Braith

“Where are they?” Aria murmured while she paced from one end of the barn to the other.

“They’ll be back soon,” Braith said as he followed her restless movements. He’d finally gotten her to get some sleep, easing the shadows under her eyes, and she was already putting weight back on again from drinking his blood, but she was still on edge.

She spun and stalked back toward the other side with Keegan trotting beside her. Xavier stood with William and Tempest near the barn door, watching her. Aria stopped pacing and spun toward the door as a new scent floated on the air.

“They’re back,” William said and opened the door.

On the other side stood Daniel, Timber, Max, and Maeve. Their hair hung in straggles about their faces, their clothes were wrinkled and wet, but they were unharmed as they hurried into the barn and Max closed the door. Braith lifted an eyebrow when Max slid his hand into Maeve’s, drawing her closer against him. Aria’s head cocked to the side, and he realized she had no idea who the girl was.

Taking a few steps toward them, Aria held her hand out to the tiny woman standing by Max’s side. Braith studied the scar on Maeve’s face and the proud set of her shoulders. She was willful, but there was also a vulnerable air about her. His gaze slid to Max as he recognized the same air about him.

She was a blood slave, Braith realized as Maeve took hold of Aria’s hand. The sleeve of her shirt had been pinned, allowing no skin to be exposed. It was something Max had done often enough since he’d been taken from the palace.

“I’m Aria,” she said and shook the woman’s hand.

“Maeve.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maeve,” she said before stepping forward to hug Max. “I’m glad you’re back.”

He patted her back before she turned away from him to embrace Daniel. “I was worried about you,” she said.

“We ran into some company in the woods, had to take shelter until we were sure they’d moved on,” Daniel told her.

“Did you make it to all of the safe houses?”

“We did. There are more fighters than we expected, close to three thousand, maybe more.”

“Good.” Braith walked forward to slide his arm around Aria’s waist and draw her against his side. “When will they be arriving?”

“They should all be here by nightfall,” Daniel answered and pulled his cloak off.

“That will be a good time to move,” Braith said. “They won’t expect a nighttime attack.”

Daniel sank onto a bale of straw. He dropped his head into his hand and rubbed tiredly at his temples. Aria pulled away from Braith and walked over to sit beside her brother. “Are you okay?” she inquired.

Daniel gave her a wan smile as he lowered his hand. “I’m tired, but okay.”

“You should go rest. We’ll get everything set up,” she told him.

“I think I’m going to take you up on that one, but I’ll be in the back of the barn. I’ve had enough of being underground for a bit.”

Braith watched him as he rose and walked to the shadows at the back of the barn. Aria remained seated on the bale, nervously watching her brother.

“We had better prepare the ones below and all those hiding nearby in the caves,” Braith said, and Aria rose to her feet.

She took hold of his hand and followed him underground once more.

***

William

“It’s so pretty,” Tempest said, drawing William’s gaze away from the glittering blue lake before them and to her.

He couldn’t resist brushing back a strand of her silvery hair from her cheek. “Nowhere near as pretty as you,” he said honestly.

Color crept through her face, and her gaze flitted away as she smiled. “You’re a flatterer.”

“Just calling it like I see it,” he replied and enfolded his hand around her neck to draw her closer. He kissed her forehead and inhaled her wintry scent. “I love you.”

“I love you too. We’re going to get through this.”

“Yes,” he said and kissed her again. Though he knew there was a good possibility not all of them would make it through the coming battle. “We are. Sabine isn’t going to know what hit her when she sees Braith, and she won’t be prepared for the forces we’ve managed to gather.”

Tempest’s gaze went back to the lake and the sun reflecting across its smooth, blue surface. He took hold of her hand, marveling at how small it was as he ran his fingers over the back of it.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Tempest.”

A playful smile curved her mouth as she turned her head to the side. “I certainly hope so. You’re stuck with me.”

“I can’t think of anyone I’d want to be stuck with more.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

He grinned at her as he went down to his knee before her. Her mouth parted as he pulled a simple wooden ring from his pocket. With no jewelry nearby, or any way to get it right now, he’d made the ring from a small branch and etched a Celtic knot onto its surface.

“Will you be my wife?” he asked and held it up before her.

Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she gazed at it in awe. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. William gazed up at her, his heart in his throat as he waited for her to say or do something.

“Yes,” she finally croaked out. “Yes!”

William slid the wooden band onto her finger before launching himself to his feet. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air. Pulling her head back, he claimed her mouth in a kiss that left her shaking against him when he broke it off.

Her eyes were dazed when they met his, her lips swollen. Lifting her hand, she wiggled her fingers before her. “It’s beautiful.”

“When this is over, I will get you any ring you desire,” he vowed.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “This is my ring. It’s the only one I want.”

He grinned at her before kissing her again.

***

Aria

Aria gazed over all of the people crowding within the barn. There were easily over a few thousand individuals converging inside and flowing out the doorway beyond. Some men and women would be staying behind to protect and watch over the children who would remain below, but most would be coming with them.

Her fingers fidgeted at her sides as she struggled to appear calm and determined. They were going to war, again. Braith stood proudly by her side, his gaze surveying everyone within and those beyond the doors who wouldn’t fit inside. The feel of his arm against hers electrified her skin as the hard edge of his power caressed her. She didn’t think he was even aware of it seeping out of his pores right now, but the others were as they admiringly surveyed him while remaining a good five feet back.

What would happen if he died again? She didn’t want to find out, but would he come back stronger? Or did he only get one chance to cheat death and the next time would be the last? Aria shuddered at the possibility.

Keegan brushed against her side, his large head rubbing her thigh. She smiled before resting her hand on his head. It had been so long since she’d seen the wolf and she’d missed him. White hairs speckled his muzzle now, but he was still formidable and protective as he circled around the two of them.

Her head tilted back when she felt Braith’s gaze boring into her. “You did something amazing here, Arianna.”

“They’re always prepared to fight,” she replied dismissively.

“It’s more than that. You brought them all together during a time when many in your shoes would have fallen apart.”

She glanced away from him, uncomfortable with the reminder of those dismal days. Their bond had been renewed, but she could still feel the madness dancing at the edges of her mind. She’d never forget what the impending insanity had felt like. If something happened to him again, she would snap in a way that would make Atticus look like he’d been a completely rational, caring man.

“I couldn’t have done it alone,” she said, uncomfortable with his praise when she’d spent a lot of that time trying not kill anyone who walked by her. “And I didn’t. This never could have been accomplished without the others.”

“No it couldn’t have, but one could ever doubt you are meant to be a queen,” he said.

The hungry look in his eyes caused her toes to curl as heat crept through her body. “You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to jump you in a completely unqueenly way.”

He laughed as he rested his hand on her shoulder and drew her against him. The heat of his body warmed hers and made her sigh in relief and joy. She still couldn’t believe he really was back from the dead, standing beside her. She kept expecting to wake from a dream, but with every passing second she became increasingly convinced he was with her again.

Across the way, she spotted William and Tempest slipping through the crowd to enter the barn. Tempest had a leaf sticking out of her disheveled hair. William pulled the leaf away and tossed it aside as his gaze scanned the barn. He stopped searching when his eyes fell on her and Braith.

Taking hold of Tempest’s hand, he led her through the crowd toward them, a big grin on his face. Aria couldn’t stop herself from smiling at the joy radiating from him. “What is it?” she asked when they reached them.

“I asked Tempest to marry me and she accepted,” he said proudly.

Aria did a double take. She’d known this was coming, but still she couldn’t quite picture her brother proposing. She released a delighted cry as she threw her arms around him before turning to embrace Tempest. “Welcome to the family!”

Tempest hugged her back. “Thank you,” she said as Aria released her.

Braith clasped William’s hand and shook it before turning to Tempest. “It’s not too late to change your mind and run,” he told her when he took hold of her hand.

William scowled at him, Aria elbowed him, and Tempest laughed. “I have no plans of running,” she said.

Braith released her hand as Jack, Hannah, Daniel, Timber, Max, and Maeve walked over to join them. For a minute, Aria could almost pretend she stood with her family, celebrating William’s good news and simply being happy. Then, she glanced at the growing crowd around her and reality returned. They could celebrate now, but some of them would not survive the night.