Page 27

ELLA

“ I don’t understand.”

“Pack a bag. I’m trying to get you on the plane with the others.” Mack yelled into the phone.

“To where?”

“I can’t say. You have to trust me,” Mack cried. “Yes. Tell him. She’s my mate!”

Was she?

“Mack. Stop. Slow down,” Ella said as she walked as fast as she could through the castle hallway.

Someone had knocked on her door and yelled out to her half an hour ago, but by the time she opened it, they’d gone. It sounded like Madison, but she wasn’t sure.

Warriors were running around, and the lights in the castle were flashing red. Being a newbie, she wasn’t sure if this was just a drill or something else.

Then her phone rang.

“I have one more minute. Head to the training room with your bags. Pack some of my stuff and take it with you. You have ten minutes tops.”

“I can’t just leave.”

“Baby. Please. I love you. You’re my mate. I...this is life or death.”

She stopped dead.

You’re my mate.

“Mack Mazzini.” She was so angry with him for saying that on the phone. She’d waited all her life to hear them.

Tears filled her eyes.

“Ella.”

Chop, chop, chop.

Is that a helicopter?

“I can’t tell you anymore. Get on that damn plane or I’m returning to the United States and both of us are unlikely to live. But I will if you want.”

No.

No, she didn’t want that.

“My parents. Your parents.”

“There’s nothing I can do.” His voice was heavy with regret. “Ella please. Please do as I say.”

Then the line went dead.

Holy fucking hell.

Wait. He was not in the country?

Get on that damn plane or I’m returning to the United States and both of us are unlikely to live. But I will if you want me to.

She knew that he would, and there was no way she was letting that happen. Their world was in chaos, and Ella had to trust him. He was her mate. She’d always known that and finally he did, too.

Damn him for being overseas when that happened.

Teleporting back to his room, she dug through the wardrobe and found a bag, then quickly packed his things. Then she repacked her own.

Hiking them both onto her shoulders, she ran out of the room and down toward the training room. The closer she got, she recognized some of the huge warriors.

They zipped past her, shooting her a look, probably thinking she didn’t belong.

I wish you were here, Mack.

Ella knew she was trembling as anxiety shook her very being. The need to call her mom and warn her about whatever this was tugged at her heart. But she knew she couldn’t.

They’d want to ring someone and then they would...it would create major panic.

But still. Her heart bled.

A female soldier pulled open the door and held it. “Ella?”

“Yes?”

“Let me take those.” She grabbed the bags off her shoulders and strode away, glancing over her shoulder. “Follow me.”

“Okay.”

That’s when she saw the king.

Holy fuck.

King Vincent Moretti was holding the queen’s hand and carrying the prince on his hip. Enormous warriors surrounded them—the SLCs—and they heralded the family out of the center like they were secret service.

In seconds, they were gone.

“Keep moving,” the female told her.

Cassy joined them. “Charlotte, I’ll take Ella.”

“You sure?”

“Yup. Go to Marcus.” Cassy said, smiling at Ella. “You okay?”

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Ella replied honestly.

“Good. Best you don’t. Come with me.” She took the bags from Charlotte, the two females hugged, then Cassy put an arm around Ella’s shoulders. “My mate is offshore with Mack. We’re going to meet them.”

“Okay. Good. Where?”

“Don’t ask any more questions. Just get on the chopper with me. Then on the jet and I will tell you more then.”

Holy hell.

A N HOUR LATER, the Moretti jet lifted off the tarmac. There had been half a dozen helicopters on the grounds of the castle when she’d left in one herself. Now, she was on a private jet full of SLCs and royal family members. She’d seen Willow and the prince as she had boarded.

Now she sat holding onto the arms, bracing herself against the g-forces as they ascended.

Ella wasn’t sure she wanted to know what was happening, but she panicked and wanted answers. Why the hell was the entire Moretti royal family being evacuated from the United States?

On some level, she knew.

Or was coming to some pretty terrifying conclusions.

Tears poured down her face, knowing her family was still there, and that she might never see them. A sob escaped her, but she didn’t care.

Pulling out her phone, she’d gathered herself and sent Mack a message.

I’m on the plane.

She had no idea if or when he would get it, but she wanted him to know she’d followed through on her promise. So that he didn’t worry. So that he didn’t head back to the United States. So that he didn’t die. There was no doubt in her mind that’s why they were all here.

“Second jet has just taken off,” Tristan announced.

Cassy glanced at Marcus and nodded. The warrior glanced at Ella and gave her a small smile.

“I’m Senior Lieutenant Commander Marcus Vecchia.”

“My mate,” Charlotte leaned around him and gave her a smile.

“We sort of met recently,” Marcus continued. “Mack asked me to ensure you got on this flight. We’re headed to Italy. To the king’s safe house. Have you told anyone anything?”

“Sorry, fuck, I should have taken her phone.” Cassy slapped her forehead.

Ella shook her head. “No. I haven’t. I worked that out.”

Marcus smiled. “Good. Smart. I like it.”

“Can you...can you tell me anything more—”

“No,” he said firmly. “Your mate will meet us at the safe house...”

He trailed off.

“If he can,” she whispered and dropped her eyes.

Everyone was quiet.

“Yeah,” Marcus finally replied, and she appreciated that he didn’t lie to her.

As the plane straightened and leveled out, she undid her seatbelt and curled up in a ball, closing her eyes.

Italy.

She was going to Italy, where she may or may not be reunited with the male everyone—including him—was calling her mate.

This was not how she dreamed of it happening.

But as long as he was alive, Ella didn’t care.

A quick calculation and she worked out it would take eight or nine hours to get there, so she had a lot of thinking and worrying time.

Damn it.