“But you’re frightened I won’t survive the change.”
“There are some things we must discuss, when you’re feeling better.”
Her forehead furrowed. “What things?”
“Later Aria, for now take some time to heal. We have time now, enjoy it.”
“We do, don’t we?” she replied with a small smile. “I miss him.”
“I know.”
“I wish he had survived to see us succeed.”
“He knew.”
Her eyes drifted closed as she rested her cheek on her knees again. He continued to hold her until the water turned cold, and he helped her out. She stood, shivering slightly as he dried her off with a towel and helped her into a robe. As they entered the sitting room Aria took a sudden step back at the sight of Jack on the couch with his legs leisurely crossed at the ankles. Braith wasn’t the least bit surprised to see his brother though.
“I brought the food.”
Aria eyed Jack warily as she circled around him to the tray of food he’d placed near the window. Keegan lifted his head to watch her for a moment before yawning and dropping his head back to his paws. “Thank you,” she muttered.
Braith was reminded of the fact that he’d suspected something off between them before she’d been abducted. He hadn’t had time to think of it after, but the tension between them was obvious as they stared at each other. His brother wasn’t so foolish as to think he could take her from this palace again without Braith destroying him, or was he?
“Why are you here Jack?” Braith inquired brusquely.
“They would like to have a meeting tonight to decide what will be done with the remaining soldiers.”
Aria placed the piece of bread she had been picking at down. “What do you mean what is to be done with them?” she inquired.
“They worked for the king Aria,” Braith reminded her.
She shook her head as she glanced between the two of them. “I know that, but are you going to kill them because of that?”
“That is not my decision to make.”
“I know you expect to establish this democracy type of government, but to start with this type of slaughter is to create a government founded in blood. I know that it started with a war, but what happens from here on out will shape the future.”
“There are times when blood is necessary,” Jack said.
There was a fire in her gaze that hadn’t been there for the past few days as she glared at his brother. “Death is not the answer here.”
“Then what would you suggest?” Jack demanded. “We turn them loose to gather a rebellion against us? There are men loyal to my father who could easily instigate another war. Is that what you would like, even more death?”
The color drained from Aria’s face, her hands fell limply into her lap. Braith took a step toward his brother as Jack threw up his hands and leapt to his feet. He cautiously edged away from Braith and toward the door. “I didn’t… I wasn’t thinking; I’m sorry Aria. You know how much your father meant to me too.”
“Get out Jack,” Braith grated.
Jack was just as pale as Aria as he managed a quick nod. “Wait.” Aria pushed aside the tray as she rose to her feet. “I know you didn’t mean anything Jack, and more death is the last thing I want, but there must be another option. The soldiers were just following orders; some of them must be worth saving.”
“I’m sure some of them are,” Jack agreed as his gaze shot warily to Braith. “But there are others that must be destroyed, you have to understand that Aria.”
“Does my opinion even matter?”
“Your opinion has always mattered to me and there are many who admire and respect it also,” Braith informed her. Her brow furrowed as she stared at him. “You helped to take down not only an aged, powerful vampire, but also a king.”
Her jaw clenched as she glanced away. “I don’t like to be admired for death, no matter how awful Caleb was.”
“I know that Aria, but you’re also admired for your bravery.”
Her face colored, she looked uncomfortable with the notion as she shifted uneasily. “I understand that the men and women most loyal to your father have to be put down. I know the way of the world, and the repercussions of war, but some of those guards had no other choice. Some of them were simply doing their jobs in order to take care of their families, in order to survive. We’ve all done things we didn’t want to do in order to stay alive; you can’t punish them for doing the same.”
“Would you like to come to the meeting to state your opinion?” Braith inquired.
“I would.”
Jack’s eyes darted worriedly toward him. “There is something else you must know first.” She quirked an eyebrow as she studied him. Braith didn’t really want to tell her this, but he couldn’t hide it from her and he wasn’t about to lie to her. “Gwendolyn is one of the prisoners.”
For a moment confusion marred her features and then her eyes widened as her mouth dropped. “Your fiancée?” she blurted.
“Ex,” he growled.
She blinked as she shook her head. “Yes, ex, whatever. What is she doing there? Here?”
“She was an aristocrat Aria; she resided within the town and was amongst those captured. Lauren will be there also.” Her nose wrinkled as her lip curled. Keegan rose and pressed against her legs as he sought to offer her comfort. “I would still like for you to attend.”
Aria was quiet for a moment. Braith thought she might refuse, that she might retreat back into the world of despair that had clamped its teeth into her. Instead, she turned toward him and nodded firmly. “So would I.”
He couldn’t help but smile at her as relief filled him, his Aria had never retreated from anything.
Chapter 16
On the way down Aria had been terrified that the meeting would be held in the throne room. It was the king’s room after all and the largest room in the palace. Braith’s room now, she reminded herself, still marveling over the fact that they had won, and that the man walking so proudly at her side now presided over them. He was the man that would lead them into a new time, a new rule, a new form of government, and if anyone could make it work it would be Braith, she was certain of that.
She was relieved when Braith guided her in the opposite direction of the throne room though, and into a private solar off the main hall. Thankfully not the one her father had been kept in either. It was nowhere near as big, or as elaborate as the throne room, but it was more than enough for what they required, and didn’t house anything threatening or cruel. It fit Braith far better than his father’s monstrosity of a throne room would have.