Victor
All hell had broken loose. In just a matter of seconds the mood in the room had shifted from concern for Ash to outrage and panic. Gerard lifted his head and suddenly his eyes were blazing red with fury. He was throwing the doors open before I had even realized he'd moved from Ash's side. Evander and Alaric were beside him in a flash, trying to hold him back while Seraphine attempted to reason with him.
"Get out of my way." He hissed at them. "That is an order from you King!"
"Sire, please calm yourself and think before you act, you can not do this."
"He dared to touch my son. He violated him, his life is forfeit!"
"Yes." Seraphine said, speaking calmly and softly. "The penalty for what Niklas has done is death, and his sentence shall be carried out but not like this. He must stand before the High council first. It's the law."
Gerard turned to her and snarled. "Do you think I don't know the law?"
"You do know the law." Evander told him. "And you know the repercussions if you act rashly. Not even you, My Lord, can escape the wrath of the High council. Think of your son. Do you want to deny him the right to accuse his attacker in court?"
Gerard exhaled slowly. The tension in his shoulder released. He appeared calmer now and the murderous look in his eyes was gone. What stood there now was a father, full of pain and regret, wanting desperately to avenge his child but unable act because of rules and protocols.
Seraphine turned to the two guards standing at the door. "You will go and find Lord Niklas Kautz and arrest him on the charges of rape and giving false testimony before the court. He's to be held in Vasile tower, under heavy guard until further notice."
The guards bowed then turned and left, going down the hall, ready to carry out their orders without question. Gerard had been led back to the table but he refused to take his seat. Instead, he stood, palms flat against the table top, eyes focused on the reflective surface as he attempted to compose himself.
I cradled Ash against my chest, refusing to let him go, even for a second. He was still unconscious but I worried that if he woke up he'd have another panic attack. He had been close to hyperventilating right before he'd passed out. I stood, still holding him against me. He was so small, so light that it barely took any effort at all to pick him up.
"I'm taking him outside." I announced to no one in particular. "He needs some fresh air." I didn't wait for anyone's permission as I headed for the doors and no one tried to stop me.
I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I stepped out of that damn conference room and heard the door click shut behind me. Ash was still out cold, cradled in my arms, his head resting against my shoulder, his breath warm across my collarbone. Once we were outside, away from Gerard's fury and Jonah's cold and menacing glares, I could finally breathe again.
It was past midnight and in the darkness, the hotels tiny courtyard felt like something out of a dream. Little white lights were strung through the trees and along the awning, glowing in the night like fireflies. White, ball lanterns hung on strings, crisscrossing the patio, casting a warm, golden glow over the empty tables and polished stone floor. In the summer I imagined the courtyard smelled like roses and champagne. Now it smelled like dew and fallen leaves, but the first thing I noticed was the quiet. We were completely alone and for that I was thankful.
I found a bench near a stone fountain and sat down, shifting Ash into my lap. The sound of running water, pouring from the clay jar of half nude nymph was soothing and calm. Her stone eyes seemed to follow me, as if she were the guardian of this human made paradise. I held Ash closer, laying his head against my heart. He made a faint, breathy noise, like something deep inside was still hurting him, even in sleep. I brushed my fingers through his hair, touching his ear before letting my fingers drift over his cheek.
He was absolute perfection, my little mate. Beautiful and strong, kind and innocent in a way that's rarely seen anymore. How anyone could hurt him was beyond me. It almost seemed blasphemous, like harming an Angel.
The look on his face earlier when Jonah had opened his stupid mouth and let the truth slip, or when Gerard had demanded answers, was heartbreaking to see. But I not only saw it, I felt it. Like a punch to the gut. Then, when the memory came rushing back, I felt that too. The anger, the fear, and the pain. Even thinking about it now made me want to track Niklas down and tear him limb from limb, slowly. Painfully. I wanted to make him suffer because Ash was suffering, and Niklas needed to pay for making him feel like this.
Ash had buried it all. Shoved it down deep inside just to survive. To keep breathing and moving but tonight, it came rushing out like blood from a wound that refused to heal. I should have gotten him out of there sooner, when I first realized that something was wrong, that he wasn't okay. I should have protected him better.
I kissed his forehead. It was cool to the touch and damp with sweat. Gods, he looked so young. Too young to have suffered all the shit he'd gone through. And it wasn't even over yet. He still had to go before the council and once again rehash everything Niklas had done to him. I'd spare him the agony of it if I could but he had no choice. Without Ash's testimony, he'd never have the justice he deserved and Niklas would walk.
I couldn't let that happen. Not after everything Niklas had done to him, not after Ash had suffered in silence, too scared to speak out. I looked down at him again, my thumb brushing along the edge of his cheekbone. "We'll get through through this." I promised, even though he couldn't hear me. "One breath at a time, we'll survive this."
A door creaked open behind us, the sound amplified throughout the empty courtyard. I heard soft footsteps approaching but I didn't turn at first. I had too many things on my mind, things too important to be concerned about random humans encroaching on our space but then, a subtle breeze kicked up and with it came a scent I had come to recognize over the last few hours. Vampires.
I turned then and saw Alaric walking toward me. His scent I knew at once. Earth and ceder with a hint of spice.
"Victor," he said gently, calm and composed, even now. "Gerard and Liam still have some things to finalize. Plans for meeting with the council, Ash's statement, legal matters. It could take hours and neither felt that there was any need for Ash to remain here for that."
"No." I agreed. "He needs to rest, some place where he feels safe."
"My thoughts exactly." Alaric attempted a smile but it felt out of place on him and didn't have the desired effect of warmth and comradery. "If you wish, I can escort you both back to the Belle Village estate. Liam has already given his permission to leave. You can check with him if you like."
"No. I trust you." He raised an eyebrow and smirked. It would have looked creepy to anyone else but I was getting used to the mans mannerisms, and I knew he meant well. I think it just stunned him a bit to hear a shifter say they trusted him.
"Excellent. When you're ready, I have a car waiting out front."
I stood, scooping Ash up with me and nodded. "We're ready."
We walked back through the hotel to the front entrance where we'd all arrived. When Alaric said he had a car waiting, I expected to see another limo, not the Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS that glided to a halt just outside the main doors.
The SUV was all black glass and lacquered steel, polished to a mirror sheen that reflected the hotels soft golden lighting and the faintest shimmer of moon light. The doors unlocked with an almost silent click and a parking valet stepped out. He handed Alaric the keys and Alaric thanked him, then he disappeared, back inside the hotel.
Alaric didn't move from where he was standing. He just stood there like some stone statue in a designer coat like he was waiting for something. Or someone. That's when I noticed the man standing behind him, half shadowed by the glow of the outside lights. Young, wide-eyed, and trying unsuccessfully to be invisible. Antoine.
Outside of the conference room, when he wasn't hiding under the table, he looked even smaller. His large brown eyes flitted to Ash and then to me, and I saw the way his posture stiffened. He was afraid of me. I didn't blame him. He'd seen me at my worst, half shifted and snarling like a blood thirsty beast. The irony wasn't lost on me. The kid, and I say kid because that's what he looked like despite his eighty-seven years, was a vampire. He was supposed to be the blood thirsty monster that people feared but he was anything but. He was a beta. I could tell by his scent. He didn't have the strength of an alpha but in all honesty, he could have passed for an omega.
He was small, scrawny, and reeked of fear. Being a beta, he was bred for servitude and was used to being ordered around but there was just something about him that made him seem weak and broken.
He stood to the side, his back straight and hands clenched nervously at his sides, eyes still lowered to the ground.
"It's okay." I said, softer than I meant to. "I'm not going to hurt you."
He didn't respond but then Alaric sighed as he turned and gave the younger vampire a look of annoyance. "Antoine, the doors..."
Antoine flinched, nodding quickly. "Y-Yes, Sir."
He bowed his head as he rushed forward and opened the back door. Loose brown waves obscured his face as I walked past him and gently slid Ash into the seat and then sat down beside him. Antoine shut the door without a word. He didn't even make eye contact when I thanked him. It was like he was too scared to speak.
He walked to the drivers side then and opened the door for Alaric who slid in behind the wheel with graceful ease. After shutting Alaric's door, Antoine walked around the car to the front passenger side and got in beside Alaric. It was kind of funny watching him fasten the safety belt with shaking hands. I completely understood why Gerard had ordered him to return with us. Antoine was out of his element serving the King. It was actually pretty painful to watch him fumbling around and jumping at the slightest sounds. He would have been better suited working as a librarian than a servant to the King.
Alaric started the car and began to pull away from the hotel. I asked him if he needed directions and he said no, he already knew. Apparently Gerard had tasked Alaric with keeping tabs on Jai over the past four years that he'd been living with us. Our village was so secure, I wondered how he could have possibly gotten close enough to get any information without being detected. Then again, Ash made it into Liam and Jai's bedroom with none of us being the wiser. I decided not to dwell on the issue too much. At least for now. Vampires had their secrets but I was sure, in time, I'd learn most of them.
***
The drive back to Belle Village was peacefully quiet. Alaric wasn't a big talker and Antoine didn't speak at all unless asked a direct question. We were about half way when Ash began to stir. I'd pulled him into my lap shortly after we'd left and held him against my chest as Alaric drove. The soft hum of the engine and the ease of the ride was soothing. I'd hoped Ash would have remained asleep until we reached the mansion but slowly, his eyes opened and the first thing he saw was me. He smiled but then his smile faded when he realized we were in a moving vehicle. His eyes darted around, taking in his surroundings and when he saw the two Vampires in the front seat he tensed.
"It's okay." I spoke softly, rubbing his back. "Alaric is driving us home."
