Falcon

Draco and I had to check on the castle and the men. Their spirits were looking up and the castle started to look as it did before. The surrounding area had been outfitted with new sensors. We examined the changes and the structural integrity of the building. My men were pleased to serve us. Upon departing, I addressed the masses,

“Thank you all for the hard work you have done. Without all of you, we would not be able to defeat the Lamia. You have done your best and I wish you all peace and rest. Soon the war will be over. Centuries of fear and dread will be behind us. As we look forward, I must ask that you remain loyal to us as we remain loyal to you. As one, we can end this. Stay strong and remember that my mother’s prophecy is coming to fruition. I must return to my family and keep them safe. Thank you.” My people cheered.

“Hail the King and Queen!”

“King Lombardi!”

“Thank you,” I replied one last time before teleporting. Another week and my family would be able to return to our people.

After returning home, I hunted down my wife in her lab. Speranza lay sleeping in her bouncer while Nora worked. She looked completely frustrated, but I planned to fix that. I picked up my baby girl, holding her tight and breathing in her sweet baby smell before holding out a hand for my wife. “Time for a break, my loving Nora.”

Swiftly, I set down my sleeping princess into her cradle before tending to my mate. Undressing and carrying her to our bed, I claimed her body and soul. Our passion was hard and fast until we were both falling to the bed satiated and well loved.

My phone rang; I reached for it, grumbling in the process. I’d much rather stay in her arms. “What’s going on, Gideon?” I hoped to high hell that we weren’t going into battle right now.

“William is pacing.”

“I’m on my way.” We kept the door locked from the inside out and cameras were added to the room after he shifted. Can’t trust what we don’t know. And my family’s safety overruled courtesy.

“I have to deal with William.” Obviously, he was stressing about something. He had some questions to answer for me and I had a feeling that I wouldn’t like some of his answers.

“What are you going to do?” she asked, tilting her head already assuming the worst.

“I’m going to talk to him.” I tossed my arms up.

“I’m coming with,” she stated, jumping off the bed and dressing faster than I’d ever seen before. Was she getting faster? That would be interesting. Then again nothing about her surprised me anymore.

“I have a feeling that you’re not going to listen anyway, so come along. Speranza will be fine right here,” I said, pulling her into my arms and kissing her senseless.

“You know when to surrender, my King.”

“Only for my queen,” I murmured against her neck. “Come.” We entered his chambers, and he halted his movements.

“How’s it coming along?” I coldly asked. Until I knew for certain, I couldn’t trust anyone but Nora and Draco. Charlotte, I had a strained relationship with. I wanted to trust that she had my family’s interests at heart, but in truth, she had everyone’s interests at heart. It scared me that we could be sacrificed for the rest of the world. William’s built strong like us which makes it even harder to trust him. He could be dangerous.

“Better,” he answered; the cracking in his voice improved. I began to pace, intentionally intimidating him. I noticed a stack of books in the corner near his bed. They were children’s books.

“I see you have some books here,” I observed, picking up a Thomas the Tank Engine book.

A blush stole over his face. “Yes, Charlotte brought me some. I need help reading a book with images, most embarrassing,” he remarked, tucking his lips inward.

“It seems your vocabulary isn’t stunted,” Nora cheered.

He acknowledged the compliment with a slight dip of his head. “The general skills are coming back to me,” he answered slowly, looking ashamed that he had to start from scratch.

I nodded. I grabbed Nora’s hand and pulled her to my side. She was apt to be too friendly to people and she felt sorry for him, but I continued to press for answers. “Yes, well that is good, but I need information about you now.”

He swallowed hard, then spoke, “I was born in Eastern Europe just outside of Greece.”

“What are you?” I questioned as he thought about his next tidbit he wanted to divulge. He brushed his hand across his jaw and around his neck. A tension built around the room.

“I am a vampire and a wolf shifter,” he tossed out.

“What?” I itched to lunge towards him, but I remembered what Charlotte said. My hands clenched with rage, turning my knuckles white and my teeth on edge.

“I swear I’m nothing like Stavros,” he hurriedly stated, flinching backward landing on the bed.

“Explain more,” I growled, stepping closer. Nora held onto the back of my shirt, trying to stop me from continuing.

He raised his hand, hoping I’d stop inching towards him. I’d give him that if he started talking. “I had been turned into that dog because of my loyalty to the Supreme Council.”

I scoffed, “Bullshit. You’ve been alive for over three hundred years?”

“I’m telling you the truth. I’m over four-hundred years old. I had informed the Queen, your mother, that something was to come. She believed me and praised my selflessness. Unfortunately, the traitors were aware of my actions. I’d been on my way back to Greece when I’d been attacked by a mob of vampires. Before I could slaughter them all, a sorcerer appeared and cast a spell on me. Suddenly the attack stopped. The next thing I knew, I was being helped by one of my former servants to safety.” He paused, pouring himself more tea and taking a sip before he continued, “I had been on my way to the castle to warn them the best I could in my new form when they died. Over time my protectors died and leaving me as a dog without a home. I stayed in Europe but came back to Lombardy every so often.” He took another drink of his tea. I supposed his throat was still tender.

“I’m sorry, William,” Nora said, offering her sympathies. “Would you be able to tell us about your family?”

He stopped his cup midway, freezing for a moment before setting it down. “Unfortunately, I am a cousin to Stavros.”

“What?” I roared as Nora gasped. I rubbed her back. It was the only thing holding me back from ripping at his throat. Taking deep breaths, I stared him down, waiting for him to explain.

He raised his hands defensively before he rapidly spoke, “Yes, I know it comes as a shock, but I am. The family was much larger than even Stavros knew. The family separated over time, many going into hiding for fear of reprisal. My parents were not pleased with Stavros and had mourned the loss of my life and your parents. He killed those who opposed him including them. It goes further back than you know.”

“Tell me, please.”

“My father and Stavros’s father and three other boys were the children of the first vampire and wolf shifter mates. I don’t know about the others because of the divide. Many of them stayed in America, unlike our fathers. My parents were good and kind like my uncle. Something went wrong with Stavros. He thought that if he had been a hybrid that he should be the ruler of all beings that he was different, special. None of us saw it that way, but he couldn’t let it go. I overheard him talking about his plans and that was when I acted. It cost me everything, but now your daughter set me free.” He smiled at the last part. I tried to place myself in his shoes and my heart thawed just a bit.

“Yes, about that…how?”

“I was told that only the gaze of the prophesized child could undo the spell. The sorcerer laughed because he believed it would never occur.”

“Yes, many have and still do feel that way,” Nora muttered.

“I have searched for a pregnant vampire throughout the years and nothing. Something about the Queen called for me to be at her side. It had been different than all the pregnant vampires I had come across. I felt it deep within me from the moment I was brought into the room. She saved me. I am forever in your debt,” he stated, bowing again to Nora.

I felt a wave of my own gratitude to him. Assisting my mother of all people and risking his own safety in the process, endeared him to me. He had been brave and selfless. That cannot be left unnoticed or appreciated. “Thank you for explaining your story to me. What did you do before you were cursed?”

“A bit of everything. I was a scholar, but Stavros would force me to fight with him. I had enough and began to train in combat.”

“A scholar? In what?” He may be more useful than I thought.

“The sciences. It has been forever since I’d been able to pick up a book and read. Even these children’s books have been a blessing to me. I can’t say I remember a thing in alchemy or the human body, but I wish to learn again.”

“I can understand that. We have many books on the science in the modern world. For the time being, you can guard Nora while she works in the lab. Maybe you can be useful to her. She’d like the security there.”

“That would be amazing.”

“But, know this. If you touch her, I’ll rip your head off and eat your heart,” I warned him, jabbing my finger in his chest. Nora ruled my universe. I was nothing without her and have waited centuries to be whole with her. No way in hell would I let a person put a hand on her and not die a grisly death.

“You know, I’m just like you. I can’t be intimate with anyone but my mate, and I can say I haven’t met her yet.” It was good to know. I had no idea if he was different.

“Just making sure you understand me,” I reminded him.

“I do. I’ll protect you all. It’s the least I could do.”