“No, the vampires in the Americas need a true leader. A king, even if it is only for a short time. Someone who can be firm and strong when needed, but also someone with enough common sense to help form new leadership to oversee the clans,” Zelda said.
“Someone who would be willing to listen to those who have been voiceless for so very long,” Rafe added.
“Someone who understands the dark history of the vampires and werewolves, but who also understands the benefits when we’re joined in brotherhood,” Wyatt said.
“Oh, thank God!” Sofia exclaimed, shoving out of her chair. “I was afraid I was the only one who was hammering against the brick wall of his mind.”
“You want him for a king?” Marcus asked, surprise widening his eyes.
“Yes!” she said with her hands balled into fists. “He wouldn’t even listen to me when I mentioned it.” Sofia was easily more than a foot shorter than Aiden when she got right up into his face. “Aiden, you soft-hearted, stubborn fool, you are the only one most of us trust to look out for what is best for our people. Yes, you’re going to protect your sons, but your sons aren’t the type of men who would tear apart our kind for their own pleasure. In the end, we know you’re going to look out for all of us.”
Aiden spun around and started for his chair, but he stopped short when he stood before the chair that had been made his as head of the clan. The chair that resembled a throne at the center of the room.
“ ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,’ ” Zelda quoted.
Aiden snorted. “Shakespeare was a prat.”
“I would not have wished this on you, my old friend. But this truly is the best way to protect your family,” the witch murmured. Her eyes shot over to Winter and she winked at him before she said, “And while I’m sure you’re tired of my prophecies, I do have one more for you.”
“Oh, fuck no,” Winter groaned. He couldn’t complain too much since her last one got him Fox, but there had to have been a better way for him to meet his witch.
“Really, no more prophecies, Zelda,” Aiden quickly said.
Of course, Zelda ignored them all. “The crown puts you one step closer to your heart’s desire.”
Aiden shook his head. “No, I had my heart’s desire and she’s gone now. I have my sons and their happiness. I don’t want anything else. Nor do I need anything else.”
Zelda just smiled smugly at him, and Aiden cursed softly under his breath. In short, this was coming for Aiden whether he thought he wanted it or not.
And Winter found that he wanted it for his father. He wanted the man who’d protected him and his brothers, who’d given so much of his life for nearly two centuries, to have some happiness for himself. Maybe after all this insanity was done, he and his brothers could put their heads together to figure out what his heart’s desire might be.
Standing in front of the throne-like chair, Aiden rubbed his fingertips along the arm. “Sofia…do you truly believe this will bring us together? That I can keep both vampires and humans safe?”
Sofia moved around him and draped her arm over the tall back of the chair and leaned against it. “Aiden, darling, I’ve got my own people to worry about. Do you think I would suggest something that would make my life harder? If you don’t take the throne, a war will start, and I have to put all my people in danger defending you and your family. Because everyone here knows the Variks will be in the middle of any fight to tear down injustice.”
From where Winter was standing, he could see a hint of a smirk on Aiden’s lips. “I would certainly hate to trouble you with a war.”
“Exactly. That’s why only you can pull our people together peacefully. Help us find a way forward.”
Aiden sighed. “It’s temporary. Just until we can set up a new base of leadership that provides a voice for all vampires, whether they are in a clan or not.”
“Excellent.” Rafe clapped his hands together and pushed to his feet again from where he’d been cuddled on the sofa beside Philippe. “Father kills Damon and claims the crown, calming all our peoples, so we can go back to normal life. I like this plan.”
“It’s only a plan if we know where to find Damon,” Marcus pointed out.
“That is where Winter and his ghosts come in,” Zelda said. She turned her eyes on Winter, their weight both tender and a little sad. “Go talk to her. I think she can help.”
Winter didn’t want to, but if it got him closer to Fox, he’d swallow down all his jumbled feelings and do it. Standing, he walked over to where the werewolves and Bel were tangled together. Just seeing his studious brother wrapped in a werewolf sandwich made him want to smile. Of all people…