“You may be the first thing he has ever chosen over his obligations.”
Aria was silent for a moment, and then she resumed her pace at his side. “But he hasn’t chosen me.”
“He’s chosen you more than I’ve ever seen him choose anything else. He came here for you, didn‘t he?”
Aria shook her head. She watched her bare feet as they moved through the forest, avoiding any obstacle that may pop up. She didn’t tell him that she was fairly certain that Braith had originally come here to kill her, or at least make her pay severely for her disobedience. “I choose your side over my family.”
Aria glanced up at Jack, brushing aside her damp hair. “Why?” she asked quietly, still not completely understanding why he had taken their side.
“Because the only person I cared about within those walls was Braith. Because once I was here, I knew that I was on the wrong side. There’s no need for anyone to be living like this, there is no need for the cruelty that has been bestowed upon the humans. Not anymore.”
“It sounds like you picture a world where we can all happily coexist,” she said softly.
He shrugged. “I’m not delusional,” he replied. “But I do think things could have been different, maybe even still could.”
“Perhaps.” Though she didn’t hold out much hope for that.
“You do need to stop taking off on your own though. Not even Braith can help you if you get caught again, and what Caleb would do to you…” His voice trailed off, his eyes were distant as he stared at the woods around them.
Aria didn’t want to know what Caleb would do to her. She didn’t even want to imagine what Caleb would do to her. He had unnerved her from the moment she had met him. There was something wrong with Caleb, something sadistic and cruel. Something that would take great pleasure in making her scream, in making her beg for mercy. In making her suffer.
Aria shuddered, she tried to shut the thought down, but it would not stop. “Ok?”
She swallowed heavily as she nodded. She hated to be restrained, confined, monitored, but Jack was right. “Ok,” she agreed.
He slid his arm though hers, pulling her lightly against his side. “I think of you like a sister.”
She managed a wan smile as she leaned against his side. “An annoying one?”
“Yes. You are also going to have to do something about Max.”
“Max?” she asked in confusion.
“He’s in love with you.” Aria frowned, her hand tightened on Jack’s arm. Jack was right, she had to make it clear to Max that there would never be anything between them. She hadn’t been fair to him lately, telling him no well leaning on him to help get her through the past months. Guilt and self hatred twisted through her stomach, she was ashamed of herself and Max was going to be hurt. But she knew now, that even if she never saw Braith again, he would always own her heart. “And he’s not very stable right now.”
“That woman that held him, she was awful to him in there, wasn’t she?”
Jack was silent for a long moment before he nodded briskly. “She was, and Max is convinced that it was the same with you.”
“I’ve told him it wasn’t.”
“And he doesn’t want to believe that. It’s easier for him to think of us all as monsters. If I hadn’t pulled the two of you out of there, he would hate me too. He still doesn’t trust me.”
Aria frowned as she glanced up at him. “Do you think he would do anything to hurt you?”
Jack shrugged. “He might try, but not for awhile, not until things are more established. He knows that I’m needed right now, but after…”
Aria stared at him in wide eyed surprise. “And you’re not angry about this?”
He glanced down at her. “What was done to him in there was something awful Aria. We will never know the extent of the cruelty he experienced, of the abuse that he took. No one comes out of that completely normal. I understand his anger and his hatred. But if he tries to kill me, I will not hold back.”
Aria swallowed heavily, she hated the awful situation they were stuck in, hated the fact that she would have to choose between Braith and her family, hating the fact that she was becoming increasingly worried and fearful of Max.
Chapter 8
“Do you ever do what you’re told?”
Aria didn’t bother to look up from the berries she was collecting. “Not usually.”
“You know you’re supposed to stay close.”
She glanced up at Max as he stopped at her side. His shadow fell across her, blocking out the sun. “I’m close.”
“Within eyesight Aria,” he growled.
She dropped the berries into her bucket, trying hard to keep her patience. She hated being ordered about, hated his high handed demeanor, but most of all she hated the fact that he felt he had any say over what she did, or didn’t, do. “I have my bow,” she reminded him.
“That will do a lot of good against a group of marauding vampires.”
Aria rolled her eyes as she wiped her hands and rose slowly to her feet. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” she reminded him.
“So capable that you were caught already.”
Aria heaved an impatient sigh; she grabbed hold of her bow as she tried to ignore the tugging waves of guilt crashing through her. She didn’t think she would ever be able to forgive herself for what had been done to Max, but she could not continue to live under the weight of that guilt. She also could not allow him to continue thinking there was any hope for them. Even if she gave Braith up, she would not choose Max. There could never be anyone, but Braith.
“I’m fine Max.”
“I understand your need for solitude Aria, I do, but you have to understand that I am only concerned about your safety.”
“I know,” she said softly, just agreeing with him in the hope that he would back off. Aria jumped in surprise when he seized gently hold of her chin. She frowned fiercely at him, trying hard to keep her temper.
“I know you feel that this raid is a bad idea, I know you think that they treated you kindly in there, but…”
“Max I can only tell you so many times that I was treated kindly in there. I know you had an awful time, I know that, but you have to believe me when I tell you that I didn’t. This raid is a bad idea, it’s an awful idea. I know you want revenge, but risking innocent lives is not the way to get it.”