“Arianna Grace, only child of Travis Grace, purebred baku,” he replied, still not looking at her. “From such a prestigious family. Eighty-two baku in written history, five ahead of my own family.” Arianna continued to stand still, trying not to provoke the man further as he vented. “And now they have the prize: a female baku.” Arianna felt him struggle to contain his temper.
“Close your eyes,” the man ordered. Arianna did as he asked. She listened as he slowly drew near and walked around her. More contempt radiated from him. The man paused behind her momentarily.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Devin replied. Arianna turned around to find Devin, Turner, and Molina all holding swords at the man’s throat.
“Isn’t it taboo for one baku to bite another?” Turner asked.
“No one bites her,” Molina replied. “Without killing me first.” Arianna shivered at the complete evilness and hatred that filled the room. All three of her guards radiated enough hate to match the man behind her.
The man smiled. “Then I guess I cannot vote on this matter.” Arianna turned to her uncle, who was gripping the doorway to keep himself from rushing in. Arianna hurried over to him in an attempt to calm his rage. She wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I’m safe,” Arianna said quietly, and she felt as the rage completely disappeared. “They wouldn't let it be otherwise.” Arianna walked out of the room, leading her uncle away. “Andrew is downstairs, right?” Gabriel nodded, still unable to completely contain his anger. At the bottom of the steps, Arianna stopped.
“He wants me to come in alone,” she explained to the four people following her.
“No way,” Turner complained.
“He’s right,” Devin said, smacking Turner for being so blunt. “It’s not safe to leave you alone.”
“Uncle, do you feel anything bad from that room,” Arianna asked. She could feel something herself, but didn’t want to tell Turner or Devin that the only thing she sensed from the baku waiting in the room was love.
Gabriel sighed. “I’ll monitor the room. If there’s even a hint of malice, we will be there in a moment. I’ll not be standing back again.” Molina nodded. Turner and Devin had no choice but to let her go in, alone.
TWENTY-SIX
Arianna closed the door behind her before turning around to view Andrew. He was leaning, shirtless, by the window across the room, staring at the sky. His pale, chiseled body glowed in the slight light coming through the panes. While she had originally thought all the baku looked the same, she could now make out the slight difference. Andrew’s long white hair had a slight curl that reminded her of his day human form. Arianna felt her heart race a little as she looked over at him with her perfect night vision.
“Did you know that there are over three hundred billion stars, just in our galaxy?” Arianna asked in a whisper. Andrew turned his gaze to her. Arianna stood still, her skin tingling. Instantly, he was standing only inches in front of her. Arianna jumped slightly, startled. In another instant, Arianna was across the room with Andrew, who was holding onto her next to the window.
“Every last one of them is waiting to see you, to know if it could possibly be true,” Andrew added quietly, looking at the people still milling around the patio.
Arianna turned her head sideways and continued to stare only at Andrew.
“You’ve known about me for a long time.”
‘Forever,’ Andrew thought.
“How can…?” Arianna began ask, but stopped as a multitude of questions filled her mind. There was so much she wanted to know from him, yet at the same time, nothing needed to be said.
‘I’ve waited a long time to find you again,’ Andrew explained.
“Again?”
‘We were kids the first time we met. I didn’t know what baku were at the time, but I knew you were special.’ Andrew’s hands gently pulled Arianna closer. While she stood almost eye to eye with Turner in her baku form, she was now a head shorter than Andrew. Arianna instinctively leaned her face against his chest. Her lips gently grazed the smooth, white skin in front of her, and he shivered in response. Andrew stopped his story when he felt her touch.
Does he feel it too? Arianna wondered.
‘Yes,’ Andrew replied. Andrew’s hands gently traced her back. Leaning slightly forward, he kissed the top of her head.
Complete happiness poured off of Andrew as she tipped her head back to look closer at his face. There was no need to see his expression to read the emotions he was emitting, but Arianna looked anyway. Andrew’s eyes were closed, and he took a deep breath. She could sense that his fluctuating power was coming back under control.