CHAPTER NINETEEN

B rayden wandered through the halls of the mansion, taking in his uncle’s home. It was huge, even for a mansion, with the tightest security he’d ever seen. Craig would be having a field day, and hopefully not beating up Ari’s team too much.

He grinned.

Then his smiled faded and he ran a hand up the back of his head. Their conversation had been heavy as fuck. Ari’s confession played heavily on his mind.

“Through here we have our logistics room,” Ari said, opening a door and showing him inside. “Not much to look at with the screens off, but we have all the bells and whistles.”

Brayden had been heavily involved with setting up their operations rooms across all of the Moretti castles, so he knew exactly the whistles and bells to which Ari was referring.

“You have satellite?”

“Three.”

Whoa, okay.

“Friends in high places,” Ari added. “Humans fuck up often, so it’s wise to tap into those little mistakes. It’s amazing what a little adultery pays.”

Brayden raised a brow and grinned.

After a quick tour of the living quarters, they headed to the training center, and he found himself excited to see beyond the two enormous black doors. An eye scanner greeted them, and Ari stepped up. A laser flashed three times across his retina, then the doors whizzed open to, well, Assassin Disneyland.

It was the size of a football field.

“Jesus, Ari. You built this?”

“Yup.” Ari nodded. “Hey, we built castles back in the day. This was easy.”

Brayden stepped in further, taking in everything.

“Over here we have the gymnasium which you are both welcome to use while visiting,” Ari said. “The track allows the teams to run at vamp speed in private—as you know, cardio is an important part of training.”

“I remember.” Brayden laughed. “I hated it.”

Ari grinned and thumped him on the back in a fatherly way. How the hell hadn’t he realized Ari was family?

“Yeah, but it paid off,” Ari said, and they walked further into the room where a boxing ring was set up. Next to it was a dirt space he knew was for sparring.

Brayden’s heart began to race, and Ari glanced at him. On the wall hung a wide variety of swords he had no doubt were in optimal condition.

“Boxing?” Brayden asked, glancing away from the shiny swords which called to him.

“Yeah, it’s best to let them beat the fuck out of each other in there and release tension.” Ari smirked.

Brayden laughed. “Smart.”

He’d have to talk to Craig about that. They often had issues with testosterone overload with their soldiers. It was a common thing among vampires.

His eyes darted back to the swords. His uncle tossed one across the space, and Brayden caught it with ease.

“Game?”

“Absolutely.” Brayden grinned, ripped off his jacket and pushed up the sleeves of his long t-shirt. By the time he looked up metal was on its way.

Clang.

“Don’t ever look away from your opponent,” Ari said.

Fucking hell. He’d forgotten Ari didn’t mess about. Give the vampire a sword, and he turned into the devil.

“I couldn’t even undress?”

“If this was war, you’d have no head.”

“Fine,” Brayden said, lifting his sword once more as they danced back and forth on their feet.

Soon they had a crowd.

Smash.

Clang.

Brayden met strike after strike, but the other vampire was damn strong and soon he had a bit of a glisten on his forehead.

“Concede?” Ari challenged him, swiping low.

Ah, no.

“Don’t think so, old man.” Brayden smirked. He caught the tip and flicked it. Ari leaped, flipped, and the sword was back at Brayden’s chest before he could take a step.

Ari grinned and stepped back.

“Well, young prince, perhaps it’s a good thing you are here. Time to brush up on your skills.” He winked as Brayden frowned.

“How the hell did you do that?” Brayden asked, giving Craig, who was laughing, the bird.

Ari took the swords and handed them to a vampire who had run over to collect them. As Brayden had expected, every single weapon in this place was kept in optimal condition.

“How?” Ari repeated, then led him over to another area of the training center, this time with Craig, Oliver and another two vampires he didn’t recognize. “The same way I did when you were a boy, when your father was a boy and when your grandfather and I were young, and I was a soldier in the Roman army.”

And that was the only explanation Ari had ever given him. Then and now.

Brayden was introduced to Jason and Elijah, then Alex and Logan pushed through the door to join them.

“Show the prince our big weight area,” Ari said.

“Your Highness, this way,” Oliver said, giving him a nod.

Ari halted and pulled out his phone.

“If you will excuse me?” he said. “I will join you for a meal in the dining room in a few hours. Please help yourself to anything. The offer for accommodation still stands.”

“Yeah, I think I’ll just camp out in here,” Craig said. “Who wants to spar in the ring?”

Brayden pressed his lips together, holding back a grin as the five powerful young vampires all froze. He shared a humorous glance with Ari.

“See you for breakfast,” Ari said and left.

Brayden noticed Ari had never bowed or lowered his head to him, as other vampires did. He never had when he was younger or as he’d grown. It had never occurred to him until now.

Now he knew why.

Brayden was secure in his role as prince of the Moretti royal family, but after today, he had a strong sense the ancient vampire was taking back his position of power.

The one that had never been acknowledged.

His loyalty would always be with Vincent—their bond was unbreakable—but he could understand Ari’s position and hoped all of them could exist as one family.

Somehow.

Brayden wanted his uncle in his life.

Aside from the damn vampire pulling on his heart strings earlier, Brayden could see a huge benefit in them integrating their operations and sharing intel. Vincent was a pragmatic king and had already shown he was open to a relationship with Ari by allowing them to spend time at The Institute.

Or rather, he hadn’t stopped them.

Now, after his conversation with Ari, Brayden was concerned. He would relay it to Vincent and then give him time to process it.

Ari may pose a threat to them one day. Maybe not today, or in two hundred years, but one day he might, and it was something they had to consider.

It all hinged on whether Ari mated.

Unless he truly was destined to never have a mate.