Chapter 59
Fifty-Nine
VIVIENNE
King Raphael asked us to go home. For some reason, he wanted his house to himself. But a minute after we returned, the king showed up in Lucca’s living room. I shouldn’t even try to figure the male out.
I still can’t believe my father’s plan worked. King Raphael just finished telling us how they were able to rescue everyone, and how my mother, lost in her cruelty, accidentally lifted the curse she had put on Manu that forced her separation from Karl, her mate, for centuries.
I knew Karl was her familiar, but the mate angle was something I only found out last month from my father. King Raphael made everyone forget that detail per Manu’s request.
“Wow. My mind is spiraling with so much information.” I massage my temple.
“You’re not the only one overwhelmed,” Cheryl replies, cuddling Rio, the baby boy she rescued. “Look at you, ready to pop.”
I curl my arm around my belly. “Yeah. Lots has changed.”
“I’ll say.” Manu stares at Sophie, who’s been quiet this whole time, sitting next to Vaughn. “I can’t believe Jacques had a daughter with Tatiana, and she’s now dating Vaughn. It’s like The Twilight Zone.”
“Hey! I take offense at that,” Vaughn complains.
“I don’t think she meant it as an offense, darling. It is bizarre,” Sophie agrees. “And you haven’t even met my familiar yet.”
“Oh?” Manu arches a brow.
“I’m glad Tish isn’t around,” Vaughn adds. “King Raphael wouldn’t have finished the story otherwise. She talks a lot.”
“I think everyone got your meaning.” Saxon laughs.
“Let me get this straight.” Lucca stares at Manu and Karl. “You’ve found the Magna Vis, the object needed to defeat Queen Maewe, but you lost it? How?”
“We don’t know,” Karl replies. “One moment we had it—I mean, Adrian had it—and then it was gone.”
Everyone in the room turns to the Van Helsing heir, who’s standing in a corner looking like a lost sheep. He shuffles from side to side with his hands in his pockets. King Raphael stares at him as if he’s bewildered.
“I don’t know how I lost it. I swear. I had it in my hand, and then it disappeared.”
“No one is accusing you of lying.” King Raphael is quick to come to his defense.
Saxon lifts his hand. “Eh… my mind went there. He’s a Van Helsing! What reason would he have to help us?”
King Raphael glowers so intensely at Saxon that his eyes flash red. Holy shit. Now that he’s been restored to his former self and looks like a man in his mid-twenties, he’s even more terrifying. And I thought Lucca was scary. He looks like a small puppy next to his uncle.
“He’s been tortured by Queen Maewe for centuries, boy. Long before you were even born,” the king grits out.
Saxon sinks into the couch, looking like a chastised child now. “Sorry.”
Adrian runs his fingers through his long hair. “I’m really sorry I don’t have the Magna Vis. But I will return to Ellnesari and won’t rest until I find it.”
“Why did you come here and not stay behind to look for it?” Rikkon asks.
Adrian glances at King Raphael, and is it me, or is his stare loaded?
“I’m not sure,” he replies.
Aurora, who’s sitting next me, leans closer and whispers, “I’m getting a vibe that something is going on between Adrian and the king.”
Normally, all the vampires in the room would have been able to hear her comment, but Aurora used a simple spell to keep her words private.
“I’m definitely getting a vibe,” I reply.
The king stands. “It’s late. Everyone should rest. There’s much to be done and to prepare before our trip. I expect training to resume to normal, Ronan.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Where’s Adrian going to stay?” Lucca asks.
King Raphael answers without missing a beat. “With me.”
Adrian blushes all the way to seven kingdoms, then swallows hard. His mind might not remember anything about the past, but maybe his heart still does.
Aurora reaches for my arm and squeezes. I don’t glance at her, though. I just watch the king and Adrian leave together.
No sooner are they gone than Saxon opens his piehole. “Lucca, I think you’re getting a new uncle.”
Lucca furrows his brow. “What are you talking about?”
“Really? You didn’t notice?” I turn to him.
“Notice what?”
Baby Rio wakes up from his nap and makes sure everyone knows.
“Oh boy. I think someone is hungry.” Ronan smiles.
“He’s always hungry,” Ollie, the little girl on Ronan’s lap, replies.
“What do baby vampires eat?” Vaughn asks.
Cheryl gives him a droll stare. “What do you think? Blood.”
“I’m hungry too,” Ollie says.
“All right, let’s find some food.” Ronan and Cheryl stand up and head for the kitchen.
Seeing them with those youngsters makes me think about my baby. Will he or she be more Nightingale or vampire?
Lucca touches my chin. “A penny for your thoughts?”
I shake my head, not wanting to discuss what’s on my mind in front of everyone. “It’s nothing. Just tired.”
He stands, helping me to my feet. “Let’s get you to bed, then. You heard my uncle. We’ll have a busy night tomorrow.”
I let Lucca steer me toward the staircase, but something about what he said makes my chest feel tight, and I don’t know why.