Chapter 71
Derrick stormed back to his room and opened the door.
The moment he saw Lucie, the anger completely drained out of him.
She was curled up on the couch with her head on Jasper’s lap and her feet wedged under Justice.
Her little pink lips were slightly parted as she slept peacefully.
He smiled at her adorableness. He wasn’t angry now, but he was still hurt.
Seeing his sweet mate, and after everything she’d been through …
damn, it hurt. He had trusted his people so much.
Even if it was someone of influence, did they have to gossip about it?
Even if it was out of pity and sympathy, they would know it was a horrible thing to talk about.
One that would have been painful to all parties.
Had his mate been raped and impregnated, how would that be their fault?
All he wanted was to live with his mate and their little family. To love and enjoy them. If he had to, he would take her away. He would live among the wolves or dragons. Hell, he would live anywhere if it kept her from being hurt. Her happiness was all that mattered to him. More than the crown.
Jasper looked up at Derrick and nodded for him to come over.
She was pretty tired. She fell asleep almost instantly. How did it go?
How do you feel about being the crown prince? Derrick gave Jasper a wry smile as he crept in front of the couch. He sat on the floor in front of Lucie where he could watch her.
That bad, huh?
He wants to wait before he makes a decision. He wants to speak to whoever spread the rumor first and then decide what to do. Derrick scowled.
I’m sure your father wants to see this person punished, Derrick. I’m with you, but your dad has been doing this for a while now.
Derrick frowned and leaned against the couch.
He couldn’t think rationally when it came to Lucie.
He looked her over, his gaze tracing her facial features.
His love for her had become an unhealthy obsession.
Lucie was always on his mind, and he needed her.
She was a drug that he needed to constantly inject himself with.
The feelings he had now made his love for her before seem shallow.
Thank the gods she was his mate and they had this bond.
Justice sat his controller to the side and looked over at Derrick. As his guardian now, he could mindlink with him too. When is the meeting?
In about an hour.
I’m going to get something to eat then. Justice eased himself up quietly and placed a pillow over Lucie’s feet to cover them. He quietly tiptoed out of the room, easing the door shut.
Jasper was trapped until Lucie woke up or Derrick woke her up. If he moved, she would wake for sure.
Are you planning to take Lucie to the meeting? Jasper asked and noticed Derrick’s eyes turn black.
No, I don’t want her there. She doesn’t need to hear this stuff.
So if she is still asleep …
I’ll give you the CliffsNotes.
Isn’t this one of those mandatory meetings? Jasper said with a smirk.
Not for you. Your number one task at all times is protecting Lucie. Above everything. Let the kingdom fall as long as Lucie lives. She is my first priority, and I’m making her yours as well.
Jasper smiled and shook his head. She’s always been my first priority over this place.
You and Lucie. If you leave the kingdom, I will too.
I don’t care who takes over. I guess your father better not die or retire because I go with you.
We’re a package deal. He then looked down at Lucie sleeping on his lap.
She’s my best friend. I also won’t stand for her mistreatment.
I’ll be watching how this is handled as well.
Both men stared quietly at Lucie after their quiet agreement.
They would take their group and leave if they had to.
Alaric didn’t have to hand the kingdom over to Derrick anytime soon, if at all.
As long as he was alive, the vampires had their king.
If worse came to worst, Jester was there too.
Derrick and Jasper would stay together no matter what, whether it was here or somewhere else.
It wasn’t about this incident. It was about more than that.
It was about not being controlled by others because of their position and standing.
A wrongdoing is a wrongdoing that should be punished the same way, no matter who you are.
This was something that should be punishable by death because the intent was to smear and place doubt over the future heir.
This was done maliciously. Both Derrick and Jasper needed to see this handled appropriately.
Lucie sat up frantically. Her heart was racing, and she began gasping for air.
“Lucie, what is it?” Jasper asked, looking at her startled face.
Derrick reached out and grabbed onto her hand, trying to make sense of her jumbled emotions and thoughts.
She blinked a couple of times and furrowed her brow. Something was wrong. She looked around the room and up at the door as it opened, revealing Justice eating a sandwich.
“What did I miss?” Justice focused onto the worried green eyes and strode up to them.
Lucie clutched her chest, as if seared by a hot iron. She winced and doubled over into Derrick’s arms.
“Abe. Where is Abe?” Lucie whimpered.
“Abaas!” Derrick ordered but received no response. “Myra!” he commanded. Neither of them appeared. He glanced up at Jasper as he rubbed Lucie’s back trying to soothe her.
Justice sat beside Lucie and grabbed onto her hand to help ease her pain.
“It’s disconnecting. His soul … his energy …” Lucie gasped out as tears trickled down her cheek. “Something has happened to him.”
“Something has happened to both Myra and Abe.” Derrick eased Lucie back on the couch and into Justice’s arms. “This is urgent. I need to speak with my father immediately.” He looked at Lucie and could feel the pain subsiding.
“Baby, I’ll be right back.” She nodded, and he blurred out of the room and down the hall.
His father and mother were still where he left them.
“Myra and Abaas aren’t responding. Something has happened.” Derrick looked at his parents’ faces but it looked as if they were already aware.
“We could feel the disconnect from Myra,” Willa said softly.
“They found the target then.” Derrick glanced up at his father. “Are they dead?”
“If it is who I suspect it is, then yes, they are probably dead. To not respond to our calls …” Alaric looked down and frowned. “Only someone very powerful could have defeated them. Someone skilled through the ages. Someone like Count Drake Basil.”
Derrick shook his head. “But the blood oath he gave you …”
Alaric looked up at Derrick in shock. “Blood oath? Count Basil gave me no such oath.”
“Shit …”
“Derrick.” Alaric sighed and shook his head.
“We should never make rash decisions, and we need to think how our actions can affect our kingdom. However, having said that, I am sentencing the culprit to death. Whoever started these malicious rumors needs to be eradicated. And in light of the news of Myra and Abe, I am confident that this is the right decision.”
Derrick looked at his father and gave him a slight nod. He couldn’t enjoy this news in light of knowing Abaas and Myra had been killed.
“I’m going after him,” Derrick said icily.
“Jester and Irene are already out scouting for his whereabouts. I’d rather you not, but I know that is pointless to say.
Take Jasper and get rid of our enemy.” Alaric knew his son was capable.
Count Basil was strong, but he couldn’t be stronger than the royal family.
Having Jasper with him was extra insurance, because he might not be working alone.
Jester and Irene were incredible warriors as well.
This wasn’t an army matter. This was a situation that needed to be dealt with fast. Only the stealth and skill of the royal line could masterfully take down an aged vampire such as Count Basil.
Derrick nodded his head. “It will be handled.” He abruptly turned and marched back to his room. His chest hurt, and he knew Lucie was going to be upset as well. Myra and Abe were family to them. The news was numbing, but now it was settling inside of him. They were gone …
He opened the door to his chambers and amber met emeralds.
Lucie shook her head slowly. “No …” she breathed out. But his energy inside her was gone now. She couldn’t feel him at all. She felt Derrick pull her up and into his arms.
“I’m so sorry, Lucie.” Derrick’s eyes watered and he looked at Justice and Jasper. “Myra and Abe …” He shook his head. “I’ve been given permission to hunt and kill the culprit. Their deaths will be avenged.”
Lucie shook her head and the tears spilled from her eyes.
Her connection to Abe was severed, and it hurt.
Her nose and eyes were burning as her lungs constricted.
Abe and Myra weren’t just servants. They were friends.
And Abe was HERS! He was her servant, and she felt responsible.
He was finally showing himself to her, the person he should have been all along.
Abe protected her, laughed with her, and got angry for her.
He even cried for her. She shook her head slowly.
This was too much. She couldn’t take this loss.
Her anger began to bubble to the surface as she dug her fingers into Derrick’s shirt.
She couldn’t focus on the hurt. She wouldn’t focus on the empty feeling inside of her.
She was going to concentrate on revenge.
“Lucie …” Derrick whispered.
“I know, Derrick. But you aren’t winning this one. Besides, I need to be close to you, and who knows how long you could be gone on this hunt.” Lucie stepped back and met his gaze. “Justice and I are coming with you and Jasper.”
“Hell yeah we are,” Justice growled angrily. “We’ll hunt this bastard down. My sword would like to have a word with him.”
“I don’t like taking my pregnant mate with me, but given that you need my energy, and with Abe …” He stopped and looked down. He had really come to depend on Abe too. “I can’t see this as an argument I can win anyway. Jasper, protect Lucie at all times. Above me.”
Jasper nodded his head. “No one will touch Lucie. Not with me around, let alone Justice.”
“I sent Myra out to find the culprit …” Lucie whispered.
“And I sent Abe out to stop the rumors in the palace. Myra must have sent out a distress signal to him and he went to her.” Derrick squeezed Lucie tightly. “This isn’t anyone’s fault, baby. Don’t blame yourself. We blame whoever did it, and we kill them.”
Lucie stepped away from Derrick and went into the bathroom. A few moments later, she stepped out, dressed head to toe in black fitted clothing with the pants tucked into combat boots laced tight. She tucked her daggers in and then pulled her hair back.
“Let’s go hunting,” Lucie growled lowly.