Page 104 of Moretti Blood Brothers: Vol. One Books #1-4

W illow glared at Brayden with unshed tears as they all heard the human scream.

“Well, I guess that’s one issue resolved,” the king said, shutting his laptop.

Christ.

Brayden walked across the room and pulled the princess into his arms.

“Hey, it’s okay. Craig is a good male—the best. He wouldn’t be my commander if he wasn’t. She’s his mate, and you know what that means.”

She hiccupped.

“I wanted her to live. To be human.”

He glanced at Vincent over her head, looking for a little help.

“Willow Moretti. You’re a vampire now; a royal vampire. You should be our poster child for humans choosing immortality,” Vincent said.

Not quite the pep talk he’d been hoping for, but he should have expected it. A glance at Kate, and they both rolled their eyes. She stood and joined them, placing a hand on Willow’s arm.

“Sweetheart, just as you couldn’t let Brayden go, neither can Brianna. And unlike the prince here, Craig is not a male to ask.”

Willow looked up. “Exactly. What if he pushed her into it and she didn’t want him?”

They all snorted.

“Really?” she asked, irritated now.

“Willow, that girl has been walking around with puppy eyes for the commander since she arrived.”

The king snorted again. “When she hasn’t been glowing like a well-fucked lollipop.”

Jesus.

“Seriously, bro, not even impending doom can stop your verbal diarrhea, can it?”

Vincent looked at him with his usual What? expression.

Brayden shook his head.

“She will be fine, and the good news is that you get to keep your friend.”

“Yeah. There is that.”

He mouthed I love you to her, mostly so Vincent wouldn’t wreck it by spitting out some stupid comment, and he was gifted with her beautiful smile. She reached up on her toes and kissed him.

“I love you too.”

“Okay, now that we’ve finished Willow’s therapy session, can we please get back to the matter of protecting the race?”

His mate shook her head and turned toward the king.

“Sometimes you are so rude, Vincent.”

“Comes with the job,” he muttered, clearly undeterred by the princess’s reaction, and began writing some notes in a notepad. He stopped and looked up. “You females should go to bed. Get some sleep. I’ll send your mate back to you when I’m finished with him.”

Kate stood.

Brayden was still the only one who knew their little secret, and he was so happy for them. She saw him staring at her stomach, and placed a hand over it. Unspoken words passed between them, ones which would never be said out loud. But if they were, it would be something like thank fuck.

The queen hooked her arm through Willow’s, patting him on the arm.

“I’ll tell her. She’s a Moretti, after all.”

He nodded and took his mate’s face, kissing her hard. “I’ll be there as soon as we’re finished.”

The king and prince watched their two beautifully stunning female vampires leave the room.

Brayden sat down in the chair in front of Vincent’s desk.

“Kate loves her.”

Brayden smiled. “As do I.”

“Our parents would have loved them. God, I wish they’d lived longer. Now they’re missing out on their grandvamps, and we’re left to deal with this god-awful situation.”

Brayden was surprised to hear the king’s words.

“You’ve got this, Vince.”

“Do I?”

“Yes! Because there is no other fucking choice. You were born for this. Together, we will protect the race and get through this.”

The king sighed and leaned back.

“I have some ideas.”

Brayden had some ideas of his own, but he wanted to let the king bring his to the table first. “And you want to go through them with me.”

The king nodded.

“We make an excellent team, Brayden. My strategic and diplomatic mindset, your military mind. We are going to need both if my plan is to work.”

They had both been trained for this. Frances Moretti had been a smart and powerful king. Both of the princes were a part of him, and together they were a powerful source fueled by the Moretti blood. They’d overcome challenges before, and while this might just be their greatest one yet, he knew they’d adapt and survive.

They were, after all, far more powerful a species than humans. If it came down to it, only one would survive, and Brayden was glad he’d met Willow when he did.

He grinned.

“Let’s get down to business.”