Chapter Nine – Aria
The thin crack from the trap door in the ceiling cast a watery beam of light over Aria's face. Occasionally, a shadow would pass over it, but there was no telling what lay beyond the crack. She huddled close to Sonya, trying to borrow a little warmth from her friend. Darkness and bars surrounded them. Somewhere beyond the bars were more bodies, and sometimes they would whisper to each other or cry, but other than that, everyone was silent.
"How long do you think we've been here?" she asked Sonya for the millionth time.
"I don't know. How often do they feed us?"
"I don't know."
They fell back to silence. The only comfort in this place was that Aria knew now that this wasn't Gavin's doing. Her suspicion of him ate a deep hole in the pit of her stomach, but Sonya had overheard somebody talking about Monique when she first woke. And if this was the queen's doing, then Gavin would be here soon to save them… Wouldn't he?
The trap door above them was suddenly thrown open. Aria flinched as the light stabbed her eyes, but she greedily drunk it in at the same time. Her eyes adjusted enough to see a ladder extending into the pit. A vampire jumped in and grabbed her.
"No!" Sonya shouted, grasping Aria's wrists.
The vampire shoved Sonya away. "Quiet."
Aria struggled against him, but his grip was like steel around her waist as he dragged her up the ladder. He tossed her onto the floor. When she looked up, she found herself staring in Queen Monique's face.
"Get her cleaned up," the queen ordered, her delicate, pretty face twisted in fury. "Stealing Gavin's human. This could end all my plans. You!"
Aria flinched as Monique grabbed her arm and shook her.
"Was this your trick? Did you plan to force Gavin's hand? He may be on his way with his armies to retrieve you, but if you breathe a word of what you saw here, your pretty blonde friend down there and all the other humans I gathered will be killed and their bodies fed to sharks."
Aria tried to pull her arm away, but Monique's grip was too tight.
"Do you understand me?" the queen snarled.
Aria glanced down at Sonya's terrified face as the trap door was shut again. "I won't say anything."
The queen relaxed. "Good. Now be a good girl and don't fight my people as they clean you up. I have to phone Gavin and do some damage control. I depend on idiots."
A blindfold was wrapped around her eyes. Aria opened her mouth to demand that Sonya is released as well. Maybe if she threatened to expose Monique's actions, the queen would let her friend go. But what if she didn't? What if she only hurt Sonya for it? Aria closed her mouth again and let herself be pulled away by the vampire attendants. She thought furiously as they scrubbed her skin, brushed her hair and dusted makeup over her cheeks. There had to be a way to tell Gavin what she knew without putting Sonya at risk…
And if she didn't tell? What would happen to her friend then?
Her mind was a blur of thought, trying to find an answer. Eventually, she just had to close her eyes and concentrate on Gavin instead. He was coming for her. Despite all his flaws, despite her pride, he was coming for her. And it made her heart soar.
Monique had her sitting next to her on a couch, a teacup in her hand when Gavin arrived at the Paris palace. The queen's head of security came in and bowed.
"My lady, Gavin's forces are surrounding the palace and relieving your men of their weapons."
"And we will be accommodating to him. What he is doing is no less than invasion, but I'll let the other kingdoms decide his fate."
Aria swallowed hard as the vampire bowed and took his leave. Her heart pounded. The humans were kept in the lower regions of the palace – certainly Gavin would be able to find them?
The queen pinched her arm, apparently reading her thoughts. "Remember, if you say anything, those humans die. And your friend will be the first. Now, do drink up. Your king is here."
Aria sipped her scalding tea. Her hands trembled. Monique rolled her eyes and plastered a welcoming smile on her face.
Moments later, Gavin strode through the door. Aria's heart swelled to bursting as soon as she saw him. She dropped the teacup, the fragile china shattering as soon as it hit the floor. The king stopped in the doorway, amber eyes fixed on her. With a cry, Aria launched herself across the room. She threw herself into Gavin's arms.
"My lord, it's a pleasure to be able to reunite you with your love," Monique said, her voice syrupy sweet. "I can't tell you how angry I was when I learned about the illegal human-trading ring operating in my own kingdom. My people are working now to uncover—"
"And I have information that implicates you in this 'ring,'" Gavin interrupted. He gently pushed Aria behind himself and advanced on the queen. "Spare me the shocked looks, Monique. The results of my people's investigations have been quite clear."
Monique stood and drew herself to her full height. She was a head shorter than Aria herself. "My dear Gavin, I can accept that you are distraught from almost losing your human here, but those accusations just may take us to war. I had nothing to do with this. Ask your human. My forces rescued her."
Gavin glanced back at Aria. She didn’t know what to say, so she settled on the only truth she could tell him. "They still have Sonya."
"And I will tear apart this kingdom to find her. As for you," Gavin pointed at Monique, "you will stay in your palace under house arrest until my own investigations are complete. And if any of my subjects have been killed or harmed in any way, you will pay for it."
Monique spluttered. Gavin turned on his heel and marched away. His arm wrapped around Aria's waist protectively. She leaned into his strength, grateful he was there. Her eyes burned with tears, no matter how hard she fought against them. The king led her to a room little ways down the hallway, never releasing her.
"Continue your investigation," he said to somebody who stood outside the door after they were inside. "I will be here with Aria. Inform me of any move the queen makes."
He shut the door and turned to Aria. Regret and pain flashed across his face. Aria sat heavily on a chair, not certain she knew what to do now. She could tell Gavin what she knew, but what if she was condemning Sonya by speaking? And what if she was condemning her friend by staying silent?
"Aria." Gavin knelt beside her and took her hands in his. "I'm so sorry. For everything. I'm sorry I got mad at you when we were last here. I'm sorry for accusing you of betraying me. I'm sorry for acting as though I owned you. I am so, so very sorry. And I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you'll let me."
Aria threw herself into his arms. She buried her face into his shoulder, her body shuddering. "I'm just so scared."
"I'm here now. I'll protect you."
How could she tell him that it wasn't herself that she was worried about? "Just hold me."
He kissed her head. "Of course."
He scooped her and carried her into the bedroom, where he laid her on the bed and came up behind her. His arms wrapped around her. His breath wafted across her neck. Aria pushed herself against him, drinking in his strength. To her surprise, the fear started to dissipate as she pressed her body closer to his. But it wasn't enough.
Aria spun around, earning a surprised grunt from Gavin. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She kissed him hard and slung her leg over his hip. Gavin groaned, returning the kiss with fervor. His hands dug into her skin, pulling her closer to him. Aria scrambled with his shirt, frantic. The cool, toned flesh that met her fingertips made goosebumps spring to life all down her arms. He ground against her, then pulled back.
"Wait," he whispered. "Does this mean you forgive me? That you'll come back to me, despite what I did?"
Aria nodded. "Yes. If you'll forgive me for giving up on you."
"Of course." He peppered kisses to her face and neck. "Aria… I would forgive you for anything and everything."
She slipped his shirt off his shoulders. "I didn't sleep with anybody else. This baby is yours. Please believe me."
Gavin brushed the hair from her face, then unzipped the back of her dress. "I don't know how it's possible, but if you say this baby is mine, then I believe you. Once we get back to my palace, we'll have to run tests. We have to make sure you're safe with this. I can't lose you."
"My doctor didn't notice anything wrong. But I understand your point." She shivered as his hands coasted her skin. "Is it right to be here with you when Sonya…?"
Gavin finished slipping her dress off her, then rested his hands on her hips. "Whatever you want, Aria. I don't think it's wrong to take a little comfort, but if you don't want to, then we don't have to."
Aria shifted so her body was pressed against his. Everywhere their skin met, sparks burned. She felt so cold, so alone. And even if she didn't know what to do about Sonya and the rest of the humans, she knew one thing. She needed this. She needed her king to hold her and make love to her. With everything that was happening here, she needed to know that he was with her.
She pressed a fiery kiss to his mouth, reaching for his belt. Gavin stroked her hair gently as she took care of the final bits of clothing that separated them. Heat and passion surged through her as he slipped a hand between her legs, but there was something else as well. It took her a moment to recognize the feeling. Her heart swelled with love and trust. If nothing else, her lover was with her and there was no force that could separate them now.
Gavin burrowed into her neck, sending shivers down her spine while he kept up a gentle stroking motion on her. Aria closed her eyes. Her head lolled backward as she let him take care of her. He moved back to her mouth when he entered, making her gasp then moan. Their chests heaved in unison as the king started a gentle rhythm. Aria quickly matched it, the fires burning hotter in her core.
"Aria," Gavin moaned. "Aria, I love you."
"I love you, too."
There were no thoughts slowing her response. Her hands dug into his hair, her eyes locked on his. Everything was right. The tightness inside grew to a breaking point, sending her over a cliff of pleasure. She gasped for breath, dark and white spots dancing before her vision. Gavin cupped her face in hands, peppering her with kisses. Aria pulled him closer, clinging to him as she rode out her climax.
When she was finished, Gavin kissed her once more, deeply and slowly, and smiled. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she repeated. It felt so good to say it aloud, to know what she was feeling. "I love you."
Gavin chuckled, pressing one last kiss to her. "Try to sleep. I have to deal with Monique, but you need rest."
A sick feeling twisted her stomach at once. Aria shuddered. "But Sonya…"
"I will find her."
Aria closed her eyes. How could he find her when he didn't know all the facts? She clung to him and prayed that she was making the right choice. "It's Monique. She's behind all of this. She said if I told you Sonya and all the others would be killed. They're here, somewhere in the palace."
Gavin tensed. He sprung to his feet. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "I don’t know exactly where, they blindfolded me when they brought me up. But they're here."