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Fury darkened Aria’s features She switched directions as she raced toward the man that had just maied to grab hold of a bow and a quiver of arrows He tossed the knocked back by a blow that echoed throughout the room and probably knocked more than a few teeth loose

Aria slid across the floor on her knees; she snagged hold of the bow and arrow before leaping back to her feet Braith had no idea where she was going, or what she had in mind until she leapt onto the lap of one of his father’s trophies, jumped onto the table, and launched herself at the massive, dark wood bea of the roos up and catching hold of the bea herself up, she sat briefly on top of the bea to her feet

She was back in her trees, Braith realized as she dashed across the wood

Braith wasn’t surprised that some of the soldiers had stopped to stare at her as she leapt from bea atching her with assessing, shrewd eyes Braith aze over the crowd of soldier’s, Xavier’s dark eyes closed as he bowed his head to Braith and gave a brief nod Braith didn’t know if it was relief or anguish that filled him at Xavier’s confirmation of what he suspected about Aria

But he did know that they had to survive this before anything could be discussed or decided

Braith shoved another guard out of his way as he struggled to get to the others Aria leapt to another beauard that had stabbed her brother He fell back as another guard snagged hold of Daniel and hauled him to his feet

Xavier was a uard jerked Daniel up, Xavier grabbed hold of him and slit his throat with deadly ruthlessness Xavier pulled Daniel free and finished the guard with a killing blow to his chest Pushing Daniel behind hirabbed hold of Max as the three of the’s rab hold of Willia made it nearly i at any guard that dared approach hiuards Grabbing hold of Williaround but part of the spearhead was embedded into the marble William released another shout that was eerily echoed by Aria, as Braith ripped him free with a merciless yank that tore muscle and bone

Willia into it, but he didn’t offer a co pointed and rigid pierced his shoulder; a ferocious growl escaped hiuard that had just shot hi the man down, but an arrow pierced the et to hi to face the neave of guards co attack An arrohistled past his ear, Daniel and Max leapt into the fray beside him as they attacked the soldiers with spears and arrows Xavier hung back, protecting Williaet at the injured hu as he forced them back frouard ed to deliver a solid kick to his ribs that knocked hian but Williah the guard’s heart

They were putting up a good fight, but Braith knew they would eventually be beaten down by thehis shoulder, Braith raed three arrows aimed at him One clipped across his bicep but it was only a flesh wound that would heal quickly He ed to rip a spear and some arrows free from one of the men and threw the extra arrows up to Aria She knelt down and snagged theuards, and released a series of punches on one of thenition He ripped the spear free, falling back as ainst the five of them Aria suddenly leapt to her feet, her eyes were riveted upon the front of the room as she turned to face the throne Braith continued to fend off the guards, as he fell back toward the table in order to try and see what held her so enraptured, and what had caused her to look like she’d seen a ghost

Her eyes clashed with his as she gestured toward the front of the room Braith leapt onto the top of the table in a solid bound Staring over the raucous filled roo the distraction of the battle had circled behind the king and was now closing in on hi forward and shoved a spear through the king’s back and straight into his heart Blood pooled at the corners of the king’s parted mouth as his eyes widened His hands clawed at the spear, a strange guttural sound escaped hirinned at their father as he turned slowly toward the son that had just coly no remorse

‘It may be harder to take Caleb do that he realizes he is the heir apparent’ The words, spoken so long ago by Melinda, hauntingly floated back across his mind

As Braith watched his father fall he realized that even in his death, his father was actually proudest of the offspring that had just destroyed him than any of the other children he’d created

Caleb ripped the spear from his father’s chest and stepped forward to take his place before the throne he had just clai from his father’s lifeless hand and unhurriedly slid it onto his index finger His eyes gleamed with pride; a malicious smile curved his ers adly Braith had no love for his father, would have taken hi Aria, but even so loathing and vengeance flashed hotly through his belly He would have slain his father, but he would have taken the man head on, he wouldn’t have been as cowardly as Caleb had just been

Caleb continued to bask in his moment as he lifted his head to survey the room that was now his He smoothed the front of his black shirt and idly surveyed the motionless crowd "Kill them" The coet the stunned soldiers , one even more ruthless and sadistic, had just stepped forward to take his place Even if they had been trained their entire lives to one day follow Braith, Caleb’s slaughter of their ruler had just earned hiirl, keep her alive if you can" Caleb lifted his head to survey Aria "I have sonificent plans for her"