Broken Promise (The Broken Ones Book 3) (20 page)

She shook his hand. "Agreed."

Chapter 18

The Pirate's Price

"Now eat." He gestured at her
still mostly full plate. "You're lucky you didn't die of starvation."

Picking at her plate and eating small
bites at a time, she cast discreet looks at him. She couldn't quite decide what
to make of him. His rugged appearance didn't help her much. Wearing his glamor
rune, she really had no idea what he looked like. His cold demeanor didn't mean
much to her either. She'd seen it in the other Elves. However, he'd rescued her
and tended her wounds, and even though he'd not acted inclined to do so, he was
helping her.

They ate in silence until the thought of
more made her shrunken stomach protest.

He frowned again but didn't comment when
she pushed her plate away and leaned back.

"So what now?"

"Now…I have business to attend to.
You may do as you please, as long as you remain in the room."

She straightened in alarm.

"I've many men here," he
explained. "As long as you stay out of sight, I trust you won't get into
trouble."

Too tired to argue, she instead pushed
herself up to her feet. It wasn't like she didn't have things to do, and if he was
going out, she'd have alone time to do them. "I'm just going to
rest."

He didn't comment, though when she
stumbled into bed he did come over and partially close the bed curtain.

"I should be back by dinner."

Curling into the blankets, she closed
her eyes and just nodded. He took forever to leave, gathering some things from
his desk and taking the tray out with him. Finally the door closed and she
relaxed.

Immediately she found Kei had already awoken,
and she struggled to push passed the fog to feel him. His sorrow brought tears
to her eyes. She felt his surprise, confusion, relief, and still the pain.

I'm sorry, Kei. I'm here.
He couldn't
hear her, but she ignored her own pain and feelings and concentrated on just
wrapping him in her love, letting him know she was there for him.

He was all she had left of her boys.
Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of Bo and Garen. Turning her face into
the pillow, she let the tears come.

∞ ∞ ∞

"Arowyn, dinner is ready."

The harsh voice and rough shake of her
shoulder, jerked her out of sleep.

Sleep? When had she fallen asleep?

Her face felt tight, her eyes crusty and
burning. She cursed and heard a faint chuckle in response. Pushing herself up, she
sucked in a sharp breath at the sudden pain in her side. She hadn't gotten
around to healing her ribs.

A sudden thought occurred to her.
"Who wrapped my ribs?"

The curtain pulled back fully and she
looked up to see Roan's wry grin. Her eyes narrowed and he chuckled again. He
seemed in a much better mood. Apparently his "business" had gone
well.

"One of my women," he
answered. "She also cleaned you up."

She gave a faint grunt in response. She
shouldn't have been surprised. Though not as beautiful as an Elf, he was
certainly more ruggedly handsome than should be allowed.

"Is it too tight? Would you like me
to look at it?"

"It's fine," she snapped.

"Then come eat." He walked to his
seat at the desk. By the time she made it to hers, he'd already set out a plate
for her and started to eat.

The silence got to her over time, and she
finally couldn't stop herself from speaking. "I don't know why I fell
asleep. You'd think I've slept enough already."

"You are healing. The sleep induced
by riath isn't natural. You are more aware, and your mind doesn't rest as it
should."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Did you know many have
been able to direct the dream memories, to actively search for ones they wanted
to see?"

"Is that why mine were all happy?
Usually I have nightmares."

His eyebrows lifted at her comment.
"Perhaps."

The uncomfortable silence resumed. She
ate a little more before another question nagged at her long enough she finally
blurted it out.

"Where am I sleeping tonight?"

He didn't even glance up at her.
"Where you have been."

Her eyes moved to the bed. "If I'm
not mistaken, that is your bed."

"Yes."

When he still didn't lift his eyes from
his food, a cold knot formed in her stomach. "And you will be sleeping
where?"

He finally looked up. "In my
bed."

"With me."

"With you."

Her mouth opened and closed a few times,
but she was at a total loss for words as her insides seemed to freeze solid.

"Don't tell me you've never shared
a bed with a man before?"

His condescending tone, and the
amusement in it, made her clench her fists in anger. "Of course I have.
But I knew them, and I don't know you, and I don't trust you."

Her words left him speechless for a
moment and she realized what she'd said, and implied, but didn't really care.
He could think what he wanted, he probably would anyway.

"I have offered you my protection,
Arowyn. You have no reason to distrust me."

Shaking her head, she grunted her
disbelief of that. "Your protection from Elves," she said. "Does
that include yourself?"

"It includes myself," he
agreed, an amused half smile crossing his lips. "And any humans who may
prove bothersome to you."

"Interesting." Tilting her
head to the side, she regarded him thoughtfully. "If you touch me you will
most certainly regret it."

"I am sure I will." He still
sounded amused. "Is there anyone else I need to add to the list?"

Since there was, she bit her tongue. He
didn't need to know about her other troubles.

"Arowyn," he said warningly.
"Part of the deal was for you to speak, and be truthful."

"Rot." She had agreed. Of
course she'd been much more out of focus at the time, but he likely took
advantage of that. Smart man. Stupid her. "I don't expect you to protect
me from them," she finally answered. "In fact, if the Dragos comes,
just… leave us be. He might hurt me, but he won't kill me." Not yet at
least.

"A Dragos," he said
incredulously.

"Damon."

"Whatever does he want with
you?"

She shrugged. If only she knew.
"He's interested in the Fey prophecy and my part in it. I've no idea why.
I think he's a bit insane."

"I will have that story
later." Leaning back, he looked off over her shoulder, lost in thought.
His eyes snapped back to her. "You said them. How many enemies have you
accumulated?"

Shifting uncomfortably, she looked down
at her plate.

"Who else, Arowyn?"

"The Were king," she mumbled.
He remained silent so long she finally peeked up at him. Sitting stiffly in his
chair, she couldn't decipher the look on his face. "He's apparently angry
with me," she continued.

"And what did you do to cause
this?"

The tell-the-truth part of the deal had
really been a bad thing to agree to. "I needed power, for
Prince…Shael," she added. She'd have to remember to use his name, not the
one they'd all called him for a year. "He was dying, and we were so close
to getting him home. I might have…somehow…made a pack…and…well. He found out
and wasn't happy about it."

"You think he will hurt you,"
Roan stated in a quiet, strained voice.

Apparently she'd shocked him good with
that one. Not that she could blame him. Who would want to take on the Were
king? She shifted in her seat and shrugged a shoulder. "I was told he was
quite angry and coming for me." She paused a moment. "It was
suggested taking a ship back west might be a good idea. If I wasn't terrified
of boats, I might have considered it. Have you ever seen an angry Were king? I
haven't, but my imagination is probably not even close, and believe me, it's
been quite bad enough." Realizing she was babbling, she pressed her lips
together.

"Are you afraid of the Were?"

The question surprised her. "Other
than the king? No." She smiled softly. "I get along with them well.
Some I'd even call friends. Of course, I wouldn't want to fight one," she
added, thinking of the giant wolves.

"You are not quite what I
expected."

Her eyebrows rose. "What do you
mean?"

A long moment went by before he
answered. "You fought bravely in the street, yet…you appear quite small,
innocent, and…breakable. I'm not sure what to make of you."

"Most people don't," she
answered.

He tipped his head in agreement.
"Are you finished?"

She nodded, pushing her plate toward
him. The return of his cold demeanor rather shocked her and she wondered what she'd
said. Perhaps he'd realized how much trouble she could possibly cause him.

"I must go out for a while. Is
there anything you need?"

"Clothes," she said
immediately.

"Tomorrow," he answered
promptly, and began gathering everything onto the tray.

"When will…" She hesitated and
then continued when he glanced at her expectantly. "When will I start
to…withdraw?"

"To have withdrawals," he
corrected. "And that, I am not certain. You were given so much I imagine
some is still in your body. Your ability to heal may ease the symptoms for a
time. There is no need to worry. It will be a slow process, and I will be
watching."

She nodded her understanding and stood.
At least her legs didn't feel as wobbly. "One more question," she
said suddenly. "What am I to call you?"

"When we are alone, you may call me
Roan. With others, everyone calls me Captain."

"Very well. Good night then,
Roan."

Returning to bed, she drew the curtain
and listened until he left. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on Kei.
Things
are better now, I think.
He couldn't hear her, but she hoped he understood.
She stayed close to him until he slept and then sighed. Time for some pain.

Gritting her teeth, she began the slow
process of healing her ribs.

∞ ∞ ∞

Pulling back the curtain, she was
surprised to find Roan at his desk. He hadn't woken her when he'd come in, or
gotten up. Nightmares had though, and she'd noticed him sleeping beside her. At
least he'd kept his word and stayed on his side of the large bed. She yawned.
It'd taken her a while to fall back asleep. Loud noises, laughter, and the
occasional song kept startling her. It sounded as though they lived next to a
rowdy tavern.

"Good morning," she said
quietly as she got out of bed.

His gaze flicked over to her and he
nodded once. The breakfast tray sat on the desk, but he'd apparently not waited
for her. She went into the bathroom and didn't hurry, worried he might still be
in a bad mood. Maybe she'd be lucky and he'd leave early.

She wasn't so lucky. At least she felt
much better. She hadn't fully healed her ribs the night before, but the pain was
much less today. Since he wasn't talkative, she began to eat without a word. He
remained silent until she finished.

"I will be out this morning but will
come by around noon."

"With clothes?"

"Yes, with clothes," he said coldly.

She opened her mouth and then closed it
again.

"What is it, Arowyn?"

"Would it be possible to send the
prince a message? That I'm…with you."

Her question got his attention at least.
"Interesting you should ask. I sent one yesterday after you woke."

"Oh…then, thank you."

"I didn't do it for you. I thought
he would appreciate knowing what had occurred, and that you weren't dead."

Of course, politics. She should have
known. "If he replies, could you let me know?"

"I doubt that he would, but yes, I
will." He put away his papers while she watched, unsure what to do.
"Shall I have a bath prepared? Are you feeling well enough?"

His question startled her, but she
nodded. "Yes, please."

He left without another word.

∞ ∞ ∞

A boy knocked on the door and hollered
when the bath was ready. The wrappings on her ribs and wrists took some time to
get off. The lukewarm water felt wonderful to soak in. She stole soap from the
dresser and scrubbed.

Unfortunately, she couldn't scrub the
pain in her heart away. Too much, everything was too much…Kei, Prince, Bo and
Garen. How could she be expected to deal with so much loss all at once? It
seemed never ending and had come to the point she didn't know what else she
could lose. Death, loss, they had become such common things she'd begun to
experience a chilling numbness toward them.