Page 141 of The Vampire's Storm

The king stopped smiling and Willow chuckled quietly beside him.

Thank god. She was healing slowly. But it would take time.

“Dadda. Cock?” Lucca sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Sage covered her mouth, giggling.

“That’s right, my son. Cock. A powerful weapon.” Vincent reached for the boy and Kate lifted him so he could climb onto his father’s lap.

Seeing his brother with the Moretti heir still made Brayden’s chest tighten. Lucca was an important vampire. Only the fourth Moretti in existence who’d one day be king.

“Gun?” Lucas jumped up and down on Vincent’s legs.

“More like a pistol.” Kate poked Vincent in the arm.

“Bazooka really.” Vincent caught her finger and kissed her hand.

“Gross.” Willow groaned, and Brayden smirked.

“So no, Ari, I am not calm. Just ready. As much as one can be,” Vincent said, tucking the boy under his arm.

Brayden had been surprised at his brother’s reaction. They had returned to Seattle immediately on the jet which had been sent for them.

His first job had been getting Willow and Isabella into their rooms and appointing about ten guards, then he had gone to the king.

“It is fine.” Vincent had said to him as he, Ari, and Craig stood in his office ready for instructions. “Do not panic. We have the leaders briefed, the race was advised this could happen months ago, and now it has been leaked.”

“Jesus.” Craig had shaken his head.

But it wasn’t that simple.

The reaction was still being monitored. Some wanted to meet them. Some wanted to kill them.

One fucked up group on TikTok wanted to eat them...Jesus.

Leaders in the UN were demanding they be locked up.

In some areas, looting had broken out.

Protests.

The world was in chaos.

“I’m sorry Brooklyn did this, Vincent,” Sage said.

“Do not be sorry. She contributed greatly to the work here. She got scared and wanted to protect her people. I can’t fault her for that,” the king said.

“She’s Logan’s fucking mate.” Brayden shook his head.

Vincent sighed and put Lucca on the ground. The heir started running around making car racing noises.

“I’m so sorry.” Kate jumped up.

“Leave him. It’s cute,” Willow said. “He can’t hurt himself or anything. We are kid proofed in here now.”

Kate sat on the edge of the sofa like any mom who was never entirely comfortable letting their child run havoc.

“What I’m about to say remains in this room.” Vincent said, linking his fingers. “I’m relieved. POTUS kept hamstringing us every time I wanted to go public. There has been one excuse after another.”

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