CHAPTER THIRTY

W illow awoke feeling like she was trapped underground. Gasping for breath, she suddenly found herself flipped onto her back.

“Willow! You okay?”

Gasp, gasp.

She sat up and pushed him slightly away from her. “Jesus, Brayden, give me some space. You nearly suffocated me holding so tight.”

He lay back down and let out a groan. “God, I’m sorry.”

She sucked in a few deep breaths, enjoying the cool, fresh air. She lay her head on his chest and ran her thumb over his skin.

It seemed strange to be comforting him. Surely any sane woman would have caught the first flight to New Zealand, or some far-flung country after her boyfriend had told her he was a vampire. Strangely, once the initial shock had begun to subside—because God knew it hadn’t disappeared—she had begun to look at the situation from Brayden’s perspective. Not completely, but she could understand his fear that she would walk away. It was her own fear of never seeing him again that allowed her to understand.

Despite everything, the thought of not lying in his arms, of not being held in those ethereal silver eyes, of never feeling the magic they created sexually felt...wrong. It was the only word she could find that described it.

Not like when you broke up with a boyfriend and felt the sadness of never seeing him again. This was different.

Her mind flashed to the day Brianna had found out about her husband. They had just finished lunch and were loading the dishwasher and wiping down the benches when the knock at the door came. Her friend had glanced at her and then dried her hands.

Something had made Willow follow her. Some deep instinct. As the door opened and the man in uniform came into focus, her stomach had sunk. There were usually very few reasons for a visit like this.

Brianna wobbled, then sunk to the ground as the man continued to deliver his message, regret lacing his face. Willow fell to the floor, pulling her friend into her arms. As Brianna howled, Willow rocked her friend, aware she’d never heard a more guttural sound.

A tear slipped from her eye at the memory.

“Hey.” Brayden tipped her face to his.

“I’m okay. It’s all just a lot.” He nodded, leaned forward to kiss her nose, and lay back down.

While it seemed entirely disrespectful to compare her situation to losing a military husband in such a devastating way, Willow only knew that if Brayden walked out the door, she wouldn’t be able to breathe. Despite him not being human. Despite the fact he had fangs. Despite the fact she had no fucking clue how they could ever be together.

She only knew she had to stay with him. At least for now. “What time is it?”

“Around four. We’ll need to leave within the hour.”

After a shower and seven outfit changes, she was ready to go. Turns out that jeans, a white knit sweater, and a pair of sneakers was what one wore to meet your vampire boyfriend’s family. Who knew?

It was all so surreal she felt she was just walking in a daze.

“I’ll drive,” Brayden said, studying her as he took the keys.

They drove along the freeway, and Willow used the time to ask as many questions as she could to feel prepared. None of it felt real.

Outside the vehicle, life continued around her as normal. Traffic lights changed from red to green to amber. Early morning joggers danced on the spot at crossings. Some buildings around them had lights left on, while others were completely dark. Courier vans speed to deliver online shopping.

All normal. While she sat in her car with a vampire. One she had been having sex with for the past several days. One she felt she could barely breathe without.

She glanced over at him as he began answering her next question. His shoulders were big and round, leading to even bigger biceps and thick forearms. He was tall with a broad chest and strong jaw. She’d never questioned the layers of muscle on his abdomen, but she assumed it had to do with him being a different species. He also had thick thighs and solid lower legs. Hell, even his hands were large and powerful.

There was no inch on his body that wasn’t muscular, but not in a bodybuilding way. His olive-toned skin was smooth and soft. While he had a strong jaw, he didn’t look hard. Brayden was beautiful, a strange word to use for a man, but he was. Every time she looked at him, she found herself transfixed by those silver eyes that seemed to swirl like liquid metal.

Yet despite her feelings, a voice in her head screamed Run! constantly. Her feelings and memories were what kept her where she was; however, the fear fought for dominance in her mind.

Brayden had been more sexual, kind, funny, supportive, and protective than any other man she’d ever met. He’d also been caring, loving, and tender—okay, perhaps not always tender, but she liked it that way just fine.

Vampires existed. Brayden was a vampire.

Run!

No. He wouldn’t hurt her. She peered down at his hand holding hers as he drove one armed.

Run.

Some of the answers she received made her cringe, and she noticed how uncomfortable it made him. He’d told her about their predominant food source—blood and plasma—and she’d nearly vomited her stomach bile. Still, she needed to know more, and so had pushed him.

“It depends on where the vampires are located. Medical centers or legal hunting provide for most of our needs. Stretching our predatory legs in the wild, as nature intends, is important from time to time.” He looked at her, then back at the road. “It’s why we own so much land on the planet. That and you humans simply fuck it up. On offense.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“I can assure you we don’t play with our food. We simply kill and drain their blood.”

She nearly threw up in her mouth.

“It’s a few times a year, Willow, not every day or week,” he said defensively.

“Right.”

It was hard for him also. She tried to remember that.

“Do you desire to drink from humans while near them?”

“Yes, though the older we get, the more able we are to curb our appetite.”

She covered her neck irrationally. He’d never hurt her, and yet she had been unable to stop the reaction. “Do you want to drink my blood?”

Both his hands gripped the steering wheel tight, and he nodded.

Run!

Run!

Her heart thumped, echoing in her ears as panic set in. She grabbed the door.

“Hey.” He whipped his head around. “I do, but I won’t. Do you understand?”

Run!

“I’m an incredibly old vampire, and my desire to protect you, as my mate, is far stronger.”

What did one even say to that? Oh, cool, thanks, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

She hadn’t asked about mates. For one thing, if she quoted some vampire movie or book and looked like an idiot, it would be embarrassing. Secondly, if any of them were even remotely close to the truth, then she knew there was no getting out of this, and right now, she wanted to take Brayden at his word that she was safe.

First things first, she had to meet a vampire king.

What did one call a group of vampires, she wondered? A nest? Christ, she had to stop thinking. Looking at Brayden to remind herself she wasn’t going into some bat-infested cave, she asked, “What do I call your brother?”

“Your majesty, until he invites you to do differently. The same goes for Kate, the queen.”

Boy, they really took this royal thing seriously.

“You’re doing really well, mi amore ,” Brayden said, squeezing her hand.

The damn broke, and she needed to know.

“What does it mean to be your mate? What if we break up and I know all this stuff about vampires?”

Brayden looked away. “We won’t ever break up, Willow.” His voice was strained as he continued destroying the steering wheel with his grip. “Let’s talk about it later, okay?”

It didn’t take a genius to figure out he would take her memories. She could no sooner control it than change it. She sighed as they turned down a long driveway and continued to the end until they reached a security booth beside two huge gates. A man—correction, a vampire stepped out.

“My lord,” he said, surprised. “I didn’t recognize the car.” The man bowed as the gates opened.

“People bow to you?”

“Yes. You should too.” She began coughing in disbelief. She slapped his arm when she saw his smirk. “Relax, I prefer you on your knees in front of my cock.”

“Brayden, stop it.” He winked as he turned off the car.

She looked around. It was like a village, not unlike a secure housing complex. The security looked high level, and the buildings all interconnected. There were very few people around. Vampires. Not people. The sun was about to rise, and she suspected that was why it was so quiet.

“Come.”

Taking her hand, Brayden led her into one of the largest buildings. They walked down a maze of corridors before coming to a door. They walked through and into a large entrance that immediately had a luxurious vibe. A large chandelier hung in the middle of the ceiling, while thick rugs lined the floors. They took two flights of stairs and then turned down another hallway. Large, framed paintings hung on the walls, but she was unable to take in any detail.

It felt royal, it really did, which was amusing, given she was in California.

The space was moody rather than dark, with little lights along the baseboard. At the end they came to a set of large double doors. Placing his thumb on a panel, the doors clicked open.

Hand on her lower back, Brayden led her inside. She recognized the room immediately from their calls. “This is your home.”

He nodded and dropped his phone and her car keys on a side table near the entrance. “Yes.”

She wandered around the large space, acknowledging the beautiful interior design. A living area, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen were all visible. Leaning her head into the bedroom, she noticed the king-size bed with a duvet and pillows. Not a coffin in sight. A large dresser with a large mirror above it busted yet another myth.

She turned back to the living area. One wall was covered with six screens.

“On top of being the prince, I am captain of the Royal Army,” he said.

“Oh. An army?” she asked, and he shrugged.

“We’re no different in that regard.”

She walked over to a pair of heavy drapes and nudged them aside, discovering a large private courtyard with elegant outdoor furniture and a water feature. There were fairy lights draped around the garden, giving it a soft, romantic feel.

“That’s nice,” she said. He nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and shrugged as if embarrassed. “So, no coffins.”

“Nope.”

“Looks pretty normal.”

“Except for the coating on the glass which protects us from the sunlight, yeah, we live just like humans. Diet aside.”

“Except you’re not. Human.”

“No.”

There was a strong need to keep reminding herself of that fact. She didn’t want to fall into the trap of thinking things were normal when they weren’t. She might have fallen in love with Brayden, but it didn’t mean she was okay with any of this.

She wasn’t.

She was trying to understand and trying not to freak out. Could she fall out of love with him and walk away? Because what was the alternative? Live with a vampire?

Panic set in again. What the hell was she doing here? How could she stop loving him and live without him?

She felt his breath on her neck. “Hey.” Strong hands rubbed up and down her arms. As her breathing returned to normal, Brayden leaned down and kissed her jawline. “I’ve wanted you in my bedroom since the day we met.”

“Hey, I have a vampire king to meet, remember?”

Ignoring her, he tugged her into the room and she found herself lying underneath the large, sexy male. She couldn’t deny how damn hot he was. Locks of his dark curls fell onto his forehead and along his neck as those piercing eyes burned into hers. She reached up and ran a finger over the tattoo curled along the edge of his shirt.

“He’s busy for another hour, so we have some time.”

Willow swallowed. “I know I probably look okay with all of this, Brayden, but I’m really not.”

He stared at her for a moment before pulling them both up. Understanding and patience lined his face as he mindlessly rubbed his thumb over her thigh. “What can I do?”

“Be human.” As the words fell out of her mouth, she suddenly wished she could take them back. Hurt flashed across his eyes. “God, Brayden.”

He nodded. “No, I get it.” He went to stand, but she grabbed his arm. “I understand, Willow, I really do.” He rubbed his hand over his face and through his hair. “Look, my mom was human, and she resented falling in love with my father. I always hoped my mate would be a vampire. I’m so damn sorry.”

Dread ran through her body. “Wait. Sorry for what?”

Brayden stood up and paced. “Fuck. Let’s just take it one step at a time. After you meet Vincent, I’ll tell you everything.”

“No. This is my life, Brayden. I want answers.” She said, standing up to face him, and he stared at her painfully. “Don’t you dare touch my memories - you promised!”

If he took away the memories of this conversation right now, she’d be pissed.

Well, just as soon as she remembered.

He pressed his lips together and nodded.

She watched his anguish and suddenly realized something. “Oh, my god. You wish I was a vampire?”

“No. Yes. No, Willow, I love you exactly the way you are.”

She bit the side of her mouth as tears pooled in her eyes. She hadn’t meant to react, but as he spoke and she imagined him rejecting her for a female vampire, the emotions had flooded her.

Immediately he reacted and came to her, pulling her into his arms. God, he was so perfect—vampire stuff aside. With those big arms wrapped around her, she felt safe and protected. More than that, she felt loved. Closing her eyes, she soaked up his warmth and strength. “What’s going to happen?”

She felt him shake his head. “Nothing you don’t want. I promise you. On my life.”

Willow let out a long, deep breath. She hadn’t realized how much energy she was using. He wasn’t going to hurt her. Brayden tightened his arms around her and kissed her head. “I’m so fucking sorry, Willow.”

She tensed. Pulling away, she looked up at his gorgeous face. She was done with wondering. She was done with ignoring the situation.

“Would you let me walk out of your life?”

The sound of her heart beating pounded in her ear drums. The longer he stared at her, not answering, the louder and faster it became. Soon her throat dried, and the long swallow she eventually took was rough and painful.

Brayden, on the other hand, was as still as death as he stared down at her. The only movement that came from him was the swirling in his eyes which gave away a dozen emotions, all of which terrified her besides one.

Love.

Every woman knew that look. Love was unique. It was powerful, possessive, and protective. She watched his love fight for dominance as his eyes bored down into hers.

“I do not know,” he finally said darkly, sending shivers down her spine. A knock at the door interrupted them, jolting her out of the trance. “Stay here.”

She didn’t. She followed him into the living area and ignored the frown he threw back at her as he opened the door.

“I thought we were coming to you?” Brayden said to the man who was slightly less broad and an inch or two shorter than him.

Despite the size difference, power and authority radiated off him.

“I thought your mate might feel more comfortable meeting me here.”