Hunting His Vampire Princess (Book 6 of the Avec Series)

Chapter Five

    Evelyn's silver eyes glinted in determination, her face dripped with sweat from a combination of her excursion and the humidity. Her father was at it again! How, in the bloody hell, was she ever going to learn if he continually tried to do things for her? She wanted to prove that she was as capable of ruling their kingdom as he was! Why did he insist on doing things for her? She looked around the forest, this test was for her alone. She sighed heavily when she spotted him. She wasn't supposed to have help. 

    She turned to the shadows, "Cooper," she called. She had caught a glimpse of the slight vampire as he attempted to vanish from her sight. His platinum blonde hair had reflected off the shining moonlight. 

    Cooper sighed and reappeared in front of the princess, "Yes, you're majesty?" He knew he should have worn something to cover himself better. Now, she would be angry with him and he hated that! He was only doing what her father, the king had ordered. 

    Evelyn crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot, "Why?" She knew that one word was all she needed to ask. He knows exactly what she means. Her demeanor was both angry at her father and frustrated at her friend. Of all the people in the castle, he knows how important this is to her, and here he is out here helping her! 

    Cooper tried not to flinch away from the princess, they were friends. She was powerful in her own right, and he was frightened of her. Especially when she was like this. He wasn't sure who was more frightening, Princess Evelyn or her father! "Princess, please forgive me!" Cooper begged, "Your father compelled me!" He wasn't lying when a stronger vampire compels you, you have absolutely no choice but to do their bidding. 

    Evelyn did her best to stay calm, "I understand that, Cooper. But my question remains." Her hands were working animatedly as she spoke. "Why?" Her voice cracked, she just wanted one time when she did it on her own. No assistance from anyone. She was so angry, she was near tears. This really wasn't fair. 

    Cooper's expression went from frightened to understanding, "Your majesty, he loves you dearly. He doesn't feel as if you should have to do these tasks. That they are beneath you." He tried to explain. His hand went to her shoulder in a feeble attempt to comfort her. He wasn't sure what to do, he had never seen her this upset. 

    Evelyn shook her head, "But, Cooper, I have to do this! It's not for him to decide! I am going to rule this kingdom someday. If he keeps trying to hold me down, what good will it do? I can't learn if I am continually held back!  I have to be able to do this on my own." Cooper could hear her frustration. He empathized with her, he really could, but her father is the king. What he says must go, whether he agreed with the order or not. And being compelled to do his king's bidding made the matters all that much worse. He wanted nothing more than to be there for his friend as much as she had been there for him. 

    Evelyn hung her head in defeat, she had to think of a way to prove herself. She would never be able to prove to herself, let alone her kingdom, that she was a capable leader. And she would have to do it on her own. But how will she be able to? She looked at her 'helper' with a sadness in her eyes, "Come on, Cooper. Let's go home." She began to walk back to her home, she would need to address this with her father. It was getting so very old. 

    Cooper scurried to catch up with Evelyn. He would continue to protect her, even after she caught him assisting her. Her father would want it. 

    "Your majesty," Cooper said hesitantly. He needed to address as such out here if anyone would hear him speak to her any other way, it could cause a scandal. 

    Evelyn looked over at Cooper he was almost the same height as she was, "Yes?" 

    "Please forgive me," he begged. 

    Evelyn smiled at her companion, "I'm not angry with you, Cooper. I'm just frustrated that father would continue to do this." 

    Cooper returned her grin, "I only do what your father orders me to." 

    Evelyn nudged Cooper with her shoulder, "I know." They continued to walk down the path in compatible silence. Evelyn thinking about how she was going to eventually prove herself to her father. Cooper thinking of the best way to continue to protect his first true friend, while still giving her the illusion of freedom. It will continue to be such a difficult task. 

    Evelyn was deep in thought her whole way home. She had to come up with a plan to make her father see that she was worthy of her title and that she could rule this kingdom. And that she didn't need him to constantly do things for her. As her mind was turning she came up with an idea. She just wasn't sure if she would be able to do it. 

    Cooper was eyeing Evelyn surreptitiously, he could see the wheels of her mind turning. He would have to keep a closer eye on her. He had a feeling he would have his work cut out for him, and soon. 

    ************

    Tracker closed his eyes, he was so disappointed in himself. He had promised not only his mother but Leah that he would protect Jade. And here he was, a damn rogue! How could he protect his cousin when he couldn't even secure them a pack?! 

    Jade walked over to her cousin, she could see his heartache on his face. "Hey, what's on your mind? You look so sad." She patted his shoulder. She hated to see him this way. He was so caring and kind. He deserved so much better than what they had right now. 

    Tracker smiled wistfully at Jade, "I am a little bit, Jade." His admission a stab to his heart, he didn't want to give her the impression that he was weak. 

    "But you shouldn't be!" She exclaimed. She was surprised that he was feeling so unsure of himself. He was amazing. "Why are you sad?" 

    Tracker looked at his watch, he would be leaving shortly to meet a man that needed someone found. He was beyond thrilled that his nose was such a great gift. It was bringing in money that they wouldn't otherwise have. He hadn't shifted yet, but he knew it would be soon enough. He could feel his wolf stirring beneath the surface of his mind. 

    He stood in his hotel room, and swept his hand around, "Look around, Jade! We live in a hotel! I can't find a pack. We have no one to fall back on. I'm barely making enough money for one of us let alone two! You're struggling in your classes." He was pointing out what he saw as flaws while she was standing in awe of him. 

    She stepped closer to her cousin, "We have a roof over our head." She started ticking off her counterarguments with her hand. "Packs can be overrated. Look at what happened to our original one." She pointed out that fact with emphasis. "You are making enough to pay the hotel fee and feed us." She left the last point alone. Her struggling with her classes had nothing to do with their living arrangements. It had everything to do with the fact that she was smitten by one of the classmates and she was doing everything in her power to get his attention. 

    He noticed her leaving out the last point, but he was going to let it go as well. She made him feel very good about his hard work. 

    His phone beeped off, telling him he had a message. He smiled at his cousin, "Get in bed. Don't stay up late. You have school in the morning." He warned her. His heart was full of love for her. He hoped that she would be successful. 

    Jade looked down as she nodded to Tracker. She couldn't face him, not right now. She had to wait oh so patiently until he left. She had plans to meet some of her friends from school tonight at the oceanfront. And if he even thought for a minute she wouldn't be here, he would lose his top. 

    "I will." She promised, with her fingers crossed in her pocket. 

    Tracker ruffled her hair and walked to the hotel door. He turned and looked at his cousin one more time before he left. "I mean it, Jade. Don't leave the hotel room." He gave her a warning look before walking out the door. He headed down the hallway. Tonight was going to be something special. He could feel it in his bones. 

    Jade gave him thirty minutes to leave. She was pacing the hotel room nervously. She certainly didn't want to be caught. She couldn't wait until tonight, she was meeting some of the cutest guys in the school. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of them wanting to hang out with her. 

    She opened the hotel door and peeked left and right before checking her pocket to make sure she had her key. She needed to be back before two and she could do that. 

    She ducked out a side door, she didn't want to run the risk of the clerk at the front desk. She would snitch her out in a heartbeat. Just because she thought she had a chance at getting in her cousin's pants. She darted down the parking lot, doing her best to avoid the cameras. She crossed the street and made her way down to the beach. 

    She peered over the heads of the few people still out this late. She smiled as she found her friends. They were all standing around in a circle near the water. 

    The boys were smirking at each, they couldn't believe she would actually think they would like her. The only thing they wanted from her they were about to get. One of the boys smiled and waved at Jade, drawing her closer. One of them threw the cigarette he was pretending to smoke to look cool on the ground and snuffed it out. They really did taste awful. 

    He looked at his friends, "Are you ready?" 

    The other two nodded. They whistled low, the sound so subtle no one else heard it. As they waited, the mermaid pulled herself up from the water and rested on the rocks beneath the pier. Where they agreed to meet hours earlier. 

    "Hello, gentlemen," she greeted with a smile. She was tired of the humans flaunting their ability to walk on the ground and have their mates. No question asked. These three promised her something quite interesting in addition to their money. and she was taking them up on her offer. She was beneath the pier, watching the small group walk her way. 

    The boys took what they wanted from Jade, who gave it willingly, she wanted nothing more than to fit in. When she told them she would tell the school that they were her mates, though, they grew angry. They pushed her toward the mermaid. "Here's your part of the deal," they sneered and walked away. Anemone grabbed the woman by her arm and dragged her down into the water. Clearly frightening the girl. 

    Anemone was about to take her prize further into the depths when Calypso showed up. "What are you doing?!" She asked as she took in the struggling young girl. "You need to put her back, right now!" 

    Anemone snarled at Calypso, "She is getting what she deserves! I am sick and tired of these land walkers getting their way, flaunting their mates." 

    Jade was giving up, she would never survive this. Her lungs were screaming, she didn't understand what had happened. She had only wanted them to be her friends and her mates, and they did this to her. She gave them what they wanted. She was only fifteen, so she had no idea what the mate pull was even. She just knew that mates made love to each other and gave their virginity. 

    "No, Anemone, she's innocent. And important!" Calypso argued. She pulled Jade from Anemone's grasp and swam quickly to the surface. She breached the water before Jade passed out. She inhaled sharply as the cool air hit her face. 

    Calypso dragged the girl to the rocks and pushed her up them. "Once you feel better, I'll take you home." 

    *********

    Jade shivered in the hotel room a few hours later, she was still reeling from the treatment of whom she thought was her friends. She sobbed, they used her! She would figure out how to make herself better and more useful. Someday they would all be sorry they hurt her.