Everyone had already gathered in the room, they rose as Braith entered, but she was well aware of the fact that their eyes tracked her as she moved through the room. Daniel stood at the side of the table with William and Max behind him. They all smiled at her, but she sensed their surprise over her presence. William was still on crutches, his impaired leg propped out before him as he gave her a thumbs up.
The massive chair at the head of the table was obviously Braith’s, but as he strode toward it he snagged another chair with one hand. He shoved the larger chair to the side and placed the smaller one next to it. He held it out for her, a look of defiance on his face as he raked the table with his steely gaze.
It was only then that she realized he hadn’t worn his glasses in awhile. She studied his magnificent profile, and the short black hair that fell about his forehead in waves. Holding his gaze, she had to fight back the tears of love and pride that filled her eyes. He’d been born for this, he excelled at it, and he desired for her to be at his side.
Even if she couldn’t be.
Swallowing heavily Aria slid into the chair. She’d expected some condemnation, some irritation, or some form of protest against her sitting beside Braith, but she saw only curiosity and some sadness as she looked around the table at “The Council” as they had dubbed themselves. They’d officially relinquished the aristocratic titles they’d held in the past in favor of starting fresh and new.
“We are sorry about your father, he was a good fighter.”
This statement from Calista caused another kind of lump to form in her throat. For a moment she struggled against the tears that burned her eyes at the reminder of her father. She was taken aback by the kind words from a woman who had seemed nothing but distant before, and who had ruthlessly slaughtered Braith’s sister. “Thank you,” Aria managed to respond.
She started in surprise when Braith seized hold of her hand. For a moment she tried to tug it free but he held on, his jaw locked as he gazed at her. She knew there was no denying their relationship now, but she was still apprehensive to be so blatant about it. Then, she realized, that she didn’t care. There was no hiding this anymore and she didn’t want to.
Aria watched as ten men and two women were led into the room, they were dirty and disheveled but they didn’t appear overly mistreated. They certainly weren’t as mistreated as she had been. Resentment filled her as she recognized one of the women as the vampire that had owned Max. Which meant the other one, the beautiful doll like brunette staring hatefully back at her, was probably Gwendolyn. Though she knew Braith had never cared for the woman, she couldn’t help the bolt of jealousy that shot through her. Braith held her hand steady as he stared at her, and she realized that jealousy had no place here.
Besides, there was someone in this room reliving far worse memories than her. Max’s chin was raised, his gaze unwavering as he met the other vampire woman’s hostile stare. Aria had to fight the urge to jump up and throttle the hideous woman for everything she had done to Max. She remained unmoving though as everyone around her decided what would become of the women and their cohorts.
A lump formed in her throat as Max’s eyes met hers. She had a better idea now of what had been done to him, for what he had endured while in captivity, but she would never be able to understand the full depth of brutality that woman had put him through.
Aria listened as their fates were discussed by those at the table. These vampires had been the most treacherous and cruel of their kind. They had been the king’s body, had helped him to keep power, and had relished in the decisions the king had made and the sadistic world he’d created. Aria hoped every one of them fried, but it wasn’t her decision to make. Braith also remained silent as he listened to them debate for a few moments before coming to a unanimous decision that they were all to be executed.
“It’s agreed then?” questioned Braith.
“Yes,” Gideon stated.
“Wait! You can’t do this Braith! We were to be married!” Braith’s hand tightened around hers as Gwendolyn’s pleas fell on deaf ears and she was forcefully removed from the room.
Aria’s heart ached at the reminder, but she managed to keep her face impassive as Daniel’s and William’s heads shot toward her. “Bring the soldiers in,” Braith commanded.
Aria braced herself, this was why she’d come. She understood that the aristocrats had to be eliminated, but this was an entirely different matter. All the wind went out of her argument as Jack led Lauren into the room last.
Her mouth dropped open, the breath rushed out of her as she glanced at Braith. He’d told her that she would be here, but Aria hadn’t expected her to be grouped in with the soldiers. His eyes were unrelenting, his jaw locked as he stared back at her. She grasped hold of his thigh and held tight to it as he soothingly massaged the back of her hand with his thumb.
She barely heard the talk going around the table but this discussion was a lot more heated than the last one. Daniel and Ashby were for leniency, Calista, Frank, and Saul were completely against it; Adam, Gideon and Xavier remained mute as they listened to the arguments of the others.
Aria realized she had to speak up when it seemed like Ashby was starting to sway toward Calista, Frank, and Saul. “Can I say something?”
They all turned toward her, their faces twisted in various expressions of displeasure. Though she sensed their annoyance was due more to the fact that they couldn’t arrive at an agreement, than with her interruption. “Please do,” Saul remarked dryly.
Aria felt somewhat uncomfortable as they all focused on her. She glanced briefly at Daniel before taking a deep breath and plunging onward. “I understand the other deaths are necessary, if given a chance they would start a rebellion, and the pattern would never end. However, these men were simply doing what they were ordered to do. For years, death, torture and intimidation ruled here, don’t start this new government out the same way. If you slaughter them all, it will only show the people that nothing has changed, and that mercy is impossible. If these vampires before you swear fealty to you, and perhaps are even monitored for awhile, I don’t think they should be executed.”
She couldn’t believe those words had actually left her mouth. Just a few months ago she would have said kill them all simply because they were vampires. She would have said to kill Braith, and Ashby, Jack, and Melinda too for that matter, but she would have been wrong. They weren’t all monsters, they were simply different, and had different needs, but for the most part they were good and kind, protective and loving. She knew now there were bad apples among both human and vampire alike.