Blood Red (66 page)

She looked agape at him. “What?”

“Wolf told us the ordeal you’ve been through. You are a tough little gal to withstand all that.”

Papa Bear looked down at her, a fatherly concern furrowing his brow. “I don’t think she believes you, Junior.”

“Nope, I reckon you’re right, Pop. Wolf did say she was as stubborn as a mule.”

130

Blood Red

Red looked from one to the other. What was this game? Where were the threats, where was the pain?

She was accustomed to that. This…this…fellowship she was not used to.

“Look, I’ll show you.” Junior took her arm and stood her up. She wobbled and he held her steady.

He walked to the door. Papa Bear opened it. They went through and down a dark dirt passageway, not unlike the castle’s dungeon.

As they neared another door, Red could hear voices. They were loud and cheerful. Junior opened the new door. A sweep of warmth washed over her.

Smells and sounds that delighted her. Junior led her through.

Red blinked twice. Wolf and Rapunzel sat sprawled out on the cushioned floor with ale steins in their hands and a bountiful banquet spread out before them on the low tables. Others joined them. Wolf was busy stuffing some sort of meat in his mouth when he noticed Red at the door. He grinned, and his whole face softened.

Red felt her stomach flip again. A deep aching started in her belly. He was so beautiful, like a majestic animal. She had almost panicked earlier when she thought him dead. She knew she could go on without him, but something inside her desperately didn’t want to. And she had no idea how to handle that.

Junior pushed her forward. “Get some food. Or I’ll eat it all.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. He was grinning.

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Vivi Anna

Red neared the table and sat down on one of the cushions. She was beside Rapunzel and another man she did not know. She looked around at everyone warily. Wolf nodded to her from across the tables.

“Eat. We will talk business later.”

Red understood his meaning. The food wasn’t poisoned, but to be cautious of what she said. She nodded to him as she grabbed a rather succulent peach off the fruit basket. She bit into it. The juices ran down her chin. She had forgotten how fruit tasted.

Sweet, juicy, decadent. A pleasure she didn’t indulge in often.