Border Lair by Bianca D'Arc

woke.
    He dressed and stepped out of the small chamber, leaning just a bit on the walking stick Adora had left for him, in search of breakfast. He found Jared sipping strong dark tea, standing over the cook fire in the small kitchen area.
    Jared eyed him hostilely, but said nothing. Still, the tension was thick between the two men as Darian poured out a mug of tea for himself and found an apple to munch.
    “Jared.” Darian tried to find the words to broach the subject that was clearly standing between them. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I couldn’t help myself. When I first saw Adora I realized very quickly that she’s different from any woman I’ve ever met before.”
    “You’re damn right she’s different.” Jared was going to be belligerent about this, he realized. “She’s royalty, Dar.”
    “She’s also a warm, mature woman with a woman’s needs. She needs love, Jared.” Darian tried to speak gently, not wanting to rile his old friend.
    “Love? Is that what you call it? Because all I saw last night was you nailing a willing wench.” He shot Darian a look of disgust. “How could you?”
    Jared’s deep voice was hoarse with emotion, accusatory and gruff as he glared at Darian. If looks could kill, he’d surely be dead.
    “Look Jared, don’t jump all over me for this. If you wanted the woman, you’ve more than had your chance. She cares for you. Don’t you think I saw that right away? But I also saw you, in denial, ignoring her. You were hurting her with your indifference, man. Don’t fault me for stepping in and making her happy where you’ve only made her miserable, longing for things you won’t give her. She needs someone to care for her and make her feel wanted, cherished, and loved. She’s lost her home, Jared.” He shook his head. “That’s something I have a little experience with as it happens. She needs someone to hold her and make her feel safe and needed.”
    Jared rocked back on his heels, deflated. “Damn it all to hell and back again.” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and sat hard on the sofa.
    “You’re right, Darian. I’m an ass.”
    Darian sat down in the nearby chair, watching his old friend closely.
    Jared sighed hard and shut his eyes tight for a quick moment, the pain of the past hours clear on his face. Darian sensed a break in the wall surrounding his old friend and took the chance to get everything out in the open.
    As gently as possible, Darian spoke into the heavy silence. “Ana and James are gone, Jared.”
    Jared sucked in a sharp breath as every muscle in his body tensed.
    Darian’s heart went out to the man, but this needed to be said. Jared was living in a world of hurt, much different from the carefree, jovial man Darian had once known. He owed Jared his support and help in becoming that man once again. No one should live with the kind of burden Jared kept firmly planted on his shoulders.
    “I know that, Dar. I don’t need to be reminded. I live with the guilt of their deaths every day of my life.”
    “Guilt?” Darian was truly puzzled. Jared opened his eyes and ran a hand over his rough face.
    “I should have been with them, Dar. I should have protected them.

    Instead I was off serving my king while they were murdered in their beds by greedy thieves in the night.”
    Darian was silent a long moment. Could that be what Jared really believed about the attack on his family? How could the man not know the truth of those dreadful days? No wonder he was so changed. Jared blamed himself for something over which he’d had no control or responsibility.
    Darian knew he could relieve some of that guilt and perhaps focus the anger of this brave man on something more productive than wallowing in his imagined sins of the past. Darian weighed his words carefully, then finally spoke, albeit a bit hesitantly.
    “Those were no simple thieves, Jared.” He leaned forward as Jared listened intently. “I found out not long ago that your