48 Caroline

"You need to get your emotions under control before you cause a forest fire," Aniyoh said out of the side of her mouth.

Caroline nodded and then inhaled a deep breath with the hopes to calm her flurried thoughts. She knew Aniyoh was right. If she let her feelings escalate again, then she could be putting her friends in danger. At the very least, Caroline would give away their location if sparks and flames started shooting up into the now deepening evening sky. She wiped her tear-stained cheeks for what felt like the hundredth time while turning away slightly from Aniyoh.

They had ridden for nearly five more hours before stopping in a dense forest glade to make camp for the night. Silas thought it best, given the circumstances that they stay out of crowded areas like towns or inns. It would do the group no good to escape from Greir and Basla just to cornered again. Everyone agreed to the plan, even Lucian, who was still grumbling about sleeping on the ground.

The ride had been hard and fast, leaving Caroline's legs and arms sore from the hours of continuous travel at breakneck speed. They were lucky the horses didn't give out along the way, but Caroline knew it was imperative to put as much space between her and vampire captain as humanly possible. It was her he wanted, she knew. It was her fault they were trapped, and her fault that Ender was captured.

Caroline gave another small sniff, trying to keep the tears at bay. She led Whisper to the narrow river bed to drink, Aniyoh following closely by her side. Deep concern lined the woman's face as she placed a hand on Caroline's shoulder.

"We will get him back, Cari. Greir and Basla cannot keep him for long without incurring the wrath of Marciaus Mont." Aniyoh said softly.

"Can't they, though? They will do whatever they want regardless of consequence." Caroline snapped at her friend while tugging harder than she had intended to at Whisper's reins, causing the horse to jostle by her side.

Aniyoh recoiled slightly at her harsh words, and for a moment, Caroline felt a pang of guilt. None of this was the older witch's fault, Aniyoh had only come on this journey to help Caroline. The sorrow Caroline had been feeling only increased further, and she could feel her grip of control loosen as onya began to flow into her body.

"Cari, it's okay. I know you're hurting. Please focus on keeping a level head. Ender would tell you to do the same." Aniyoh said.

"You are right. I'm sorry, Ani. What are we going to do?" she asked as they stood quietly by the riverside as the horses drank their fill. Caroline found it challenging to keep the desperation out of her voice.

"I'm not sure yet," Aniyoh told her calmly, "but I know we need a plan. We should talk to Lucian and Silas and weigh all of our options."

Caroline nodded slowly. In the fading light, it was difficult to see the small amount of blood spatter that lined the edge of her light pink dress, but Caroline knew it was there. Her eyes hadn't left the spot it for so much of the ride.

"What's wrong?" Aniyoh asked skeptically. "I can feel something coming off you muddled with all that guilt and self-loathing."

Caroline didn't know how to explain it to her friend. In such a short amount of time, she had fallen inexplicably in love with the brooding, handsome vampire, but something about seeing him in his element had shaken her to her very core. Caroline knew Ender was a warrior, his strength and protective nature had been endearing to her from the beginning, but seeing the person she loved so profoundly, slaughter men so quickly, shined a different light on Ender.

Caroline had watched Ender move with a speed and ferocity she did not know he had. It was like he instinctively knew how to kill them and which way would be the quickest. The blood and gore had turned her stomach. She had butchered animals back home and assisted in childbirth, all activities not for the faint of heart. But after watching the short confrontation, she felt unnerved, and for the first time and fear crept into her heart when she thought of him.

After a long pause, Caroline finally exhaled the breath she didn't realize she had been holding, "I have never seen a person die before," she said quietly.

Aniyoh nodded slowly, "I thought it was something along those lines. I told you vampires are dangerous Cari, but what Ender did was to protect us, to protect you."

"I know, but what about those men? What if they had families or children?" she asked.

"Your heart is too big sometimes Cari," Aniyoh said gently, squeezing Caroline on the shoulder, "those men were soldiers, elite soldiers I might add, it is their path to walk towards death, not away from it. It is Ender's path too, or was until he met you, I think."

"Lucian said something to me when I first came to the castle. He warned me, 'Death follows him,'" Caroline said almost to herself. "I didn't believe him at first, or I just didn't care but seeing it with my own eyes..." she trailed off, unsure of how to put her thoughts into words.

"Death follows all who walk into battle with swords drawn. I've known the Monts for many years, Caroline. Killing men is all Ender Mont has ever known. It's much the same as peace, and giving life to things is all you know. You have to reconcile the two and maybe find a place in the middle to meet."

"Thank you, Ani," Caroline said, leaning her head on the taller woman's shoulder. "I can try to meet him in the middle, but first, I need to get him back."

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