Bitter Ashes (Bitter Ashes Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

her for anything else. I already had the feeling that she hadn't appreciated having to make a sandwich for me.
    Seeing my longing gaze, Alaric rose from his seat and walked past his sister to pour two more cups from the coffee maker's spout. He returned and placed one cup beside me, then sat in his original position.
    I sipped the coffee gratefully, feeling instantly more stable as the warm liquid poured down my throat, warming the icy pit that had formed in my insides. Alaric sipped on his own coffee as he watched me.
    I glanced at him, feeling increasingly awkward. “Do you have to do that?”
    “Do what?” he replied as he picked up a piece of my hair to play with.
    “Be creepy,” I answered, gathering up my sandwich once again.
    He laughed and dropped my hair, but didn't scoot away. He watched me take the first bite of my sandwich like he'd memorize every movement.
    “You know,” he said. “A lot of women don't like being watched while they eat.”
    I washed the first bite down with a sip of coffee. Without any condiments on the hard bread, the sandwich was a little dry. At least the coffee was good. Definitely not the cheap stuff.
    “I don't care if you watch me,” I replied. “Just don't touch me.”
    “Well you two are obviously getting along,” Sophie quipped, “so I'll just let Alaric show you back to your room.”
    I turned to protest, but before I could stop her she stood and left the kitchen. I had to quickly close my gaping jaw as I turned back to Alaric.
    “Eat your sandwich,” he said good-naturedly, obviously not upset with the arrangement. That made one of us. 
    I took another bite of the dry sandwich and had even more trouble swallowing than before. It had seemed like a good idea to eat, but now each bite was beginning to feel like heavy lead in my stomach. I put the sandwich down on the plate, suddenly disgusted with it.
    “Black isn't your color,” Alaric commented. “I tried to pick your clothes, but I was over-ruled.”
    “Who picked them?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable that he cared what I wore. 
    “Sophie,” he replied. “She chose them before you arrived. I take it you will be staying with us?”
    I pushed my sandwich plate away. Yeah, definitely done. “Like I have a choice,” I answered bitterly.
    Alaric laughed as he spun down off of his stool in one liquid motion. “I suppose not.”
    I suddenly felt the tears welling up again. I didn't know why they chose to hit just then, a delayed reaction I guess. I looked down at my uneaten sandwich and cried, because I didn't know what else to do.

Chapter Three
    A laric had waited while I cried. He didn't try to comfort me, and I was grateful. It would have been just a little too strange having one of my captors showing that type of compassion.
    My tears had left me numb and thoroughly without an appetite. I left the sandwich on the counter so Alaric could walk me back to my room. He reached my door first and held it open for me, the picture of a perfect gentleman. Yeah right . I turned and looked at him once I was inside, wondering if he was going to leave me alone in the room. He didn't.
    “I'm tired,” I said, hoping to appeal to his sense of mercy.
    “I know you've been through a lot-” he began.
    “That's a vast understatement,” I interrupted.
    “And I know you probably don't have warm, fuzzy feelings toward any of us right now,” he went on.
    “Keep going,” I sighed weakly, feeling unsteady on my feet. “You're on a roll.”
    Alaric laughed. “Your ability to be sarcastic under the direst of circumstances is quite impressive.”
    “Would you rather I screamed and begged for my life?” I questioned.
    “It might be interesting,” he replied. “Though your life is in no danger.”
    I left him and walked further into the room to sit on the foot of the ornate bed, smoothing the thick comforter with my hands. “You don't have to die in order to lose your life,” I said quietly.
    He raised an eyebrow as he