He removed his dark mantle and placed it around her shoulders. His fingers pulled the hood up on the top of her head. " It is a little big, but it is a wee bit warmer than your cloak. "
" It is. Thank you. " Her hand slid over the fabric. " It is so soft. "
" My mother designed the mantle with rich velvet. We traded for the material with the Dearg-due clan in the west. "
" Your mother is indeed talented. "
" Aye. She can create anything given a thread and needle. She ' s wicked fast with her hands. We ' ve traded many of her designs for goods needed. "
" We, you say. Do you have siblings then? "
" Aye. Three brothers and one sister. The eldest brother died half a century ago. I did not know him. My sister was a sweet lass with a carefree smile, but she died when I was a young lad."
His expression revealed how he had loved his sister and still grieved her death. She held his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, encouraging him to continue.
"My brother Gareth left Dungannon when I was a lad. He hoped that on his travels he would find other of our kind. Females to bring home. " He cleared his throat as if embarrassed. " We have few women left and no children have been born to our clan in over a decade . "
" This is why you sought females of our clan. It is not a secret to me. And the other brother? "
" Loreto. He is older by two years. He has gone through the change. "
Her gaze wavered over him as she wondered what it would be like to grow up in a clan of blood drinkers. Did they play as children? Were they all that different from her own clan? They had families and loved ones they care d for.
" Why the frown, Adryanna? "
" There are no children in your clan, is that right? "
He sighed a heavy sigh that spoke of grief. " I cannot pinpoint the time, but the women are older than I. Most are the age of my mother. Even though they are mated, no children have been born from the unions. "
" You do not know what an infant looks like, do you? "
" I have only seen an infant from your clan, but from afar. They stink do they not and they cry too much for my taste. " His brow furrowed dramatically, making her chuckle.
" They do have their good qualities as well. Babies trust so freely and love unconditionally. I , at one time , wished to have many children. " They walked again as they conversed. Bram ' s commanding presence beside her made her feel safe rather than fearful to be out so late and far from her village.
" You once wanted many children. What changed your mind? "
" I feared I would have a girl and she would be chosen. " The moment she said the words, she wished she could take them back. " I am sorry. " She glanced at him. He wasn ' t angry though.
" I cannot imagine handing over a child, knowing she would most likely die. "
" As I cannot imagine knowing my clan was doomed because no children would ever be born. "
He gave her a whisper of a smile and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips to bestow a kiss. He then tucked her arm through his. " We live long lives. We are not doomed just yet. "
" Aye, you never grow old. "
He chuckled. " We age. We just do not age as quickly as your clan does. We have no ancients. "
" Ancients? " Then she realized what he meant. " I fear they are not that old. They only appear weathered. "
" I often wondered what it would be like to grow old as a Lathe Sith does. "
" Not fun or so my mother says when she rubs her aching back. I yearn to stay young and not have my body betray me with not working as it should. "
" Living centuries has its drawbacks, I am told ." Bram sighed .
Their conversation had drifted to dire events they could not prevent. She wanted to know more about his family. " Tell me about the brother who is still in Dungannon. Is he like you? "
" The Heavens above, no. " He chuckled. " He could not be more different. Before he changed, we had many scrapes and with me the victor, but now he could take me down without working a sweat. "
" What do you argue
" It is. Thank you. " Her hand slid over the fabric. " It is so soft. "
" My mother designed the mantle with rich velvet. We traded for the material with the Dearg-due clan in the west. "
" Your mother is indeed talented. "
" Aye. She can create anything given a thread and needle. She ' s wicked fast with her hands. We ' ve traded many of her designs for goods needed. "
" We, you say. Do you have siblings then? "
" Aye. Three brothers and one sister. The eldest brother died half a century ago. I did not know him. My sister was a sweet lass with a carefree smile, but she died when I was a young lad."
His expression revealed how he had loved his sister and still grieved her death. She held his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, encouraging him to continue.
"My brother Gareth left Dungannon when I was a lad. He hoped that on his travels he would find other of our kind. Females to bring home. " He cleared his throat as if embarrassed. " We have few women left and no children have been born to our clan in over a decade . "
" This is why you sought females of our clan. It is not a secret to me. And the other brother? "
" Loreto. He is older by two years. He has gone through the change. "
Her gaze wavered over him as she wondered what it would be like to grow up in a clan of blood drinkers. Did they play as children? Were they all that different from her own clan? They had families and loved ones they care d for.
" Why the frown, Adryanna? "
" There are no children in your clan, is that right? "
He sighed a heavy sigh that spoke of grief. " I cannot pinpoint the time, but the women are older than I. Most are the age of my mother. Even though they are mated, no children have been born from the unions. "
" You do not know what an infant looks like, do you? "
" I have only seen an infant from your clan, but from afar. They stink do they not and they cry too much for my taste. " His brow furrowed dramatically, making her chuckle.
" They do have their good qualities as well. Babies trust so freely and love unconditionally. I , at one time , wished to have many children. " They walked again as they conversed. Bram ' s commanding presence beside her made her feel safe rather than fearful to be out so late and far from her village.
" You once wanted many children. What changed your mind? "
" I feared I would have a girl and she would be chosen. " The moment she said the words, she wished she could take them back. " I am sorry. " She glanced at him. He wasn ' t angry though.
" I cannot imagine handing over a child, knowing she would most likely die. "
" As I cannot imagine knowing my clan was doomed because no children would ever be born. "
He gave her a whisper of a smile and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips to bestow a kiss. He then tucked her arm through his. " We live long lives. We are not doomed just yet. "
" Aye, you never grow old. "
He chuckled. " We age. We just do not age as quickly as your clan does. We have no ancients. "
" Ancients? " Then she realized what he meant. " I fear they are not that old. They only appear weathered. "
" I often wondered what it would be like to grow old as a Lathe Sith does. "
" Not fun or so my mother says when she rubs her aching back. I yearn to stay young and not have my body betray me with not working as it should. "
" Living centuries has its drawbacks, I am told ." Bram sighed .
Their conversation had drifted to dire events they could not prevent. She wanted to know more about his family. " Tell me about the brother who is still in Dungannon. Is he like you? "
" The Heavens above, no. " He chuckled. " He could not be more different. Before he changed, we had many scrapes and with me the victor, but now he could take me down without working a sweat. "
" What do you argue
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