Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Zane
I t feels like it takes forever for Huntley, Scottie, and I to navigate our way through the compound. But finally, we lock ourselves behind the doors of the Royal Residence. My body throbs, and Scottie was right. We smell like a tangled mixture of char, oil, and the melted fabric clinging to us like a second skin.
She drops her purse on the table inside the door and gestures into my suite with the flick of her hand. “Straight to the bathroom, boys.”
Huntley groans next to me, his blond hair matted and missing patches from where debris exploded around us. His chiseled features are darkened by soot, but there’s fire in his eyes, just as there always has been.
Scottie walks us to the washroom, her concern obvious in everything about her: her touch, her gaze, her sympathetic smile. It’s like I’m seeing my best friend again. After all this time and all these years, could the other half of my soul finally be within reach?
It seems like too much to hope for.
“Come on, you two. We need to get these rags off you before they’re healed into your knitting flesh.” She grips the lapel of my suit jacket and winces as she works it off my shoulders. “Damn, Z. You’re a mess.”
“Better a mess than the alternative.” Huntley’s voice is rough as he pegs me with a serious scowl. “And where would we have been then?”
The pain and loss in his gaze are poignant, but unnecessary. “I didn’t die. Dante did. I need to get cleaned up so I can pay my respects to Angelo.”
Scottie pauses as she undoes my cufflinks. “Link has already told Angelo. Give him time to process his loss. You can pay your respects tomorrow.”
I know she’s right, but I feel so fucking helpless. “When will this stop?”
Scottie finishes with my black diamond cufflinks and moves to stand before me to unbutton what’s left of my dress shirt. “Worry about that tomorrow. Tonight, let’s focus on getting the two of you cleaned up.”
She pulls the garbage out from under my bathroom vanity and drops my shirt into it. “Now your pants. That’s a nasty gash on your leg.”
She reaches for my belt, and I chuckle and meet Huntley’s gaze. “Of all the times I dreamed of her undressing me, this scenario never crossed my mind.”
“She’s always had a Florence Nightingale aura about her.”
“True.”
“And she always loved bossing us around.”
“Also true.”
Scottie scoffs as my pants are undone and after a few cringe moments where she has to tear the fabric from my flesh, she eases them to the marble floor. “I was put in your lives to patch you both up when you’ve been too reckless for your own good?”
After she unties my shoes, she tugs them off and moves to help Huntley. “You’re next.”
He grins. “You know, if you wanted us naked, all you had to do was ask.”
She chuckles softly, then steps closer. “Come on, Viking. Let’s get those singed clothes off. You stink.”
He grumbles, but his objection is half-hearted at best.
She looks over at me. “Start the shower. We’ll be right behind you.”
I blink. “We? Will you be joining us?”
Huntley’s eyebrows rise so high, so fast it’s hilarious. “That is not how I expected tonight to go.”
She grins. “Slow your roll, Viking. Zane’s shower is as big as most normal bathrooms. There is plenty of room for me to come in and help you two clean up. You’re filthy and covered in debris, front and back.”
Scottie carefully peels a swatch of fabric off Huntley’s arm, and grimaces at the angry red skin underneath. “This is me taking care of you both after an exceptionally rough night.”
I flash her a smirk. “You know…we’d enjoy the chance to take care of you, too. All you have to do is say the word.”
Scottie finishes with Huntley and surveys our damage like it’s art waiting to be critiqued. “Don’t push your luck, Vasari. You’re not half as sexy as you think you are.”
“I’m not?” I turn to Huntley. “What do you think?”
“She’s nuts. You’re sexy as fuck.”
“Thank you.”
Scottie scoffs and strides past me to tap the control pad of the shower. When the water turns on, she sweeps her hand toward the empty shower. “You’re right. The two of you can handle the cleanup on your own. No need to muddy the waters.”
My smile falters. “What? No. We need the help, don’t we?”
Huntley nods vigorously. “Absolutely. There are spots on my back I can’t reach, and I’m pretty sure something sharp is lodged in my right ass cheek.”
He drops his boxers and spins so fast my jaw drops to the floor. “How does my ass look?”
Scottie snorts. “Like it was chiseled by one of the greats. Now, get into the shower, both of you. I’m volunteering to care for you, nothing more.”
“Why?” The question is out of my mouth before I have time to stop myself from asking. “Not that I’m complaining?—”
“—because he’s totally not,” Huntley adds.
“No, I’m not, but why are you here, caring for us? When we left…”
“When you left, I was sorting through everything that happened. Now that I have all the facts and know what you two were going through—I forgive you. It’s time we heal old wounds and get back what we lost.”
Those three words hang in the air between us, and I’m more dazed now than I was after the explosion. “You forgive me?”
I watch her expression shift. It’s confident yet tinged with something deeper that makes me want to understand it more fully. It’s more than a surface-level acknowledgment of what we’ve all endured together. It’s loving. “I’m past the pain and ready to move forward.”
“What does that mean?” I really need to stop pressing her, but I’m desperate to know. Am I getting a second chance here? Is this really happening?
“It means…” She hesitates briefly before meeting our gazes, conviction in her voice. “It means I want to come home. I’m tired of being angry and alone. You two are stuck with me for the foreseeable future. I’ve already told Jack I’m ready to do the bonding ritual and officially accept my place as your Sacred Squire.”
And just like that, my life has meaning again.
Tucker
I step into my father’s apartment, the scent of sandalwood and leather welcoming me. Jack’s bachelor pad is a blend of rustic charm and elegant touches, pieces he collected during his years as the personal guard to the vampire king.
The walls are lined with framed photographs—some are black-and-white portraits of him and Francesco Vasari from a century ago. Others capture fleeting moments of Jack in action, sword in hand.
The furniture is sturdy yet sophisticated; a deep brown leather couch sits opposite a glass coffee table with ornate carvings. A large bookshelf stretches across one wall, filled with tomes on strategy and history, along with a few well-loved novels. Near the window, an antique chessboard gleams under the soft light, pieces arranged as if waiting for someone to challenge Jack’s intellect.
“Hey,” I say as I let myself in and lock the door behind me.
Jack leans into the room from the kitchen. “Hey, son. It’s late. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I’m going to crash here tonight.” I shrug off my jacket and hang it on the hook beside the door. “Scottie has things she needs to work out with Zane and Huntley. I’m giving them space.”
“Your idea or hers?”
“Mine.” I toe off my shoes and make my way toward him. “She’s been very honest about how invested her emotions are with those two. She’s also been very honest with her feelings for me.”
Jack raises an eyebrow while stirring something in a pot on the stove.
“And you’re okay with that?”
I nod, feeling the weight of my words settle into place. “I am. I was isolated and ignored my entire life. Having even one third of Scottie’s love is enough for me. I’m good.”
He turns, leaning against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. “From where I stand, after being shunned, you deserve so much more than that. You deserve everything—the whole enchilada.”
I chuckle. “As amusing as it is that you just equated the woman I love to a Mexican meat wrap, Scotland McCullough captured my heart from the first moment I laid eyes on her. My bear has claimed her and the magic in my cells sings when we’re together. It’s an intense connection—life-changing.”
Jack studies me for a moment before relaxing and returning his attention to his cooking. “I only asked because you deserve everything this life offers. I’m allowed to be a little protective, aren’t I?”
I grin at him, knowing exactly where this conversation is coming from. Jack missed out on a lot. My mother never told him about me because she respected his commitment to his duty to Francesco. What she didn’t realize was that he retired soon after I was conceived, and we could’ve been a family.
It’s tragic, but there’s nothing to be done about it.
Nothing except moving on from where we are.
“You are allowed to be protective, but you don’t need to be. You’ve known and loved Scotland her entire life. Are you saying you don’t think she’s amazing?”
“No. I’d never say that. Scotland is undeniably a one-in-a-million woman. My worry lies with you and what’s best for my son.”
“Scotland McCullough is who’s best for me.”
Jack gestures toward the chessboard by the window. “Then, since you’re mine for the night, how about a game?”
A smile spreads across my face as I move toward it. “Sounds great.”
As we settle in front of our pieces, I’m grateful for this moment of normalcy amid everything swirling around us: Scottie’s loss, Zane’s entitlement, Huntley’s brooding hostility—it’s all exhausting.
I glance at Jack as he contemplates his opening move. There’s wisdom etched in his features that comes from years of loyalty and experience.
“You know,” he says after a pause, fingers hovering over a knight before pulling back to adjust a pawn instead, “watching you with Scottie reminds me of what it was like when your mother and I first met.”
His admission surprises me. He doesn’t talk much about my mother. At first, he was angry to be left out of my life. Then, he was sad about her murder and felt helpless to make it right for her.
“What was it like?”
A faraway look fills Jack’s eyes as nostalgia takes hold. “She was fierce. With me only being there for two months while Francesco worked out a problem with a local vampire seethe, she and I were obviously no one’s idea of a perfect couple. Still, she took no shit from anyone—not even me.”
I smirk at that mental image—my mother giving him hell back in their day.
“She had this fire,” Jack continues, while maneuvering another piece across the board. “Even so, she always knew when to hold back—to let others shine without dimming their light.”
The corners of my mouth turn up. “I miss her so badly there are some days I can’t breathe.”
Jack nods knowingly before making his move—a calculated advance that signals he has lost none of his strategic prowess. “I see a lot of her in you. You have her spark. Just don’t lose that while navigating this relationship.”
The weight behind his words hits home. “I’ll be careful. But I need you to understand there’s something deep here—deeper than magic and sexual attraction. Scottie is the breath in my lungs.”
I watch Jack’s expression, wondering if he’ll downplay my feelings by pointing out it’s been less than three weeks and that I might be in over my head. I don’t need him to say it. I’m well aware.
Instead, he smiles. “I’m behind you, son. You’ve waited long enough to find your place among those who care about you. Just remember, Zane and Huntley can be aggressive and a bit of a closed loop. If you want to truly be part of Scotland’s life, you’ll need to build an understanding with the two of them, too.”
His words resonate and it’s nothing I hadn’t considered myself.
With each calculated move we make on the chessboard, I consider his advice. How do I build trust and friendship with Zane and Huntley? Because if that’s the way to best ensure a future with Scottie, I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Huntley
“I should’ve spoken to Angelo before we turned in.” The ache in Zane’s regret echoes in the darkness of his bedroom.
Glancing across the pillows, I watch him stare at the ceiling. I don’t have to possess the Vasari gift of mind manipulation to feel his thoughts churning. Dante’s death looms heavily over both of us. The man was a pillar of the royal guards. Hell, he came over from Italy with Francesco.
His loss will stand as yet another tremendous blow for the clan.
“It was an honorable death. He sacrificed his life to save yours.”
Zane swallows. “That’s better than how Bran and my father died.”
“They sacrificed in their own way. Your father died to protect the young and Bran denied Daeva the location of you and the dagger and died to escort him into their next life. Whatever the next phase of existence is, your father has his best friend and protector with him.”
“But what if there is no ‘next phase of existence’?”
“I choose to believe there is. We live in a world of magic and Otherworld races. It’s not so strange to believe there could be an After.”
Zane grows quiet and I let my eyes fall closed. Our injuries from the explosion have fully healed. There are a few places where the worst of my burns haven’t healed yet, but the skin isn’t bubbling or oozing anymore. It’s just tender. If it hadn’t been so long since I last fed, I probably would be fully healed.
“Her taking care of us was something, wasn’t it?”
To say the least. “Surprised the hell out of me. I don’t understand where that came from.”
His expression is thoughtful. “She understands now—what we did and why. She knows she hurt us and in her way, taking care of us after the explosion, cleaning our wounds and assessing our injuries was her way to begin the healing.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
He’s right. Zane has always understood how her mind works better than me. “I thought for a moment she might get naked and improve our night in all the best ways.”
Zane shifts beside me, rolling onto his side. “No. Tonight was about testing the waters. We broke her trust and that will take rebuilding.”
“But she said she intends to stay, so that gives us time, right? Do you think that means she’s accepting her place as your Sacred Squire?”
He grunts. “Will you be angry if she does?”
I roll onto my side to face him, propping my head up on my hand. “I’ve thought a lot about that.”
“And what did you come up with?”
“I figure I’ve protected you for years without powers—I’m a vampire warrior. If she’s coming into battle with us, I want her to have as much of an advantage as possible. I hate the idea of her getting hurt.”
Zane nods slowly, his emerald eyes clouded with uncertainty and fear.
I understand that. After watching Dante disintegrate into nothing tonight, there’s no denying the dangers we face when we leave the compound are more dire than ever before.
We both fall back into silence again, letting our minds wander through all the possibilities this new dynamic might bring.
There, in the comfort of the king’s bed, with silk sheets draped low over our hips, the soft sound of Zane’s breathing is steady and familiar. In the wake of Scottie leaving us, we grew closer.
We fell in love.
It’s not the wildly breathless yearning I’ve always felt with Scottie—it’s different. My love for Zane is slow and strong. It’s protective and familiar. It’s the foundation of my safe place.
But how will that change if Scottie is here to stay?
The idea both thrills and terrifies me. What if it’s like before and they only have eyes for one another? Where will that leave me?
My instincts tell me to play it cool, but the panic is growing. I want Scottie to stay but I can’t bear the thought of being on the outside looking in.
Closing my eyes, I draw a breath and give my concerns a voice. “Z? How do you see the three of us in the future? I mean…there’s what you and her were always meant to be, but now there’s you and me, too.”
He arches his dark brow, his expression growing harder and a little cooler. “And apparently there’s you and her, too.”
My heart pounds faster as I take the hit. “There is a lot of pain around that night. Mistakes were made—I own that—but at least you know now.”
Zane’s gaze bores into mine. “I should’ve known before now. She was my entire world. You took her virginity and in all the years I blamed myself for her running away, you never said a fucking word about it.”
“Agreed. I was a coward. I thought I’d finally shown her how I felt, and she whispered your name in her sleep. It broke something inside me and that wrecked me.”
He sighs and his expression softens. “That night wrecked all of us.”
“But with her back…where does that leave you and me?”
He slides a gentle hand along my jawline and tightens his fingers in my hair. “It leaves us right here, like always. Scottie knows about us, and she didn’t bat an eye. She won’t expect me to choose.”
Relief washes over me and I’m too deep in this to play it cool. “Thank fuck.”
“Besides, she’s already made it clear that Tucker isn’t going anywhere.”
Frustration bubbles up within me despite how hard I push it down. “How does he even rate in this? He’s Jack’s son, sure, but we don’t know him. He isn’t one of us.”
Zane sighs. “No, but he’s good for her. There’s something about him that eases her when things get overwhelming. And if we’re in a battle and you and her are focused on keeping me safe, Tucker will always be focused on keeping her safe.”
The truth of his words settles over me like lead. Welcoming Tucker into our already tangled relationship goes against every instinct I possess. Maybe I’m being territorial—okay, I’m definitely being territorial—but Zane, Scottie, and I were an amazing trio.
Until we weren’t.
I sigh, hating everything about the idea. I understand Scottie deserves someone who will fight for her if things go badly, but it still stings.
We’re just getting her back. I’m not ready to share.