Ashby grunted in response, Xavier remained silent in the back. Aria’s hand trembled in his, her palm was sweatier than normal but she forged steadfastly on behind him. Relief filled him when the walls released their grasp. Even with his enhanced night vision he had to strain to see the pathway before him as almost no light penetrated the thick rock walls.
“Wait.” Aria released his hand suddenly. He grabbed for her as she moved forward, intending to pull her back, but she returned to his side almost immediately. “Hold this.”
She thrust the handle of a torch into his hand and fumbled into the darkness for something else. He spotted what she was searching for and pulled the box of matches from a small hole tucked into a crevice of the cave. They huddled together as she fumbled with the matches and finally struck a spark. A small flicker of light played over the contours of her face before she pressed the flame to the end of the torch.
Fire blazed forth as she grinned at him. “Lead on.”
The torch lit the dusty cobwebs of the tunnel and the solid rock floor beneath them. The air became mustier and colder the deeper they moved into the cave system. The faint drip drop of water could be heard in the distance, condensation coated the rocks around them. Aria’s grip on him increased. Aria pointed out gates hidden secretly into the walls, heavy iron gates that could be swung shut in order to keep out invaders.
“No wonder the king couldn’t squash the rebellion! You live like rats beneath the earth,” said Ashby.
Braith halted as Aria stopped abruptly and turned to face Ashby. “We did what was necessary, what we were forced to do,” she grated. “And we don’t always live within the caves; most of the time we live within the woods and only resort to the caves when it becomes necessary.”
Ashby chuckled quietly. He reached for her shoulder, glancing quickly at Braith he thought better of it and dropped his hand back to his side. “Easy tiger, I was just making a comment. Don’t forget I was forced out too.”
Aria stared at him for a long moment before Braith tugged gently on her arm, pulling her forward as even Xavier began to smirk with amusement. Braith had to admit that though Ashby had gone about saying it the wrong way, he completely agreed with him. The hidden nooks and security systems they had set into place down here were amazing. Though most of the tunnels were natural, there were manmade ones running throughout the cave system also. She’d said there was only one other exit, and he believed her. She wouldn’t put them all at risk by lying about that, but there was far more to this cave system than she was revealing. Especially when she shut some of the iron doors while leaving others open.
“Do you know all of the cave systems?” Xavier inquired in his deep timbered voice.
“Not all of them, there are far too many for that, but a fair amount of them. We’re almost to the center of the cave now.”
Braith could sense an opening ahead even before he stepped into the massive cavern. “Bats,” Ashby griped with a shudder as Braith’s eyes landed upon the rodents lining the ceiling. He’d started to smell them awhile back, but the smell was worse within the large cavern. He didn’t bother to look down; he knew the floor was coated with guano. The thought of staying here repulsed him, the fact that she had grown up among these caves disturbed him immensely.
No wonder she preferred the trees.
CHAPTER 11
“You know, for an immortal vampire you’re a bit of a wimp,” Aria informed Ashby.
He flashed his dashing smile as he grinned. “I never said I wasn’t.”
As quietly as possible, so as not to wake the sleeping creature’s, she closed three of the five gates. “They’ll go out tonight.” She pointed to the fourth gate. “That’s the way out, when they leave to feed we’ll lock it down and they won’t be able to get back in.”
“We’re not staying here, are we?” Ashby inquired worriedly.
Aria shook her head. “No, we are not savages; we don’t like the smell of guano any more than you do.”
Braith squeezed her shoulder soothingly. “No one is saying that,” he assured her.
Aria took a deep breath, trying to keep her control. It wasn’t only their scrutiny and blatant revulsion that had her so wound up, but also the confining walls surrounding her. “I know,” she said. “We always leave one of the larger caverns blocked off so the bats can’t get inside. This way.”
Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the pungent aroma of the bat droppings as she picked her way over it, moving steadily toward the fourth gate. It had already been closed off. “I’ll go,” Braith was moving toward her but she held up her hand and shook her head.
“No Braith, I have to go through this time. Its booby trapped and I know where the triggers are.” A low grumble of displeasure escaped him as he moved to intercept her. She’d already prepared herself for this argument. “I helped Daniel design a good portion of them, believe me it is far safer for me in there than you.”
“Aria…”
“Stop being so stubborn,” she interrupted. “Besides, at this point in time, your life is far more valuable than mine.”
She realized immediately that had been the completely wrong thing to say. He seized hold of her, lifting her as he thrust his face into hers. The gentle man from outside was gone, before her was the vampire prince that was used to being obeyed and expected it from everyone, except for maybe her. “Don’t you ever say that again!” he snapped so loudly that Ashby’s gaze darted nervously to the top of the cave. “Your life is every bit as important as mine, if not more so…”