CHAPTER THREE | England, 1891

CHAPTER THREE

England, 1891

“I’M NOT GOING TO BOW to you, you know that, right?” Brayden asked, leaning against the fireplace which was finally starting to emit some warmth.

England in the winter was dreary and cold, even for a vampire.

Vincent smirked. “You will, or I will take your head.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’ve been threatening to do that all my life.” He laughed.

“Ah, but brother, now I can.” Vincent grinned, dropping his big body into the armchair.

The prince did the same and put his feet up on the coffee table. If their mother had been alive, he would have been smacked by now.

As if reading his mind, Brayden glanced over and dropped his boots to the floor.

“I miss them.”

“Me too,” Vincent admitted. “I wish I could ask Father more questions.”

“You had hundreds of years. Wasn’t that enough time?” Brayden asked, raising an eyebrow.

The answer was no.

“Learning to be a king and being a king are two different things,” he said. “Haven’t you been hearing the whispers and court gossip? They say I don’t have what it takes. That I’m a weak king.”

Brayden’s eyebrows furrowed.

His brother was fearlessly loyal. Obviously, he hadn’t heard anything, which in hindsight, was no great surprise. No one would be stupid enough to say such a thing to the alpha prince.

“Weak? Are you fucking kidding me?” Brayden cursed, proving Vincent’s mental point. “Do we need to kick some ass? Because I’m up for kicking ass if you are.”

Vincent shook his head.

“That’s not exactly how it works, brother. I would need to be the one doing the kicking to prove my strength.” He let out a dry laugh. “But that’s not what’s going on here. Underneath their gossip is fear. They’re worried I won’t, or can’t, protect them. Which means I am not doing my job well enough.”

“Rubbish!” Brayden, the ever loyal, replied.

Vincent ran his hands over his face.

“Come in!” he yelled when there was a knock at the door.

“Your Majesty.” Regan bowed. “I have the pamphlets for your approval.”

Regan had worked for his father for centuries as his trusted advisor, and while Vincent had trained alongside his father, he’d built a strong relationship of his own with the vampire. Recently, they’d discussed the growing unease among the race. In truth, his father had foreseen this, as a change of monarch always caused those in resistance to rear their heads. It happened within the human race too.

Regardless, Vincent felt like a failure for not having countered it already.

That he’d been grieving the death of his mother and father and coming to terms with his sudden, although expected, new role was of no interest to the everyday vampire. And nor should it be. They deserved a strong and competent leader. Being born into the role meant he could sit on the throne and wear the crown, but it didn’t mean he’d earned it. Now he had to prove himself to his race. He just didn’t know how.

That wasn’t to say he didn’t have some ideas.

Vincent was a strategist more than a warrior, with a fast, quick mind. He would use those skills to influence his vampires and show he had plans to take them into the future and protect them. Humans were showing the days of battle were behind them, and now strength lay in the mind of people like scientists.

Regan had recommended the flyers which would be distributed to vampire households around Europe, where the majority of their race lived. It introduced him as king and shared some of his visions for their future. Even more importantly, it reassured them that he would uphold the values and promise of protection that his father, and his father before him, had given to their race for thousands of years.

Vampires lived a long time, and they had survived by evolving. They would expect him to continue moving their race forward, living in the world of humans while remaining invisible. Because he was their king, and that was his job.

He leaned forward, reviewing the wording, before handing it back.

“This is excellent work. Thank you.”

“Thank you, sire. We shall get them printed and begin distribution,” Regan said, turning to leave, but then he halted. “I understand there is a growing number of vampires in the new America. Shall we venture further?”

Vincent nodded.

Yes, he’d been aware there were more and more of his vampires emigrating, a fact he found interesting. Many humans and vampires across Europe believed the new continent was the answer to all their financial woes and a source of new opportunities.

He was curious.

The Morettis were always interested in ways to continue investing and growing their fortune. The Manhattan arrival port had been nicknamed the Golden Door, and it was becoming so popular they were building a new entry point on Ellis Island to process people.

A seed, which had been planted previously, began to sprout in his mind.

“These are good, Vincent,” Brayden said, waving the pamphlet in front of him. “See? You are already doing king stuff. I’m sure these are all normal teething problems. Hell, if we need to, we can go talk to old Queen Victoria and then wipe her mind. I’m sure she has a few stories to tell.”

Vincent cringed. “No, thanks.”

They might be vampires, but as a wealthy and influential family, the Morettis often attended many of the same events as the Italian and English royals. Queen Victoria was a terrifying woman, even for a strong male like himself.

No one in this household had any interest in a tea party with Her Majesty.

In any case, humans were not vampires. Though he couldn’t argue that the psychology between the two species was similar, they had to remember, at the heart of it, vampires were predators, and they wanted to see leadership and strength from him.

It was just going to look different from the strength his father had shown.

Vincent was a physically strong vampire, but he had different ideas about how he would lead. Ideas which would see their species thrive in the evolving modern world. They needed a different kind of leader as they moved forward, and he needed time to showcase his skills. Taking off someone’s head to prove himself was not the kind of king he wanted to be.

Or who he was.

If that was what they wanted, they were going to be disappointed.

Vincent needed to be seen circulating with the right people in society, their investments thriving, and moving the race forward. So, if he was stepping into society as the new king, he needed a queen. Not that humans knew he was a king, but the Morettis were seen as a prominent family, and he was now head of said family, which meant adhering to the rules of the time.

He couldn’t be seen with multiple women. Behind closed doors and as a vampire, he could be as promiscuous as he liked, but in England, it would be appropriate for him to take a wife. Or in his case, a queen. His mate.

Vincent shook his head as one female came to mind.

Kate.

The memory of her eyes, which had met his during his coronation, still now had his heart beating faster. It wasn’t the only part of his body which reacted when she was near.

Vincent knew he’d been hot and cold with her these past several weeks, and yet, when he saw her in passing or at a meal, she remained as polite as always.

Which makes me feel like an ass.

They’d share a few words, a simple glance, and every single time she blushed, his cock would harden. It would be simple for him to rectify the sexual tension between them. He could have her escorted to his chamber and lay her out on his bed, pleasuring her for hours. God, how he wanted to do that.

He had little doubt Kate would desire it, too.

Vincent cringed.

Just the thought of treating her like any other female who flitted through the revolving door of females wanting to bed him or his brother made him mad. For as long as he’d been stroking his cock, females had wanted to assist him to get one step closer to the throne. It was the same for Brayden, yet the difference was that he would never be king.

Vincent was now on the throne. Things were different.

There just were some females who were not made to be enjoyed in the way he and his brother had with some of them. True, it was enjoyment for both parties, and they never harmed any of them, and he never would. He was a Moretti. Every single living vampire was a part of him, and his purpose for being. As king, it was his job to protect them all.

But it was more than that.

Kate was...

He didn’t know.

He just knew he could never enjoy her body, take pleasure from her, then see her out the door. He just wouldn’t do it.

She was a female who deserved to be adored. Cherished. Fucked so hard she would never consider another male.

The female he did those things with would be his mate. There was no way he could do that with Kate and mislead her. His mate would arrive one day. Mother Nature was in charge of that.

When he found her, he would know.

Brayden finished his whisky and stood. “You know what you need, brother? A good romp. Join us today. Or at least relieve yourself watching if you don’t want to partake.”

The prince was referring to the endless orgies he hosted nearly every week. He hadn’t joined them for a long while, and had recently bitten Kate’s head off when he believed she’d attended one.

The thought that she might be there tonight had him jumping to his feet.

“I shall.”

Vincent suspected he’d simply walk through looking for her long blonde locks, but his eager pace as he kept up with his brother was well received.

“ Bravo. I’m pleased to see you so excited to use that heavy thing between your legs.” Brayden grinned as he pushed the doors open.

The air changed as they stepped inside the large ethereal space. The air was thick with smoke and lust. Time slowed down to a seductive purr as the bodies around him lay draped over furniture, writhing and arching in pleasure. It felt lazy and delicious.

And yet, Vincent had no interest in participating.

His cock, however, felt differently and stiffened inside his pants. He reached down and adjusted himself.

Brayden slapped him on the back before walking off.

Vincent watched his brother reach up and pull his shirt free, then drop his pants. Around him, vampires salivated at a chance to enjoy the prince. A female crawled over, away from another body, when Brayden wiggled his finger at her. She stopped at his feet, and the prince directed his cock into her willing mouth. Her eyes glittered as she watched Brayden drop his head back, sighing happily. Then he turned and winked at Vincent with a smug grin.

Vincent shook his head.

He’d seen his brother get off more times than he could count. He had no interest in standing around watching.

Across the way he spotted Craig, the commander of his army. The guy was sitting with his legs spread, arms draped over two females who were taking turns on his cock like it was a damn lollipop. He was fingering them, and the wonky grin on his dangerous-looking face showed he had not a worry in the world.

Vincent stepped further into the room, his hand slowly rubbing up and down his shaft. While he was here looking for those damn blonde locks, he was unable to ignore the arousal growing within him. Everywhere he looked, there were thick cocks, swinging tits, and luscious round buttocks in the air.

Not one body in this room would say no to him shoving his cock in any of their orifices—except his brother, and thank fuck for that.

Vincent wasn’t a vampire who got high on power. Hell, he had more power than most creatures on . He was the fucking king of a race of predators. Yet he had no desire to take advantage of his position. His mother had told him she’d seen within him strong values which would serve him well as king.

She had been right.

But he didn’t want to think about his mother right now; not in the middle of an orgy. And those values did nothing to change the fact he was fucking turned on right now.

Jesus fuck.

He couldn’t abstain now that he was king. It could take him one hundred years to meet his mate, or longer. He’d eventually have to find the type of female to find relief with, wouldn’t he? Wanking for one hundred years wasn’t exactly appealing.

To his left, Vincent saw at least five bodies connected in one way or another. He tipped his head, trying to figure out where one started and another ended.

How did...? Never mind.

Vincent continued walking, reminding himself why he was here. He was looking for Kate and half hoping she was, and wasn’t , in the room. What would he do if he found her under a male?

His fists clenched.

Or even a female?

While that had some appeal, Vincent knew he had no right to be there looking for her.

If he saw her spread wide being licked, would he watch? Could he stand back and do nothing? His balls began to ache. Reaching inside his pants, he gripped his cock.

“Your Majesty,” a female purred from the circular pool which was popular during the cooler months. The brown-haired vampire sat on the edge with her feet in the shallow water. “Come join us.”

She was pretty. Flowing hair and big, matching brown eyes laced with mischief. He looked at her large breasts as she took hold of them, pinching her nipples. Another female giggled at him and slipped between the female’s legs, beginning to lick her while glancing at him in invitation.

Jesus.

His mouth watered. He could just step up there and thrust his cock into Brown Eyes’s mouth if he chose. Instead, he stood there stroking himself, his eyes darting between the two females.

No one would touch him first.

He was the king now. The rules had changed.

Brown Eyes rubbed her nipples between her fingers while the female between her legs vigorously sucked and lapped at her glistening flesh. She began to orgasm, never once taking her eyes off him.

He didn’t want to come.

It felt wrong.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Nothing, apparently, because when the female thrust her fingers inside Brown Eyes and her ecstasy reached a new level, his cock surged, and he let out a long groan as he released his seed over his hand.

Vincent stroked himself dry as an uneasy feeling spread throughout his chest.

Brown Eyes smiled at him, joy all over her face at pleasing her king.

Ugh.

He nodded at her, and saw the disappointment in her eyes moments before she covered it up with another smile.

This was why he didn’t fucking want a line of goddamn females in his bed.

Tucking himself away, he looked up and decided to do a lap of the room before leaving. More eyes attempted to capture him and failed. As he reached the main door, he heard a group of female voices. Or rather, giggles.

The door pushed open and in walked four females.

One of them Kate.

She froze when she saw him.

So did he.

Dammit.

Her eyes narrowed, glanced around him as if displeased, and then returned to his.

She began to curtsy, and he walked the few paces to catch her arm. For some reason, he hated watching her lower herself to him, which was all kinds of crazy given it was their law and every single vampire had done so before him his entire life.

“Your Majesty,” she started, staring at his hold on her arm. “Is everything alright?”

Christ, what am I doing?

He was manhandling her. Stopping her from curtsying in front of everyone.

He coughed.

“Yes, sorry, I thought you had tripped.”

The females she had arrived with all lowered their eyes. They all knew he was lying but would never question their king.

Annoyed with himself, he tugged on her arm. “Walk with me,” he ordered, ignoring the irritation in her eyes.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” she said, turning her face away from him.

“Kate,” he began, then found he could think of nothing to say.

“How was your day?” she asked instead as he looped her arm through his.

Christ. At this rate, they’d be talking about the weather next.

He missed the intimacy and ease they’d shared the night of his parents’ vigil. Despite his grief, they had talked about their youths and fond memories.

“ So there we were, chasing each other with real swords along the parapet at the top of the castle, and my mother was trying to stop us. Of course, Brayden had to be a complete show-off and jump from one to the other. ”

Kate had gasped.

“ Did he fall? Your poor mother. ”

“ He did fall. ” Vincent had laughed. “ And it took him days to heal. Of course, being a young vampire, it took longer than it would have now. ”

Kate had shaken her head, smiling.

“ He was always her favorite, though, so I think she secretly loved looking after him. ”

“ I’m sure that’s not true. ”

“ She loved us both, but I spent most of my life shadowing the king and didn’t spend half the time Brayden did with Mama. ” He shrugged. “ So it’s only natural. I was closer to Papa .”

Kate had put her head in her hand and sighed. “ It’s so strange to hear them being called that. They will always be King Frances and Queen Guiliana to me. ”

Vincent had played that scene over and over in his head since that day. Kate had met his parents while they were still alive—her own parents well to do, so invited to court—but he wished he could take her to meet his mama so she could know her. Which was ridiculous.

Why would he want to do that?

Neither of the Moretti princes had ever brought a female to meet the queen. Not for any reason.

Kate had shared stories of growing up in Rome. She was a single child, her father a businessman in Italy, well connected and respected. It had struck him that she’d had a fairly lonely life with no sibling to dance around on rooftops with, but she seemed close to her parents. When he’d asked her why she had come to court this year with them, she’d been vague, but he felt she was hiding something.

In the end, it had been Vincent who had destroyed their closeness by apologizing for a kiss they’d shared in an attempt to show respect, which had only hurt her. He’d told her it wouldn’t happen again and seen the moment the light in her eyes died.

He had hurt her.

Yet, he would only hurt her more if he took her to his chambers.

Vincent had to remain focused on cementing his role as king, on strengthening his race, and not on taking advantage of beautiful females. Or at least of Kate; no one else was of any interest whatsoever, and while Vincent was no playboy, not like the prince, it was odd. He’d concluded it was stress. Losing one’s parents and becoming the king of an entire race was most likely considered high on the stress threshold, he was sure.

The fact he wanted to pull Kate’s skirts up and fuck her brains out was irrelevant. Vincent was choosing to ignore that little technicality.

Goddamn it.

He really wanted to see her smile again and enjoy her company.

If he couldn’t bed her, then a little innocent flirting wouldn’t harm anyone, would it?

“Oh, you know, I just sat on my throne and bossed everyone around,” Vincent said, smiling down at her.

Kate blushed, and his entire world lit up.

“Sounds difficult, my lord.” She smiled, teasing him back.

He grinned, staring ahead of them, feeling happier than he had in days.

“Very.”

He led them outside the castle and through the gardens. The air was mild, and aside from a gardener in the distance, they had some privacy.

“And your parents, did they leave this eve?”

Vincent quickly lifted Kate off her feet as she caught her shoe on something. Her hand landed on his chest for a moment, their eyes meeting as he lowered her to her feet. He felt both their hearts begin to pound.

They could both hear it, but carried on walking.

“Ah, yes, they...yes, they did. Thank you,” Kate replied, a little breathless. Then she stopped and turned to face him. “Can I ask you a question, sire?”

Vincent turned and glanced down into the most beautiful face he’d ever seen. If only she knew how much she took his breath away.

Better she didn’t.

Her hair was piled on top of her head, and one or two strands were threatening to break loose. He suspected Kate would hate that, as she was always so perfectly put together. His fingers twitched to do something about it, but he didn’t. Instead, he directed his attention to her pretty eyes as they darted around his face, awaiting his answer.

He smiled at her, loving this moment of anticipation between them.

God, he wanted to kiss her.

Suddenly, her lips parted gently. Forget kissing—he wanted those lips wrapped around his cock.

He saw the moment she recognized his need, and her own desire flickered across her face. She damn well licked her lips, and his mouth watered.

Stop.

Fuck.

Vincent ran a hand over the side of his face and got their conversation back on track. “Ask me,” he ground out, his voice gruff.

Her eyes flashed.

He realized his mistake. He knew what Kate was going to ask.

She glanced back toward the castle. “Did you...in there...were you...?”

Shit.

Kate thought he was her mate. Regret lanced through him. How had he let it get to this? She was concerned he was being disloyal. A big part of him loved the strength and spirit she was exhibiting even just by asking him. And if she was not his mate, why was he so eager to tell her he had not?

“Partaking?” he asked. “No. Definitely not.”

Definitely not? You moron.

Relief filled Kate’s eyes as her face visibly relaxed.

Give her a reason why. Tell her it’s not her.

He could think of nothing. The mix of emotions racing through him right now was confusing. He was relieved she was not worried he’d been with another female. Vincent had no desire to hurt her in that way, even though he had no reason to feel disloyal—or be loyal. But he was also incredibly concerned that Kate was being misled.

By him.

He knew the right thing to do was to keep away from her. Put some distance between them. And yet, these walks, these chats, he lived for them. It’s like they were his purpose.

Aside from being king.

Which, he reminded himself as he stared at her lips, was his priority.