Refugee (The Captive #3)(39)
Aria entered the room first and walked to her brother’s side. William studied her before nodding to Braith. The others had already gathered around the table, the chair at the head was empty as it waited expectantly for him. Braith rested his fingers on the top of the table as he faced the powerful people whose help he desperately needed if they were going to have any shot of winning this war.
“You’ve all made your decisions?” he inquired.
“We have,” Xavier confirmed as his dark eyes flickered briefly to Aria. Frustration filled Braith; his momentary loss of control in the hallway earlier had placed Aria in even greater peril. She met Xavier’s inquisitive glance with a lift of her brows that somehow managed to make her appear even more innocent and unknowing. But Braith could see that Xavier didn’t buy it, not for an instant.
“I’ll fight with you,” Xavier confirmed. “You’ve proven that you are capable enough to earn my allegiance, and I have never agreed with your father’s policies. I believe yours will be more just.” His eyes flickered briefly to Aria again.
Braith had to force himself not to look at her. “They will be,” he assured him.
“I will also fight with you,” Barnaby confirmed. Braith felt a momentary tug of apprehension, he still didn’t know how to feel about Barnaby, but at least this time he was actually taking a stand instead of cowardly waiting until the end. Perhaps the past hundred years had actually changed him. Ashby made a slight face but remained silent. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time.”
“I would like to confer with my people, but I believe they will agree to help.” Saul folded his hands into the sleeves of his cloak, his head was bowed. He had always been tranquil, reserved, with an air of dignity that was enhanced by his seemingly vast years, even though he was almost two hundred years younger than Braith. “We’ve built a good home here, but we are well aware of the fact that it is tentative at best. The king still randomly sends search parties after us, there is no guarantee we will not be uncovered and ousted at some point. War offers no promises, no peace or stability, but the hope of a future filled with security will probably sway them, as will the chance to leave The Barrens and return to a home that most of us still miss.”
“I was in even before we went after those creatures,” Calista said. “I want my homeland back. We’ve established a nice system here, but I’m sick of dust and heat and sand. I assume that those of us who join with you will also be rewarded.”
“Your wealth will be returned to you. The Council will be established as the ruling body again, you will be returned to your seats upon it, you will have equal say within it and the majority will rule,” Braith assured them.
“Even the humans?” Frank inquired.
Braith nodded. “What you have established here will be the model that the new rule will be based upon. Humans will rule with us, vampires and humans that do not follow the rules will be punished accordingly.”
“And blood slaves?” Frank pressed.
Despite himself Braith felt his gaze flicker to Aria as she shifted uneasily. Though few people in this room knew she had once been his blood slave, it was still a touchy subject with her. “If we are successful, no human will ever be forced to be a blood slave again.”
It was only the slight tremor of Aria’s chin that hinted at any sign of distress from her. He couldn’t take those days away from her, even if he could, he wouldn’t. If she’d never been captured, if she’d never been brought to the palace as a slave, he never would have met her. He wouldn’t be standing here right now and neither would she. She was in danger now, but her life up to this point had been nothing but danger. He hated it but for the first time he saw things from her perspective, for the first time he understood her total lack of fear toward anything.
She feared nothing because she had lived with the constant threat of death every day of her life, it remained the same now, but there was finally hope for her. Finally there was a light at the end of a tunnel that before had only been dark. She would do anything for that light, anything. She had been trying to tell him this, trying to make him understand that this was a battle she embraced wholeheartedly, enthusiastically, and with a determination that may even exceed his own, but he had been too stubborn to listen. He needed to give her more freedom or he would crush the beautiful spirit he had fallen in love with in the first place.
The thought of losing her was almost enough to drive him to his knees, but he realized he’d rather see her dead than destroyed by his inability to let her be who she was.
He almost took her hand, but thankfully he came to his senses before he did something careless. Her life may not be any more precarious now than it was before, but if he revealed his feelings for her any further, it would be.
He turned forcefully away from her as he focused on Frank once more. “You and David will have a say in how things are run afterward. You will both have seats on The Council to represent your people. If there are other human leaders amongst the rebels I’m sure David will bring them to my attention.”
“There aren’t any others,” William informed him.
“The humans will have the same say as vampires?” Frank persisted.
“Yes, humans will have an equal say,” Braith assured him.
“And a leader will also need to be appointed.” Gideon’s hazel eyes were turbulent as they met his.