A love unspoken

Chapter Three

‘Dad V! Dad!’ Vaughn hollered, his voice echoing of the stone walls as he stomped down the corridor in search of his parent. ‘Dad V!’ he roared in annoyance at the lack of response.

The tall muscular twenty year old, brooding form of the Vampire Prince was impressive, he had the build and canines of his father Jason, but the red eyes and hair colour of his father Vallance. Everyone had been shocked to find that the young Vampire hybrid could shift not only into a bat form but also into a wolf. His wolf was as black as night, with piercing red eyes, his personality was a strong dominating Alpha that followed his human’s head strong traits.

Vaughn also did not have to consume blood like his Vampire heritage, they had discovered in recent years that eating raw meat in his wolf form was enough to sate his Vampire side.

A door opened further down the hall to reveal his other father, Jason, who stuck his head out of his office door, looking over at his son perplexed as he covered his ears. ‘Son! The volume! Werewolf hearing, remember?’ Jason moaned as Vaughn made his way over to the door.

‘Sorry dad’ he replied, lowering his tone, ‘I was just looking for Dad V’

Jason chuckled, ‘yeah, I kinda figured that out as you have been screaming his name for ten minutes’ he said as Vaughn grinned sheepishly.

‘Do you know where he is? I can’t find him anywhere’ the young Vampire said gloomily.

‘He has gone to a meeting with one of the local Clans about a witch problem they are having, he won’t be back till tomorrow, do you think maybe I can I help you instead? I am also a dad’ Jason said with a cheeky smile.

Vaughn sighed, ‘Yeah I know, but its Dad V that I have to try and talk around, I know you will say yes’ he muttered.

Fixing the youngster with a knowing grin Jason waited patiently for his son to spit out his problem.

‘I mean, I don’t understand why I can’t go and look for my mate dad! I'm twenty years old in werewolf years, my wolf is going crazy in my head, I should be looking for her! But dad V is all . . ‘ he blurted out suddenly.

‘you are only about six months old when converted in to Vampire years’ Jason finished with a laugh.

‘Yeah’ Vaughn agreed defeated, ‘it’s not fair dad, if my mate is for my werewolf half, and is human or a werewolf, she’ll be dead by the time I'm two hundred! If she is a Vampire then it won’t matter that I go looking now because I won’t find her yet’ he groaned.

Jason patted his son’s back affectionately, ‘I know son, it’s just as the heir to the throne you could be in real danger if you come across the wrong people outside of the castle, you know the belief about you, your dad is just protective.’

Vaughn gave an exasperated sigh, ‘but Dad was also heir to the throne, he always talks about how much he hated being cooped up in this damn castle for years by grand father Viktor, and now he is doing the same thing to me’

‘Vaughn, your dad wasn’t destined to be the strongest creature ever born, if the wrong people got hold of you and forced you to do their bidding, you could cause devastation. We don’t even know what you are capable of yet, all we know is that the Moon Goddess has a plan and you are a key part’ Jason soothed as Vaughn’s shoulders slumped.

Looking over his son’s broken demeanour, Jason’s resolve wavered, ‘maybe we can convince Dad V to let you go and see Aunt Halle for a few days? You haven’t been to the pack in years, and I'm sure this time you won’t have to return home after forty five minutes because you set the pack house on fire again’ he said with a growl as Vaughn gave him a guilty look. ‘We can get the guards to fly with you there and back, and as you will be inside the barrier you would be safe’ he mused reluctantly as Vaughn’s face lit up excitedly.

‘Yes! Please dad! Please talk him into it, you know Dad V can’t say no to you, I promise I will stay inside the barrier, I will be on my best behaviour and will not set anything on fire!’ he promised, adding under his breath, ‘that was like thirteen years ago, I can’t believe Aunt Halle held a grudge this long, it’s not like I burned down the entire room, just a table and a few chairs.’

Jason laughed, ‘I don’t think it was Aunt Halle that decided you should only see the family here son, I think that may have been decided between grandma Hazel, Grandpa Justin and Dad V.’

Rolling his eyes, Vaughn shrugged, ‘I was just a little boy dad and some very careless werewolf left matches in the dining room! How was I supposed to know that the tables had been freshly varnished?’

Snorting Jason shook his head, ‘Vaughn! You went into the kitchen and found the half empty tin of varnish, poured it in stripes on the table and then set a match to each strip to see which one would burn quickest! This was not a case of an accidental situation you little pyromaniac!’

‘I have no idea what you are talking about dad’ Vaughn replied, pulling an innocent face, ‘I think I'll go and find some lunch before you tell me any more stories about my youth’

Giving his dad a hug, Vaughn made his way downstairs and into the kitchen where Erica, the head chef of the castle and the closest thing he had to a motherly figure, was busily making lunch. Dropping into one of the stools by the island, he sighed dramatically as Erica looked up with an amused grin. ‘That bad today your highness?’ she asked as Vaughn dropped his head onto his arms, laying on the island.

‘Dad V still won’t let me go and look for my mate, Dad J has suggested I go and see the Oak Ridge pack for a few weeks’ he mumbled as the Vampiress nodded.

‘But that is good news, it gets you out of the castle at least’ she replied with a motherly smile.

‘Yeah, but Dad J has got to convince Dad V and we all know how that Vampire feels about me setting foot outside the castle door, I’m surprised I'm allowed in the courtyard by myself’ he whinged.

Reaching for a large ceramic canister, Erica pulled off the lid and thrust it at the self pity party that was Vaughn, ‘here, cookie, your favourite, eat’ she growled as the prince reached in and took two of the chocolate chip cookies and rammed them in his mouth. ‘Look give His Majesty time to talk to the Vampire King, His Majesty Jason can be very persuading when he wants to be and we all know that His Majesty Vallance finds it very hard to say no to his match’ she whispered conspiratorially.

Vaughn gave a reluctant grin, ‘that’s what I said too’ he admitted with a chuckle as he reached for a third cookie out of the barrel.

Smacking his hand gently, Erica glowered at him as the prince pulled back his hand slightly.

‘You are the only person who tells me off other than my dads’ he grumbled rubbing the back of his hand.

‘That is because I am the only person that doesn’t think the sun shines out of your behind, manners cost nothing young man’ she reprimanded as the Vampire dropped his gaze.

‘Please may I have another cookie’ he sighed as the Vampiress gave him a smile and proffered the barrel for a second time allowing him to take one, raising her eyebrow as he was about to bite it. Looking at her, he hesitated before mumbling, ‘thank you Erica’.

‘You are welcome Your Highness’ Erica replied with a smirk as she went back to her cooking.