Chapter 36
“Wait … now? As in we’re leaving right now?” Aedan said, running his fingers through his hair.
“I promised we would head out today. Lucie’s mate wants her where it’s safer.” Jasper watched Hunter and Freja walk toward them.
“We’ve made preparations for your departure,” Hunter said with a small frown. Even though it was to keep his children safe, he didn’t like not having them close. He would feel better when they were at least at the dragon kingdom.
Lucie walked down the stairs as she heard her father speak. “We’re leaving now?”
“Yes,” Freja said with a faint smile. “But we’ve made arrangements so that you’ll get to your destination safely.”
“Are you sending us out with a patrol?” Aedan asked.
A deep voice boomed from the doorway. “No, with a dragon.”
Lucie turned her head to look at the voice. A towering, sculpted young man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes leaned against the doorway, a small smirk playing on his face. It was Brian, the son of Xander and Lila, the Dragon King and Queen of the West.
“Brian!” Lucie squealed happily and ran up to him.
He lifted her up into his chest and hugged her.
They were all really close. With their family having the black pearls, they were able to visit each other all through childhood.
And while technically he wasn’t blood related, he was family.
His father, Xander, was her aunt’s soul twin.
Together, they were the Gemini Twins, rescued by the Moon Goddess herself for a particular task, which they had already completed.
Regardless, this made them all family, and Brian was like a cousin to her.
“Luce Luce! I heard you found your mate. Well, that’s an interrogation for another time, I guess.” Brian’s lips curled upward as Aedan came and slapped him on the back.
“Brian, what are you doing here, man?” Aedan grinned widely.
“A little slow piecing things together, I see.” Brian chuckled. “I’m giving you three a lift. Safest way to travel besides the pearls.”
“Nice.” Jasper pretended that the idea of flying didn’t bother him at all. “How are things going with the ladies?” Jasper had also built friendships with everyone Lucie was close to, since he made it a point to visit often.
“I’m hoping I’ll find my girl at the next mating ceremony. Until then, you know, I’m just playing hard to get.” Brian winked with a chuckle.
Lucie openly rolled her eyes. These boys never played hard to get. That was their way of deflecting because they didn’t have girlfriends.
“When did you guys ask for Brian to come?” Lucie looked at her parents. Dragons were fast flyers, but not that fast. Her parents just got back today, so even if they’d sent a messenger immediately, he couldn’t have been here already.
“We just did. We used the pearl to see if a dragon could escort you to the vampire kingdom. We either would need two dragons or one capable of carrying three people. Levi and Xander are working on this Wicker business, but Brian immediately offered his services. So we brought him back with us.” Hunter felt more at ease, knowing they would be traveling by dragon.
“And I was out making sure some werewolf wasn’t the future woman of my house,” Brian said with a chuckle. “Alas, none are lucky enough as of now. So, you guys ready to take flight?”
“I need to pack still,” Lucie said, looking at Aedan, who also nodded.
“Just pack the few things you need. We’ll have the rest taken directly to the dragon kingdom for your extended stay there,” Freja added as she watched her two children head up toward their rooms.
Both returned only a few moments later, each carrying a bag. Hunter and Freja took turns hugging their kids tightly.
“Take care of your sister. And don’t wander from the castle,” Hunter said sternly to Aedan.
“Trust in yourself, Lucie. And please, think before you act.” Freja kissed her daughter’s forehead and they slowly walked outside.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be like camp. They’ll be safe and we’ll have a blast,” Jasper said, trying to lighten the mood. He then looked over at Brian. “Should we make him take a breathalyzer test or something? We don’t need a tipsy flyer.”
“I could fly you there blindfolded and half asleep. Plus, what are you implying, Jasper?” Brian quirked his brow and gave him a crooked smile.
“You’re a smart guy. I hardly need to explain myself.” A cheeky grin reached Jasper’s lips.
“Yep, read you loud and clear. You’re afraid of heights,” Brian said with a chuckle.
“We’ll visit you. Just try to enjoy this time,” Freja said quietly to her two children.
“Don’t worry about us, Mom. We’ll be just fine. It’s you guys and the pack I’m worried about.” Lucie hugged her mother tightly one last time as Brian shifted into his enormous, dark red dragon.
“We’ll all be just fine here.” Hunter patted Lucie on the head.
“Be good, Lucie. And keep your brother out of trouble.” He winked at Aedan, who snuffed out a blast of air from his nose.
“Lucie … here.” He held out a small black object attached to a string.
It was the fourth piece of the black pearl.
“Use this to go to the dragon kingdom afterward. With this, you’ll always be connected to your family. ”
“Thank you.” Lucie pursed her lips slightly as she stared at the object. Her link to her family.
She took a few steps backward and then turned, taking Jasper’s hand as she climbed on Brian’s back.
Aedan took his spot beside her, and soon, they lifted off into the air.
Lucie continued gazing down at her parents as they became smaller and smaller.
She looked over the territory of the Black Ice Pack and realized …
this was it for her life there. She originally thought she’d have the whole summer to say goodbye, but instead, last night was it.
They were going from the Vampire Kingdom to the Dragon Kingdom.
Once everything was settled, Derrick would be bringing her back to the Vampire Kingdom.
The Black Ice Pack was no longer her home.
She watched the ground beneath her until it vanished from her sight and then turned forward to look ahead, now heading into the future and to her new home.
She had been preparing for this moment …
and yet there was a bitter sting about losing her pack.
She was sure she would adjust to wherever she was with Derrick by her side.
But he wouldn’t be there now, and she was going to have to keep up the pretense that the fill-in “Ryan” was her Derrick.
Brian’s fast wings brought them to the vampire kingdom in no time, and Jasper pointed to an area behind the castle where they could land.
It was completely enclosed, with tall walls and guards around the entire outside perimeter.
Lucie had been here before but she’d never seen an aerial view of the place.
She never realized just how many soldiers were always very close by.
Jasper slid off of Brian first, making sure the soldiers were all able to see who it was. They immediately relaxed and returned to their posts. Aedan hopped off next and Jasper helped Lucie slide down.
“Thank you, Brian.” Lucie looked back at his colossal dragon. “Do you want me to open a portal for you to go back?”
“No, I prefer to stretch my wings.” He looked at Lucie and Aedan and nodded his head. “This is where I leave you then. But I’ll be seeing you soon.” Brian flapped his wings, creating gusts of dust around him as he lifted off into the sky.
“Well let’s get you two situated. I’ll have our rooms joined together while we’re here.
We actually have a suite that’ll work out well.
” Jasper grabbed Lucie’s bag. “You are a double princess while you’re here, Lucie.
” He talked as he led them into the castle.
The guards bowed their heads respectfully and stood aside.
“You’re not just the werewolves’ princess but the vampires’ princess.
The whole point of the welcoming party is to welcome our new princess and future queen. ”
She felt Aedan shift closer to her, protective. He hadn’t been here that much, and there was still a lack of trust when it came to his sweet sister. Jasper noticed this and smiled. “She is more special to us than you understand, Aedan. She is very safe here.”
“Lucie.” A cool, crisp voice rang out as a figure stepped out from behind a column.
It was Ryan … the real Ryan who was pretending to be Derrick while Derrick was pretending to be Ryan.
The one she had to pretend was her fiancé.
He walked up to her with open arms, waiting expectantly for them to put on the public show for others.
She slowly obliged and internally cringed when his lips touched her forehead.
“I trust you had pleasant travels?”
Lucie nodded, and he smiled down at her.
“I’m aware of everything that’s been going on. While you’re here, you’ll stay with me,” Ryan said matter-of-factly.
Lucie’s eyes widened and she took a small step backward, looking at Jasper.
“Um … I was going to stay with my brother and—”
“No, Lucie. As my fiancée, you’re expected to and should be staying with me.” Ryan glanced around the room briefly. “My chambers are the safest, and as my fiancée, you shouldn’t be sharing a room with anyone but me.”
“My prince …” Jasper said with a smile that would have looked normal to anyone at a distance.
But up close, there was malice behind his smile and his piercing gaze.
“I hardly think it is appropriate for her to stay in your room … with just you. I know of some who will not think it proper. Might even be a deadly decision …” He dropped his tone and fixed his dagger eyes on Ryan.
Derrick will kill you if you lie next to his fiancée, Jasper growled in his head.
She’s safer with me. My orders are to keep her safe. She can have a bed to herself. But no one would ever be able to come near her in my room.
Like they could in mine?!
Why would my fiancée share a room with you? Don’t you think this would cause unwanted rumors? No, she’s staying with me.
Derrick is not going to like this. Jasper scowled and grit his teeth. He outranked this man and was tempted to give him an order.
Jasper, we’ll talk later. As you know, there are eyes and ears everywhere. Ryan cleared his throat. “My fiancée will be staying with me. Guards … see to it that her bag is brought to my room.”
Lucie watched, mortified, as a man came and grabbed her bag from Jasper.
She knew this guy just from when she met with him as her fake fiancé that wanted nothing to do with her, but she wasn’t close to him.
They were barely cordial with each other, and now she was supposed to sleep in his room.
She looked over at Jasper, who gave her a reassuring smile, though she could see he was struggling with this as well. She needed to fix this … publicly.
“I have an idea,” Lucie said, beaming with childlike excitement.
She wanted for those around to be able to hear her.
“Let’s have a slumber party tonight. A way for the four of us to really get to know each other.
It’ll be so much fun. We can swap stories and maybe roast marshmallows.
I’d like for you and Aedan to become closer.
” Lucie bit her lip and smiled. She watched as Jasper’s shoulders relaxed and Ryan’s lips curled upward.
“Whatever you want, my princess.” Ryan’s reply was polite and strangely warm. Much warmer than he’d been with her before. “Okay, let’s all head to my room and get situated. Afterward, we’ll join my parents for dinner.”
“Sounds great. I’m starving.” Aedan chuckled, stepping closer to Lucie. He needed to act as friendly as possible here. He wasn’t just Lucie’s brother but the future King of the Werewolves, and as such, he needed to do his best to portray them in a positive light. It would help other vampires relax.
Jasper smiled at Lucie, giving her a small nod.
Thank goodness she was clever. This would get them all into Derrick’s room, which was well protected and, of course, soundproof.
Then he could really talk to Ryan. No matter how trusted Ryan was, Derrick would probably gut him for sleeping in the same room as his mate.
Ryan had to know this, so he must have a very good reason for insisting on it.
He could even see how relieved he looked at Lucie’s loud proposition.
She didn’t realize it, but she probably saved him too.
They walked down the halls and past the guards through two restricted areas before they finally reached Derrick’s room.
“After you, my dear,” Ryan said calmly, allowing for Lucie to step inside the room.
Once they were all inside and the door had closed, Jasper turned to Ryan. “Okay … what’s this all about?”