"Put me down!" she snapped. His grip simply tightened on her. Irritation and frustration simmered within her, moving rapidly toward a boiling point as everything inside of her threatened to explode at once. She wanted to scream, wanted to kick and claw and go wild, but she did none of those things, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her broken. She folded her arms over her chest as she focused her gaze stubbornly beyond Jack, and on the gardens.
Seeming to realize that she wasn't going to bend, Braith placed her unhurriedly down but didn't release her. He kept his arm latched around her waist. "My family will not come for me," Aria declared firmly. "No matter what happens, no matter what is done to me, they will not come for me. They can't."
His fingers clutched on her stomach as he pulled her closer against him, pressing her back flat against him. Astonishment filtered over Jack's face as he surveyed her and Braith. "Damn it Arianna! You should have told me!" Braith roared, causing her to flinch in response.
She shuddered, wishing she could take solace in his arms, like she had before, but she knew there was no solace to be found this time. Telling him wouldn't have changed any of this; it only would have denied her the few moments of happiness she had found with him. No matter what, she would not trade those moments for anything, not even to avoid this. He couldn't protect her from this; he couldn't stop his family from torturing her, not once his brother revealed who she truly was. She didn't even pretend to kid herself that he could, it would be impossible.
Aria closed her eyes, fighting the hot wash of tears. "I can't let you turn her in Jericho." Aria's eyes flew open in shock, Braith's hand brushed briefly across her stomach, stroking her soothingly. She was trembling within his grasp, uncertain about what he was saying. Uncertain she had heard him right. He released her, pushing her behind him, pinning her against the door. "I can't let you tell them."
Amazement radiated from Jack as his gaze darted wildly between them. "What are you saying?" he demanded.
"I am saying that you will not be leaving this room until we figure something out, but it will not involve you taking her, and it will not involve you telling them who she is."
Aria rested her fingers on Braith's back, too taken aback to move for a moment. Slowly, she peered around his back to look at Jack. "Braith…"
"You may be mature now, but I can still take you," Braith warned.
Aria gaped in astonishment, Jack's mouth dropped as his dark eyebrows shot into his hairline. "Braith," she breathed. Her fingers curled into the shirt he wore, she was awed by the fact that he was willing to protect her. He was going against his own kind, going against his family, for her.
"She can't stay here Braith," Jack retorted. "You know that."
"You're not giving her to them!" He took a threatening step toward his brother.
Aria jerked on his shirt, trying to pull him back. His body quivered with rage, his muscles vibrated with it. She didn't want to die, didn't want to be handed over to be tortured and used against her family, but she also wasn't going to watch two brothers fight because of her. If Braith was injured she would never forgive herself.
"I never planned to," Jack told him.
Both Aria and Braith started at his words. "Excuse me?" Braith grated.
Jack rocked back on his heels as he studied the two of them. "Apparently we have a lot to discuss, but you can rest assured that I am not here to turn Aria over to our father."
"Then what are you here for?" Aria whispered.
Jack turned to her, his eyes remorseless. "To bring you home."
Aria's fingers dug into Braith's shirt as she trembled against him, she was thrilled by Jack's words. Home! To be home in her forest, with her friends, and her family! To be free, running wild, back in the world that she knew and loved so much, to be amongst the animals and trees, to breathe fresh air and not have to be leashed in order to do so. It was all so wonderful, and she craved it so badly that she could nearly taste it.
Then Braith turned toward her. She felt the heat of his gaze behind his glasses, the alarm that filled him as she tilted her head back. She knew she couldn't keep the hope from her gaze, but there was a new sense of longing swirling rapidly within her. She would have her freedom, but she would not have him. She clung to him, unable to let go, unable to stop the surge of anguish that shot through her.
What was wrong with her? She should be embracing this; she should be halfway out the door with Jack right now, not standing here feeling confused and heartbroken. Her head dropped against his chest, she could scarcely breathe through the jolt of loss that swamped her. She barely knew him but there was so much between them, so much that would keep them apart, yet the idea of separating from him was almost unbearable. He remained unmoving for a moment before his hand slid into her hair and he cradled her against him.
"Yes," Braith agreed. "Apparently we do have a lot to discuss."
- CHAPTER 14 -
Braith didn't move away from the door, he didn't let her step away from him either. He wasn't going to let her anywhere near Jericho, or Jericho anywhere near the door until he felt he could truly trust his brother, which might never happen. "What has happened here?" Jericho inquired.
"I might ask you the same question," Braith retorted sharply.
Jericho's gray eyes shone with merriment for a moment before they grew serious and harsh once more. Braith had been right, his brother had matured. Jericho's demeanor had always been carefree and lively. It wasn't now; in fact he looked highly perplexed and more than a little upset. He was thinner in the face, and in his build, most likely from not having access to the unlimited sustenance he'd enjoyed within the palace.
However, although he was thinner, there were muscles cording his entire body that had never been there before. A jagged scar marred his cheek, it was fresh though, and with time it would disappear. Just as in another fifty years, Braith wouldn't have scars around his eyes anymore. It was only because of the severe amount of damage that had been done to his eyes that the scars still remained. It was still uncertain if he would ever fully regain his eyesight when he wasn't in Arianna's presence.
"What are you doing Braith? If they discover this they'll kill her. Father might even kill you."
Arianna bristled over this, her fingers tensed on his shirt. "And you plan on what, just walking out of here with her? Do you believe father would allow that? And if someone else had claimed her, then what Jericho, were you going to kill them in order to free her?"
"I have a plan."
"And it doesn't risk her life at all?" Braith growled.
Jericho's gaze drifted toward Arianna. "There is always risk, in everything we do. However, we felt that the risk far outweighed the danger, if it meant getting Aria back."
"You followed me up here after Caleb told you she was a redhead, were you going to kill me?"
Jericho shifted uneasily. "No. I was sent here to assess the situation, to find out if Aria was even still alive, and to see if I could get her safely out without jeopardizing either of our lives."
"And if you couldn't?"
"Then I was to leave."
Braith was somewhat put off by this statement. It made little sense to him, and he didn't entirely believe it. "They sent you in here just to have you leave if you couldn't do anything?"
"Jack has worked his way up in our ranks; my father thinks very highly of him, he wouldn't risk losing him. Especially if he feels that he can trust him." Arianna's gaze remained wary as she surveyed his brother.
"Is that so, Jack?" Braith inquired sharply.
Jericho shrugged as he reached into the pocket of his coat. "I couldn't give the rebels my real name, now could I? They may not know much about the royal family, or at least a lot of them don't, but I wasn't going to chance one of them possibly recognizing my name. And Jack is just less pretentious, don't you think?" He pulled something from his coat pocket and stepped toward them. "Your father instructed me to give you this."
Braith shifted, blocking he
r with his body as Jericho approached them. He snatched the thing from Jericho's hand, a low rumble of warning issued from him when Jericho went to take another step toward her. At one point in time Jericho had been the only person he trusted, that was not so now. Not when Arianna's life was on the line. He really didn't want to kill his brother, but he would do what was necessary to keep her safe. Jericho appeared startled as he retreated from them.
Arianna held out her hand, accepting the small silver pendant that Braith gave her. Her mouth parted as she stared down at it, tears swam in her eyes. "He gave this to you?" she whispered.
"So you would know that you could trust me, that I was telling the truth. Your father trusts me Aria, and you must trust me too."
Her fingers trembled as she stroked the silver horse head. Her eyes came up to Braith's, a single tear slipped free. "It was my mother's, he would never give it to anyone he didn't trust."
Braith wiped the tear from her cheek; his hands enfolded hers as he turned his attention back to his brother. "And can he trust you?" Braith challenged.
"There are many things you don't know about me Braith, many things you have never known," Jericho informed him.
"I can see that, but can he trust you, can I trust you?"
Jericho nodded. "If you desire her safety as much as her father and I do, then yes, you can trust me."
Braith studied him carefully, not at all convinced by his words. "What was supposed to happen if you couldn't get her, or yourself, out of here safely?"
Jericho leaned back, folding his hands behind him, his eyes sad and grave. "If I am unable to get us both to safety, I am to leave so that David can come here."
"Excuse me?" Arianna asked sharply, her head snapped up at Jericho's words.
Jericho was silent for a moment, and then his shoulders slumped as he ran his hand through his hair. "He's not going to risk losing us both. If I couldn't get you free then I was to return to the woods and he was going to offer himself in trade for you."
Arianna's breath hissed out of her, her hands clenched around the pendant. "That's crazy! Why would he do such a thing!?"
"Because he loves you, because you are his child. Because he would rather give his own life than think of you as a blood slave for the rest of yours."
Arianna shook her head rapidly. "No, he can't do that! There are thousands of other lives that depend on him. Mine is nothing compared to that. Nothing! He knows better than to do something so foolish!"
Jericho just studied her silently. Braith was unable to wrap his mind around the words that Jericho had just uttered. A father that would give his life for his child, it was unfathomable to him. He stared at Arianna's countenance, noting the stubborn set of her jaw, and the fire in her bright eyes. There was a rod of strength and courage that ran through her that was both admirable and slightly frightening. She was reckless, a danger to herself, and she had to be protected from the cruelty of the world. To give his life for her didn't seem so unbelievably farfetched. It was a strange realization, one he had never experienced before, and had never expected to experience.
For her, he could and would do anything. Even see.
That truth struck him sharply. It slammed into his gut as his hands tightened around hers. He felt that was the reason why he could see when he was near her. Something inside of him had somehow recognized her spirit as belonging with him. And then, because he wanted to see the face behind the bright spirit so badly, his eyes had finally worked enough to see her on the stage. He would always be able to see her; he would always be able to find her.
"Of course he knows better," Jericho agreed. "But he doesn't care, not when it comes to you. If I couldn't succeed in saving you, I was to try for Max, and then retreat to the woods. Is Max still alive?"
"Yes," Arianna whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
"Katrina has him," Braith informed him.
Jericho nodded. "She might be difficult, but I'm sure I'll be able to get to him. Your father will not have to come for you."
"He was going to sacrifice himself for Max too?" she breathed.
Jericho shook his head. "No, your father cares for Max, and he is an important member in the rebellion, but he was not going to come for him. You are his daughter Aria, he loves you, and you are far more important to the rebellion than Max is."
Arianna shook her head forcefully at him. "No I'm not!" she protested. "Max is a strong fighter, he rallies people to the cause, and he knows the woods as well as I do!"
"No one knows those woods as well as you do," Jericho muttered.
"It still makes no sense," she whispered.
"As your father's daughter, a man that the rebels obviously admire and already follow, you would be able to rally the rebels to battle even more so than Max," Braith explained sympathetically.
Arianna bit on her bottom lip, her gaze darted swiftly up to him. "I don't want this; I didn't want any of this."
She looked so lost, so frightened and sad. He had never seen her like this; even dirty and bedraggled she had displayed an air of defiance that was admirable. "I know, but it has to be dealt with."
She turned back to Jericho. "My father had to know that it would be a suicide mission, that they would not release me, no matter what."
Jericho's gaze darted to Braith. "It was a chance he was willing to take, if it meant he had the slightest possibility of saving your life. Daniel is capable of taking charge of the rebels within the camps, while William and I could lead the rebels outside the palace if your father had to come in here."
All the color drained rapidly from her face. "William?" she choked. "You brought William near here? What were you thinking Jack!? What was my father thinking!?"
"He'll be fine," Jericho assured her.
"Fine?" she sputtered, releasing Braith as she took an angry step forward. "Are you trying to get him killed!?"
"Aria…"
"Don't you Aria me!" she retorted, suddenly charging at Jericho. Braith was so thrown off by her sudden attack that he didn't spring into immediate action to try and stop her. She was in front of Jericho poking him relentlessly in the chest as he backed away from her. Her broken demeanor was gone, she radiated fury now. "What were the two of you thinking!?"
Jericho seized her finger, keeping it within his grasp when she tried to pull it back. Arianna let out a raspy grunt of frustration, then wound up and kicked him as hard as she could in the shin. Jericho jumped back as Arianna glared at him. "Damn it Aria!" he barked at her.
"You're lucky I'm wearing this stupid dress and couldn't get my foot any higher!" she snapped back.
Jericho glared at her, she returned it wholeheartedly. Braith stepped forward and seized hold of Jericho's arm. He didn't think his brother would harm her; in fact Jericho seemed to genuinely like and admire her. There appeared to be an almost sibling like connection between them, but Braith didn't like him touching her. He didn't like the idea of any other man touching her, even if it was his brother. Jericho glared at her for a moment longer before releasing her hand. Arianna looked as if she was going to kick him again, but she restrained herself.
"Now," Braith said coldly. "Who the hell is William?"
Arianna crossed her arms over her chest, displeasure radiated from her as she scowled ferociously. "My brother," Aria answered.
"Her twin brother," Jericho emphasized.
Braith didn't entirely understand why that seemed to upset her so much. "Ok," he said slowly.
Arianna finally turned her attention to Braith; the desperation in her eyes surprised him. "William and I are inseparable, we're rarely apart. The only reason he wasn't on the hunt with me that day was because he had been wounded in a raid two days before. He's my twin; he's an extension of me just as I am of him. We're a lot alike."
"They're both hotheaded and reckless," Jericho explained further when Braith still didn't fully grasp what she was saying. "I personally blame it on the hair."
"You're an ass!" she snapped, spinning on her heel an
d storming away. "My father and you are both idiots! William will not stay away."
She strode rapidly to the door of the library where she stopped, and stood uncertainly. Her arms wrapped around her stomach, she seemed torn, lost. "That is why your father brought him."
She turned back at Jericho's words. "At least here your father can keep an eye on him, keep guards on him so that he cannot break free and do something that could get us all killed. If he had left William behind then he wouldn't be able to watch and monitor him."
Arianna's gaze flickered, and then she bit on her bottom lip and nodded. "You're right," she whispered. Then she was moving again, coming back to Braith, slipping her hand into his. He didn't think she was aware of the fact that she had just sought him out for comfort, but he was pleased by the notion. She stared up at him for a moment, her eyes searching his face. "What do we do?"
He didn't have an answer for her, but Jericho did. "Now, we make a plan to get you out of here."
Dismay filled Arianna's eyes, Braith felt a sharp twinge in his chest, his entire being recoiled at the very idea. He knew that she should leave, that she had to get somewhere safe, he just wasn't sure he would be able to let her go in order to do so.
***
Aria stared numbly out the window at the gardens, she hadn't moved from the window seat since Jack and Braith had left to attend the banquet. They were both required to be there but neither of them was willing to let her anywhere near it. Braith didn't think that Max would be brought, but he wasn't willing to take the chance. No one knew how Max was going to react when he saw that Jack was one of the royal family, they didn't need her presence there to further complicate things.
The only problem was that they hadn't settled anything before they left, and now she felt lost, confused, torn between her family and a man she was beginning to realize that she loved. She didn't know when she had started to love him; she supposed it had been the night that he had comforted her after Lauren's attack. It had been cemented by the revelation of his beautiful, wounded eyes.