Stifling silence occupied the crevices between them. Only the consistent cloppering of Chance’s hooves prevailed.
Arabella dared not raise her gaze to et his, and for the first ti fondled a different piece of jewelry for comfort than her mother’s pendant. The amber stone glistened under the sun, forcing her to shut her eyes and look away at tis.
"I apologize for the way I spoke in the caverns," her voice broke the quietude.
"What upsets is the fact that you suggested we visit the great caverns together and not just ," he spoke in a dry tone. Well, as dry as he forced it to be.
"Alpha Cynric would have never agreed to it if I excluded myself and your chances of securing the spring equinox celebration there would have been reduced," her fingers tapped on the brooch very lightly.
In response, the vampire sighed, "I’ve told you already. That isn’t your burden to carry,"
"Considering the recent developnts, sharing burdens seed like the next logical step between us. Besides," she looked up at him, "You carried mine this whole ti without complaining,"
"Nothing that I can’t handle," Silas stared ahead, refusing to allow that upside down look of hers to sway him.
After a few seconds of them not saying a thing, Arabella too brought her eyes ahead.
"What surprised the most was the fact you’d so willingly volunteer to go back there after what happened to you," his fists clenched around the reins which did not go unnoticed, "And so soon at that," his voice softened.
The vampire imdiately noted the tensing of her body against his, making him regret his words.
"It burned my lungs to utter those words," she sounded subdued, "I thought my heart would spill with them," her hand wrapped around the brooch, concealing it entirely, "But my brain wanted them out and even my vocal cords threatened to collapse if I didn’t speak them,"
"But why?" he asked calmly, his grip loosening.
"I don’t know per se," she shook her head slowly, "It felt like the right ti. I felt as though if I didn’t face it then, I would never get another chance," she took a deep breath, "But this ti around will be different. I will have you by my side and also...," she trailed off.
"What else did you have in mind?"
"If you inform the syndicate and make it an official visit, should anything happen, Cynric and his pack will be held accountable. I believe Cynric wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the wellbeing of his own people, no matter how self-centered or brutish he might co across as,"
"What makes you believe that?"
Before responding, Arabella peered up at him again. That ti around, Silas did not remove his eyes quickly enough and was entrapped by those gleaming eyes of hers and her face that sohow looked smaller and rounder upside down.
"He is a lot more animated than you are but in dealing with his people, he isn’t as aggressive as he wants people to believe,"
"He was about to shatter that woman’s jaws," Silas corrected her after clearing his throat.
"Yes, but in justifying his action, he said the sa thing about Remus’ punishnt. He only does things to them that don’t last. Things that are reparable," she paused before quickly adding, "That is not to say it doesn’t frighten , but still... My father was never careful when dealing with his people and staff no matter the consequences his action would yield for them,"
"I see," the vampire finally managed to rip his eyes away from her.
His arms drew closer to her figure thus tightening his hold on her. She didn’t look away from him and just basked in the warmth and comfort he provided.
It stunned her how easy to read he’d beco before her eyes. A little too easy even.
In many aspects of their dealing, he reminded her of Remus. He was direct and blunt. Sotis his words stung even though he’d never ant them to. His stoicism did not co from his harshness or character as she’d once believed but from continuous reservation since childhood.
He’d learned the necessary along the way and never ventured out of his lane for more.
The rest of their path was filled with quiet only broken by the whistling of wind that made the trees dance.
Their voices were rekindled once back in the manor, "Silas," his na from her mouth grasped every ounce of attention he had to offer, "I don’t want to bother her, but I’d like to visit Katherine. It has already been a while since I last saw her and I can’t seem to get her face out of my mind,"
Her pleading eyes made the decision for him. Silas only had one condition to agree, "After dinner I’ll co by your room and... Yes, we’ll see Katherine,"
However, as they ascended the steps towards the first floor, grace’s fra ca into view. Her face imdiately lit up upon noticing them.
The vampiress neared and stopped in front of them.
"Master," she curtsied before Silas then turned to address Arabella, "Lady Persephone wants a word with you. She awaits in the music room,"
Before the young woman made a single move, Silas put a hand between her and Grace, "The Lady has been inford that Arabella would no longer participate in training as she won’t be entertaining guests anymore,"
"Oh! I believe the Lady has sothing else to sh-" Grace had begun explaining but her eyes fell on the brooch pinned to Arabella’s vest.
Her eyes widened as her breath hitched in her throat, "Oh dear...," the expression on her was frozen sowhere between a smile and absolute shock.
"It’s alright," very sheepishly, Arabella put a hand on Silas’ arm, "I will go see what the Lady needs. I will still be in my room after dinner,"
Reluctantly, Silas relented and without a word, walked the remainder of the stairs up, leaving Arabella in Grace’s care.
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