Page 9 of Dearest Alpha Brothers 1: Vampire Prince

The ladder shifted.

Time slowed. I had a moment to thinkoh, this is going to hurtbefore gravity won. But instead of meeting marble floor, I landed on something… someone?

“Oof!” said the carpet.

Air shimmered beneath me, and suddenly I was sprawled across a very solid, very male chest. Golden-blond hair fanned out against the Persian rug like a halo, and dancing silver eyes met mine. A dimple appeared in his left cheek as he smirked up at me, and my new vampire senses went into overdrive.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum.His heartbeat thundered in my ears. The scent of sunshine and fresh cookies—how did someone smell likecookies?—wrapped around me. I could see the pulse point in his neck, could practically taste…

No. Bad Luca. No snacking on siblings, even unfairly attractive ones.

“Comfy up there, little bat?” His voice held laughter, and that dimple deepened. One of my “brothers,” but Luca’s memories of him were all blurry glimpses and notes slipped under doors. Archer. This was Archer.

I tried to scramble back, but his hands settled on my waist, keeping me perched on his stomach like I weighed nothing. Which, given wolf shifter strength, I probably didn’t.

“I… you… why were you invisible on the floor?”

“Hiding from the council meeting,” he said cheerfully, making no move to let me up. “Besides, the carpet and I were having a fascinating conversation about Persian knot patterns before you dropped in.” That smirk again, playful and warm. “Though I have to say, this is a much better view.”

Heat rushed to my face. Could vampires blush? Apparently yes.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to?—”

“Fall for me so quickly?” The dimple made another appearance. “Don’t worry, little bat. Your secret’s safe with me.”

“I didn’t— That’s not—” I spluttered, painfully aware of his hands still resting on my waist, the warmth seeping through my soft sweater. I felt tiny perched on his stomach, especially when he was sprawled out like some golden-haired alpha from a manga.

His chuckle vibrated through me, andoh—that did interesting things to his scent. Sunshine and cookies and something spicier now, like cinnamon. My fangs actually ached, which wasn’t covered in any vampire manga I’d read.Thanks for nothing, manga artists.

“Your fangs are showing, little bat,” Archer whispered conspiratorially, that dimple flashing again. “Are you hungry?”

I clapped a hand over my mouth, mortified. “I did! I mean, I had…”Blood, my mind helpfully supplied.You drank blood for breakfast and somehow that’s not the weirdest part of your day.

“Ah, but that was just regular donor blood,” he said, his silver eyes twinkling with mischief. “Wolf blood hits different, doesn’t it?”

Before I could processthatbombshell, another scent cut through the library air—pine forests after rain, leather-bound books, and something wild that made my newfound vampire instincts sit up and purr.

“Archer,” came a deep voice from the doorway. “The meeting.”

I turned andoh. Dark-blond hair that caught the morning light, blue-gray eyes that could pierce souls, and an air of quiet authority that filled the room. Ryker. The middle brother. Luca’s memories of him were equally blurry—quick glimpses in hallways before retreating to his room.

His eyes met mine and widened slightly. He inhaled sharply, then quickly looked away. But not before I caught something flash across his face—surprise? Recognition?

“Luca,” he said softly, formally. “It’s… good to see you out of your room.”

I scrambled off Archer, nearly tripping over my own feet. Ryker stepped forward as if to catch me, then seemed to think better of it.

“I was just…” I gestured vaguely at the manga collection above, feeling heat creep up my neck. “Reading.”

“He’s expanding his horizons,” Archer announced from his position on the floor, still lounging like he was at a Roman feast. “First time I’ve seen him reach for a book instead of running away.”

I winced. Luca’s memories confirmed his words—always retreating, hiding, avoiding. The family tried so hard to include him… me. Notes under the door, treats left outside, invitations that were almost always declined.

“The library is yours to enjoy,” Ryker said, his voice gentler than I expected. “We’ve kept your collection updated. Archer insists on adding to it monthly.”

“Someone has to keep our resident prince cultured.” Archer finally stood, all fluid grace despite having been playing carpet decoration moments ago. He stretched, reminding me of a giant cat. “Speaking of culture, will you join us for dinner tonight, little bat?”

My heart clenched. Once a month. That’s how often Luca joined family dinners. Because they ate regular food and he… I… could only drink blood.

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