There was a moment of silence and then they burst into conversation again. Xavier entered the debate for the first time on the side of Daniel, while Gideon and Adam continued to watch and listen. Braith finally ended the argument by calling for a vote. Aria was unmoving as she waited breathlessly to see what they would decide. They had established a more civilized and kinder rule in The Barrens, and she hoped that would prevail here.
“I think we agree that if the soldiers are willing to swear fealty to us, and consent to be monitored for whatever period of time we see fit, they may be allowed to live. If not, their lives are forfeit,” Calista declared. Saul and Frank didn’t look overly pleased with this decision, but they didn’t protest it either.
The shoulders of most of the soldiers slumped, some nodded enthusiastically, but there were a few that didn’t look at all pleased. Aria wondered if they would choose death over their new regime. If so, that was their choice to make, and she wouldn’t interfere with it.
“And the girl?” Aria turned at Ashby’s question.
“I think that should be Arianna’s decision.” She sensed some kind of test behind Gideon’s words as she met his gaze. “It is you that has been harmed by her the most.”
Aria focused on Lauren, but the girl wouldn’t meet her gaze as she stared at the wall behind Braith’s head. Braith’s thumb stroked over the back of her hand. Whatever she decided he would abide by it, they all would. Resentment twisted through her, she would like for Lauren to just look at her, to give her some sign that she regretted even a little of what she’d done. There was nothing.
“Let her go.” As much as she wanted to she couldn’t exact revenge upon Lauren. Though there had been a time after her first capture that her father had wrongfully wanted revenge for her, for the most part he hadn’t believed in it and had insisted that everything they did was not for revenge, but to try and create a better world. She couldn’t throw that aside now, she couldn’t let her father down because of her desire to punish Lauren. A small smile tugged at Gideon’s mouth as he gave a brief bow of his head and sat back. She realized that he’d been trying to discern if she would ask for leniency for others, but punish those that had wronged her. “She isn’t a threat to us.”
Aria hadn’t expected to see relief nor had she expected to see gratitude, so she wasn’t surprised by the hatred that continued to blaze from Lauren’s eyes. Braith’s jaw clenched, Aria was certain he would have preferred Lauren dead, and he would have been the one to do it. “You may leave, but you’re not to stay within these palace walls, the bailey, or the town beyond. I don’t care where you go, but if I see you again I can promise that you will not be spared next time. If I were you I would get as far from here as you possibly can, as fast as you can,” he grated and for the first time fright trickled over Lauren’s features. “Max, would you please escort her to the palace gates.”
“With pleasure,” Max responded with a tight smile as he strode toward the doors and pulled one open. He made a sweeping bow to Lauren who remained pale and slack mouthed as she stared at him.
“That isn’t the choice I would have made,” Braith said so quietly that only Aria could hear him.
“I know.”
“If I see her again, I will kill her, and I will enjoy it.”
She turned toward him, not at all intimidated by the darkness simmering beneath his smooth exterior. “I know. She won’t come back again Braith, but if she does I won’t interfere.”
He shook his head as he leaned closer to her. Stubble shadowed his square jaw; he hadn’t had time to shave in the past few days between the new demands placed upon him, and staying by her side every free moment he had. Love swelled within her heart, there was such darkness inside of him, and yet such good and understanding. He released her hand, his arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to his side.
“Sometimes you are too forgiving,” he whispered against her ear.
“And sometimes you’re that same stubborn prince I first met; only now you’re a king.”
Something flickered in his gaze as sadness filtered across his features. He didn’t have to tell her, she already knew that he would stay king. It wasn’t what he would have chosen, he’d done nothing but fight against it, but he’d finally come to realize that this was where he was supposed to be. The only problem was, she didn’t know what would become of her, and neither did he.
“I’m tired, if you don’t mind I’d like to return to the room.”
His fingers gently stroked over her cheek. “I’ll take you.”
“Stay. I know my way back.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Though she still felt strange being so open about their relationship, she leaned forward and pressed a feathery kiss upon his hard mouth. She had meant for it to be quick, but she lost herself to the pleasure and taste of his lips. For a brief moment there was no despair, there was no war or uncertainty. There was only the two of them as the warmth of his lips heated her all the way to the tips of her toes.
She forced herself to pull away and smiled as she met his dazed gaze. “Get going,” he said gruffly.
She pecked his cheek before rising to her feet. “Excuse me everyone.” She gave a brief bow of her head before she hurried from the room.
Stepping into the hall she was relieved to find it deserted. She hurried toward the stairs, but before she began her ascent she found her gaze inescapably drawn to the closed doors of the throne room. She stood, her hand resting on the newel post as she studied the doors with a mixture of dread and morbid curiosity.
Moving away from the staircase she slowly approached the room. Her hand shook as she turned the handle and pushed one of the doors open. She braced herself, steeling her courage for what she knew lay within. She peered inside as the door swung open but she hadn’t been expecting what was inside. Everything was spotless and bare, the massive table, chairs, and throne were gone. Even the hideous trophies of people and vampires the king had so proudly displayed had been removed. The blood had been scrubbed clean and the gray marble floors gleamed in the light filtering through the upper windows.
Her gaze ran over the beautiful fixtures that graced the room as she stepped in further. The room was stunning but it would never be anything but cold and hideous to her. Her eyes lingered on the beam she had been perched upon and finally the spot where her father’s body had laid. There was nothing to mark the place, but she knew exactly where it was.