“There is always good in the bad,” Aria whispered.
Tempest squeezed her arm and William shot her a look, but she didn’t acknowledge either of them.
“What are you doing here, Mary?” Aria inquired.
“John said it looked like you were in trouble when you came in.” Her gaze ran over all of them, taking in their bloody and torn clothing. “Judging by the looks of you, I’d say he was right. You saved my child. I owe you much, and I’m here to help.”
“There are vampires after us. This is not something you should be entangled with.” Aria glanced at her brother. “Our guard was down if we didn’t notice John out there.”
“John would have made a fine rebel. He’s nearly as silent as your family was in these woods,” Mary said proudly.
William’s face seemed to say exactly what she was thinking; had they missed someone else?
Mary’s brow furrowed. “You are our queen and a vampire. Why would vampires be after you?”
“There is a new threat rising,” William said.
“Get John somewhere safe, Mary,” Aria said.
“Will this new threat hurt us if they uncover us?” Mary asked.
“Yes,” Aria answered honestly.
“Then we are already in danger. Come with me. I know somewhere safe.”
“Safer than these caves?”
“And warmer,” Mary replied with a smile. “And there will be clothes. Come, Your Highness, I promise you will be safe with us.”
“I’m just Aria. Please don’t call me Your Highness.” Mary blinked at her.
“Where is the king?” Mary inquired and Aria couldn’t stop herself from flinching.
“Elsewhere,” she replied crisply.
Mary frowned but didn’t press it further. “Then come, let’s get you clean and warmed up.”
William glanced questioningly at Aria as she remained unmoving. Part of her plan had been to locate new recruits. Mary had been a rebel too. Aria was certain she still associated with many of the people who had once moved freely through these woods and caves. They would need vampires too, but humans could be almost as lethal as a vampire when properly armed and trained. After years of having to be stealthy, humans could often be quieter when necessary.
And if Sabine’s soldiers followed them here, Mary and John would need help to stay safe. From what William and Tempest had told her, Sabine did not treat humans well.
“I promise you will be safe,” Mary said.
Aria swung her bow over her back and returned the arrow to her quiver. “Lead the way then.”
***
Melinda
Melinda had no idea where they were in the forest, only that they were going in the general direction of the palace, or at least she hoped they were. For all she knew, they could be heading back to Chippman, something that would prove lethal to all the vampires susceptible to the sun’s rays.
She really didn’t want to tell Hannah they’d been responsible for her cousin’s horrific death by sunlight. At the edge of a stream, Ashby didn’t hesitate before plunging the horse into it and guiding him through the flowing water. The animals had to be exhausted. Many of the vampires and humans surrounding her were slouched forward in their saddles and struggling to keep their eyes open, but they couldn’t take a break and they couldn’t let up on their relentless pace.
Every muscle in her body ached from sitting in the saddle for these past hours. Her ass had to be bruised, but she didn’t utter a complaint and neither did any of those with them. Ashby’s body thrummed with tension as he constantly surveyed their surroundings.
Splashing out of the stream, a flash of something on her right caught Melinda’s attention and she sat up straighter in the saddle. Joy burst through her chest when she spotted the treehouse Braith had built for Aria nestled within the trees. They were going the right way, and what was more, she knew her way back from here!
“Look!” she slapped her hand against Ashby’s arm and pointed to the treehouse. “We’re almost home.”
Ashby relaxed a little against her before going rigid once more. She didn’t think he would relax again until Sabine was destroyed.
“We are,” he said and kissed her cheek.
He turned their mount to the right and nudged him into another trot. Lots of carrots for these horses when we get back, she decided when the animal grudgingly resumed his pace. Ashby lifted his hand to push aside branches when they plunged back into the thick woods once more.
***
Jack
Jack finished helping to clean the blood from Xavier and sat back on his heels. He could bandage the wounds but saw no point. The blood had ceased flowing and the holes were closing. He’d already taken care of the humans who had fared better than Xavier. He was fairly certain Daniel had a concussion and suffered from blood loss and exhaustion, but their bruised bones and bodies would mend and none of their arrow wounds would be deadly if they were kept clean.