CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

W hat the fuck was Craig doing with Brianna?

Watching his mate—who didn’t know was his mate—take in the state of Brianna raised his hackles. The girl was shaken and emotional.

Instantly, Brayden was pissed off.

Tell me you did not just fuck this female.

Craig defiantly looked his way and glared at him. Who is she?

Willow’s best friend. Now answer the fucking question.

“Shit.”

“Shit, what?” Willow continued with her questioning. “How do you know Craig?”

Brayden had spent every spare minute he had with Willow over the past two days. They’d been walking around the pier when he’d asked after Brianna. It had been his idea to pop in for a drink to check on her. The last thing either of them had expected to see, for entirely different reasons, was Craig.

Brianna turned to look at the guy, then back at Willow. “We met tonight. Craig was just escorting me to the ladies.”

You didn’t even tell her your fucking name?

It’s not what it looks like. Okay, it is, but then...look, I didn’t fuck her.

Craig awkwardly ran his hand through his hair, which was awkward in and of itself, given he was usually a cocky bastard. Brayden looked over at Lance, who was also frowning at the odd behavior.

“Oh, that’s nice of you,” Willow said naively.

“Yeah, I’m a knight in shining fucking armor,” Craig spat out before gazing quickly at Brianna with concern. She turned away but glanced back when Craig wasn’t looking.

Brayden was getting whiplash. Something was going on here.

Dude, she lost her husband a year ago. Stay away from her.

Noted.

“Let’s get some drinks,” Willow said, looping her arm through Bri’s and dragging her up to the bar.

We need to talk, Brayden. Now.

He looked over at Lance.

“Hey, Lancelot, look after the ladies for us, will you. We’re just stepping outside for a minute.”

A slap on the shoulder, and they walked outside into the fresh air. Brayden took a long, deep breath as they walked until they found a spot away from people. They could talk with telepathy, but two guys standing around not talking with a face full of emotion always looked weird.

“What’s up? No, wait, first tell me what the fuck is going on with Brianna.”

“Nothing, and there won’t be.”

Brayden waited.

“Yes, I took her out back to fuck her. In my defense, she’d been eye-fucking me for two hours. I didn’t know she was Willow’s friend. I kissed her, that’s it.”

“What stopped you?”

Craig had strong morals, but females didn’t say no to him. He had the height, looks, sculptured body, and bad boy charm females turned to mush over. He’d been watching him in action for centuries.

“She turned me down.”

Liar.

“Anyway, we have more pressing issues to discuss. My investigation.”

Now he had his attention.

“You’ve found something?”

Craig nodded. “I believe so. At least, I think so. Is the king on any medication?”

Brayden recoiled at the question. Vampires didn’t take medication. “No. What kind of medicine?”

The guy sighed and crossed his enormous arms. “Then we have a big fucking problem.”

Craig told him how he’d been ghosting—a skill few vampires possessed which allowed them to be present and not seen by others—Regan one day while he was in the kitchens and had followed him along the hallway to the king’s chambers, a route Regan took every day on his way to their meeting.

When Craig had been about to leave due to the confidentiality of the discussions which took place in the space, he had noticed Regan slow his pace. The old vampire had then sprinkled a powder into the king’s evening cup of tea, stirred, and put the pouch into his pocket before continuing into the room.

“Shit, man. I honestly thought it was medicine that the human doctor had recommended.”

Over the past few days, the king’s condition had worsened, and they were all becoming increasingly worried.

Brayden slapped him on the shoulder. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but I’d say you’ve just saved the king’s life.”

Craig shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense. Nothing like that should affect him, or any of us. We’re vampires, for fuck’s sake.”

He nodded, feeling as dumbfounded as his second in charge.

“Hell, I don’t know. Maybe Regan is trying some concoction to help, and we’re wrong about him.”

Craig shrugged. “Perhaps. Perhaps not.”

“Shit, man, that old vampire has been loyal to the Moretti royal family for over one thousand years.”

Craig nodded slowly. “Exactly, so why would he?”

Brayden looked up. “Have Selena and Lily returned to Maine? They went to Italy on holid—fuck me.”

“Fuck.”

Of course, none of them had noticed. Like all of them, he’d assumed—actually, he hadn’t thought about it for one damn minute. Why would he? —that the two females had returned from their holiday and settled back into the castle. He vaguely recalled the queen asking about them months ago and Regan saying little. The thing was Regan’s mate and daughter visited Italy from time to time. It had been no big deal.

Unless they hadn’t returned.

Brayden tensed and looked at Craig.

“It can wait a few hours. Kurt has eyes on him.”

“Let’s go inside. I don’t like being away from my mate for too long,” Brayden said. “Disappearing without explanation is not an option.”

Craig grinned as they began walking.

“Fuck off. I refuse to wipe her memory every damn day.”

“Yeah, it minces their brains. Speaking of those colored contacts are bullshit, Bray. You think the king hasn’t noticed? You need to tell him.”

“Nope.” No, he didn’t. Right now, he needed to deal with the new knowledge the king was being poisoned.

“And keep your mitts off Brianna,” Brayden added.

He heard the growl. “Yeah.”

Just when Brayden thought one problem had been resolved, they walked into the bar and saw the way Craig and Brianna looked at each other. He let out his own groan. Christ.

Then Willow walked up, and all his problems vanished. He lifted his arm, and she parked herself under it, wrapping hers around his waist.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Their lips met, and hot lava flowed through his body. The little minx had refused to let him fuck her when he’d arrived at her house. She had said he had to wait until they got home.

“I got you another beer.” She handed him the bottle and he took a long swig. He ran a hand over her bottom and nuzzled into her neck.

“I need you.” Between his need to be inside his mate and the strong sense to protect the king, the predator in him was right at the surface.

My lord!

Fuck. His fangs were making an appearance.

Shit. Thanks, Lancelot.

Brayden, be wary.

I’m fine, Craig. Just...on edge .

A low growl whispered through his mind.

“We’ve been here less than an hour.” Willow giggled. “Your gorgeous cock was inside me less than a day ago.”

“Not helping, Willow.” He groaned, adjusting his jeans.

Five long dances, three beers, and a whole lot of blah and blah later. Finally, the group was heading home. The desire to get his mate home safely and to feel her warmth around his dick was strong. Then he could deal with the rest.

“Where’s your car?” Craig growled at Brianna.

Willow looked up at him in question, like he had all the answers. He gave her a small reassuring smile, which completely missed its mark. She was right to be worried. As his mate, she was immune to Craig’s charm, so all she sensed was power and danger.

There was a reason why he was the commander of the vampire Royal Army, and it wasn’t because he was next in line to be on The Bachelor .

“I caught a cab, so I’ll hail one down on the corner,” Brianna replied, half ignoring the guy. She reached out to Willow for a hug. “Night, Brayden!”

He gave her a brief smile and waved, his eyes taking in the interesting scene unfolding before him.

“Call you tomorrow, honey,” Willow said as Brianna walked off.

His commander followed.

“Craig!” Brayden said with authority, inwardly cursing at himself for not using telepathy.

Lance looked between them. Willow tensed in his arms at the power rolling off him. Craig slowed and turned while continuing to walk in reverse. “Yup?”

Casual. No big deal.

Smart .

Brayden ordering him so publicly, put them in a tricky situation. Craig had to obey him. They all did. He was their captain, yes, but he was also the prince twenty-four fucking seven. As captain there were boundaries where his authority stopped. As prince? None. That was the thing about royalty.

Brayden had learned to walk the tight line of power and authority with his senior team, especially with Craig. So this was a tricky position for them both, since Brayden had given an order, and Craig had disobeyed.

Craig wasn’t just a subordinate; he was a powerful and important member—and asset—of the Moretti team. Someone Brayden trusted with his life. Rarely did his commander ignore an order. If he did, it was with good reason and done without undermining him in front of anyone else. They both respected each other immensely. And sure, the guy could take whatever female he wanted to bed.

Except Willow’s best friend.

He watched Craig. Something had gone on between them, but he didn’t sense she was in danger. In fact, it appeared the vampire was trying to protect her.

He had to drop it.

“Make sure she gets home safe.” His face was one of authority. Willow relaxed in his arms and Lance looked away, comfortable with the direction of the discussion.

“I will.” Craig nodded, a flash of gratitude in his eyes. Brianna glared at the guy and walked away. Brayden felt a pang of pity for him.

See you back at the house in two hours , he said to both vamps.

Roger.

Gotcha.

Lance wrapped his arm around both the other women, winked at Willow, and left. Brayden smirked, then tried to hide it when Willow looked up at him. “What?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You want to wait another twenty-four hours?”

No, he fucking did not.

He swooped her up into his arms and fought his laughter as she squealed.