No wonder she preferred the trees.
CHAPTER 11
“You know, for an immortal vampire you’re a bit of a wimp,” Aria informed Ashby.
He flashed his dashing smile as he grinned. “I never said I wasn’t.”
As quietly as possible, so as not to wake the sleeping creature’s, she closed three of the five gates. “They’ll go out tonight.” She pointed to the fourth gate. “That’s the way out, when they leave to feed we’ll lock it down and they won’t be able to get back in.”
“We’re not staying here, are we?” Ashby inquired worriedly.
Aria shook her head. “No, we are not savages; we don’t like the smell of guano any more than you do.”
Braith squeezed her shoulder soothingly. “No one is saying that,” he assured her.
Aria took a deep breath, trying to keep her control. It wasn’t only their scrutiny and blatant revulsion that had her so wound up, but also the confining walls surrounding her. “I know,” she said. “We always leave one of the larger caverns blocked off so the bats can’t get inside. This way.”
Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the pungent aroma of the bat droppings as she picked her way over it, moving steadily toward the fourth gate. It had already been closed off. “I’ll go,” Braith was moving toward her but she held up her hand and shook her head.
“No Braith, I have to go through this time. Its booby trapped and I know where the triggers are.” A low grumble of displeasure escaped him as he moved to intercept her. She’d already prepared herself for this argument. “I helped Daniel design a good portion of them, believe me it is far safer for me in there than you.”
“Aria…”
“Stop being so stubborn,” she interrupted. “Besides, at this point in time, your life is far more valuable than mine.”
She realized immediately that had been the completely wrong thing to say. He seized hold of her, lifting her as he thrust his face into hers. The gentle man from outside was gone, before her was the vampire prince that was used to being obeyed and expected it from everyone, except for maybe her. “Don’t you ever say that again!” he snapped so loudly that Ashby’s gaze darted nervously to the top of the cave. “Your life is every bit as important as mine, if not more so…”
“Braith,” she whispered. “You must lower your voice.”
“Do you think I care about a bunch of flying rodents?”
“If they leave their perch they’ll leave this cave. They’ll attract attention Braith, you must calm down.” She touched his arm lightly, looking to soothe him. “I know these caves Braith, I’ll be fine.”
His jaw clenched, his head bowed as he pressed his forehead against hers. “Your life is just as important. Without you, I’m nothing.”
Her gaze darted nervously toward Xavier; Braith had just revealed too much, she knew it. A surge of protectiveness shot through her, her hands squeezed around Braith’s arms as she stared fiercely at the dark vampire, daring him to say something, to do anything that would hurt Braith. She would be nearly useless against the powerful older vamp, but she would do everything she could to keep Braith safe.
“It’s ok,” he whispered against her ear. “It’s too late anyway.”
Aria shuddered, it was too late, their secret had been revealed to Xavier, and if they continued on it wouldn’t be long before it was obvious to everyone. Terror coiled through her belly, it spread out to her limbs, leaving a trail of cold across her skin and within her muscles.
She pressed closer to him as her hands grasped at his flesh. She needed the physical contact like a drowning man needed air. A low sigh of relief escaped as her fingers encircled the thick steel of his arms. Beneath the wiry hair of his forearms his skin was smooth to the touch. It eased the tension within her.
She forced herself to release him as she took a small step away. “I can do this, I know the traps well. I’ll be fine.”
His eyes closed, she sensed his inner struggle, she braced herself for more of a battle but then his shoulders slumped and she knew she’d won. “I’m going to be right by your side.”
She went to turn away but he pulled her back to him. He tenderly clasped hold of her face, cradling it with an ease that belied the power that radiated from him. He could crush her in an instant, yet he held her with the gentleness of someone who had just been handed the most fragile flower in the world. His lips were a light caress against hers, so faint that she barely felt the brush of them.
“Just as important, and don’t you ever forget that, don’t you ever say something like that again.”
She swallowed heavily and managed a small nod. “I won’t,” she promised.
He continued to hold her, seemingly torn and unwilling to let her go. Finally he stepped back and released her. She felt a sense of loss that she couldn’t shake. She didn’t look at Xavier as she turned slowly away from Braith and moved toward the closed fourth gate.
“How do you get it open?” Ashby’s voice was hushed. She turned toward him, startled by the paleness of his skin that she didn’t think was entirely due to the bats. His lips were pinched; his eyes shadowed and haunted as his gaze darted nervously away from hers.
“I have my secrets, and talents,” she answered with a small wave of her fingers, hoping to coax his cocky smile back. He remained uncharacteristically solemn.
“That’s for sure.”
She frowned at Xavier as she studied him. She thought he had spoken those words, but she couldn’t be certain. She took the torch from Braith as she ran her fingers over the wall. She found the tiny switch set back into the wall and pressed against it.
The thick metal door popped open with a hiss of stale air. It smelled even danker and mustier in there, but it didn’t stop her as she pressed her hand against the solid iron door and pushed it the rest of the way open. “Ingenious,” Ashby muttered.
Aria gulped as she stepped into the dark tunnel. It was ten steps to the first trap, a set of four stones set into the floor that when stepped on would fire a rapid release of stakes from the cave walls. “Should we shut this?” Xavier inquired.
“Yes. William knows how to open it and we all know Ashby won’t appreciate it if a bat gets in.”
“You got that right.”
“There are four stones here.” She pointed them out. “Don’t step on them.”
“What happens if we do?” Xavier inquired.
“Nothing good. I’ll be right back.” She had to set the traps off, she knew that. William was well aware of their location, but there was no way that all of those troops weren’t going to hit at least one of them. “Stay here.”
She could feel the apprehension radiating from Braith. “These traps are old…”
“Not that old, and Daniel is a genius, believe me they’re still safe to maneuver through.”
She could tell that he didn’t want her to go but he fisted his hands at his sides, locked his jaw and managed to give her a brief nod to continue. Aria placed the torch into a socket in the wall; she would not need it on the other side. She moved through the tunnel, avoiding the stones with ease. Reaching the safety of the solid rock, she knelt as her fingers sought out the small switch carved into the bottom of the cave and set about six inches back from the bottom.
“Move back,” she told them.
Braith hesitated for a moment before pushing Xavier and Ashby back. When she was certain they were well out of the way she flipped the switch. Stakes exploded from the wall in a puff of dust and air that made it impossible to see the three of them on the other side. Ashby and Xavier cursed loudly.
“Aria!” Braith shouted.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. He was slowly coming back into view as the dust began to settle. Though most of the stakes littered the ground, some had embedded themselves into the crevices of the rock wall. Ashby was gawking as he searched the scattered stakes; even Xavier’s normally calm exterior seemed ruffled. “It’s safe now.”
Though Xavier and Ashby hesitated,
Braith strode rapidly forward. His displeasure was evident, his tension high as his arm wrapped around her waist. “How many more of these traps are there?” Xavier inquired as he and Ashby picked their way carefully through the stakes.
“Ten.”
“Crap,” Ashby muttered.
“I can dismantle them all, don’t worry.”
Xavier’s dark eyes were intense as he studied her. “You helped the man that designed these?”
“I had a hand in some of it, but for the most part he created them.”
“Is this Daniel someone in your family?”
Aria wasn’t surprised by Xavier’s acute insight but she still didn’t like it. “Yes, my brother.”
He nodded for a brief moment; his eyes darted over the cave walls. “That little talent will come in handy.”
“It will,” Braith agreed. “How far until the next one?”
“Thirty feet.”
“Lead the way.”
Aria sighed in relief as he remained resigned to let her do what was necessary.
CHAPTER 12
It took almost two painstaking hours but eventually Aria was able to dismantle all of the traps. She was exhausted and on edge by the time they finally made their way into another large cavern that was entirely bat free; a fact that Ashby commented happily upon. The torchlight played over the dark recesses as Aria made her way around, gathering other torches from their sconces in the wall.
“This tunnel will lead back into the main exit.” She took hold of Braith’s hand, running it over the wall until she found the switch. “This will open the gate when pressed.”
Xavier and Ashby pressed closer, they murmured between each other as Ashby held the torch high to inspect the area she had just shown Braith. Aria left the three of them to marvel over the intricacies within the caves.
Her throat was dry and her clothes stuck to her as she made her way to the supply room at the end of another tunnel. There was another gate here but the key for it hung beside the door. There was no need to keep humans from taking what they might require. Grasping the key she lifted the light, frowning as she realized that the gate was unlocked. They never left the supply rooms open just in case an animal managed to get this far.
She grasped hold of the iron bars and pulled the gate open as she lifted the torch high. A set of wild and crazed pale blue eyes blazed out at her. A startled gasp escaped as she took a swift step back. It was a man, of that much she was certain, but she wasn’t sure exactly what kind of a man it was anymore. His skin was abnormally pale; he seemed unaccustomed to light as he blinked rapidly against the flame of the torch.
Revulsion filled her as his lips skimmed back to reveal a mouth riddled by missing gaps and rotten teeth. The torch slipped from her suddenly numbed fingers as the man leapt from the bags of stored grain. He seemed more animal than human as he rushed at her. Stunned, it took Aria a moment to realize that she was in jeopardy, that this person, this thing had every intention of attacking her.
A startled cry escaped her, she grasped hold of the gate and heaved it with every ounce of strength she had. It was too late though. The man slammed into the gate, ripping it from her grasp as he shoved it back open. Aria swung her fist up, connecting forcefully with his jaw, snapping his head to the side as he launched at her. Hands skimmed down her body, grasping and pulling as he tried to secure his hold on her.
She realized her mistake too late. So attuned to having to defend her throat, her blood, her life, Aria had not been prepared for a different sort of hunger. It wasn’t until the frenzied man ripped her shirt open that she realized she was in a situation unlike any she’d ever been in before.
Taken aback by the ferocity of the attack, and his intentions, Aria was momentarily unable to defend herself. Then his hands were on her, over her, pushing and pulling at the skin exposed by her torn shirt. Reason returned as adrenaline doused her terror. She shoved at the man, turning her face away from the putrid smell of his breath. A scream built in her chest, surged up her throat, and erupted in a squeak that was cut off as the man succeeded in pressing his mouth to hers.
Bile surged up her throat; she almost vomited as his thick tongue shoved against her compressed lips. With a fresh surge of strength, she lifted her knee and drove it into his balls. The man squealed, his grip on her momentarily relaxed enough that she was able to throw herself to the side, nearly succeeding in ripping free of his grasp. It was the sharp right hook she delivered to his cheek that finally knocked his hold upon her loose. She staggered back, trying to keep her balance as she spun around and started to run.
She was almost to the end of the tunnel when his arms encircled her waist. The air rushed out of her as they fell to the ground in a tumbled heap that knocked the wind from her and skinned her knees and elbows. He was clawing his way up her back when the air rushed back into her lungs. Flipping beneath him, she swung at him again, shattering his nose.
He squealed, falling back as blood spurted forth. Aria crab crawled backward, trying to regain her feet as the man leveled her with a glare that was not only lustful but also murderous. A roar of fury suddenly reverberated throughout the massive cavern.
The man’s head snapped up, his eyes widened. Aria hadn’t been sure there was much reason left to him, but apparently his survival instinct was still intact as he reeled backward. She was well aware of just how terrifying Braith could be, just how deadly and inhuman, and all of that was being honed in on the man before her. The man leapt up, a wild cry escaping him as he raced down the tunnel.
Aria scooted away, clinging to her shredded shirt as she tried uselessly to cover herself up. Braith raced past her, barely a blur as the loud clang of metal echoed through the cave. The man had succeeded in retreating into the storage room and slamming the door shut. “Are you ok?” Ashby demanded as he fell beside her.
She wasn’t frightened of Ashby, but when he reached for her, she shied away from him. “I wouldn’t,” Xavier cautioned.
Ashby looked torn and horrified as his eyes skimmed over her. “Fine,” she managed to breathe as she clung to her shirt. “I’m fine, really.”
Aria’s attention was distracted from Ashby as a loud wrenching sound filled the cave. Xavier stepped forward as Braith ripped the gate from the walls of the cave. The gate was solid steel, without bars to prevent rodents from entering the storage room. The only hole in it had been a slit near the top to allow some air to flow through the room. Aria didn’t know how Braith had managed to wrench the heavy door free. The door flew down the tunnel, causing Xavier to dart out of the way as it bounced swiftly off the rock walls, nearly taking him out in the process.
Xavier’s mouth dropped, his gaze darted wildly to the door now lying at the opening of the tunnel. Aria knew it weighed a good five hundred pounds and it had taken seven men to get it in place. Xavier stared at Aria for a moment before turning to Ashby.
“I told you he could take the king,” Ashby murmured so faintly that Aria wasn’t even certain she’d heard him right.
Xavier’s gaze came slowly back to her as she tried to lurch to her feet. Inhuman squeals echoed from the storage room as Braith disappeared inside. “Wait no!” she cried, falling back against the tunnel wall as a wave of dizziness rocked her.
Ashby grasped her shoulders to steady her but she shrugged him off as silence suddenly enshrouded the tunnel. Horror pooled in Aria, her hand fell against the wall helping to keep her up as Braith emerged from the storage room. She knew the sudden silence had not been because he was injured, but relief still filled her.
The man was dead. She didn’t have to ask, she knew Braith would not leave him alive. She thought she should be more upset, she wasn’t. What had been in that room had no longer been a man, there had been no saving him.
Braith was before her suddenly. She did not shrink from him, did not shy away from his frantic, yet tender touch. “Are you ok?” he demanded, his voice hoarse and raw.
“Yes.”
His hands mov
ed steadily lower, stopping at the tattered remains of her shirt. “Get out of here!” he snarled at Ashby and Xavier.
They stood for a brief moment before slipping out of the tunnel. His hands trembled as he tugged the pieces from her hand and pulled them slowly apart. He was stiff before her, barely moving as he gazed upon her. While in the palace she had been forced to wear some of the silliest and most uncomfortable undergarments she had ever seen in her life. Once free of the palace she had resumed her habit of wearing an undershirt, sometimes a slip.
The slip she wore now had also been torn, but unlike the ruined shirt it was still intact enough to cover her breasts. It was nearly see through, even in the dim light of the tunnel, and especially to the acute vision of a vampire but she wasn’t embarrassed. Her breath froze, her heart hammered as he remained still as stone before her.
“You’re bleeding.”
The words were grated through his teeth. And then, before she knew what was happening, he lowered his head to the scratch marks on her chest. His warm mouth made her heart lurch and his tongue against her skin caused her entire body to simmer with pleasure. Her fingers curled into his hair, holding him close as he licked the cuts on her chest.
He pulled slowly away, embracing her as he kissed her neck, her ear, and finally her lips. The brush of his lips against hers made her forget the hideous assault of the pitiful man. The touch of his lips made everything that was so arduous and wrong in their lives, worth it.
“They’ll heal faster now,” he whispered against her mouth.
“What will?” she inquired, still dazed and adrift in the feelings he aroused in her.
His fingers were subtle, a mere butterfly caress against her raw flesh. “Your wounds.”
Aria shuddered at the reminder. Braith could make her forget almost anything but now that she wasn’t overwhelmed by his touch, the events of the past five minutes crashed back over her. His fingers wrapped around the back of her head as he pulled her to him. “Are you sure that you’re ok?” he asked worriedly. She nodded, unable to form words as her fingers dug into his back.