Salvation (The Captive Series Book 4) by Erica Stevens Read Free Book Online

be lost.
       He wouldn’t allow that to happen to Aria, even if it meant giving himself over to the darkness that lurked within him, and was so close to consuming him now. He just had to keep it at bay until they were ready to move. He could give into the darkness when he found his father and brother; he could let it rule him in order to destroy them. Maybe, if he and Aria both survived, he would be able to salvage whatever was left of himself after.
       He felt no compunction about killing his father and brother. They would n’t feel any about torturing him, killing him, and making the only thing he cared about suffer. The only difference was he would make their deaths quick, they wouldn’t return the favor with him.
       “What do you know?” Braith demanded.
       “What do you mean?”
       “Don’t play stupid with me Xavier. You know more of our history, and of the human’s history than any of us. I see the way you watch Aria, the way you study her. If I thought it was because you had any interest in her as a woman I would have put a stop to it long ago, but we both know women are not what you desire. I know you’re not watching her because it’s me you’re interested in.”
       “How do you know that?”
       “Xavier,” Braith’s patience was reaching its end. Whatever crush Xavier may have had on him had vanished years ago when Xavier had accepted the fact that Braith wasn’t interested in men.
       There was a minor rise in his shoulder that Braith took as a shrug. “You are a good looking man…”
       Braith leaned into him, causing Xavier to take an abrupt step back into the tree behind him. “Do not play with me Xavier. There is no one, and nothing, I will not go through to get her back. I am in no mood for your devious games or your manipulations.” Xavier didn’t cower before him but Braith sensed the vampire’s trepidation. “ What do you know?”
       “I don’t know anything.”
       Braith’s hand slammed into the tree. Xavier’s followers would be irate if he killed him, they may leave, they may even turn on him, but he was getting to the point where he would willingly take that in order to assuage some of his fury. He didn’t think he could survive much longer like this. He was going to snap; like a bow string wound to tight he was going to break. He just didn’t know what was going to happen when he did, or how many he would take with him.    
       “There are some things I suspect though,” Xavier continued calmly.
       “Xavier, not now.”
       It took all of his patience to deal with Xavier’s roundabout way of explaining things. Xavier seemed to sense this as he grasped hold of his arm. “You have to keep it together Braith, there are far more lives at stake here than hers.”
       “ Why do you think I’m still here? Why do you think I haven’t gone after her, yet? But you have to tell me what you suspect .”
       Xav ier bowed his head. “Keep in mind that I truly know nothing for sure. I would like to speak with her father.”
       “Fine , but what is it…”
       Braith broke off as something else caught his attention. He released the tree he’d been so desperately grasping as he moved toward the edge of the hill. Below him the forest spread out in a blur of dark shapes and mounds. Amongst the solid objects, shadows moved and coalesced as they glided through the trees. He heard the approach of the others, but he didn’t have to turn to know that Gideon was in the lead. His step was somewhat louder than Ashby’s slighter frame and Jack’s more experienced movements. William, Daniel, and David barely made any noise as they approached; it was their scents he picked up instead of their sounds.
       “They’re coming, ” Gideon stated flatly.
       “They are,” Braith agreed.
       “We should retreat to the caves until they move past.” Braith folded his arms over his chest as he leaned back. The shadows moved through