Unbound (The Captive #7)(27)

Her voice hitched as the memory of being trapped within the king’s dungeon slithered through her mind. Mary had been in the dungeon with her.

The woman smiled and dropped her hands to fold them into her skirt. “It is me,” she confirmed.

Aria finally lowered her bow. She may not trust Mary completely yet, but she sensed no one else standing behind the woman, and she’d be able to kill a human easily enough if it became necessary. “What are you doing here?”

“My son, John, said he saw you coming into the caves,” Mary said.

“You found him?”

“It took some time, but yes, I found him after I was set free of the dungeon.”

John was the reason Aria had been captured and brought to the palace to be auctioned off to the highest vampire bidder in the first place. Braith had stepped forward to claim her from the man who had originally bought her and taken her with him to the palace. At the time, she hadn’t known why Braith had done it, but eventually he’d told her it was because she was the first thing he’d actually been able to see in a hundred years.

Aria had sacrificed herself, allowed herself to be captured in place of John, and everything in her life had changed for the better. Even now, when she felt at her bleakest, she had to remember that. Mary had been taken with her on that long ago day, imprisoned in the dungeon and freed when Braith had come to rescue Aria. Mary had had no idea where her son was when she’d left the palace, but she’d found him once again. A small beacon of hope swelled within Aria at the realization.

Aria’s capture had been the beginning for her and Braith, and they had already come to their end. No matter what happened from here on out, no matter the heartache she endured now, it had all been worth it.

“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.