupt the humans, you go for the nobility…unless, of course, you’re just feeling peckish.”
Wren’s face was flaming now as she buried it in her hands, avoiding the stares she was getting from everyone. Dru felt sorry for the humiliation this was causing her, but as long as everyone believed her story, he pushed aside the voice in his head, telling him to come to her defense.
“She even stole his coin as payment,” Aribelle said, running her tongue over her top teeth.
“In that case, it does not matter who you defile, as long as they pay you well enough,” Tarja chimed in, though her eyes were closed as she swayed, her hands hovering over Dru’s body.
“This is very true. Although you’ll want to be careful. A slippery slope that path,” Aeson warned as she unpacked his bag. “A man approaches you for a roll in the sack, and the next thing you know, an entire village is coming for you with pitchforks and burning your house down. You’ll be Goddess-sent to some, and the spawn of Hades to many others, whilst the men you lay with will be seen as victims.”
“Hush now, Aeson. She was already feeling ashamed of her carnal desires. Do not frighten the whelp anymore,” Aribelle said with mocking laughter.
Aeson paused in his task, looking at Wren incredulously.
“Whatever for?” He asked with confusion.
“I didn’t want people to think I was a whore, alright?” Wren shouted from behind her hands.
“I think ‘Sex Expert’ would be a better title,” Tarja said as the warmth surrounding Dru increased.
“Agreed,” Aeson said. “Look at it this way, my dear. An assassin is just an expert in killing. The bad guy is always the person who hired the assassin. So, who is really depraved in this scenario, the one who excels in giving pleasure, or the one who seeks to pay to experience it?”
“I think it should be a regular occurrence,” Aribelle said thoughtfully. “I’d like a gift or payment every time I allowed a man the honor of fu—”
“I would give you the stars, should you give me a chance,” Thame interrupted.
“She almost ripped your throat out, brother. Never going to happen,” Dru said.
With a tired sigh from Tarja, the warmth vanished. There was a surprisingly minty taste in Dru’s mouth, which also no longer felt dry. Gone was the dirt and grime washed away by Tarja’s magic. The witch had changed his clothes too; now, he was wearing comfortable, loose-fitting pants, akin to those in which Thame sparred. The smell of their misfortunate was replaced with a masculine musk that was a mix of fresh rain and spices.
“It is done, Alpha,” Tarja said, taking a seat near Aeson.
Aribelle nodded to the witch wordlessly.
“It’ll happen, you’ll see. Why do you think she left me shirtless?” Thame asked.
“It’s so you don’t bleed all over freshly laundered clothes,” Aribelle deadpanned.
“Do you think she means that, Dru?” Thame whispered as Aeson and Tarja’s laughter filled the hut.
Dru had no doubt in his mind that the Alpha had meant what she said. Aribelle had some kind of nightmare planned for them, torture probably. Dru could only hope that Wren would find the perfect opportunity to free them or slip the potion to Aribelle by herself. Either way, he needed to send a missive to his father to inform him of their arrival in Jurot and of everything he learned thus far, which was not much.
“Alpha, when will we be departing for Rynoch?” Aeson asked.
“We leave in four days’ time. If the prisoners live until then, we will take them along with us. Wren, as you seem to be trying to acclimate to your new life, you can assist me during our travels,” Aribelle said as she stood from the table.
“W-Why?” Wren asked, adding as an afterthought a very timid, “Alpha.”
Aeson cleared his throat and said pointedly, “The promotion of your status from apprentice to an assistant affords you many more privileges, including that of your own tent.”
“Oh!” Wren exclaimed; her eyes rounded in surprise. “Thank you, Alpha.”
Dru did his best to keep his emotions and heart rate under control. Their lie was not only believed, but it seemingly would come with many benefits. If Wren could be alone, she could plot their escape, and perhaps even get a letter to his father. He would have to be very careful and wait for the right time to explain everything to Thame and ask Wren to send the message to Vildaheim. It would be the worst of luck to come so far only to fail and continue to let this beast advance her plans to overthrow the kingdoms.