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If they were going to die, they would die together with him fighting until his last breath.

“And Ari,” Brayden added and then sighed. “As the last original, he needs to go.”

Now that would be a fight. His uncle was a warrior and would argue passionately about staying here. But the argument was that Vincent needed his protection. Hopefully, he’d see sense in that.

“Okay.” Craig’s tone was heavy with emotion, which was rare for the guy, making the hair on Brayden’s neck stand up.

“Jesus how did we let this happen?” he said, turning.

Craig shook his head. “It was inevitable, you know that.”

“Still. We should’ve killed Xander in the early days, and this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I’ve always said we needed more bazookas.”

Brayden let out a dry laugh, then sobered. “Was it inevitable or did we fuck up, Craig?”

The two powerful vampires stared at one another for a long moment. The weight of responsibility weighing heavily on their shoulders.

“It’s both. Vincent wanted to be diplomatic, and I get it, but sometimes people have to die to save the many. We should have fought louder. I should have.”

Brayden sighed, his head dropping. He didn’t fault Vincent, but Craig was right. All their decisions had led to this point, so they were all responsible.

His father and grandfather had protected the race for over fifteen hundred years. This wasn’t ending with him.

“Then we fix this,” he said firmly as he lifted his face.

“That’s more like it.” Craig grinned. “With bazookas, right?”

“With whatever it takes.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ELLA

Ella snuggled into Mack’s pillow and smiled. He’d responded to the audio file she’d sent him a few hours earlier. After messaging him when he arrived at his destination—wherever he was—and all the dirty talk about using the sex toy in his draw, Ella thought there was no way she could go through with it.

Then she had dinner with Madison and Brianna. They’d teased her about Mack and moving into the castle.

“He’s a sexy hunk of a vampire. Don’t tell my mate I said that.” Madison winked. “A number of the females lost their minds when he arrived at the castle.”

Typical.

“They really did.” Brianna bit into her chicken.

Ella rolled her eyes. “It was the same growing up. All the girls in the neighborhood liked him.”

“But you snagged him.” Bri winked.

“Sort of...”

“Honey, you’re sleeping in his bed tonight. He might not be there, but I’m pretty sure that qualifies as snagging.” Madison laughed. “Plus, word has it he never takes females back there.”

Her brows shot up.

“Oh”—Madison held up her hand—“don’t get me wrong, he flirts and has been trying out for the Castle Playboy title since my man lost it, but I overheard two of the female warriors saying it was his rule.”

Really?