Faith Revisited by Madelyn Ford Page B

it was because Bale let him.
    “What the hell is your problem?” he hissed as he righted his white T-shirt. “You've made it plain you want her gone. I was just offering to help you out.”
    Another growl was issued from deep within Bale's throat. He took a step toward his companion when Remy stepped into view, moving between the two.
    “That is enough,” Remy commanded, glancing over his shoulder at the brunet. “Faith is under Bale's protection, Kash.”
    “Since when does Bale give protection to anyone?” Kash asked, his gaze narrowing as he glanced between Bale and Remy. His eyes suddenly widened in surprise. “Unless—”
    “It's none of your fucking business,” Bale interrupted sharply.

    38
    Madelyn Ford

    “While Faith is out of the woods, moving her right now could set her back days,” Arak stated. Hope could not see him, but she recognized his voice. “I've heard the exchange of blood is an intimate affair. She feels comfortable with Bale. Unless the blood loss begins to negatively affect him, I don't see the point in causing her undue stress.”
    “So tell us, how intimate an affair is it, Bale?” asked the first voice mockingly. He stepped from the shadows, a smirk on his pale face and a brow arched in what appeared to be a challenge. He turned farther toward Bale, and Hope noticed a long, jagged scar that ran from his temple to his chin on his left side. His hair was golden in appearance and long, though she couldn't make out the exact length because he had it tucked behind his ears.
    The one called Kash snickered. “I can guarantee it wasn't that intimate.”
    Bale ignored Kash, keeping his eyes trained on the other male. “If you have something useful to add, then by all means, share it with us, Levi. Otherwise she is not your concern.”
    “Oh, I have plenty to add. But I think I'll watch you sweat it out awhile. It's much more entertaining.”
    “You are a useless prick,” Bale said, his teeth clenched, anger clouding his face. But he remained rooted in place.
    “And you are a conceited bastard,” Levi retorted heatedly.
    Bale snorted, folding his arms across his chest, but it was Remy who spoke, his voice soft with warning. “Levi, we've already had this conversation. Don't make me repeat myself.” Remy glanced around, his gaze sweeping over every male in the room as he added, “And let's not make our guest's opinion of us sink any further than it already has.”
    As Remy turned toward the door, the other males followed suit, and Hope knew she was busted. With a sigh, she stepped into the doorway. She glanced quickly at each male before her gaze settled on Bale.
    “Faith would appreciate the chance to get cleaned up. I thought maybe she could borrow some clean clothes from the female who lives here. And she's also hungry.”
    Hope watched Bale's reaction to her announcement in surprise. The male turned a sickly shade of white, and his eyes filled with what appeared to be fear. His reaction did not coincide with her words, leaving Hope with a sense of unease.
    “Again?” he inquired quietly.
    “Again?” she repeated in confusion, uncertain which statement Bale was questioning.
    “Your sister requires nourishment again?”
    Hope watched Bale visibly swallow. “Well, yeah,” she replied with a roll of her eyes. “She hasn't eaten since before our encounter with the demon.”
    Bale shook his head vigorously. “No,” he insisted definitively. “I fed her only a couple of hours ago. How often does she need to feed?”
    He made it sound like Faith was a huge imposition, and her eyes narrowed in anger. “Not blood. Food. You know, that stuff you buy? It comes wrapped in plastic or in cans?” she drawled, sarcasm dripping from her words.
    One of the males—she thought it was the one named Kash—snickered, but she wasn't certain. It could also have come from Levi. He stood next to Kash, a dumb-ass grin on his face.
    Then Bale made a noise that caught Hope's attention. It