CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

T he late afternoon cloud cover had allowed Brayden to venture out earlier than usual, so here he was, standing on Willow’s doorstep knockity, knock, knock, knocking to no avail.

He wandered around the property to see if she was in the yard. Still no luck. The windows were all closed, and there was a stillness about the property. He listened. Willow was not inside, or if she was, she had no heartbeat. The moment the thought crossed his mind, he teleported inside, ghosting at high speed through the rooms. No Willow.

A sense of dread began to irrationally grip his chest as his overactive mated mind kicked in.

Am I being irrational?

The Russo’s had poisoned the king. If they wanted the throne, the next step would be removing Brayden, and what better way to do it than finding out who was important to him? He’d been watched; it wouldn’t take them a huge amount of intelligence to figure out Willow was one of those people.

His chest rumbled as anger boiled within him. He pulled his phone out and pressed her name.

“Hello!” she cried, voice shaky and agitated.

“Where are you?”

Silence.

“Willow?”

“I’m out for a run, but I think, um, there’s a guy following me. Wait. I’m not sure.”

His whole body froze.

“Where are you?” he demanded.

She told him her location, and he ported there immediately. He scanned the park and found her staring at her phone in confusion, calling his name. Brayden ran over and pulled her into his arms.

“Brayden! How the hell did you get here so quickly?”

Now she was safe in his arms, he scanned the park further for any threat. A figure flashed in the distance and disappeared.

“Shh,” he said, rubbing her back. “First, let me make sure you’re okay.”

“Thank God you’re here. It was probably nothing, but I freaked myself out. How the hell did you get—”

He gripped her shoulders, interrupting her. “Willow, tell me what you saw.”

After a slight hesitation, she pointed in the direction she’d been walking. “Down there. The path goes through some bushes, past a river. I run there most days, but I felt someone following me. I saw a man in a hoodie. No, wait. Ugh, I’m not sure.”

Brayden gritted his teeth as he realized another vampire had likely manipulated her memories. The idea that if he’d been a moment longer something could have happened sent a cold shiver through his heart.

“Can you remember anything?”

Her eyes glazed over as she shrugged, then struggled to focus. Yeah, some fucker had gotten near her.

“Hey.” More rubbing of her back. “You’re safe now. Where’s your car? I’ll drive.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist, and with one last scan of the environment, led her to the car. Inside, he turned to her. “Okay?”

She smiled and gave a little nod, but her eyes were restless, darting around. Then they met his.

“How did you get here so quickly?” Her beautiful eyes were wide in confusion.

She zipped up her Adidas sweatshirt and put her seat belt on before she glanced back at him, awaiting his answer. He wasn’t going to give her one. Not here in the parking lot.

However, it was now time she got all her answers.

“Let’s get home and then we’ll talk,” he said, taking her hand. “Tell me how your day was.”

As she sighed, then launched into her day, he imagined telling her about his.

Mine was great. I discovered the vampire that’s been our king’s right-hand vamp for centuries has been poisoning my brother. But hey, some asshat kidnapped his mate and daughter, so he was in a pickle. If that had been you, I would have killed them, no question.

Anyway, it’s my job to find them and bring them home safe, though they’re probably dead. The vampires who took them will die at my hands if my instincts are right.

However, I doubt you’ll be happy to know that I have killed. And will kill again. Or the fact that I have mated with you and will need to kill you to turn you into a vampire so I can spend eternity with you. No biggie. I’m sure my cock is worth it.

He groaned.

“I signed a new client and sent off some quotes. Pretty uneventful,” she said as the groan escaped him. “Sounds like you had a bad one. What happened?”

“Nothing major.” He shrugged. “Just some Human Resource issues.”

“Oh God. Super stressful. That’s why I freelance.”

He glanced over and nodded, a small smile on his lips at her delightful and total ignorance of his dangerous life.

Once back in the house, Willow poured a glass of wine for herself and handed him a beer. He’d gotten used to their nightly routine and settled onto his stool at the kitchen counter. They chatted away until he pulled her onto his lap, nuzzling into her neck. “You smell delicious.”

“I’m all sweaty.”

“Like I said, delicious.”

“Brayden.” Hooded eyes glistening with joy blinked at him.

“Willow.” His voice was dark as he cupped one of her breasts just in case gravity doubled.

“I missed you today.”

“I miss you every damn day.” He kissed her softly.

“You’re leaving in two days.” She sighed and gazed at him vulnerably.

He lifted her chin, scanning her beautiful face, burning the raw emotions into his memory. It could be the last time she looked at him this way, and he wasn’t missing a damn thing. In a moment he was going to tell Willow who he was, and he’d have to watch the love and affection turn to utter fear.

No, I can’t do it.

But he had no choice.

“You feel it too?”

“What?”

What were they talking about? Oh. Shit. He really needed to stay focused.

Her face fell.

“Yes. I do. Willow, please look at me. You have become particularly important to me.”

Tears formed in her eyes.

“Shit, baby.” He caught one escaping from her eye and gently wiped it away.

Who knew a female could soften the edges of such a hard male? While she brought out the possessive alpha in him and he would kill to protect her, he also turned to mush when he saw her in pain.

As those eyes full of emotion held his, they stirred up feelings of hope deep within his soul. Damn, he hoped like hell it wouldn’t be the last time he was blessed to be held in such esteem by this beautiful female.

Lost in the energy flowing between them, the words just fell out. “I love you.”

She sucked in a breath, and though he wasn’t sure, he thought he’d done the same. “Willow, I love you.”

Frozen in his lap, she imitated a goldfish, mouth gaping and closing.

“I’m in love with you. So, fucking much.”

Oh my God, stop talking.

Her lips landed on his, and the next minute he was carrying her into the bedroom, their clothes flying off them.

No romance. No foreplay.

Willow pressed herself against him. He pushed her onto the bed, lay over her while he pulled her legs around his waist, then pushed in. Wet and ready. Tight and gripping.

“ShitmyGodIloveyoutoo.” She gasped and arched her back.

Ignoring the inner dialogue that flashed ahead thirty minutes to her inevitable reaction to his identity, Brayden raised her bottom and pumped faster.

About twenty-five seconds later, he collapsed on her, panting.

A squeak under him got him moving his big body off her. Flopping onto his back, he pulled her to him.

Willow laid her head on his shoulder, drawing lines over his pecs as she always did, until the silence grew heavy and he knew it was time to talk.

He swallowed heavily.

Rolling to face her, he placed a hand on her cheek. His chest swelled as he took in her post-sex glow. Yeah, he thought, she’s been royally fucked. Literally.

“You really love me?” he asked, needing to know her feelings were strong enough to carry her through what he was about to tell her.

“I do,” she said with shy, downcast eyes. “I didn’t want to tell you because it’s so soon.”

“I knew.” He smiled.

“Stop.”

He couldn’t stop smiling. His mate was just adorable. Sexy, sweet, smart, and just a little bit sensitive. So this was what it felt like to be in love. Totally worth the wait, but terrifying as fuck.

He wanted to tuck her into his chest and keep her safe from...well, fucking everything. However, there was only one thing that was going to terrify her right now.

Him.

“Come on, smelly, let’s get you into the shower,” he joked, wanting to delay the inevitable for a few more minutes.

“Hey, you said I smelled delicious!”

She did, but he knew she’d be more comfortable dressed when he told her.

As it turned out, he waited until they’d eaten dinner. And watched a show. Then he ran out of excuses.

He glanced at the clock.

Is it too late now?

What time was the right time to announce to the female he loved that he was the world’s most dangerous predator? Literally.

Craig.

Boss man.

Just call me prince if you want to be all official and shit.

Nah.

He smirked inwardly.

I think I might be here a while. Everything okay over there?

Yeah, Regan’s talking up a storm. I’ve briefed the SLCs, and one of the LCs is now his personal guard.

Okay. Select three of our best LCs and advise them they’re off to Italy tomorrow. Top secret level. Book them on commercial; they go undercover and bring home his family.

Roger that. There was a moment of silence before he continued. Kurt is going to watch things for a few hours. I’m heading out.

Brayden fell silent. It had to be important for Craig to leave his station at a time like this. Then again, here he was, sitting in his female’s living room watching Supernatural or some shit. He watched the screen and tilted his head. The car and music were awesome, he’d give them that. But this was different; he was the prince and Willow was his mate. This was important for the royal family and the vampire race.

He frowned to himself. He knew where Craig was going. And it was very fucking interesting that he was choosing to go amidst the chaos.

I’ll be back in a few hours.

Go. Just...fuck me, Craig.

I’m not going to hurt her, Brayden, hell.

He sighed. He needed to let the two of them do what they wanted. Craig wasn’t a male who would take a female without permission. Brayden trusted the guy with his life; surely he could trust him with Willow’s best friend.

He liked Brianna, and for that reason, he didn’t want to see her heart broken. Especially after he’d just freed her from that bondage.

Do me one favor. Flash through her memories. I did a thing. You’ll find them behind my energy signature. Then decide how you want to proceed.

Yeah, okay.

He looked down to find two beautiful eyes staring back at him. Leaning down, he kissed her lips.

“Are you going to tell me how you got to the park so quickly tonight?” she asked once again. “Were you following me?”

He let out a deep sigh and stretched.

“No, baby. But you’re going to wish I was.”

As she frowned at him, he sat her up and turned them so they were facing each other on the sofa. He felt a chill run over his body and shivered.

Willow tensed and her forehead furrowed. “Brayden, what’s going on? You promised me you weren’t married. Tell me you are not fucking married? Was that man dangerous? Are you part of some gang? What is it?”

He reached and rubbed her arms. “No, calm down, please. My heart belongs to you, Willow. One million percent. There’s no other female—woman, fuck. Just no. I’m not in the mafia or a gang.”

I’m a vampire. Say it.

She nodded, taking a deep breath. “Then what’s going on here?”

V A M P I R E. Say it, for God’s sake.

“I really fucking love you.”

“Okay, now you’re freaking me out. What is going on?”

“I want you to know that under no circumstances would I hurt you. Ever. Nor will I let anyone else hurt you. Not a hair. Ever. Not now, not ever.”

Brayden watched her face begin to pale.

“You’ll be under my protection forever. All our protection. This isn’t a movie or a book, Willow. We’re a family, a community, just as humans are.”

Eyes full of confusion and disappointment at her world falling apart in front of her filled his chest with a pain he never knew was possible. He had failed her. She had seen him as the perfect man and fallen in love with that dream.

He wasn’t a man. He was a vampire.

“I’m a prince,” he said, nodding, though he had no idea why he was doing it. “My brother, Vincent—he’s the king.”

The pain in her eyes shifted as she blinked. They narrowed a little as she peered at him. A slow swallow and a little nod.

“I see.” The pity in her voice nearly made him smile, but he didn’t.

“His mate—wife...well, mate. Kate. She’s our queen.”

More of that nodding, the kind you did when you met a mental patient and felt it best to just agree with them. Her body shifted away from him a few inches, likely an unconscious move.

“The family business,” she finally said, humoring him.

He nodded.

“You are a prince of a royal family.” It wasn’t a question, but he nodded again.

He took her hand, and she looked down at the spot their bodies joined. She was dead still but for the moisture beading on her palm.

“Prince of...?”

Her heart began beating faster. Some primal part of her was beginning to understand.

They stared at each other. She swallowed. He counted the seconds before he said the words that would change her life and his forever.

God, I love her.

His heart was physically aching.

“The vampire race.”

Willow’s eyes widened and her eyebrows shot to the top of her brow. Then they narrowed, and she slightly turned her head while her eyes remained affixed to his.

All righty then. He hadn’t factored in the possibility of her not believing him.

“I see.” She nodded over and over. “So you’re a vampire. A vampire prince?”

He nodded.

“I see,” she repeated.

More nodding.

“Willow...”

She stood and took a few steps away, then turned. “Is this what you do during the day? Hang out with your vampire people?”

He nearly— nearly —let out a little laugh. Willow thought he was playing vampire dress-up with a group of people. He cringed. He could only imagine what she was thinking right now. He wanted to chuckle in that laugh-during-a-funeral kind of way, but Brayden saw it for what it was. Willow was looking for some rational explanation to make sense of this all. While she enjoyed watching paranormal entertainment, having it show up in her reality was a whole different thing altogether. It would be unkind to let her stay in denial for long.

“We’re not people. We’re not human, Willow. We’re vampires.”

“Hmm, yes. Right. Of course.” She gazed around the room, chewing her lip. He could feel her pain and confusion.

“Willow, listen. I know this sounds crazy,” he started, walking over to her and wincing at the disgust on her face. “Let me prove it to you.”

“How? Do you have fangs?”

He nodded.

“Jesus, Brayden, I heard you could get them done at the dentist. Christ, is this why you were at that clinic?”

He frowned, confused. Then it clicked. “Oh, that clinic? No, we were there for Vincent’s...argh, never mind. No, we are born with them. All vampires are.”

Willow shook her head and screwed her nose. “Jesus fucking Christ. I can’t believe this. I thought I’d finally met the perfect man. I’ll be honest; I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop, but this”—she waved her hand at him—“I never saw this coming!”

Brayden hated that she was looking at him like a crazy lunatic, but soon, the real fear would set in.

And that would be far, far worse.

He had two days. Two fucking days to help her adjust to this new reality before taking her back home with him. If she chose to go. It wasn’t a lot of time and dragging it out wasn’t helping either of them.

“Let me show you.” He began to open his mouth, and her eyes flew open. “Damn it, Willow, I’m terrified of scaring you. Fuck!” It went against every cell of his being.

“You’re my mate, for God’s sake, this is—”

Willow’s eyebrows shot through the ceiling as he realized what he’d just said. Nothing like putting all your cards on the table.

“A what, now?” she yelled, her heart rate pounding in his ears. “Oh my God, are you going to put me in a pod or something?”

“A what? Why would I put you in a pod?”

“You need to leave.” Willow began pushing him toward the front door while grabbing his jacket off the arm of the sofa. He grabbed her wrist in one hand, her arm in another, then gently stopped her. Fear lined her face as she felt his strength, and the truth began to sink in.

“Please.”

“Willow, sweetheart, I’m not going to hurt you. Ever.”

“Please just go.”

Tears formed in her eyes as she pleaded. Brayden shook his head and led her to the sofa. He sat opposite her on the coffee table, his legs surrounding her shaking body.

“I’m not crazy, Willow. Please look at me right now, and I’ll tell you everything.”

She lifted her head.

“You love me. I love you. Remember that. Remember all the time we’ve spent together. How we’ve made love. Remember how protective I’ve been of you.”

She nodded while her shaking increased, shock beginning to take hold.

“I’m going to show you my fangs. The ones I was born with. Do you want to hold my hand?”

Willow shook her head, then nodded.

Brayden held her hand gently in his as he slowly peeled his lip back and extended his large, sharp incisors. As he did, the veins in his eyes began to fill with blood, an automatic response that meant nothing but looked menacing.

“Oh God!” she gasped and pulled away. He understood it was fear, but it irrationally burned a scar on his heart. “How?”

“We’re a different race. We’ve always lived among you and other animals on planet earth.”

Willow simply stared, so he continued.

“When humans first appeared, we existed in relative peace, as we did with all other creatures. We were predators, they were hunters. At one point, there was even a collaboration type of coexistence. As they continued to evolve and their brains developed, the ego appeared, and the desire for dominance ruled. Humans saw everything as a threat that needed destroying.”

He noted her breathing beginning to calm as he spoke in even tones.

“It will be your eventual downfall, but that is neither here nor there today.”

She blinked at that, and he imagined her asking more later.

“Eventually, humans were able to grow more dominant due to their fast reproduction rates, and we chose to hide in remote areas. As civilization’s matured, we adapted to blend into the human way of life. It was difficult in those days, as we’re nocturnal beings. Not just nocturnal—the sunlight kills us.”

“I never see you during the day,” she said slowly, her eyes drifting left to reflect on her memories.

“No.”

Willow chewed her lip and he continued.

“So, with the slow growth in our population and the wisdom of longevity, we have lived among you, gaining wealth and staying an unknown entity.” He took her hand. “We are no threat to the human race, despite our speed and power, and before you ask, no, we do not run around draining the blood of humans.”

Well, some vampires thought they could and tried, but the royal family had decreed it against their laws, and those who were caught were punished. They survived on wild animal blood just as well. Plasma was the most nutritious source, no matter the animal it came from. Rich with proteins, the royal family had a regular supply of the yellow juice from local medical facilities.

Willow began to shake as the adrenaline overtook her body. Okay, fuck, he could have worded that better.

“Shit. Breathe. Please remember I love you and you are safe.”

Her wide eyes held his. “Am I?”

“Yes, God, yes.” He scrunched his eyes. “Look, I’m going to return your memories, the ones I’ve taken from you since we met. You will know absolutely everything. I want there to be no lies between us.”

Willow squinted in confusion. “You took my memories?”

Instead of explaining, Brayden held her eyes with his and spoke. Remember, Willow.

A few seconds later, her hand flashed to her mouth. It was a lot. The teleporting, the robbery at the ice cream parlor, socializing and having sex with vampires. Once or twice when his fangs had escaped, he’d done a quick wipe.

“OhGodohGodohGodohGodohGod.”

He sat still, holding his place, giving her time.

“You-You...how did we get to those places?” Her hand covered her mouth.

“Teleportation. Humans will be able to do it, eventually. It’s just an evolutionary thing. Manipulating matter. Energy. Nothing magical.”

Her eyes flew around the room. “You protected me. The gunman. Craig was there...oh, he’s a vampire?”

“You’re my mate, Willow. I will always protect you,” he answered, ignoring the last question.

More flying eyes.

“Brianna, you—oh my God! Craig! Fuck.” She stood up. “We have to warn her. He’s a vampire!”

He pulled her back down. “He won’t hurt her.”

“You don’t know that,” she yelled, trying to rip her hand out of his.

“Yes, I do. Craig reports to me. Remember I told you I’m the prince, so I’m kind of a big deal.”

Narrowed eyes filled with fury stared at him.

“Let me clarify. If he hurts her, I will kill him. So he won’t.”

She gasped, hand flying to her chest.

God, he was absolutely shit at this. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“So you won’t eat or kill me?’

“What? No!” he yelled, exasperated.

Willow jumped.

Shit, fuck, hell.

“Willow, baby”—he took her hands—“I genuinely love you. All of this is real. You are my girl, my mate.”

She shook her head, tears threatening again as the emotions ravaged her nervous system. He could see the exhaustion begin to take place.

“I don’t understand any of this. Make it all go away, please.”

“I am sorry.”

She blinked at him. “How can I be your mate if we are different species?”

Brayden chose his words carefully. He’d told her he would always protect her, never hurt her, and that was true. From anyone but himself.

He would, in fact, be killing her.

He counted his breaths for a few moments before continuing. “It doesn’t matter. My feelings are real. No one can fake the mating bond. Willow, I have fought this. I didn’t want this for you.”

She burst into tears all of a sudden, her face falling into her hands. Brayden pulled her into his arms. Incredibly, she melted into him. He allowed himself a moment to soak up her warm, soft, feminine body.

“I’m so terrified,” she sobbed as he rubbed her back.

“My mom was human,” he said unexpectedly. She mumbled against his chest, indicating she had heard and wanted to hear more. “She loved my father more than all the stars in the sky. Her words, not mine. I’m not a poet.”

He felt a grunt against his chest that felt like a little laugh. Then she added, “I’m still scared.”

“I know. If it helps, I’ve been terrified of telling you.”

She raised her bloodshot eyes to him. “Why?”

“Because, my beautiful human, I love you so fucking much my chest hurts every day worrying I’m going to lose you. I’ve lost count of the hundreds of ways I’ve imagined that happening. Telling you who I am was right at the top of the list. Being rejected even though I know it’s from fear.”

About seven different emotions crossed her face over the next thirty seconds. He patiently let his words sink in, desperately hoping they made an impact. They weren’t rehearsed. He’d never spoken truer words in his long existence.

He ran his thumb over her cheekbone. “However, I will walk out of here tonight and never return if it is what you want. It will kill me, but I’ll do it.”

Willow’s eyes bulged wider, and he shook his head. “Not literally, baby.”

Mostly.

“Oh.”

“You’ve had a huge shock. Lie back on me and we can figure out what to do when you are ready.” Brayden reached up and dimmed the lights.

She tensed. He murmured for her to relax and shifted them, so she was lying against him. She stayed, and he prayed to a handful of gods in thanks.

They lay staring at each other in a way he never thought he’d do with another living being. Especially not a human who’d just learned that he was a vampire.

After a while Willow let out a big sigh. “I am safe with you.”

It was both a statement and a question.

“Yes.”

“You are not going to drink my blood?”

He shook his head. Not tonight, at least. He’d tell her that part another day.

“Don’t touch my memories again.”

“Never.”

“Promise me.”

“I swear.”

“Can I meet your family?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Which I guess will be tomorrow because you’re leaving.”

And you’re coming with me, Willow.

He wouldn’t be leaving without her. Not only because she was his mate, but because her life was now at risk thanks to him.

He touched her mind, something he had meant to do earlier, and found the memories of her time in the park. A face he didn’t recognize, but an accent he did. Italian. One of Russo’s men. He’d approached her, asked her how her vampire lover was, and had fortunately been interrupted by his phone call.

Thank fuck he’d rung when he did. The vamp must have wiped her memories then and there, and ran away.

“Yes, I’ll take you to meet them after we’ve had some sleep.”

“Because you can’t go out in daylight?”

“Correct. We sleep for a few hours during the day.”

When she opened her mouth to ask the inevitable, Brayden couldn’t resist a grin. “No coffin. I sleep in a regular bed.”

Cue the adorable blushing.

“It was dusk when we were at the park.”

“The cloud cover was sufficient. It’s the direct, hot sun which can kill us.”

“So no tropical beach holidays for you.”

He shook his head. It was these conversations which reminded him of his mom. Willow didn’t know it yet, but it was soon to become her reality.

Brayden had promised his future mate one thousand years ago that if she was human, he’d let her choose her future. She could become a vampire or walk away and remain mortal and live out her human life.

Now, with Willow in his arms, he wondered if he could, in fact, let her walk away.

They sat up on the edge of the sofa and their shoulders bumped.

“What do you want Willow? For me to go or to stay?” He would stay outside the house keeping watch if she asked him to leave.

“Both. I’m scared, even though I know you would never hurt me.”

“I’ve just burst your whole sense of reality to pieces, so it’s natural to feel this way.”

She looked around her house while nodding. “What will happen when I meet your family?”

He drew in a long breath. “I’ll introduce you to my brother, the king, and his mate, the queen. I won’t lie; the compound is full of vampires.” Her eyes widened at that. “There’s nothing to fear. No one will dare look at you, let alone touch you.”

“Because you’re the prince.”

“Yes. Among other things.”

Like the fact that he’d rip their fucking heads off.

Willow slumped back on the sofa. “Here’s the thing. If you leave, I’ll end up freaking the hell out and running away to Switzerland to hide from you, or something.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t do that.” He cursed himself for not trading blood with her yet so he could track her.

“Then you better stay.”

She hadn’t yet realized that the mating bond was creating her need to stay with him. As he’d demonstrated to her the other evening, there was a physical pain when they weren’t together.

Willow likely thought he was being romantic, but teddy bears and rose petals aside, it was a physiological truth for the mate of a vampire. She might not be a vampire yet, but it still impacted her.

Brayden pulled her into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll need to leave early.”

She mumbled against him.

“Okay, let’s get you into bed and see if you can get some sleep.”

He carried her into bed, grateful for whatever was allowing her to be with him. It could be shock or it could be the mating bond.

But why look a gift horse in the mouth?