Bree mulled this over as Avery combed the tangles from her hair. After a few moments she glanced up at the redhead. “Are you – do you need more workers? I am looking for a job. I am very good at cleaning and I’m stronger than I look. I could do outside work if necessary.”
“I thought you were going to Vanden to visit your aunt?” Avery said gently. “James and Nicky said you were.”
Bree flushed. “I am. I just – I could use some extra money.”
Avery smiled at her. “We do not need any more help around the house and besides, you are a guest of my son’s. You will not work while you’re visiting us.”
She brought the tray of food over and placed it carefully on Bree’s lap. “Eat some food Bree. Leta is right – you are too thin.”
Bree tried to eat politely, but after only a few minutes she was eating ravenously. Avery pulled a chair up beside her, and watched silently as Bree chewed and swallowed the meat, cheese, and fruit that Maria had piled on the plate.
When the plate was empty, the blonde woman set the tray on the ground in front of her and leaned back in the chair. She rubbed her belly and sighed contently. Avery handed her a glass of water.
“Drink this up my love.”
She drank obediently and Avery took the empty glass back as Bree sat up straight. She flinched and grabbed at her side. At Avery’s sympathetic look, she dropped her hand and looked around the room.
“Whose room is this?”
“This is James’ room.”
Bree tensed and gave Avery a cautious look. Her initial fear that she would be raped and forced into slavery had subsided, but she was uncomfortable at the thought of sleeping in his bed. What if he decided to join her in the night?
Avery patted her knee. “James will be sleeping in the guest room down the hall.”
Bree flushed. “I can take the guest room. He shouldn’t give up his room.”
“Nonsense. The guest room does not have a fireplace, and is much cooler than this room.” She smiled a little. “Lycans run hot. My son has no need for a fireplace.”
Bree thought back to the heat that had radiated from James when she was lying against him in his tent. He had been as warm as an oven.
“Bree, may I ask a favour of you?” Avery said softly.
Bree nodded. The woman had fed her, washed her hair, and been extremely kind to her. She owed her.
“Will you tell me what happened in the forest?”
“Do I have to?” Bree whispered.
“No my love, you do not.” Avery said kindly. She reached out and took Bree’s hand, squeezing it gently before releasing it. “But I believe you would feel better if you did.”
Bree stared down at her lap, opened her mouth to say she would be fine, and found herself sharing the truth instead.
Chapter 6
They quieted when she walked into the kitchen. Tristan stood and hurried forward. “Avery? What’s wrong?”
Avery gave him a trembling smile and leaned against him. “I am alright my lord.”
She sat down at the table, folding her hand into Tristan’s as he sat beside her and cupped the back of her neck gently. She stared gravely at Sophia, Nicholas and James.
“Did she let you heal her?” James asked.
Avery shook her head. “No. She let me hug her for a bit but I did not tell her I share your healing powers. We were interrupted before I could heal her fully.”
“Sorry mama.” Nicholas muttered.
Avery smiled at him. “It’s fine my sweet Nicky. But we will have to convince her to let one of us heal her James. Although I don’t believe her injuries will kill her in the next day or so, they will kill her eventually. The marks on her skin have faded which means the injuries are to her organs.”
James swore under his breath as Sophia leaned forward. “Did she tell you what happened to her mama?”
Avery nodded. “Aye, she did.”
She was starting to tremble and without speaking, Tristan pulled her from the chair and drew her on to his lap. His large hand rubbed her back soothingly, and she kissed him on the mouth before turning back to their children.
“She was a slave in the home of a Lycan named Draken. She had been there for nearly two years. Apparently this Draken has many human slaves. He collects them and keeps them like cattle.”
Avery’s face was pale and she took Tristan’s hand. “Draken and his pack, they – they hunt humans. It’s why they have so many of them. Once a month, they release one or two of them into the woods and hunt them.”
“The gods be damned.” Nicholas said faintly as Sophia gave her mother a horrified look.
“You haven’t heard the worst of it.” Avery shuddered. “Bree said she knew she had been chosen for the next hunt because they deny their chosen prey meat for the month before. Two days before the actual hunt, they stop giving them food all together. It makes them weaker, she said. Makes it easier for the Lycan’s to hunt them.”