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“Listen to me. I can’t say for certain what your brothers’ intentions are, but I know that Arabella is the best sort of person. Strong and brave, she’s loyal to her friends and deadly to her enemies. You want to meet her, Lily. I swear it.”
Lily gave a tentative nod. “I trust you.”
I trust you. Those words reverberated through him as he took her hand and began leading her toward the door.
Ash’s much larger hand engulfed hers. She laced her fingers through his, moving closer to him as they walked. She half hid behind his large frame as they made their way outside.
Lily was intrigued by the picture Ash had painted of her half-sister, Arabella. Partially because her only real family, her mother, had been gone for over three years, but also because she considered herself savvy at survival but not necessarily brave. She did not stand tall in danger. She hid.
What would a version of herself look like that faced danger, that seized life instead of running away from it? At least she’d stood tall today, both in turning around to find Ash’s friends and in coming out to this meeting. But with Ash in front of her, the idea wasn’t so awful.
She brought her other hand to their joined ones. His fingers tightened on hers as they stepped onto the porch. A huge man on a massive horse stopped, still several yards down the road.
“Lockton,” Ash called. “Good to see you.”
The other man boomed, “It’s good to see you too, East.”
She heard him swing from the horse. She peeked around Ash’s shoulder. Did everyone call him East? Why had he told her to call him Ash instead?
“Who have you got behind you?” Lockton asked. “Did you find her?”
“I did,” Ash answered. “Is Arabella with you?”
“She is.”
The carriage had stopped. There were two more horsemen behind it. Lily pressed to Ash’s back, glad to have him here now.
“East?” a feminine voice called. “Thank goodness you’re all right.”
“I am. And you?”
“We ran into your friends, I think. Didn’t go that well.”
“I want to hear all about it. The question is, do we need to keep moving or can we stay here for the rest of the night?”
Another man called, but Lily didn’t know which one. “We scattered them late this afternoon, but all the same, I’d like to put as much distance between them and us as possible.
“I agree with Edge,” a third man said. “How soon can you be ready to move?”
“It won’t take us long.” Ash gently pulled her forward, though she resisted at first. “It’s all right,” he whispered, giving another gentle tug.
“Are you certain?”
“Arabella,” he said with extra emphasis, “I’d like to introduce you to Lily.”
Lily blinked in surprise as she caught sight of the other woman. Fuller in the figure, she stood tall and proud before Lily. But as their eyes met, Lily gasped aloud. It was almost like looking in the mirror.
An odd bond pulled at her. She didn’t know this woman, and yet looking so alike created a connection she’d never imagined possible.
“Hello,” Arabella said, her eyes just as wide with surprise.
“Hello,” Lily answered, forcing her chin to remain up. She’d not duck down now, not in the face of this woman’s strength.
“Well,” Arabella tried again. “They said we looked alike, but I…”
“Christ.”
Lil turned to see a dark-haired, sharply handsome man join Arabella.
