With his eyes narrowed, Ben rubbed at the scar on his chest and shook his head. “Remember? What are you talking about?” His hand wrapped around Thorin’s arm and pulled him closer. “Do you know something about me?”
Thorin glanced back to the door to make sure Imara was gone. He wasn’t sure if the memory loss was a protective measure by their minds or part of the spell, but being reunited was clearly a sign that something was coming. “How far back can you remember, Ben?”
A fiery weakness radiated through his arms, and he could barely feel his fingers by the time his hand made it to his mouth to wipe away the dryness from his lips. “How do you know about that? Did Jasper tell you?”
Before Thorin could answer, Aster appeared on the sidewalk. “Mr. Parker, Jasper Mason on the phone for you.”
Thorin looked over Ben’s shoulder and nodded. “Yes, I’ll be there in a moment, Aster.” Before he walked away, he placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder and leaned into his ear. “Ben, please don’t leave yet. I need to speak with you.”
He spun around and inched backward across the sidewalk as he turned his keys around his finger. “Just come in and make yourself comfortable. We have a lot to catch up on.”
His dirty fingernails dug into the back of his head as Ben scratched and narrowed his eyes. “Alright then. I’ll bring your bags in, I guess.”
Before he disappeared through the front door, Thorin yelled back over his shoulder. “Thank you.”
Ben unwrapped the straps of the bag from his neck and dipped his knees as he set it on the floor in the foyer. He could hear Thorin in the kitchen, and he peeked around the corner. “Yes, we need to get Haldir here at once. Please send a cable to Norway. Now, do you mind terribly if I take him off your hands?”
A breeze came in through the courtyard window, and when it crossed Ben’s face, he followed it like a puppet on a string. His fingertips traced the curve of Imara’s body against the glass as she sat on the edge of the pond in the sunlight until Thorin’s voice broke into his thoughts. “She certainly is a lovely creature, isn’t she?”
With his eyes blinking away to the floor, Ben nodded before turning to face his brother. “You wanted to talk to me?”
Thorin’s eyes fell to his sister, and he smiled before he nodded to the parlor. “Come on; you look like you could use a drink.”
He followed Thorin to the room, and when he remembered all the fancy furniture that lined the parlor, Ben looked to him for advice. “Should I stand or?”
With his fingers wrapped around a glass, Thorin pointed to a club chair. “These aren’t priceless works of art, just stuff. Make yourself at home.”
After he sank into the fine brown leather chair, Ben grasped the glass in Thorin’s hand. “Thank you.”
Thorin leaned into his chair and swirled his drink in his hand as his finger flicked up to Ben. “So, tell me how you ended up here in Savannah?”
After choking on his bourbon, Ben cleared his throat and set the glass on the table. “I, uh, I’m not sure. The cleaning lady found me nearly dead in that back bedroom with a stab wound in my chest about a year ago.”
His eyes pinched shut as Thorin shook his head. “Oh, shit, Ben. I’m so sorry.” He nodded to the door. “Imara and I sailed to Europe and were unreachable. I had no idea you were here all this time.”
As he knocked his fist against the wooden arm of his chair, Ben sniffed at the familiar man, then leaned over with his elbows on his knees. “Are you going to tell me how we know each other or what?”
Crossing his leg over the other, Thorin relaxed back into his chair. “You’ve seen my sister before, haven’t you? Perhaps in a dream.”
A huff of air came from his nose as Ben dropped his head and shook it. “Yeah, you could say that.”
Ben’s eyes rose to meet him again, and Thorin motioned with his fingers to continue. “Tell me about them. I can promise you it won’t offend me in the slightest.”
“You want the truth?” Ben pushed his hands against the armrests and threw himself back against the seat. “Do you want to hear about how I make love to her? Or do you want to hear about the bloody bodies all over the place?”
Thorin smirked, but his teary eyes blinked away at the cars passing by on the street outside the window. “There will be someone delivering a suit to you later. I want you dressed appropriately for the party tonight.” The hand he held his glass in shook as he made a circle in front of Ben’s face. “Shave that mess on your face, too. I don’t care what my sister says; a beard’s not a good look on you.”
Ben pointed his finger at Thorin. “Why the fuck would I go to one of your goddamn dog and pony shows? If you want the truth, I think you Order socialites are a bunch of assholes, and I damn sure don’t want to spend the evening watching you people act like fools.”
A roar of snorty laughter came from Thorin as he stood and slapped his hand on Ben’s back. “Yes, well, my sister will be attending this particular event, and you will escort her for the evening. We’ll arrive at seven sharp.”
While Thorin stood at the server and unscrewed the cap on another bottle, Ben pushed himself up and came to his side. “You want me to take your sister to dance after everything I said? What the hell kind of brother are you?”
The old witch’s nose wrinkled as he pushed out his lips and nodded. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” He slapped Ben’s cheek gently, twice. “As of right now, you’re Imara’s bodyguard. You can gather your things; you’ll be returning home with us to live after the party.”
“Are you serious?” With his hand wrapped around Thorin’s arm, he pulled him to face him. “You want me to move in here?”
Thorin freed himself from Ben’s grasp, then placed his hand on his back and led him to the foyer. “I need someone I can depend on to guard my sister. Someone I can trust with her life. I can trust you to do that, can’t I?”
They came to the door, and Thorin reached for the glass knob as Ben nodded. “Yes, Mr. Parker. I’ll die for her a hundred times if I have to. It’s just-” his dirty hand grabbed Thorin’s expensive linen shirt as Thorin pulled the door open. Everything was moving so quickly, and he was sure it must be some kind of cruel trick- “are you sure this is a good idea? The way I feel about her…”
He patted Ben’s shoulder and nodded to the street outside. “You’re the only man for the job, Ben. We’ll see you there at seven on the dot.”