He slammed Gideon against the wall again before shoving him violently and finally releasing him. Gideon’s hand flew to his throat; he bent over as he watched Braith warily. “Who do you expect to lead?” he choked out
Braith shrugged. “I don’t particularly care. You do it, or even Ashby, you said yourself that my sister is of sound bloodlines. Perhaps even Calista or Xavier would be a fine choice. I don’t care who you pick, just as long as we are left alone.”
“She will still die.”
“And I’ll be there beside her, and I will find a way to go with her.”
Gideon was completely flabbergasted; his mouth opened and closed a few times before he was finally able to speak again. “You are the next in line Braith, the one that everyone, including the humans, has expected to take the throne. The infighting that such an abdication would cause…”
“I’m sure that it will all work out,” Ashby inserted quickly. He shot Gideon a silencing look as he stepped forward to break up what was sure to be a battle if it continued. “We must win the war out there first, let us not start one here.”
Braith waited for Gideon to say more, but he finally just shook his head and took a step back. Gideon turned back, opened his mouth to say something more, but Ashby grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back. William remained silent as he leaned against the wall.
“This child thing, a baby…”
“I’m not sleeping with your sister!” Braith’s temper had hit its boiling point, he’d had enough. The remaining color drained from William’s face, and then it flared bright red. Ashby and Gideon’s mouths dropped. “I don’t want to hear one word from any of you again tonight,” he grumbled as he stalked from the room.
CHAPTER 7
Aria stood silently in the corner of the room. Thankfully they had not retreated to Gideon’s “study,” but to a large dining room in the back of the house. Braith sat at the head of the large table, his hands folded before him. He was leaning forward, his tone low and fervent as he spoke with the vampires gathered around him. They listened to him with rapt attention, ensnared by his words and the aura of power he emitted. A lump formed in her throat as pride bloomed in her. It was amazing to watch him like this.
She knew he didn’t consider himself a leader, but he already was. And they would follow him, she was certain of it.
Her gaze scanned over the group gathered around him. They were an eclectic lot. Gideon and Ashby sat on each side of Braith, beside Ashby sat Barnaby, a vampire even fairer than Ashby. His hair was nearly white, his eyes a washed out watery blue. Tall and thin he possessed a regal air that marked him every inch the aristocrat he was. Xavier sat beside Barnaby; he was leaning forward as he listened to Braith. His head was completely bald and his dark skin gleamed in the light filtering through the windows. Tattoos marked the backs of his hands and ran up his solid arms before disappearing beneath the sleeves of his shirt. Strange designs and flames reappeared at the side of his neck before ending at his right ear and the bottom of his chin.
Xavier might have been one of the most intriguing looking men she had ever seen, with his eclectic tattoos, but it was Saul that she found her gaze drawn repeatedly toward. Unlike the others, who all appeared to be under the age of thirty, Saul had salt and pepper hair that fell around his sharp face. His nose was hawkish, his eyes a darker shade of gray than his hair. She knew that Frank was the human leader, but what was Saul? He was the first vampire she had ever seen that appeared aged, at least fifty judging by the lines around his eyes and the corners of his mouth. Had he been human once? Had this man survived the change? She wanted to ask Braith about it, couldn’t wait to get him alone to find out the details, but it would be awhile before that happened.
Calista sat regally beside Saul, her head held high on her slender neck. Her skin was not as dark as Xavier’s, but a soft brown hue that matched her eyes. Her hair was cropped close to her skull, highlighting the intriguing angles and planes of her features.
“He reminds me of father,” William whispered. “People listen to and follow both of them.”
Besides being a little disturbed by the association William had just made, Aria couldn’t help but smile as she nodded in agreement.
“They will follow him.” Aria turned toward William as she caught the hint of something in his tone. He seemed to have come to some sort of realization, one that saddened him. He smiled wanly at her, but it was forced, awkward and uncertain.
“William, what is it?”
He shook his head, looking like he was about to say something, but Braith interrupted him. “Arianna, William.” Forcing her face to remain impassive, she straightened her shoulders and appeared indifferent toward Braith as she moved slowly toward him. She was well aware of the fact that they were all watching her and William questioningly.
“Their father is the leader of the rebel cause closest to the palace. David is gathering support there for what we are about to undergo.” Aria met each of their gazes as Braith continued on. “Jericho, who now goes by the name Jack, has been working with David for awhile now and is helping with this undertaking. Melinda has returned to the palace to be our eyes and ears on the inside.”
“Will the humans follow this David?” Xavier inquired.
“People will follow our father,” William informed him. “They’ve followed our family in one form or another for almost ninety years, and they will continue to do so. Especially if there is a chance to end the fear, starvation, and death we live with everyday.”