CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

“ H ow’s Kate?”

Vincent nodded. “She’s okay. You know how she is. Strong-willed and just carries on.”

“Stronger than us at times, I think.”

The king let out a little laugh. “These are trying times, brother.”

Brayden looked around the room at all the computer equipment the black ops team had returned with. System engineers were making their way through the information, but it was going to take weeks, maybe even months.

“Any idea what we’ll find?”

He shook his head. “We know from interrogations so far there are explosives in all our properties around the world, except the castle in Maine. Why? I don’t know.”

The king scowled.

“Because his fucking brothers are there, that’s why.”

Brayden shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

The king sat down and threaded his fingers behind his head. “They can’t take my head, so they’re taking down my castles, huh?”

Our castles , Brayden wanted to say, but his brother was right. He was king, and he didn’t resent him for that.

“That’s my guess. He’s obsessed and unhinged; far more than we have realized, Vince. We have to find him and destroy him. This,” he said, waving his arm around, “this is a big fucking operation. And we’ve only scratched the surface, I fear.”

The king scowled.

“Do what needs to be done and keep me informed. I mean it, Bray. Recruit more vampires into the Royal Army, hire whoever you need. This is out of control, and I am done playing nice.”

He nodded. “Will do.”

The king started walking out of the room, but stopped at the door, his hand on the door handle.

“Are you going to return to the United States?” Brayden asked.

Vincent turned. “No. We will remain in Italy. I’ve ordered the Russo brothers to be transported back here, so bring the rest of your senior team home.”

Home?

His eyebrows shot up. It wasn’t what he expected to hear. They had made Maine their home for over one hundred years. What had changed?

“Can I ask why?”

The smallest smile hit the king’s lips. “No.”

Okay, something was up.

“Oh, and one last thing. Send Brianna home. Craig has pretended well enough, and Willow has had time with her friend. Now she must go.”

Brayden shook his head.

He should have known the king was no fool. He needed to stop underestimating the guy. He’d only been his brother for one thousand years—turned out Brayden was the fool.

“Fuck, I’m sorry.”

Vincent crossed his arms.

“I don’t like you lying to me, Brayden; however, I trust you. Completely. But remember this, if you ever decide to go over my head again, like you did by flying here without me or the queen, I will remove you from your position.”

A chill ran through his veins. The king had never spoken such words to him.

“Vince, man...”

The king held up a hand.

“You are a Moretti prince. Neither of us can nor want to change that. But you are captain of my army by my decree. Your job is to protect the queen and me.”

Brayden glared at his brother.

“I left a team completely capable of protecting both of you. As captain, that call is mine.”

The cold look his brother returned worried him. Confused him.

“I understand when you mate, your priorities shift. How do you think I felt leaving my queen in your hands last night? But as king, I know my responsibility. I must survive for the future of this race. You must answer to your king. To me.”

Brayden swallowed. Only so he didn’t say something he’d regret.

Something was going on. It wasn’t like Vincent to play the king card as heavily as this. He wanted to be respectful and nod, but the alpha in him, which was far more dominant than his brother’s, was getting riled. And not just that. His instincts were screaming that there was something he wasn’t being told.

Unless the guy had his goddamn period.

“Look, I get it. We stay together until we break down this rebellion, but Vince, enough already with the dictating brother. You and I, we don’t do that.”

The king marched across the room and poked him in the chest.

“I can do whatever I want, and I fucking well will if that means protecting my queen.”

Oh. Okay, now things were making sense.

He slapped his brother on the shoulder. “I get it, big guy. Last night was a big fuck up. But we got her home safe.”

Next second, Vince had him up against the wall. The truth was, he could have stopped him if not for the surprise factor.

“You don’t fucking get it!” he yelled, which to be fair was his usual volume, but this was louder, crazier.

He gripped his brother’s wrist and slowly pushed him off him.

“Vincent.”

The king, looking a little surprised by his strength, dropped his arm and stepped back.

“Tell me what the fuck is going on. Right now.”

Vincent let out a roar, then thumped the wall. “The queen is pregnant.”

Well, fuck.