Read Online More than Truth (Arcane Crossbreeds) by Amanda Vyne - Free Book Online Page B

of silky black curls.
    “Ah, love,” he rumbled, his voice low and rich. “What have they done to you?”
    “A disagreement,” Brit said and closed her eyes. She was tired and cold and as brittle as an autumn leaf. Even worse, she was vulnerable, and he looked so much like Tag it was painful.
    “That is because we’re brothers.”
    Brit jerked her head back and stared up at him, her heart beating fast. He’d read her thoughts? She studied him suspiciously. Tag had never mentioned having a brother, but it wasn’t as though they’d spoken much about family or anything of a personal nature at all. And this man definitely looked enough like him.
    “We’ve been estranged for a number of years, love.” He reached out to touch her bruised cheek with the tip of his finger. A frown deepened the crease between his eyes, but his voice was gentle in her mind. “But I’m here now. He’s sent me ahead to protect you until your Incog arrives.”
    Brit tried to swallow, but her throat was dry and raw, her tongue thick in her mouth. She was dehydrated, and she thought maybe one of her ribs might be cracked.
    “Can you trust me enough to care for you? Just until reinforcements arrive? You shouldn’t have to be here alone.”
    What choice did she have? She didn’t think she’d be able to make it to the suite on her own steam without crawling, and the idea of Dr. Rupple getting to see that truly galled her. Besides, this man’s scent was already enfolding her, eroding her paltry defenses. It was warm and spicy, so much like Tag’s and yet somehow different. With a sigh, Brit nodded.
    “There’s a girl.” Before she could dwell on what her acceptance would cost her, he swept her up in his arms, and she lost all ability to think. His chest was firm and so warm she wanted to burrow in. He carried her easily across the room and into the suite. He didn’t stop until he was in the attached bathroom.
    It was pitiful, but when he set her gently on the vanity next to the sink, she wanted to moan from the loss of his heat. The room was dim but not dark, and she relaxed a little. He studied her, brushing his knuckles down her uninjured cheek. His brows drew together, deepening the crease between them. When he stepped away, she gripped the edge of the ceramic top to steady herself.
    “Don’t move, love.”
    His voice was as low and deep out loud as it was in her mind, and she watched him walk out of the bathroom. A moment later, he reappeared with bottled water and a power bar. He said nothing as he uncapped the water and offered it to her. Her fingers trembled as she wrapped both hands around the cold bottle and lifted it to her lips.
    The cool liquid flooded her mouth, and she nearly groaned. She’d thought she’d grown numb against the thirst and hunger, but it all sparked anew with one sip. He watched her with a frown before he turned away to search through the cabinets that flanked the vanity until he found a first aid kit and washcloths.
    “Well, at least they had you well stocked,” he murmured and set his supplies on the vanity next to her hip. He flicked the faucet on.
    Brit drained half the water bottle before she unwrapped the power bar and took a bite. It tasted like peanut-flavored sawdust, but it would get the job done. She wouldn’t be of any use to her sister or Katya if she was dead on the floor when Incog showed up. She’d already made a tactical error by allowing her temper and pride to put her in this situation.
    After swallowing another dry, tasteless bite of the bar, she took a drink of the water and cleared her throat. “What day is it?”
    Those russet-green eyes fixed on her as he lifted her hair out of the way and gently tended to her face with the damp cloth. “What’s the last day you remember?”
    “Thursday morning.”
    His hand paused, and she thought a growl might have rumbled from his broad chest. He glanced around, eyes narrowed in consideration before continuing to clean the dried blood