Aria smiled wider than he’d seen in over a week. He didn’t know what Max had done to her last night, but he almost hugged the guy. For the first time, he had hope that maybe his sister would get through all of this and be okay, even if Braith didn’t come back.
Then his gaze fell to Tempest and his hope deflated. No, Aria may be showing signs of life because she loved them all, but no one came back from that kind of loss. No matter how much he loved everyone gathered around him, he could not continue on without Tempest. He pulled her closer against him, a possessive rumble working its way through his chest as he kissed her temple. She turned to look at him, her doe eyes full of understanding as she rested her hand against his cheek.
Aria turned to Xavier. “I know you won’t want to stay with Braith—”
“I am not going with them to get Jack, Aria.”
Daniel didn’t look at all stunned by Xavier’s words, but Aria’s mouth dropped. “You must,” she said.
“They can detect someone else’s passing through the forest and know when someone is closing in on them. They read these woods better than I read the history scrolls. My duty is to you first.”
“And to Braith,” she protested.
Xavier clasped his hands before him. “No, it is to you. Braith knows that. I am to guard you, to defend you with my life. It is what I have chosen to do until the day I die.”
“But Braith will need a vampire to watch over him too.”
“There is nothing one vampire can do against Sabine’s troops that the humans can’t do.”
“They can’t carry him,” she protested.
“Timber can.”
“We’ve discussed it already and it has been decided,” Daniel said before Aria could argue with them further.
“What if I asked you to go?” Aria inquired of Xavier.
“You could command me to go and I would not. You are the one I protect. I couldn’t come with you when you left the cave before, but I will not leave you now,” Xavier replied.
“We’ll be fine,” Daniel said. “Xavier is right. We know these woods better than anyone, and it’s time for us to get going. We’re wasting time discussing this. Hopefully, I’ll be back with Jack by sundown tomorrow.”
William glanced between them and then to Xavier and Aria. The last thing he wanted was to leave Aria alone. She had Xavier here to watch over her, but she could decide to do something crazy in a split second. However, he didn’t want his brother and his friends out there alone.
Aria’s been good so far.
“I’ll go with them,” William said and Tempest stiffened in his arms.
“Then I’m coming with you,” Tempest said.
“We’ll move faster if it’s just us. We have more knowledge of the woods,” William said gently. “And I will move faster knowing you are safe here.”
“If I can climb a mountain in a blizzard, I can find my way through these woods. I’m not staying here without you. You can’t expect me to when you wouldn’t.”
She had him there, but the idea of her in those woods again made him consider changing his mind about offering to go with them.
“You both forget you were once human too, and would have felt secure doing this without a vampire as added protection,” Daniel said and looked sternly between him and Aria.
With that look on his face and his mouth curved into a disapproving line, he looked so much like their father that William heard the, I’m so disappointed in you, in his head without Daniel having to say it. Aria must have felt the same way as she bowed her head and folded her hands before her.
“Sorry,” she and William muttered at the same time.
Daniel gave a brisk nod before turning to William. “Unless you’re willing to stay with Braith also, then it’s best you stay here.” He gave a pointed look at Aria before continuing. “They need your skill with a bow here. We need as many vampires as we can get on this side of the palace walls, and Jack will want you here.”
William had to agree that Jack would want him here. They’d been friendly when Jack had been in the forest, pretending to be a rebel, before Jack had actually become one, but after his father had died, the two of them had become much closer.
During the time after his death, they’d leaned on each other, traveled together and fought together. Jack trusted his opinion as much as William trusted Jack’s. William knew being king was not a role Jack wanted. He would do well with it as he was kind, fair, and likeable, but Jack would chafe against the bonds being king would put him in. He would look to his friends for advice and to help keep him sane.
“You’re right,” William finally agreed, and the rigid set of Daniel’s shoulders eased.
“Good, we’ll see you soon,” Daniel said briskly.
They said good-bye to everyone before disappearing into the woods as if they’d never been there to begin with. The only sign of their passing was the still shaking pine needles, which were barely noticeable to the naked eye.
“We have to notify the palace about Sabine’s impending attack,” Aria said.
“How?” William inquired.
“We’ll fire an arrow at them,” Aria said and walked back toward the barn.
“Is she kidding?” Tempest asked.
“No, she’s not,” William replied.
CHAPTER 23