Long Time Coming

CAROLINE

Alexander guided me deeper into the forest, ensuring we were far enough away that neither Aya nor Anthony could eavesdrop on our conversation. The crisp, dried leaves beneath our feet crunched with each step, while the moonlight played hide-and-seek through the gaps in the tree branches.

He moved at a leisurely pace, finally halting near a large, fallen tree blanketed with moss. He took a seat on it, his eyes meeting mine.

We shared a moment of silence, just looking at each other. My big brother, my childhood confidant—when did he transform from my playful sibling to the brooding, harsh figure I now knew? Was it around the time he brought Aya back with him?

“Callie,” he softly called, patting the spot next to him on the tree trunk.

I hesitated, unsure of how wet the moss might be.

He chuckled lightly. “It’s dry,” he reassured me.

“All right,” I muttered, settling down next to him. I found myself staring into the forest ahead.

Alexander let out a sigh. “I’m relieved you’re safe,” he said gently. “I was worried you might get hurt.”

“I’m okay.”

We fell into silence once more.

“I saw him die,” I whispered.

“Who?”

“Father.”

Alexander drew in a sharp breath. I continued to stare into the forest, my father’s face etched in my memory.

“I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have had to witness that.”

I shrugged. “He saved me, then surrendered himself to the flames.”

Alexander exhaled heavily. “I can’t say I’m surprised. But I can imagine how shocking it must have been.”

“I didn’t realize you started the fire,” I murmured.

“It was an accident,” he confessed. “I was standing in the sunlight. One of my servants pulled me inside. We knocked over the oil lamp.”

I looked at him in surprise, his gaze still fixed on the trees ahead. He had been standing in the sun?

“That fire set me free,” I confessed. “I had planned to run away, but the fire gave me the push I needed. So, I suppose I should thank you for that.”

He glanced at me, an eyebrow raised. “We’re not free, Callie,” he replied. “We have to go back.”

I turned to him, shaking my head. “No, I don’t want to return to exile.”

“Neither do I,” he scoffed. “But it’s not like we have a choice.”

I stared at him. “Why don’t you help me instead? We could overthrow her together. We could reclaim our crown. Our birthright.”

“Callie,” he cautioned.

“No, I’m serious. Your girlfriend, Aya, she’ll never be in danger again. You won’t be punished for Jahan. We don’t have to kill the queen if you don’t want to. Just take the crown back. Take back what’s ours, Alex!”

He fell silent, and I could tell he was carefully considering his next words.

“We come from a powerful dynasty,” he finally said. “When we were born, our kingdom, our empire, was at its peak. It was mighty, respected. We were respected, trusted.” He paused, turning to face me. “I was the firstborn, the next great prince. Royal blood in my veins. Heir to the throne, I was destined to lead the vampires for centuries—a golden age.”

“I know,” I whispered. “That’s why we need to reclaim it. Our power, our empire.”

“But I never wanted it, Callie,” he confessed.

His words seemed to suck the air out of the space around us. The world froze. There was no sound, just his icy blue eyes locked onto mine.

“What?”

“I never wanted it. I never wanted to be king. Or to be idolized for no reason. I never wanted the crown, Caroline.”

“That’s—that’s not possible,” I stammered, my mind reeling. He was always going to be king, and when he messed up, I would take the crown. That was the plan. Grandfather had trained him for decades to be a ruler, and he trained me to take Alexander’s place when he would eventually step down.

I found myself shaking my head, standing up, distancing myself from my brother. I couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“But you fought so hard for it!” I exclaimed, frustrated.

“Only because I had lost everything else,” he explained.

A wave of understanding crashed over me. “Is this about Aya?” I asked. “Are you just looking to settle down with her because she doesn’t want the power?”

He shook his head in denial. “No, I’ve felt this way my entire life,” he confessed. “Even before I met Aya, I had already run away—remember?”

“She gave me something to look forward to, a future I could envision,” he continued. “But then she was taken from me, and I realized I had no choice.”

“My life was predetermined before I was even born,” he said, his voice heavy with resignation. “It was forced upon me, so I succumbed to it. I became what Grandfather wanted me to be. Queen Eleanor—she set me free.”

“I can’t believe this,” I muttered, running my fingers through my hair. “So, you won’t help me reclaim the crown because it’s not ours anymore?”

“No!” I snapped, cutting him off.

He frowned at me, but I ignored his overbearing big brother look. “That doesn’t work for me, Alexander. I want my crown. I’ve always wanted to rule. It’s my right!”

“We lost the battle, Grandfather died—it’s not your right anymore,” he countered.

“That’s why I have to fight to get it back,” I retorted.

“I understand how hard it is to lose your future,” he murmured. “Our world, our entire world, literally fell apart. We went from being the most powerful family in the world to being ostracized, hated. Banished. But that doesn’t mean we were wronged.”

“That’s exactly what happened to me!” I reminded him sharply.

“Callie,” he shook his head.

“No, Alex, ~I~ did nothing wrong! I am a victim!” I insisted.

He was silent, watching me seethe with anger in front of him.

“I’m sorry, Caroline, I didn’t realize how deeply you felt about our downfall,” he apologized.

“You all seemed to handle it, but no one helped me,” I muttered.

He nodded in understanding. “I don’t think we handled it well—Mother went mad and Father, well, he just stopped. But you’re right, we didn’t look out for each other. We just stewed in our own misery. No one helped anyone. We were all drowning in our own pain. Our own anger.”

“I hated everyone in that house,” I confessed. “I felt so alone.”

He nodded again. “I’m sorry, Caroline, that I wasn’t the brother you needed. That I didn’t see you falling apart. I never wanted you to hate me.”

“I’m sorry too. I always relied on you to be strong—stronger than the rest of us. I never thought you could be broken too—heartbroken for so many years. I didn’t see it either,” I admitted.

He let out a dry chuckle. “We haven’t been good to each other for decades,” he said.

“I think only Jessica still sees the good in us,” I muttered.

Alexander chuckled again. “Let’s try not to corrupt her. She’s the only good one of us left,” he suggested.

I nodded in agreement, giving him a small smile. He beckoned me over, and I moved toward him, allowing him to envelop me in his arms.

“Family comes first,” he whispered into my hair, giving me a tight squeeze. “We have to stick together now. It’s only going to get harder for us from here on out.”

“I didn’t expect you to come after me,” I confessed.

“I was prepared to search the entire planet to find you,” he replied. “You are loved, Caroline. By me, by Jessica, mother, and others will love you too.”

“Like Aya?” I asked.

He chuckled, releasing me from his embrace. “Perhaps one day.” He nodded. “You could start by trying to be friends.”

I nodded slowly. “You really love her, don’t you? A turned vampire,” I said.

He tilted his head to one side, studying my expression. “Yes, I really love her. I always have.”

“I used to tease you about her,” I muttered.

“I remember,” he said, giving me a small smile.

“Grandfather would have never accepted her,” I said.

“That he didn’t,” he agreed drily.

“He probably would hate that we’re here, giving up,” I muttered.

Alexander chuckled. “We haven’t given anything up. If anything, I’ve been fighting this whole time to find you. And now I will continue to fight to keep you safe—and Aya.”

He cast a fleeting glance back toward the cottage, then turned his gaze back to me. “Caroline, we’re not out of the woods yet. We’re still in danger. I’ve taken the life of Jahan Shahalia, and his entire clan will be on my tail, even more so than before. This time, I suspect they’ll be out for blood. There are others too, hunting us down for the bounty, seeking revenge for deeds we committed a hundred years ago. If we go into exile, we might stand a better chance at safety.”

“Or we could reclaim our crown,” I proposed.

A grin spread across his face. “Without the crown, Caroline, you’ll discover your true self, and I’m eager to meet her.”

His words made me blink, and I felt as if a massive burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I was tempted to wrap him in another hug.

“But now,” he said, his eyes studying me, “I have to play the role of the concerned big brother. What the hell is going on with Anthony? Because I’m not a fan of his.”