Library

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

B rayden stood with his arm around Willow as they stood over the crib, staring down at their daughter.

She was traumatized, but alive.

That was all that mattered.

Dr. Abbott said the lack of oxygen to her brain may have caused some damage, but it would take a long time to assess. For now, they were both just happy Isabella was breathing.

Willow turned in his arms and he wrapped them tightly around her. She'd been clinging to him constantly and he was not unhappy about it.

He didn't feel comfortable unless they were both in his arms. However, Brayden needed Willow to feel safe again. Fear was no way to live.

Letting Nikolay walk away had been one of the topmost difficult things he'd done in his life, but to save his daughter, the decision had been easy.

He would find the mobster.

And he would kill him.

That was a promise.

"They won't touch you again, Willow. I promise you that." He ran his hand over her hair.

"You can't. Until we have a vaccine, none of us are safe," she said against his chest.

There was nothing he could say to argue with that. From now on, she would have twenty-four seven protection on her. Possibly overkill, but no one was taking any chances.

The king, queen, and prince Lucca also had increased security. In fact, there was some talk of heading back to Italy. Not that it was any safer there, but with the Maine castle on the Russian's hit list, it was looking like a smart move.

So far, the mob boss hadn't shared their location with the media after Brooklyn had ousted them.

Brayden wondered why.

It had been a discussion over dinner.

"We should head back to Rome," Kate had said. "I would feel safer there."

Vincent had looked over at him. Brayden hadn't answered immediately, waiting to see if Ari would contribute. Or Sage or Willow.

Sage had been the first. "The lab would have to move if we did, delaying progress."

"We don't have to go with them." Ari said, shifting his large body on the sofa, his arm laying along the cushions behind her head.

Sage had turned. "You know we will."

Brayden had softly smiled. Now that they were reunited, there was a desire to remain that way.

"If we do, it wouldn't be immediate. We need someone to remain in the United States for now," Ari said. "Brayden?"

He glanced down at Willow.

"Wherever is safest for our daughter," she replied, her hand tucked between his thighs as she sat curled up beside him.

Clingy.

Which, just quietly, stopped him from having to be.

"Ari is right. For now, I feel the army needs to remain here. This exposure won't be covered up like the last time."

The king shook his head in agreement.

"That said, Vincent, you should go."

"I'm not separating from my family," he growled. "Kate, I know you want to leave the United States, and we will. Just not today."

Kate nodded and ran her hand down Lucca's hair. The little prince was lying sleepily on her lap—a rare quiet moment compared to the usual chaos he caused.

Kate couldn't keep him still for long.

One day, he would be a powerful king. What world he would be adopting from them was yet to be seen.

"I can't believe this day has come." Ari shook his head, staring out across the vast room.

For his uncle, it had been over fifteen hundred years. The length of time, almost impossible to comprehend.

"It was inevitable," Vincent said, sipping his whisky.

"You're so calm about it, nephew." Ari observed.

"Not calm. Ready. As much as we could ever be," Vincent replied. "The more I've thought about this—and I've thought about it a fucking lot— the more I believe there is only so much preparedness possible."

"Swear again and I will cut it off," Kate muttered.

"Tongue or my cock?" Vincent smirked.

"Both."

The king stopped smiling and Willow chuckled quietly beside him.

Thank god. She was healing slowly. But it would take time.

"Dadda. Cock?" Lucca sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Sage covered her mouth, giggling.

"That's right, my son. Cock. A powerful weapon." Vincent reached for the boy and Kate lifted him so he could climb onto his father's lap.

Seeing his brother with the Moretti heir still made Brayden's chest tighten. Lucca was an important vampire. Only the fourth Moretti in existence who'd one day be king.

"Gun?" Lucas jumped up and down on Vincent's legs.

"More like a pistol." Kate poked Vincent in the arm.

"Bazooka really." Vincent caught her finger and kissed her hand.

"Gross." Willow groaned, and Brayden smirked.

"So no, Ari, I am not calm. Just ready. As much as one can be," Vincent said, tucking the boy under his arm.

Brayden had been surprised at his brother's reaction. They had returned to Seattle immediately on the jet which had been sent for them.

His first job had been getting Willow and Isabella into their rooms and appointing about ten guards, then he had gone to the king.

"It is fine." Vincent had said to him as he, Ari, and Craig stood in his office ready for instructions. "Do not panic. We have the leaders briefed, the race was advised this could happen months ago, and now it has been leaked."

"Jesus." Craig had shaken his head.

But it wasn't that simple.

The reaction was still being monitored. Some wanted to meet them. Some wanted to kill them.

One fucked up group on TikTok wanted to eat them...Jesus.

Leaders in the UN were demanding they be locked up.

In some areas, looting had broken out.

Protests.

The world was in chaos.

"I'm sorry Brooklyn did this, Vincent," Sage said.

"Do not be sorry. She contributed greatly to the work here. She got scared and wanted to protect her people. I can't fault her for that," the king said.

"She's Logan's fucking mate." Brayden shook his head.

Vincent sighed and put Lucca on the ground. The heir started running around making car racing noises.

"I'm so sorry." Kate jumped up.

"Leave him. It's cute," Willow said. "He can't hurt himself or anything. We are kid proofed in here now."

Kate sat on the edge of the sofa like any mom who was never entirely comfortable letting their child run havoc.

"What I'm about to say remains in this room." Vincent said, linking his fingers. "I'm relieved. POTUS kept hamstringing us every time I wanted to go public. There has been one excuse after another."

"Good reasons," Ari pressed.

The king shrugged. "Aren't you tired of hiding?"

"I know nothing else," Ari said.

"Well, the weight has been heavy on my shoulders. There is chaos out there, sure, but we will soon settle into a new normal."

"I think you might be looking through very optimistic glasses, nephew." Ari sighed.

Ari and Brayden shared a look.

The king seemed tired and worn down. Perhaps his absence had taken more of a toll on his brother.

The situation was very delicate and still unfolding.

"I don't blame Brooklyn. She brought Isabella back to life. I'm not angry with her. I can't be," Willow said. "Plus, as a former human, I understand her wanting to protect her race."

Brayden couldn't argue with that.

He was concerned for Logan, who had returned to Maine without his mate. He'd been unsuccessful in finding her and was now stalking the halls like a lioness without her cubs.

It was painful to watch.

When Craig told him the assassin had demanded he give him a kill order on the human, Brayden had cringed.

There was no fucking way that was happening.

She might have changed history for the entire living population on earth—for both races—but if she was Logan's mate, then she had the protection of the king.

"You might want to ask her why she hasn't told anyone about the serum." Vincent pointed out.

Interesting point.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.