CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

H is mind flashed back to the night he’d met Brayden. How they had fought for hours and finally collapsed in the cave. The way he’d looked longingly at the sunlight as an escape from his torment.

If Marie hadn’t been his mate, then how had he felt that way? There was only ever one love for a vampire, and yet, he’d never had the physical proof of a bonding taking place in his body.

It was that which had haunted him for hundreds of years. Every time he saw a male bond with his mate, he wondered. When he’d seen Brayden mate with Willow, he’d wondered. He wondered and fucking wondered.

How could he not know? What was wrong with him?

She had to have been. It was the only excuse for his behavior. Otherwise, it left him a cold, ruthless killer.

Craig saw himself as a protector, not a murderer. How could he live with what he’d done, if not for the torment of losing a mate? Brayden had saved his life that night...

“Would I be standing here today if we had known she wasn’t?” he asked the prince.

Brayden stared at him, neither of them blinking and barely breathing. Around them, the two females remained silent, aware the question held immense weight.

“Perhaps we should all take a moment,” Brianna finally interrupted, tugging on his arm. “I really don’t want to cause all this trouble.”

Craig looked away from Brayden and stared at the female beside him.

“We’ve had sex, okay. Lots of sex. Maybe six times. Eight.” He raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe it was ten. Point is, I don’t want to go breaking up friendships over this.”

His chest tightened. Brianna wasn’t in love with him.

“I’ll go home.” She looked at Craig apologetically as his blood froze.

Brayden looked at the two of them, then nodded.

“If that’s your decision, I will arrange the jet for you.” He tugged on Willow’s arm, and the two of them disappeared back through the doors.

He turned to fully face Brianna, his heart cracking like bits of glass. Leaning down, he kissed her gently on the lips and walked away.

Dying a little inside.