CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

S eraphina wrote down the king’s instructions, swallowed deeply, and then glanced at him one more time.

“All you have to do is get him on the phone. Within the hour.”

She nodded and raced out of the office.

“Fuck me.”

The king stood and walked to the large glass window that looked out across the lake. Leaves were scattered on the ground, visible because of the full moon hanging heavily in the sky.

The property was being heavily guarded and monitored. Down the hall, a team of vampires took shifts watching every single camera.

Inside his large office stood three of the senior lieutenant commanders, along with the commander himself, Craig, and his brother, the prince. Strong, powerful males, as was he. Strong in body, and sharp of mind.

It worked for him to let them think he was a little stupid at times. Never overplay your hand , his father would say . A surprise can be more powerful than a sword.

The prince was the more dominant of the two Moretti brothers, Vince knew that. Brayden had a quick strategic mind, but it took more than strategy to outplay an opponent. It took courage, wits, instinct, inner power, and the ability to roll the dice. Right now, Vincent was tapping into every single one of those skills, including leading all his vampires and the powerful skills of those around him. He wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could rule alone.

During the long day, Brayden and he had played out scenarios from every angle, and then the prince had left him to make his final decision.

He’d returned to the queen’s bed for a two-hour sleep.

For years, they had tried for a baby. One hundred and thirty-fucking-one years. And now, in her belly, grew the new heir to the Moretti throne.

His heart had nearly exploded when they had figured it out. Now he wanted to wrap his stunningly gorgeous and strong-minded queen in bubble wrap, but she was having none of that.

The surrounding males talked their usual shit, their energy wired, while he waited. Vince already had his strategy, and was playing it out in his head over and over again. He had two options to put on the table. No more.

Brayden had been surprised by his ideas, but he was optimistic it wouldn’t come to the worst-case scenario. If it did, he was willing to go through with it.

Like all intelligent beings, the desire to survive was the most basic and powerful. Whether or not humans liked it, vampires were the most powerful beings on earth at this moment.

Humans had been allowed to remain in existence because vampires had chosen to peacefully coexist with them. That was the plain, cruel truth. They were predators at the heart of it. Blood-consuming, powerful, and smart predators, capable of eliminating anything which posed a risk.

This was the message he would share with humanity today.

The breaking news could be covered up as fake news quickly and easily after a handful of powerful phone calls to people he knew personally. The Moretti’s were a powerful and extremely rich family with hundreds of years of history rubbing shoulders with those in influential and political places in every country in the world. It was time for him to do, as king, what he did best.

Negotiate.

Though that might be too soft a word in this instance. Humanity would be receiving an ultimatum from him and the vampire race tonight.

He turned and took in the males around him; tall, wide, and pumped with alpha energy. Muscles stretched their black Moretti uniforms to within an inch of their lives, the black-on-black logo on their chests subtle yet potent.

Just as they were.

Brayden was doing his usual leaning thing; he wasn’t fooling any of these males. The cool, relaxed look was thick with tension and power. The guy cast a glance his way.

As if on cue, Craig also turned toward him before giving a quick look at his captain and best friend. The male vampire was all but one of the family, and Vince valued him being on the team, as he did every one of them in this room.

The only one missing was Tom. He was holed up with the two Russo prisoners in another location with his mate Lucinda. A highly uncomfortable situation, he had no doubt.

“Are we staying during this conversation?” Lance asked.

Marcus and Kurt turned to the king, knowing if anybody would be kicked out, it would be them.

“Yes. But stay silent,” Vincent ordered. “If we are going to step into action, I want you to do so immediately. Are we all clear on that?”

Brayden looked at him again, darkness in his eyes. He may be a warrior, but he wasn’t a warmonger.

“I will give you the nod, and I want each of you to move. No questions. Are we clear?” Vince repeated.

The entire room nodded.

Scruff was rubbed, shoulders rolled, and hands run through hair. The nervous shuffle of soldiers.

“How is Brianna doing?”

Craig looked surprised at his question.

“Ah, she’s groggy and pissed, but she told me she loves me.” A smile landed on the guy’s face.

“Thank fuck, no more of those goddamn orgies.”

Brayden and Craig burst into laughter. The two had been infamous for their outrageous sexual appetites for centuries.

“Congratulations, Commander,” he added with meaning.

“Thank you, sire.”

Seraphina burst through the door, panting. The males all stood up straight, alert and ready, all eyes on his secretary.

“Line one, sire. He’s on the line.”

“Thank you.”

He indicated she should leave the room, then he looked at the males. “Go time, boys.”

He sat down at his desk and picked up his pen, glancing at his notes. Not that he needed them. Every word was etched into his brain.

He picked up the phone and pressed the number one button.

“Evening, Mr. President.”

Turn the page for Lance & Sofia’s steamy paranormal fated-mates romance in THE VAMPIRE SPY.