She should help, but the idea of plunging into that pile of dead bodies was more than she could tolerate right now. The thought of finding one of her loved ones amongst the dead caused her stomach to twist into knots.
It may be cowardice, but she couldn't face that possibility right now. They were all right; they had to be. She just couldn't see them right now through the crush of humans and vampires filling the room.
"I will,” she said.
He kissed her before reluctantly releasing her; he grabbed a bow and a mostly empty quiver of arrows from the body of a dead guard. Aria accepted the blood splattered weapons. She took a step back as she watched Braith disappear into the swell of bodies. Though she didn't relish the thought of killing anyone else, she pulled an arrow from the quiver and rested it against the bow as she searched the crowd.
She finally spotted William leaning against the far wall with his bow and arrows. Aria tossed the bow over her shoulder, grabbed the quiver, and bolted to the top of the table. Some of her dread and queasiness eased as she moved further away from Caleb's body.
William glanced briefly at her before focusing on the group of soldiers being restrained by Braith and the others. Landing beside him, she took reassurance in his presence as her fingers entwined with his and he pulled her close for a hug. Aria fought back the tears as she embraced him.
"It's good to see you," he told her.
"You too."
He released her and fell back against the wall to turn a watchful eye back on the crowd. "Don't do that again."
"I'll try my hardest not to."
He smiled at her as he lifted an eyebrow. "You do have a habit of being vampire chow."
"Haha," she muttered. Her free hand fell to Keegan's head as she wordlessly thanked the wolf for watching over her brother. "Are you okay?" She warily eyed the bloodstained bandage Daniel had hastily wrapped around his thigh.
"I'll survive."
"That's reassuring," she told him.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
His eyes ran over her as he tried to judge the truth behind her answer. It seemed as if he was trying to see into her soul, trying to see what had been done to her, who she was now, and if she would ever be the same. Nothing would ever be the same, but some things would never change.
"I'm okay," she said.
His gaze raked over Caleb's ragged claw marks, and the raw bites covering her arms, collarbone, and neck.
"Really," she insisted.
His eyes, so similar to hers, met and held her own. "He deserved what he got, Aria."
He knew her so well, so unbelievably well. Caleb had deserved what he'd gotten. He would have done far worse things to her and Braith, but she couldn't rid herself of the feel of his body lurching beneath hers. Aria braced herself as she turned to survey the survivors. It was nearly over; she should feel more excited, she merely felt sick and desperate to see her family.
"Where are Daniel, Max, and Xavier?" she asked.
"They went to help in the fight."
"Have you…" She had to swallow before she could continue. "Have you seen them? Dad?"
His eyes closed as he gave a small shake of his head. She was finding it difficult to breathe as she blinked back the tears burning her eyes and focused on the group before her. Jack and Ashby had joined Braith in front of the remaining king's guard.
Most of the king's men had dropped to their knees at Braith's approach, but a few remained standing out of sheer defiance. For the first time, she noticed Melinda pressed against Ashby's side, she looked almost as shell-shocked as Aria felt as she leaned against him.
Over the sea of heads, she spotted more fighters on the other side of the massive doors opening into the hallway. Aria held her breath as she took a step forward. That was where they had to be, her dad had been near the doors, and the others must have fought their way out the doors and were now helping to oversee things in the hall.
Calista and Gideon appeared from the hall and encircled Braith and Jack. Calista gestured toward the doors as Gideon solemnly bowed his head. A frown creased her forehead as Jack turned and bolted toward the doors. Seizing her arm, William halted her as she took another step forward.
Dread curled through her stomach when Jack began frantically tossing aside fallen bodies. Braith was at his side in an instant; they shouted something to each other that Aria couldn't discern above the roar of blood pulsing through her ears.
Aria's gaze flew over the crowd; she spotted Saul and Frank, but where were her father and Daniel? Where were Max and Xavier?
Her heart hammered as her throat went dry. Something was clawing at her insides, something hideous and frightening; something that made it difficult to breathe as Jack tossed aside another crumpled body.
Jack froze; his hand stilled in midair as a look of despair crossed his and Braith's faces. Aria shook off William's weak grasp as she took another small step forward. She couldn't see what they were looking at; there were still too many people moving in and out of her line of sight.
Aria's hand moved slowly to her mouth; she couldn't breathe as the room lurched sickeningly. William leaned on a spear for support as he stepped beside her. Daniel burst free of the crowd in the hall, Max and Xavier were close on his heels while he shoved past some of the restrained guards.
A scream lodged in Aria's throat; her paralysis broke as she bolted forward. William lurched awkwardly after her, trying and failing to grasp her as she sprinted toward Braith and Jack.
Braith's head shot up as she heedlessly charged through the crowd. Braith jumped over the bodies scattered around him, rushing to meet her as she raced at them. His arms encircled her waist, and he lifted her high. The cry she’d been unable to release before finally ripped from her throat.
"Daddy!" she screamed as her heart shattered and tears of anguish burst free.
Her arms stretched out as she reached for the body Daniel had fallen beside. Braith's hand wrapped around her head, he pushed her face into the hollow of his neck as he clutched her. Braith refused to let her look again as she sobbed against him. It was too late, he was trying to protect her, but she'd already seen enough to know her father was gone.
Chapter Fifteen
Braith had originally taken Aria to Melinda's apartments to get her away from the turmoil and her father's body. However, after the first day of mute silence scattered with intermittent weeping, she made her way out of the palace while he was preoccupied with trying to sort out things.
He found her in the stables with Max, tending to the wounded animals with stalwart care. The two of them seemed content away from the confusion of people and vampires, and he didn't have the heart to protest.
He couldn't dislike Max anymore and had come to respect him. The boy had gone through things Braith would never understand, he'd been damaged and tormented by them, but somewhere along the way he'd stopped being a boy and grown into a man. A man who had protected his back and unflinchingly followed him into the palace while knowing he would never have the one person he coveted most.
Max noticed him first in the doorway of the stable and nudged Aria to get her attention.
"I know," she murmured as she snipped off the thread she'd used on a wounded lamb. "I'm not going back in there, Braith, you can't make me."
He couldn't help but smile as she glanced at him over her shoulder. Dark circles shadowed her haunted, reddened eyes. She hadn't slept last night, and she probably wouldn't sleep tonight, but her chin jutted in determination, and her gaze was defiant when it met his. She was damaged and partially broken, but her radiant spirit still flickered beneath the sorrow.
"Have I ever been able to make you do anything?" he asked.
Max chuckled as he lifted the lamb, nodded to Braith, and wandered down the aisle of the only stable that survived the fires. It had taken most of the day to extinguish the flames within the palace walls, and there were still a few houses burning in the outer town. There was a crew working on putting them out w
ith water from the river, but hopefully, they would have them out by nightfall.
Aria wiped the blood from her hands with a dirty rag. "I suppose not," she admitted with a tremulous smile.
"How long have you been out here?"
"A couple of hours."
"You should have told me," he admonished.
"You were busy."
"I'm never too busy to make sure you're safe. There are still some out there who were loyal to my father, we haven't caught them all yet, and it's no secret what you mean to me anymore."
Her eyes flickered, and tears sprang forth, but she rapidly blinked them back. "Max has been with me, and I have my bow."
The slender curve of her neck drew his eyes as she glanced toward the barn doors. He winced at the myriad of bite marks and bruises from his brother and father, stark reminders of the brutality she'd endured and wouldn’t talk about. He didn’t know how to ease the air of desolation around her.
"At least have a vampire with you; I can't lose you again, Aria."
Her freedom was essential, but she had to stay alive. Something flickered in her eyes as she turned back to him, she looked about to say something more but nodded.
"Xavier has stepped aside as leader of his people," he said.
Her eyebrows drew together over her nose. "Why would he do that?"
"Xavier has always preferred his books and histories more so than his role as an aristocrat. He was never afforded the opportunity to step aside before, but now he has a chance to set his destiny. He has chosen to stay on as an advisor and sit in on important issues involving the people he represented when it's necessary, but he doesn't want to be involved in the daily running of the government, not anymore. We have all agreed to accept his decision. He said he would stay with you if that's okay?"
"Why would he want to stay with me when he just gained the freedom he desired?"
Now was not the time to give her the real answer, but he couldn't bring himself to lie to her either. "He's curious about how the rebellion worked. He won't push you, won't ask you anything, but if you're willing to talk with him, he is more than willing to listen."
"I see," she murmured. "That's fine."
"Aria—"
She held up a hand to forestall his words. "I don't mind if Xavier stays. I would just like to be out here, away from…"
Her words trailed off; her gaze darted toward the palace. Her father was one of the few who hadn't been buried yet. He'd been placed in the second hall on the main floor so his followers would have a chance to say goodbye. Barnaby, whose body had also been recovered, was lying in the room beside David's. His father, Caleb, and Natasha hadn't been awarded the same luxury and had already been buried in unmarked graves away from the palace.
"I have to be outside for a bit," she said.
"I understand."
Her attention was diverted as Max returned with a small piglet that was squealing in his arms and bleeding from a gash in his leg. "I have to get back to the animals."
He thought she was going to turn away from him and shut him out. After a moment's hesitation though she hurried over, wrapped her arms around his waist, and hugged him. He felt the wetness of her tears, but when she pulled away, she had already stopped shedding them. He brushed the hair back from her face as he kissed her softly and released her into the care of Xavier and Max.
Braith hated he couldn't be with her when she retreated to the stables for the following two days, but there was so much to repair and order to be re-established. Barnaby's followers were confused and scrambling. Calista and Gideon had taken over trying to organize them while Adam, Barnaby's second, was slowly working to assume command.
Xavier reported back to him every night, but it wasn't the same. He longed to be with her during the day, but he couldn't always have everything he wanted. Not anymore. He refused to leave her at night though, no matter what necessity might arise to draw his attention from her, he wouldn't leave her side. He'd placed Jack and Gideon in charge of any crisis that occurred at night.
For two nights, he held her as she lay awake. She remained mute as she stared unseeingly into the darkness, sometimes shedding silent tears that broke his heart. In all his years, he'd never felt more helpless, not even when Caleb had taken her from him.
At least then there had been a plan; there had been a mission and someone to destroy. There was nothing now; there was no one he could protect her from, no way for him to ease her deep heartache.
Braith didn't know how to handle grief, he couldn't beat it, he couldn't break it, and he couldn't kill it. All he could do was lay helplessly beside her and hold her as she suffered through the nights. It didn't help that she wouldn't talk about it, the mere mention of her father made her flinch; her face would become stony and impassive every time his father or Caleb was brought up.
Finally, last night, something had changed. Long after everyone retreated to sleep, she rose from his bed, grabbed a robe, and padded away noiselessly. His exhaustion clung to him as he followed behind her, uncertain of where she was going until she arrived on the first floor.
He'd held back, hovering in the doorway as she'd wandered to her father's side. She stood beside the casket hiding the injury he'd sustained to his shoulder and the spear hole through the heart that was his downfall. Braith was infinitely glad the wounds were hidden as she sat on the stool next to her father, placed her head on his chest and wept more openly than she had for the past three days.
Though he'd yearned to go to her, to hold her, or pull her away, he'd remained unmoving. He sensed she was instinctively seeking a way to heal and say goodbye on her own; he didn't belong here. He'd retreated from the doorway, leaving her within as he settled on the cold marble floor outside the room and waited for her to come back to him. She didn't emerge until the first rays of daylight broke over the horizon.
He'd carried her back to bed, where she fell into a fitful sleep for a few hours; it was far more than the mere minutes at a time that claimed her for the past three nights.
Now, on the fourth day, they were burying David. A man, who even he mourned the death of, and not just because of Aria. David was a good man who had created a fantastic woman; he'd loved his children and accomplished so much in his short, mortal lifetime. They'd butted heads over Aria, but it had been because of their mutual love for her, and in the end, David revealed everything he knew. Though none of what David told them offered any certainty to the questions Xavier had presented.
Braith kept his arm around her waist; he wasn't holding her up, but he felt it was only a matter of time before he might have to. Her brothers stood beside her, as stalwart as she'd been over the past few days. They'd gone almost woodenly about their days as they helped to oversee the repairs to the worst of the destruction wrought and the reformation of the new government.
Aria's skin was unnaturally pale against the black enshrouding her. He kept the umbrella over her head, sheltering her from the steady rain as she pressed closer to his side. Her hair fell forward to hide her delicate features as she kept her head bowed.
Depression had taken its toll on her. Her collarbone, the bones in her chest, and the back of her hands stood out more. She hadn't eaten much over the past few days, but Xavier and Max made sure she ate breakfast and lunch, and he made sure she put some food in her stomach at dinner time. He was concerned about her, but beneath the choking sorrow, he knew she was still strong, vibrant, and very much determined to live.
At least he hoped she was.
The funeral was not like the other human funerals he'd witnessed over the years, or even like the more elaborate vampire funerals he'd attended. There was no preacher; instead, the people who felt like speaking each took a turn.
He'd lost count of the humans who stepped forward to speak of David, then Jack, and finally Daniel had assumed the spot at the head of the gravesite. Though they wouldn't be buried next to one another, Aria had asked for her mother's name to be added to the tombstone, and Braith had been mor
e than willing to comply.
Though there were a few times Daniel's voice broke, he didn't cry, and he appeared every bit as strong as the leader he'd just become as he spoke of his father. Beside Aria, William's fingers twitched; the two of them briefly clasped hands before breaking contact. A single tear slid down her face as Daniel said a final goodbye and stepped away.
Aria's delicate fingers twirled around the single red rose she held. She stepped forward, momentarily exposed to the rain as she tossed the flower onto the coffin. She was shaking as she stepped back beside him. He ached for her so much that he felt her suffering almost as acutely as if it were his own.
He turned her away and walked with her amongst the crush of humans and vampires as they moved away from the woods and back toward the palace. He'd offered to bury their father in the royal cemetery, but they refused, stating he would be happier in the woods, and Braith knew they were right.
Once inside the palace, he led her toward the stairs. Gideon's brown hair was still damp from the rain as hurried to catch up with them.
"Later, Gideon," Braith informed him.
Gideon looked as if he was going to argue, but he closed his mouth as he met Aria's haunted gaze. "As soon as you are able, it is essential we speak."
"I'll be down again in a few hours."
Gideon nodded and bowed his head as he stepped away. Braith felt the eyes on his back as he led her up the stairs and to the new rooms he'd claimed for them until his old suite was restored. He didn't even know yet if Aria would be willing to stay in the palace, but he wasn't going to push her on the subject of their future now. They'd speak of it when she was ready.
Once inside the room, he slipped the damp black cloak from her shoulders and tossed it aside. Her arms were chilled, and the small blue veins running through her pale skin were visible.
The marks his brother and father had inflicted on her were dark and vivid. His jaw clenched, he wished those marks would fade far quicker than they were. She stood, unmoving before him as his hands briefly traced over her bare shoulders.
The Captive Series 1-5 Page 69
