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“What’s happening? It’s not...please no.”

“Go with Craig. I love you Bri,” Willow said quietly, despite all of them being able to hear.

“Ari.” Sage grabbed a handful of his white shirt and her eyes listed to his in question. “No. Not now. It can’t be.”

“It’s okay. We are together.” Wrapping his arm tightly around her, he glanced at Brayden. The same pain was reflected in his eyes.

Kate sat watching her son play with Isabella and looked so alone, so pained, that the children’s lives were about to be over.

Ari’s fury grew.

Vincent went to her.

“Kate.” She glanced up, and he cupped her face. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

Through tears, she shook her head. “Language, Vincent.”

Ari smiled at how ridiculous her comment was, but they needed the normality.

Vincent simply nodded and looked down at his heir. Lucca would never sit on the throne.

God! You motherfucker. I hated you for turning me into a vampire the moment you did it and I hate that you are sitting back and letting this just fall apart.

We did everything you asked of us.

I lost my brother to this curse. Now we are all losing. All of us! Humans. The planet. Vampires.

Fuck you!

He dropped his head as he heard Craig and Brianna leave the room and pulled Sage against his chest, drawing in her comforting scent.

He wasn’t going to tell her. Ari couldn’t say the words. He needed to just hold her and love her.

Beside him, he heard Brayden and Willow.

“My beautiful princess. Fuck I’m so sorry,” the prince said.

“Stop, Bray. You’ve never let me down. Not ever. Nor your daughter.” Willow cried softly. “If this is how it ends, at least we are together, and she knows we love her.”

Sage sobbed into his shirt.

When Ari glanced up, his eyes met Vincent’s. The king carried all of this on his shoulders because of his role, but he was wrong.

It was he and Gio who started this whole thing.

The entire planet was now about to be obliterated because Ari hadn’t stepped up and taken the appropriate steps when he’d seen the writing on the wall. He’d respected his nephew as the true king.

Which he was.

But where had his respect gotten them?

God, just in case you missed my first message...FUCK YOU!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MACK

When he stepped into the dining hall with Ella, Mack was surprised to find almost everyone in there. Along one wall, a buffet had been set up and delicious aromas wafted throughout the room. His mouth watered.