![Beauty and the Brute [Werescape III]](/res/aob/book1.jpg)
sunrise,” Brutus added.
Of course. Did he think I'm an imbecile?
Octavius nodded. “Stay two nights if you like. And grab a plate. Lots of stew in the pot.” He pointed with the glinting tip of his knife at the fire.
A large tall cast-iron pan was nestled partially in the embers on the flagstone hearth.
Brutus hustled to the heavy lid, clanging it against the stone hearth, scooping up two steaming plates of something that smelled almost beefy, and thrust one at me.
All the colored lumps meant winter root vegetables. Not bad for this time of year before new plants produced much of anything edible.
He nodded toward the table and blocked most of the firelight descending into a seat across from me. He shot me a dark stare and produced a pan of round golden biscuits, placing the camping tin between our plates.
If I hadn't been so damned hungry for fluffy soda bread, I'd surely have fallen on the floor with shock. Days with little more than dried fruit, meat, and nuts were pretty dreary. And with Brutus’ back to the door, the big warrior didn't worry someone could sneak up on him.
So we are definitely safe tonight.
Brutus dug in one of his pockets, hidden beneath the table, and produced two portable sporks flipping them open, passing one to me.
"Thank you.” After thinking I'd left everything behind for more than two days, I couldn't help but study the utensil.
He went right to digging in his meal and chewing.
Life at Yale's mansion often led to dining ritual. Something told me this meal only demanded consumption. Especially the way Brutus inhaled his food. So, I followed his lead. He graciously left me two biscuits while I chewed as fast as possible.
"Haven't had cooked food in a while?” Octavius asked.
Brutus shrugged and swallowed. “It's been a few days."
"In a hurry, like always, I suppose?” Ocatvius dragged the knife's blade along the length of his wooden carving, creating one long coiled shaving.
Brutus’ indomitable stare settled on me. “If anyone asks about Lorelei, we weren't here.
There are some Shifters working for a man out to find her."
Octavius dropped his work to his leather pants and studied me. “You on the run, little lady?"
Luckily, my mouth felt stuffed with dry cotton from a bite of salty biscuit.
Brutus turned to Octavius. “The bastard warlord meant to give her to the extraterrestrials.
She ran. I found her. Here we are."
Octavius nodded slowly, watching us with the intelligence of a man who rarely was fooled.
"Seems like a waste when humans struggle to rebuild what's left of the population here on
Earth."
Brutus sucked in a loud breath. “The warlord's Shifters are working for him."
Not Titus. I gulped down the lump of bread. “Only because they don't have any other recourse."
The pinched cutting stare Brutus locked on me almost made my heart stop.
"Well, little lady, let me clarify something for you.” Octavius switched his legs, crossing the lower one over the bottom. “You see,” he pointed at Brutus, “there are Shifters like Brutus, here, who have no stomach for the desperate acts Normals have been forced into in order to survive AEI. Then, there are those Shifters who opt to work with Normals as a way to survive.
Sometimes, they help Normals by keeping the status quo and saving lives. Other times, well, I
guess you've experienced the other side of the coin."
As if I needed things spelled out for me. Everyone knows what Shifters do. Titus is not one of those bad Shifters. “What are you saying?"
"This is a sanctuary. Shifters choose to live here without Normals. Away from what remains of civilization. If you can even call it that."
Brutus never blinked.
He couldn't be blaming Titus for my situation. “Brutus, Titus treated me like his daughter."
"You don't know what he intended,” Brutus growled.
What good did it do to care what Titus thought now? My Guardian was angry. At me. As if I
was a traitor. “Look, Brutus, you know I can't return
Of course. Did he think I'm an imbecile?
Octavius nodded. “Stay two nights if you like. And grab a plate. Lots of stew in the pot.” He pointed with the glinting tip of his knife at the fire.
A large tall cast-iron pan was nestled partially in the embers on the flagstone hearth.
Brutus hustled to the heavy lid, clanging it against the stone hearth, scooping up two steaming plates of something that smelled almost beefy, and thrust one at me.
All the colored lumps meant winter root vegetables. Not bad for this time of year before new plants produced much of anything edible.
He nodded toward the table and blocked most of the firelight descending into a seat across from me. He shot me a dark stare and produced a pan of round golden biscuits, placing the camping tin between our plates.
If I hadn't been so damned hungry for fluffy soda bread, I'd surely have fallen on the floor with shock. Days with little more than dried fruit, meat, and nuts were pretty dreary. And with Brutus’ back to the door, the big warrior didn't worry someone could sneak up on him.
So we are definitely safe tonight.
Brutus dug in one of his pockets, hidden beneath the table, and produced two portable sporks flipping them open, passing one to me.
"Thank you.” After thinking I'd left everything behind for more than two days, I couldn't help but study the utensil.
He went right to digging in his meal and chewing.
Life at Yale's mansion often led to dining ritual. Something told me this meal only demanded consumption. Especially the way Brutus inhaled his food. So, I followed his lead. He graciously left me two biscuits while I chewed as fast as possible.
"Haven't had cooked food in a while?” Octavius asked.
Brutus shrugged and swallowed. “It's been a few days."
"In a hurry, like always, I suppose?” Ocatvius dragged the knife's blade along the length of his wooden carving, creating one long coiled shaving.
Brutus’ indomitable stare settled on me. “If anyone asks about Lorelei, we weren't here.
There are some Shifters working for a man out to find her."
Octavius dropped his work to his leather pants and studied me. “You on the run, little lady?"
Luckily, my mouth felt stuffed with dry cotton from a bite of salty biscuit.
Brutus turned to Octavius. “The bastard warlord meant to give her to the extraterrestrials.
She ran. I found her. Here we are."
Octavius nodded slowly, watching us with the intelligence of a man who rarely was fooled.
"Seems like a waste when humans struggle to rebuild what's left of the population here on
Earth."
Brutus sucked in a loud breath. “The warlord's Shifters are working for him."
Not Titus. I gulped down the lump of bread. “Only because they don't have any other recourse."
The pinched cutting stare Brutus locked on me almost made my heart stop.
"Well, little lady, let me clarify something for you.” Octavius switched his legs, crossing the lower one over the bottom. “You see,” he pointed at Brutus, “there are Shifters like Brutus, here, who have no stomach for the desperate acts Normals have been forced into in order to survive AEI. Then, there are those Shifters who opt to work with Normals as a way to survive.
Sometimes, they help Normals by keeping the status quo and saving lives. Other times, well, I
guess you've experienced the other side of the coin."
As if I needed things spelled out for me. Everyone knows what Shifters do. Titus is not one of those bad Shifters. “What are you saying?"
"This is a sanctuary. Shifters choose to live here without Normals. Away from what remains of civilization. If you can even call it that."
Brutus never blinked.
He couldn't be blaming Titus for my situation. “Brutus, Titus treated me like his daughter."
"You don't know what he intended,” Brutus growled.
What good did it do to care what Titus thought now? My Guardian was angry. At me. As if I
was a traitor. “Look, Brutus, you know I can't return
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