“We were all supposed to protect them. We all failed,” Daniel said.
Xavier’s gaze shot to Daniel, but he didn’t acknowledge his words as he started to speak again. “What Atticus did to this world will look like child’s play compared to what Braith would unleash on all of us if Aria is dead when he awakens. He stayed alive for hours after having his heart pierced with an arrow. Not even Atticus managed that feat, and I’m betting Sabine didn’t either. Braith did that for Aria. He knew what his loss would do to her, but even sheer strength of will and the bloodlink could not deny the course nature has set for all of us.”
“And what will he do if he wakes to find we’ve imprisoned her?” Timber asked.
“He might still kill us all, but at least he won’t burn what remains of the world down too,” Xavier replied and paced away once more.
William stared across the table at his brother. “You will return to the cave and Jack?” he inquired of Daniel.
Daniel tore his gaze away from Xavier to focus on him. William lifted an eyebrow at the brief look of yearning that had crossed Daniel’s face while watching the vampire. His brother composed his expression into a mask of indifference as he stared blandly back at William.
“We told Jack we would report back. He has to have some idea of what is going on outside of those caves,” Daniel replied. “Braith can track Aria if he wakes.”
“When will you return to him?”
“We’ll wait a couple of days, help gather as much information about this woman and help as much as we can here before we return. I think it will be best if Jack comes back with me. Someone has to be able to lead if Braith never awakens and Aria is locked in a cell, again.”
“She’s going to lose her mind,” Max muttered as he gazed at the scarred table before him.
“She already is,” William replied.
Xavier walked back over to them and sat in the chair for a minute before rising and walking away again. “Perhaps you should feed,” William suggested to him.
“I fed earlier,” Xavier replied, his gaze focused on the door once more.
“Okay, but—”
“I will be fine when she comes back out,” he interjected.
William rolled his eyes, took a deep breath, and bit back his next words. Xavier had been composed when Aria was out here earlier; he would be so again when she emerged.
“Where do we sleep in this place?” Timber asked.
“With everyone else,” William replied. “Yesterday we had plenty of room in here. Now, not so much.” He glanced at Tempest. No damn privacy at all. “There are numerous straw-filled mattresses in every room.”
Timber clasped his hands behind his head as he stretched his long legs before him. “So right here then.”
“That’s what I planned,” William said.
Timber kicked off his boots and tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling above him. “You did some good planning, Daniel,” he said. He closed his eyes and released a snore on his next breath.
“Amazing,” Tempest muttered as she gazed at Timber’s slumbering form before resting her head on William’s chest once more.
Everyone within the room froze when the door of the room across from them opened and Aria padded out. Her loose braid dangled over her shoulder. The shadows around her eyes formed dark circles beneath the rim of her thick glasses. Without a word, she settled into one of the empty chairs and lifted her head to gaze around the room. Xavier had stopped moving the second she’d emerged. He stood guard beside the door leading out as he watched her.
Her head turned toward Xavier. “You should get some rest,” she said to him.
“I will watch over you,” Xavier replied.
“There are plenty here to watch over me,” she replied. “And it’s not like you’ll be far.” Xavier folded his arms over his chest but made no move to leave. Aria stared at him before turning to Daniel. “Take him somewhere. His pacing is driving me nuts. I could hear him prowling back and forth from the other room.”
“I will not move again,” Xavier vowed.
Aria rested her forehead in her hands as she rubbed at her temples. “Xavier, please, get some rest. If only for an hour or two, it would make me feel a lot better.”
He stood for a minute, seemingly torn between staying to protect her and obeying her request. In the end, he bowed his head and turned to open the door behind him.
“Go with him,” Aria said to Daniel, who frowned at her. “Watch over him. He’s coiled tighter than a spring and needs someone calming around.”
Daniel rose to his feet. William watched as his older brother strode out the door behind Xavier. He remained casual in appearance, but William could hear the increased beat of his heart as he closed the door behind them. Aria slumped in her chair.
“I couldn’t take one more second of his pacing and blaming himself,” she murmured. “Daniel will keep him distracted for a bit.”
“You know they’re attracted to each other?” Max inquired of her.