The Vampire Prince

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The Vampire Prince Page 19

by Juliette N Banks

Okay. I will bring her home.

  You have one week.

  Two!

  It’s too dangerous, Brayden. Don’t be a fool.

  I’ll protect her.

  Vincent shook his head. “Willow, I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she politely replied as the king opened the door.

  I’ve never had to say this before, Brayden—

  Don’t.

  —I am the fucking king. You have one week.

  Fury ran through his veins, causing his muscles to tense.

  “Bray?” He felt Willow grasp one of his arms.

  Don’t challenge me on this, Brayden! You may be the only one able to produce an heir for this family. If you lose your mate and something happens to me, that’s the Moretti line gone. You would never mate again. It is my duty to protect our family.

  He glared at his brother.

  This is your duty as prince and protector of your mate.

  “Leave. Now!” he yelled at the king.

  “Brayden!” Willow gasped, unaware of the conversation. Vincent frowned and shook his head.

  “You are not our father, and you never will be. Have more faith in yourself, brother.” Vincent closed the door behind him.

  Brayden stared at the closed door for a long moment, then turned and pulled Willow into his arms.

  For the first time in his life, he felt torn between his obligations as prince, as a Moretti, and something else. Never had he entertained thoughts such as those running through his mind right now, visions of overpowering his brother. But then what? The king was right. They both knew it.

  If it weren’t for his stubborn refusal to turn Willow, there would be no issue. But he wouldn’t. Vincent hadn’t spent the same intimate amount of time with their mother as he had. While Vincent was training to become king, Brayden had spent years with her listening to her stories, watching her eyes fill with emotions from her human years and lost possibilities.

  Yet both brothers had been given the life-altering task of fulfilling the promise his father had made to his mother on their one thousandth anniversary. Standing side by side, Vincent and Brayden had taken a sword and beheaded their parents. It had been a promise their father had made to his mate, the queen, after turning her a vampire without her permission. She had hated him for it.

  Eventually the senior royals had made peace with one another, and their love had flared to life again. Guiliana had given birth to Vincent and then Brayden, neither of whom suspected anything until 1891, exactly one thousand years later. Desperate to gain her trust and love back, their father had offered to give Guiliana back her mortality after a lifetime together, which together they agreed would be one thousand years.

  The memory of seeing their heads rolling on the ground after both princes had been tasked with decapitating the royals was forever seared in his eyes. The consequence for his father’s actions. Willow would have her choice, and that was final.

  It was true that just by being his mate, he had fated her life.

  He squeezed her tighter until he heard her moan.

  “Hello! Human under here.”

  Releasing her, he held her face. “Willow, I’m so fucking sorry.”

  She paled. He watched as the truth they both knew she’d been ignoring came flooding to the forefront of her mind. Her face elongated and mouth fell open.

  “Jesus, you’re going to kill me, aren’t you?” Tears poured down her face as she began to shake uncontrollably.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  “Willow, breathe, you’re hyperventilating.” She tried to pull in gulps of air, but her throat began constricting. “Dammit.”

  Brayden picked her up and took her into the bedroom, setting her on the end of the bed.

  He’s going to kill me.

  He’s going to turn me into a vampire.

  I’ve got to get out of here.

  Run!

  She tried to stand up, but he held her in place, which just made things worse.

  “Baby, please. It’s not like—I’m not going to—fuck! I can’t even say it.”

  “Uck...ya...lut...me...goooo.”

  He pushed her head down between her legs and told her to breathe over and over again. She struggled and pushed against him until he let her go. She ran out into the living room until she realized she had nowhere to go. Turning, she saw him standing in the doorway to his bedroom looking nearly as hopeless as she felt.

  “Fuck. Willow. Please.” He held out his hands.

  Focusing on her breathing, she waved her own hands out at him. “Stay there. Are you fucking mad? You want to kill me?”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s the last thing in the world I want to do.”

  Breathe in. Breathe out.

  “Then take me home!”

  He shook his head. “You know I can’t. It’s daylight.”

  “Can I leave?”

  Brayden’s eyes dropped and he shook his head. “It’s too dangerous, sweetheart.”

  Breathe in. Breathe out.

  “Why, because I might die?! You’re planning to kill me anyway!”

  His eyes flicked up at her in surprise, a dose of anger in them. “I am not going to kill you, Willow, let’s get that straight. You will be alive and thriving after the transition. IF you choose it.”

  Her stomach turned, and she placed a hand over her abdomen.

  “Out there,” he said, pointing toward the window, “are my enemies. They would torture you. Slowly. You are safer with me. I am not letting you out of my sight.”

  She blinked.

  He wiped a hand over his face. “There’s a lot going on. Some vampires have been poisoning the king, and last night, one of them approached you at the park. If I hadn’t shown up...”

  Her eyes widened.

  Her life was in danger. Being with Brayden had brought danger and death to her door. All strength left her body, and she collapsed on the floor.

  Except she didn’t because Brayden was a vampire, so as he’d done the first day they had met, he caught her. He then lifted her into his strong arms while she shook uncontrollably. He cooed at her like she was a baby. She was powerless to do anything.

  For what felt like hours, he wrapped her in his arms as they lay on his bed. She felt his kisses, felt the way his hand ran over her arms and back, down her legs. When she relaxed into the strength of his comfort, reality came flooding back, and she began to shake all over again.

  Over and over.

  Finally, she twisted and looked up at him.

  “Why don’t you just do it and get it over with then?” She burst into uncontrollable tears and began punching his arms.

  “Because, my love, I really fucking don’t want to.”

  She watched as a tear ran down his face. Then another. She froze as she took in the raw emotion of the man she loved. The face of her killer.

  He blinked them away and rolled onto his back, sighing.

  “I guess there’s no instruction manual for this,” Brayden said, his voice full of gravel. “My mother was human when my father met her. The impatient bastard took her virginity and then her humanity minutes after she discovered he was a vampire.”

  Willow’s eyes widened. He glanced over at her.

  “I won’t do that to you, Willow. She loved my father, yet deep down, she resented him, and I never want to see you look at me with that bitterness.”

  Those same conflicting feelings tore through her. If he gave her the opportunity to walk out right now, she’d likely run for her life while hoping he’d follow.

  “I never, ever, want you to feel the same way.” His eyes were wet, his mouth downturned. A little mark on the top of his cheek was the only evidence of the fallen tear.

  How could someone who wanted to take her life look so torn? How could someone who loved her want to take her life?

  “Perhaps,” she said quietly, “you should take my memories, and I’ll move to another state.”

  Brayden
stared at the ceiling then closed his eyes. After a few moments, he rolled over. “Is this what you want?”

  No. What she wanted to do was turn back time to when she was falling in love with him. She wanted to be eating ice cream with him, making love to him, telling him about her stupid day.

  Not negotiating for her life.

  He was a vampire with a dangerous life. If she had to choose between relocating and losing her memories or dying, then she had to choose life.

  She had to.

  So she gave him a little nod and rolled away.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Brayden wanted to vomit.

  At least, he guessed he did. It wasn’t something he’d ever done before; however, his stomach felt like it was making its way out his throat. At the same time, his heart felt like someone had reached into his chest and was attempting to squeeze it dry.

  Watching Willow roll away from him after deciding to let him go was the most painful moment of his life.

  His mate didn’t want him.

  He’d been infamous for his orgies and sexual appetite. He’d given little thought to meeting his mate back then. More recently, he’d been distracted with Vincent’s illness until the day he had met Willow. She’d taken him by surprise and satisfied his every desire. He had never wanted anything in his life like he wanted this female.

  His brother was right. If he lost his mate, he would never find another. There was only ever one mate for a vampire.

  Brayden could take her memories from her, and she’d go on to live a life where she’d never find complete fulfillment. She would never love again. If she married, it would be for convenience with, at best, someone she cared for. It was a cruel punishment.

  Brayden would simply die inside. He could never forget, nor would he choose to.

  He felt the beginnings of anger stirring within him. Fear, anger, anguish. Swallowing it down, he took a deep breath. He had to be strong for Willow.

  Sitting up, he pulled her around and back into his arms. Every part of him wanted to howl, scream, and punch a wall, despite the gentle way he handled her. Surprisingly, she came to him without resistance.

  “If this is what you want, sweetheart, I will do it.”

  Willow nodded and went into the bathroom. He left to give her some privacy and went out into the living room, turning on the screens to distract himself.

  Craig was meeting with the rest of the senior team. On another screen, he watched as Regan, the POS, walked down the hallway with security on his tail. The rest of the facility was quiet as they slept the day off.

  Brayden ran his hand through his hair as fatigue finally caught up with him. He could go without sleep for days if necessary, but all the emotions had drained him. This was a defining moment in his life. One that would head him down a dark, cold path, and he knew it.

  “Screens off,” he said, resting his ass on the edge of the sofa.

  His vampire hearing heard Willow’s soft steps. She stopped at the doorway and watched him. He let her think he hadn’t heard her. Brayden closed his eyes and listened to her heart beating.

  Bump. Bump. Bump, bump. Bump.

  He squeezed his eyes, feeling himself wobble on the precipice of darkness. Losing her was going to change him in ways not even he could fathom.

  At least he had a Russo or two to take it out on right now.

  He wanted to bare his fangs at her and tell her to hurry up. He also wanted to get on his knees and beg her to want him. It was the latter which was tearing him apart.

  “I, umm...”

  “What?” he snapped before he could stop himself. She jumped.

  This time he didn’t feel the need to go to her, to comfort her. Instead, he just stared at her.

  “Are you ready?” he asked when she didn’t answer.

  “Yes. Are you okay?”

  He nodded and walked to the door, collecting his things. “Let’s go.”

  “Wait.” He slowly turned and looked at her. She didn’t say anything.

  “Willow, let’s go. It’s going to take a lot of work and resources to do this, so we need to get going now.”

  They walked to the security office in silence. As he reached to scan his finger, he felt a hand on his arm.

  “Brayden,” her small voice whispered. “I know you’re mad, but can you please not be so cold? I’m scared.”

  He turned, towering over her with his height. He wanted to both shake her and kiss her. He did neither.

  “You don’t get it, do you? I fucking love you,” he said. “And you’ve just told me you want to forget everything about me. How would you feel if I said I didn’t want to remember you?”

  Her mouth dropped open. “It’s different. I don’t want to kill you.”

  “And yet, you are,” he replied, pushing through the door. His voice echoed around the room. “Craig! Drop everything and follow me.”

  The vampires all turned and stared. There was no doubt he was a powerful alpha; however, his current agitated behavior was unprecedented, and he knew it was causing them alarm.

  Nothing he could do about it.

  Nothing he wanted to do about it.

  What he wanted to do was fucking kill something.

  Craig stood up and marched across the room. “Lance, take over.”

  Yeah, his commander knew there was something very fucking serious going on. The door banged closed behind him, and his eyes shot between the two of them.

  “Willow,” he greeted, nodding.

  “Hi, Craig.”

  What’s going on?

  I need you to relocate Willow. Urgently.

  Brayden began walking, and the two of them followed him into another room with a boardroom table, chairs, and a computer.

  What? What the fuck?

  Yeah.

  Craig shot a look at Willow and shook his head. Brayden’s hackles raised. It was okay for him to be angry, but he didn’t want anyone else upsetting her.

  She’s terrified, Craig.

  Sure but...no, fuck this!

  “Willow, what the fuck?” Craig asked.

  She looked up at the vampire, confused, before understanding dawned and she exclaimed, “He wants to take my life! And you better stay away from Brianna.”

  A sudden snarl came from Craig’s throat, and Brayden turned to see the man’s fangs exposed. Willow took a step back and a little cry escaped her.

  Instinct made him protect her. He pulled her into his arms and shot out a fist, pushing Craig up the wall.

  “Stop!”

  “Sorry. Fuck.”

  Brayden released him and the guy turned and slapped the wall behind him with his open palm, frustrated. Then he swung around.

  “I’m sorry. Look, I can’t imagine how terrifying this is or how hard it is on both of you, but Bray, have you explained what will happen once her memories are removed?”

  Craig and Willow stared at him as he shook his head. At Willow’s raised eyebrow, he released her and told them to sit down.

  They ignored him.

  “It doesn’t matter—”

  “The fuck it doesn’t. Willow, you’re his mate. It may be a vampire thing, but it impacts you too. Sure, you’ll have no memories, but you’ll never love again. You’ll be left with a broken heart and never understand why.”

  Brayden watched her face as she took in the new information, her eyes darting around the room and back at him.

  “But I’ll be alive,” she said quietly.

  “Forget it,” he growled. She was never going to choose him, and he just needed to get this over and done with. “Where do you want to relocate?”

  She shrugged. “Hawaii, whatever, I don’t care.”

  “Is anyone going to listen to me?” Craig asked frustrated.

  “House or condo?”

  “Condo.”

  “Oahu?”

  “Maui.”

  “Fine.” He turned to Craig. “I want the property purchased and movers packing up her house by tonight. Boo
k flights for the morning.”

  Craig shook his head at them both. “Yeah, fine.”

  “I can’t buy a house on Maui; do you have any idea how much—”

  He turned and placed his hands on his hips. “You are my mate. It’s my job to look after you whether you remember or not. I’m buying you the fucking house, and it will go into your name.”

  He left her fish mouthing the air.

  “Alert me when it’s done,” he ordered Craig, then took Willow’s arm and led her out of the room.

  “Just fucking talk to each other, would you!” He heard Craig call out as the door shut behind them.

  They walked silently back to his room. Willow sat down on the sofa and he handed her a glass of water. She sipped at it while he chucked back his. Everything about this felt like shit.

  “I need to get some sleep,” he said, wiping a hand over his face. “You can...I don’t know, watch TV or sleep or whatever.”

  Willow looked at him as if he’d told her to go play on the yellow dotted lines. She flicked her eyes at the door then back at him.

  He let out a bitter laugh. “Aside from the fact it’s locked, I can’t imagine you would risk walking out into a compound full of vampires.”

  “Then you don’t understand how terrified I am of dying.”

  Brayden shook his head. “If I were going to kill you, I would have done it already. God, Willow, I’ve been completely honest and given you the choice. You’ve made it, no matter the cost to me.”

  Willow jumped to her feet. “Honest?! Don’t talk to me about honesty. I’ve been sleeping with a fucking vampire for days!”

  “And when would have been the right moment to tell you? While I was fucking you over the sofa?”

  Her face flushed. “Don’t say stuff...” Her eyes dilated. His eyes dropped to her lips. She licked them. “What cost to you? You’re not dying.”

  Her question snapped him out of it. For a moment, he had imagined his lips meeting hers for one last time. Just for a second, he had wanted to feel her warm, soft flesh against his as he showed her how much he cared.

  His eyes flashed to hers.

  “Forget it.” He stepped away.

  She grabbed his forearm. “Tell me.”

  “No.” He was barely holding himself together as it was. “I’m going to sleep.”

 

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