CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ Y our Highness,” Ari said, taking the last few steps of the stairs to greet Brayden.

“Ari.” The prince stepped forward and they slapped each other affectionately on the side of the arm and gripped. Both reflected the power from their Moretti blood.

“Commander, welcome to The Institute,” Ari said, turning to Craig.

“Great place you have here,” Craig replied, his expression one of respect, but Ari saw he wasn’t letting his defenses down. Craig would always protect the prince first and foremost, and fuck niceties.

Ari respected the large vampire as he watched him take in every single detail around him. Ari’s lips stretched into a small smile. “You have nothing to be concerned about here. You’re guests. The prince is family,” Ari said, then waved them into the room ahead of him. “Please join me for a drink and we can discuss what you’d like to see and then get down to business.”

He poured them all a whisky, and they sat around the fireplace. All three of their large bodies took up too much space. The testosterone levels were off the chart.

“When Ben first showed up, I knew he’d been trained by someone of great skill, but I couldn’t figure out where the hell he would have done it, outside the royal army,” Brayden said, shaking his head. “You popped into my mind, but of course, we thought you were dead for over four hundred years.”

“I want to see this training center,” Craig added.

“I have nothing to hide. The only things off-limits are my private client files and data,” Ari said. “After all this time, it is... good to be reconnected with my family.”

Brayden lifted his eyes to him, and a thousand words went unsaid.

They both looked away.

Oliver. Join us.

“Your files are safe—we have no interest in those. We’re in the United States for the same reason as you. To eliminate the vampire program run by BioZen and any other fucker involved,” Craig said. “But if you have a gym I can use while we’re in Seattle, that would be awesome.”

Ari grinned as Oliver stepped into the room.

“Oliver is my new head assassin,” Ari said, nodding to the vampire.

“We’ve met,” Craig said dryly.

Ah yes, the two had met in Italy during the stakeout on Tomassi after Oliver had busted Ben out of the royal prison. The job hadn’t gone as planned for either side, especially when Ben and Oliver had made Craig, Marcus, and Kurt give chase across town. They had lost their tail and Ari wasn’t sure if the commander was impressed or pissed.

Oliver grinned at Craig, then greeted the prince. “Your Highness.”

“Nice to meet you. Ben says good things about you.”

“Only because I know too many secrets about him. Keep an eye on that troublemaker.” Oliver laughed.

“I am,” Craig said, nodding.

“Oh, please. You two are BFF’s these days,” Brayden teased as Craig turned his head slowly and raised his brows.

Ari pressed his lips together in a smile.

Brayden had always been a cheeky son of a bitch, and he was pleased to see the spark within him had not faded. There was a strong bond between the prince and commander and Ari knew it had served them well working together. Ben would fit in well with them, and that made Ari happy.

“You want to see the training center?” Oli asked, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. Craig was on his feet before the words had left Oliver’s lips.

“Yup.”

Brayden choked on his whisky. “It’s been less than twenty-four hours. Do you have ants in your pants?”

Craig walked to the doorway and shrugged. “I have... stresses. Plus, I want to play with all the guns and shit.”

Ari knew exactly the type of stress the vampire was talking about. He’d seen males separated from their mates, and it wasn’t pretty. The little he’d seen of Craig and Brianna together was enough to show how extremely possessive and passionate the vampire was in relation to her.

Once mated, there was no one else in the bed despite how promiscuous one had been prior.

An image of Sage lying under him came to mind. His eyes darted to Oliver, knowing the vampire was going to see her in a few hours.

Ari grit his teeth.

“We’ll catch up with you,” Brayden said, giving Ari a quick glance, and he nodded.

“We won’t be long. Go play with the metal.” Oliver and Craig took off eagerly, and the commander began firing off questions.

“Hope you’ve got a big budget. Your commander is going to have a big shopping list when he leaves here,” Ari said, laughing. “Another?” He walked to the crystal whisky decanter.

Brayden laughed and accepted the drink. “You know we do. Whether he gets all the toys is up to Vincent.”

The Moretti family was one of the wealthiest on the planet. He knew because he’d helped create the wealth. Then he’d walked away and created his own empire. Nowhere near the royal family, but it wasn’t to be scoffed at.

“Is that true?” Ari asked, following Brayden who had walked over to gaze out the large window which looked out across the mansion grounds.

“What?”

“That everything is Vincent’s decision,” Ari clarified.

Brayden glanced at him. “He’s the king.”

Ari turned back to the window, nodding. From what he’d observed, the two brothers were very close. Perhaps even closer than when he’d known them.

“He rules differently than your father,” Ari said.

“Yes. Times have changed. The world has changed.” Brayden sipped his drink. “We changed.”

Ah.

Of course, they did. Beheading your parents changed a person. “I nearly returned. Then,” Ari confessed.

Brayden stood staring outside, saying nothing for a long time. Then he turned. “I fucking hated you when you left.” There was ancient fury in his eyes, held back only by his inner strength.

“I know.”

“And that day. Fuck, Ari. Do you know who I wanted to talk to after I had to goddamn slice my father’s head off?”

Ari swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

Brayden cursed and tossed back his whiskey. “Did you know about their promise?”

“No,” Ari said immediately. “Frances and I were not close, and it was clearly a private agreement between your parents. You must understand that now you’re mated.”

The prince was silent as he nodded, and they both reflected back to the deaths of the king and queen.

Brayden turned, and Ari faced him.

“What happened? Why did you leave? I know what you told Vince and I in Italy, but what has this been all about?”

Ari held the prince’s stare for a long moment, his heart beating. Rarely did he let himself think too long about the past and his deep pain. Leaving his family, despite his reasons, had been the most difficult decision of his life.

“You must understand, little prince, there is no one like me on earth. I am the oldest living being. Gio and I experienced something no other has, or likely ever will. We were human once.”

Brayden blinked at his use of the affectionate term from long ago.

“Together, Giorgio and I created this entire new race of beings.”

Brayden shook his head. “Why was your identity hidden?”

That was the fifteen-hundred-year-old question.

“Look back on history, Brayden. Kings are born to power. It is their birthright. Usually, they’re riddled with fear of being killed or someone threatening their throne.” Ari turned back toward the window. “Gio was the only one able to procreate. Over time, he got used to his position of power and didn’t want to share it.”

“He said that?”

Ari shook his head. “That’s the thing about time. Words are stretched out, recommendations given rather than orders. It was a case of perhaps we shouldn’t confuse vampires by telling them you are a Moretti , so they are clear who the king is.” Ari grit his teeth as all the feelings and memories came flooding back. “My role in court lessened slowly and one day people forgot I was a Moretti.”

Brayden cursed beside him.

“Your father had even more fear. No, don’t worry, I know he was a good king, but you and I both know I’m a far more powerful vampire than your father ever was.” They turned to face each other. “As are you, Brayden Moretti.”

“Shit,” Brayden said and dropped his glass on the table nearby. “So, you left instead of challenging him?”

Ari let out a laugh.

“No. I never wanted the throne, just as you don’t. Do you remember me telling you to make your thoughts clear to your father and brother?”

Brayden nodded. “You were protecting me?”

“Yes.”

“So why? Why the fuck did you leave?”

“Imagine a strategy being put into play now, or in a few hundred years, to stop the race from acknowledging you as a Moretti,” Ari said, sitting back in his chair, his arms splayed out on the frame.

“Fuck that,” Brayden cursed.

“It’s more difficult with technology. I dare say impossible, but you’d be surprised what people will forget when told.”

“Vincent would never do that.”

“No. I am pleased the two of you are so close. The king knows you’re no threat, but if he did, things could change.”

“They won’t,” Brayden said firmly.

Maybe.

But the prince had asked a question, and he hadn’t answered it yet.

“Losing my identity and having no purpose was slowly killing me. One day, I overheard a conversation between your parents, which I won’t repeat. I knew I could no longer stay in the castle, or in the family, and so it triggered my departure. Despite everything, it was still the right thing for me to do,” Ari said. “I want you to keep that story to yourself.”

Brayden nodded. “Of course. Do you know why you have never mated?”

“I don’t know.”

“And if you do?” Brayden asked.

Ari shook his head. “It may never happen. I have no answers now, just as I never have,” he replied honestly. “Just like you, I do not desire to sit on the throne, but I am an original, Brayden. If I mate and have children, it will be a new line of vampires. Neither of us can deny that. It would be the will of God.”

Literally.

But Ari could never share that with anyone. Not anymore.

The prince stretched his arm along the back of the sofa, glanced at his boots, and let out a groan. “Jesus. I don’t want us to be enemies, Ari. I don’t fucking want that.”

“Neither do I,” Ari replied. “And hopefully Vincent doesn’t either. There are multiple human royal families across this planet. There’s no reason we can’t do the same. If it ever became a possibility.”

“So, you would?”

Ari stared at his nephew, choosing his words carefully. Sage may be a potential enemy, but a sliver of hope had emerged within him that she could be his mate. He didn’t know for sure, but for the first time in his life it was a real possibility.

If not, Ari was happy to depart this world.

But if she was, Ari wanted to plant a seed within Brayden’s mind, which he knew would be repeated to the king. If there was one thing Ari had learned over the years, it was to make change one little step at a time.

“I am done hiding my identity, little prince. I am a Moretti. The remaining original. The time for that to be acknowledged is upon us.”

The prince cursed.