CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

L ance took Sofia’s hand and stepped out of the king’s office. They banged straight into three females leaning against the wall, clearly eavesdropping.

“Yahh!” Brianna cried, throwing her arms around Sofia.

“Knew it.” Willow fisted her arm in the air.

“No, you didn’t,” Brayden said, grabbing his mate and dragging her off. “Come on, you have princess school.”

Lance’s brows bunched together, and he looked at Craig in question, who shrugged. “I want to say it’s not kinky, but I’d probably be lying,” he said, cringing. “Let’s hope there’s actually some practical lesson in there because she’s driving us all mad.”

“Hey!” Brianna exclaimed, berating her mate. “That’s...okay, that’s true.”

“It’s absolutely bloody true,” Vincent spoke. “She is having princess lessons. Or as Willow has rebranded it, a Moretti Diploma.”

“To be fair, it took me a while to figure out how to be queen,” Kate defended her. “And I was already a vampire.”

“Rubbish. You were perfect from the beginning,” Vincent said, kissing his mate. Kate rolled her eyes and laughed. “Sofia, welcome to our big, crazy family. I am excited to work with you on this special project. So when you are moved in, let’s sit down and talk. Get to know each other.”

“ Grazie . I would like that very much,” Sofia answered.

“Not too much work,” Vincent warned.

“The queen is pregnant,” Lance informed Sofia. “Although it’s not public knowledge yet.”

She let out a loud gasp. A pregnancy was always a huge celebration in the vampire race, but the king and queen producing an heir was something enormous to celebrate, and he knew Sofia understood the significance of that.

“Congratulations!” she cried.

“Thank you,” the queen answered, lowering her eyes, and smiled as her hand went to her slightly swollen belly. The king’s hand landed on top, his face one of great joy and pride.

Lance glanced down at his mate and wondered if she wanted to be a mother. If they would be so blessed. She smiled at him, and his heart swelled as they wandered the halls of the castle rich with history.

Paintings of the Moretti family, valuable art, and swords hung on the tall, solid walls. He loved this castle; however, it hadn’t been home for a long time. He wondered whether they would stay in Italy or if the king would now move them back to the United States where they had lived for the past one hundred and thirty years. How would Sofia feel about it if they did?

They had much to discuss and still learn about each other, and yet, he knew whatever they faced, they would do it together.

Craig stepped beside him and slapped him on the shoulder. “Glad you’re still with us, De Luca.”

“I told you once you’d never get rid of me.”

“Well, I tried my best,” Craig said with a glint in his eye before he walked ahead, lifted his mate into his arms, and flashed away while Brianna squealed.

Lance frowned. Shit. He knew in that moment the commander had played a key part in the king’s decision.

He grinned to himself.

Fuck, now he owed the guy a beer.

THE NEXT EVENING, CRAIG and Kurt teleported back to Sofia’s apartment with them to help pack up her belongings. Or at least, it was what they had told Sofia.

Lance may have mentioned Ben’s visit and his plans to return.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the male on his own. Lance just didn’t trust him and wanted Sofia to be safe. With the three warriors there, Ben would, or at least should, be intimidated, which would eliminate any stupid moves he may be planning to make. Sofia was his mate and protecting her was all he gave a shit about. When it came to the Ferrero family, he wasn’t taking any risks.

Brianna had wanted to join them, but he had left Craig to deal with that delicate matter.

“So, what excuse did you use to dissuade Bri from coming along tonight?” he asked as he pulled three big suitcases out of the closet. “You know, so we’re on the same page and you don’t get caught.”

“I used my cock, De Luca. Tire your woman out and they don’t need to be fed any bullshit.” Craig shrugged.

“Thanks for that visual.” He rolled his eyes as Kurt let out a snort.

“Fuck off. You’ve both seen it before.” Craig laughed.

Yes, they had. Many times.

For centuries before Brayden had met Willow, the prince had been infamous for hosting orgies. Many of the castles had rooms set up for hours of debauchery. Lance had his own delicious memories of that time, but now he doubted the protective nature of the mated males would ever see any of them step foot inside with their females.

“So you think this male is trouble?” Kurt asked, filling a suitcase.

“I think he’s trained,” Lance replied. “By whom is the question.”

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door.

“Let’s go,” Craig ordered, lifting a suitcase onto his shoulder and carrying it out into the living room.

Ben walked in and pulled Sofia into his arms. Her mate leaned on a wall across the room, arms crossed, and glared at him. Ben ignored him.

“Hey, Ben,” Sofia greeted, hugging him back warmly.

“Ben Ferrero,” Lance spoke up.

Ben stood up straight, smiled at Sofia once more, then looked at the three large vampires. Mean-ass motherfuckers . But he had expected nothing less.

“This the privacy you were talking about yesterday?” he asked Lance.

“Yup. This is how it’s going to go.” Lance nodded. “This is Craig and—”

“I know who they are,” Ben interrupted.

“Bit of a mouth on you there, boy,” Craig noted, plunging his hands into his jean pockets, all casual.

Ben wasn’t fooled. He knew exactly who the commander was and what he was capable of.

“Look closer and you’ll see a fully grown cock between my legs,” Ben said, holding the enormous vampire’s stare.

He knew he was playing with fire, but right now, they were all a bunch of mutts fighting for status in this alpha pack. If they thought Ben was a beta or a little pussy alpha, they would soon learn he wasn’t. Did he want to be here? No. But while he was ensuring his sister was okay and...well, his other little task, he would not let these males push him around.

“There’s no need for this,” Sofia begged all the faces in the room. She was ignored.

“She’s right. I’m just visiting after I heard she had disappeared and all the rest of the recent drama. So how about you big boys give us some space.” He stared challengingly at them.

It wasn’t his best approach. Poking the bear hadn’t been his plan, but they hadn’t even given him a chance, and he was pissed. And yeah, the big boy dig had been on purpose. He wasn’t a small guy. Sure, he wasn’t as big as the commander— who the fuck was? —but he stood six foot four and was near the same build as the two other males, give or take a few pounds.

Lance shook his head. “You’re a dumb fuck.”

“Lance,” Sofia began.

“I’m not the damn enemy here,” Ben growled, losing his patience.

What was their damn problem? He had learned last night his sister had been raped and suspected there was more to the story. Ben wanted some time alone with her to learn more. It was hardly like he was responsible for it.

So what the fuck was going on?

“We’ll decide that,” Craig said darkly, kicking a stool into position and pointing at him. “Sit. The. Fuck. Down.”

Asshole.

LANCE STOOD UP AND stretched his body.

An hour later, they had learned Ben had left the Ferrero family after a falling out with his father. Sofia hadn’t known about it at all. Her mother had been present when it happened and never told her anything.

He had watched his mate as she listened to her brother, her face full of emotion.

Ben had disagreed with the rebellion and began challenging the status quo. After many debates with Leonardo Ferrero, he had been asked to leave the family home. Freethinking was not allowed in the senior members of the rebellion, and his father had seen it as a betrayal.

“Jeez. So they’re behaving like the dictators they claim the Morettis to be,” Kurt sneered.

“Exactly.” Ben nodded.

The atmosphere had somewhat relaxed as it became more and more clear the guy was not a threat to the Morettis or Sofia.

“So,” Craig continued. “You didn’t get those guns from lazing on a beach in Thailand.”

The vampire daylight humor never failed to get a grin out of them all.

Except Sofia.

Yeah, Lance had some apologizing to do later.

Ben glanced at his biceps and grinned. The smug vampire knew he was powerful. He had bulk, height, and width. Fortunately, he’d had enough brains to sit when Craig had invited him to. He really wouldn’t have wanted it to escalate further with Sofia present.

Regardless, it had been important to test the male.

And yet, he knew they were all thinking the same thing. He was still hiding something.

He wasn’t your average male vampire. His body was too strong, too molded into a warrior’s body to be just a gym guy. You didn’t achieve that body by skipping on a treadmill a few hours a day. It was achieved with a will and determination most males of any species didn’t have over a long period of time.

“Yeah. Keto. And I work out.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Craig struggling with wanting to strangle the guy and grin.

“Who trained you?”

Ben glanced away.

He’s hiding something, Craig telepathed him

Yep. You think he’s a danger to Sofia?

No. Maybe , Craig replied, still glaring at the male. But now he’s in our territory, and unfortunately for him, he’s piqued my interest.

That is unfortunate. Lance smirked.

Jokes aside, Craig was right. While it sounded like Ben was on the straight and narrow, there were more questions than answers about the brother who had disappeared then shown up years later looking like Chris Hemsworth on steroids.

“I’m not at liberty to say,” Ben replied.

“This is not the fucking United States, my friend,” Craig said, raising an eyebrow and smirking. “Keep talking.”

“Are you arresting me?” Ben smirked, a bunch of dimples appearing.

Kurt groaned next to him, and they shared a glance, rolling their eyes. They could both see Ben would pull the girls with his cheeky nature, broad chest, and charm. If the guy pulled his head out of his ass, Lance could see him winging it with the SLCs.

“Just tell them, Ben. Come on, you’ve been gone seventy years, and you didn’t look like that when you left. What’s the big secret?” Sofia spoke up.

Ben dropped the attitude and leaned toward his sister. “There’s no secret, Sofe. I’ve just been living my life away from the rebellion. When I heard you were holed up in the Moretti prison, I made my way back to Italy.”

“Where have you been living?” Craig asked.

“The States,” Ben answered. “I would have returned sooner, sis, but I thought you were a lifer.”

“A lifer?” Lance asked.

“In the rebellion. You know, brainwashed and never able to see the truth.”

Sofia glanced at him, and he smiled at her in support. He knew she had a lot of shame and regret for how long it had taken her to challenge her family’s beliefs. Unfortunately, it had taken a series of horrible experiences to do it, but she had.

Craig stood and wandered to the window, looking out. They all watched him for a long moment. “You looking for a job?” he finally asked Ben as he turned around.

Ben stared at him. Then answered. “No.”

“You sure about that?” Craig pushed.

“Yes.”

“Then what are you doing in Italy?” Craig asked. “What are you really doing in Italy?”

Ben stared at him, his lips tightly closed.

“Because you are up to something, Ben Ferrero, and I’m going to find out what it is.”