by J. E Hanson
~~~***~~~
Before I make it at the altar, there’s a gentle kiss on my cheek. The kiss wakes me from my blissful dream. I wake up just in time, to see that Christian is about to leave my bedroom.
“Please, don’t leave me!” I wake up in a fog, but I beg him.
He stops dead in his tracks. He turns around, and crawls in my bed with me. “I thought you were asleep. I am sorry for taking so damn long, and things escalated quickly. Will you take a rain check?”
“Only, if you promise to stay with me for the rest of the night.”
“I will do anything for you, and I can promise you this.”
He tucks a pillow under his head, pulling me close to his chest. I love feeling his muscular arms around me. He keeps me close to his lukewarm chest.
~~~***~~~
My alarm sounds a few hours later. Christian pretends to be asleep, as my lips wake up the sleeping prince. His eyes immediately pop open, and he turns on the small lamp next to my bed.
“I love you, Chris.”
“I love you too, my princess. You need to hurry up and change. I hear that Charlie can be a real pistol, if you are late.”
“But, I want to spend the day with you.”
“I know you do, but unfortunately I have to fix things. You still need to graduate from your training.”
I kiss his lips softly one last time. As I exit the bed, I make sure he can see my backside. I even wear the matching green thong that went with it. I only know he’s watching, because I can feel lust coursing through my veins.
I shower and dry off, but he’s already gone. I quickly change into my gym gear, and manage to make it into the dining hall in record time. Charlie has to give me a chalice full of blood now.
“Chris believes that you may have the same taste in blood as him. It is time, to see if he’s bloody right.”
My fangs automatically sing happily from the very first sip. They automatically descend for the rest of the fresh blood.
His face lights up in amusement. “Bloody hell, the bloke was right! That’s a very rare blood type. Both of you are the only ones, who love AB- synthetic blood.”
Do I not only satisfy my vampire side with blood, but also satisfy the human side with food.
Charlie stretches me out, and he orders me to run on the treadmill for a few hours. After three hours of running, he stops the treadmill, and he takes me outside. He runs with me, but he never goes through the obstacle course with me either. He only remains with me, in case something happens as it did last time.
~~~***~~~
We return to using sticks, during the last week of training. These large sticks imitate large swords. We fight with the wooden swords for the next hour. I’m determined, to get him this time. With a few minutes left to spare, I hit his hands hard. He laughs, from my fierce determination. I actually beat him fair this time. He graduates me from his school of “Hard Knocks.”
Charlie hugs me. “The bloke isn’t easy, and Erik thrives off pain. Good luck Princess and you’re going to need it,” Charlie warns me about Erik.
Chapter 14
The following day, Erik takes over training, but he’s pure hell. His push-up style is the male form. He won’t allow me to do push-ups my way anymore. This is the only way, to earn his respect. I have to show him that I can do this. I refuse to joke around, or tease him as I have with the others. I have to take him seriously, even though a week earlier I saw him with nothing, but a set of furry boots. He treats me as one of his subordinates, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. I know he won’t cut me any slack either. He never bothers putting me on the scale, because we are not focusing on losing weight now.
Erik places weights on me, and it’s a bitch to run in the sand. The extra ten-pound weights are on each foot. The weights are around my wrists and ankles.
“It is time, for you to build strength. I refuse to coddle you, and wipe your tears. You will do this, and that’s that,” he informs me of how he runs his training.
He continues to yell at me, to run through his version of a triathlon. His workout is the worst one by far. He starts me out with the bike. After two hours of cycling, he orders me to drop the bike and run ten laps around the track. I run as hard as I can. He takes me back inside, and he finishes his version of a triathlon with swimming ten laps, and with the weights on.
~~~***~~~
I’m too sleepy to care what anyone does around the castle. Chris rejoins his nightclubs and bars, because the contractors used the wrong designs. While he works, I’m training with Erik.
~~~***~~~
During the last week, I’m so sore that nothing helps this time. I’m curious to know with as many emergency fires Chris has to put out, how will he be able to train me?
Erik spent the last day repeating his triathlon, except now I have to swim in the ocean. I manage to finish his obstacle course with two seconds to spare.
He smiles widely at me for the first time. “Congratulations… you’re the only woman to finish my obstacle course. I wasn’t expecting you to finish at all. I’m sorry for underestimating you,” he pats my head.
I’m so exhausted that I don’t care what he does to me, so I hug him. He freezes and for once, he is stunned. He doesn’t know what to say—or do. After a few uncomfortable minutes, he wraps his arms around me to hug me in return. He’s not such a scary and mean Viking after all. The ice-cold vampire really does have a heart.
Erik clears his throat, and he looks around. “Don’t tell the others.”
“I promise not to say one word. Thanks for taking the time out—to train me.”
“You’re okay, Princess. And, it was my honor to train you. Thanks for opening my eyes.”
I cock my head to the side. “What did I open your eyes to?”
“You opened my eyes, and I will never underestimate mortals—or women. Now, I will take dating more seriously.”
We walk inside the castle together. I managed to sneak away to the gym—to weigh myself. My weight drops to one hundred thirty-five pounds. I enjoy all this weight loss. I’m equally excited with the idea that Christian will train me the following day.
~~~***~~~
Willow returns from her vacation. “Oh, wow! You have lost a ton of weight!” she smiles at me, and continues, “I’m here to take over for Chris, while he trains you. So… are the rumors true?”
“What rumors?”
“The ones that say you’re marrying Chris.”
“I’m his girlfriend, but I’m not marrying him.”
“It is all over Meropis News that Chris chose a million dollar engagement ring.”
“I doubt it, but thanks for the joke.”
“The media also claims that you’re having eight of his children too, but I wonder how that’s even possible, since you’re still a virgin. I find it quite miraculous that you have never had sex yet, and you’re carrying eight babies. That is fantastic news!”
I roll my eyes at the media frenzy. “I know… it is so easy, to maintain this body with all those babies kicking the shit out of me.”
Willow leans in and grins. “Oh, do tell me all your secrets. Because, I really would love to know how you’re still walking around with that many babies. How are you still in one piece?”
We laugh over the lunacy from the media, and we stop to hug each other. I adore Charlie's daughter, Willow. She’s incredibly beautiful, and she has those gorgeous eyes from her father. I wonder if she even knows that he posed nude in a calendar. Even the thought of Charlie naked, makes me feel ill. It feels similar, to finding a provocative picture of one of your relatives.
Christian returns home, and he starts to brief her about his work that he needs her to accomplish, for the next two weeks.
I remain in the library, and wait patiently for my boyfriend. He continues, to have a deep conversation with Willow.
Ian distracts me. “I’m singing your praises, since you helped me figure out all the shit my last assistant left me. My bus
inesses are thriving even more efficiently now! You will accomplish great things, when you operate your own business one day.”
I return the last book I borrowed back in its spot. “I still believe that I need to learn the mechanics of owning a business, but I’m still trying to figure out, what I love to do. I have a few ideas, but nothing seems to interest me yet.”
Ian hugs me, and then he returns to his seat.
Sam kneels beside me. “Your room is ready, whenever you’re ready to look at it. Just let me know.”
Loud sirens scream throughout the castle. Christian pauses his conversation with Willow. Leo is the first one, to run out of the library. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with all the red and blue lights flashing throughout the castle. Sam looks alarmed, and he quickly pulls out his guns. Sam jumps in front of me, keeping me right behind him. Alexander and Christian run out of the room within three seconds, and their swords are drawn.
Charlie yells over to the Ian and Zane. “Watch the Princess, blokes. The castle is under bloody attack!”
I have never seen so many men scatter in a flash. Sam whistles and motions at Ian. Ian jumps over the tables, and he stands beside me.
“Follow me, Princess,” Ian pushes a button, and the shelves move backwards.
Zane remains with us. “Fucking rogues, man! I’m really growing tired of this shit!”
Ian tries to pick me up, but I push his arms away. We run through the hidden tunnels together. Zane pushes a few numbers, and he opens a secret door. They pull me inside the security room. Ian locks me in here with them. Zane pushes a few more buttons, and he makes all the television sets appear. The security cameras reveal exactly how many rogues there are. It horrifies me, to watch over a hundred rogues running through the front yard. I pace back and forth, and eagerly wait. We watch ten Enforcers fight the rogues off in no time at all. But, in seconds, all of them are in deep trouble. I still pace back and forth. “We can’t just sit here, and do nothing!”
Ian shakes his head at me. “The most important thing, is that you’re safe. We won’t let anything happen to you, Princess.”
We watch in horror as a few rogues capture Sam and Tommy. “We can’t sit here, and do nothing! I’m trading in my title right now!” I repeat, and scream again.
Ian frowns at me. “You’re not trading anything in! You’re our top priority!”
“My tiara doesn’t mean shit to me, if they are in deep trouble! We have to help them! I exercise my authority as your princess, to order all of us to help them!”
“She does have a point, Ian. She is our princess, and she can exercise her authority over us,” Zane tries to persuade him too.
Ian frowns at me again, and he pulls out his guns. “I want you to know, Princess… that this is the last fucking time; you will ever exercise your authority. I won’t allow it next time, and I will put a muzzle on you—if I have to!”
I wait by the door, and Zane breaks the door to the safe room. Ian runs into another hidden vault that holds all their weapons. He drags out shotguns. “Please be careful, Princess—and keep your aim at the rogues.”
Zane grins and he takes out more ammunition. “Now, this is a fucking party!”
Willow follows right behind us with guns too. We make it outside, to help the other Enforcers out. Zane throws a silver bomb at a pile of rogues, and their bodies turn into pools of blood. We eliminated ten rogues right off the bat.
“Please, try to stay behind me, Princess.” His last order doesn’t last long. My boyfriend, struggles with ten rogues. He looks like he’s having a blast. They captured him, and they drag him to the ground. They are tying him to the ground in silver chains. I chuck two heels at the rogues, and watch their guts explode all over Christian. I load my shotguns, and aim for their heads. I start shooting from left to right. There are so many of them. My boyfriend remains on the ground, with silver chains all over him. After I shot the last rogue off him, I ran over to his side. With my quick wit, I rip off a piece of my shirt, so I can pull all the silver chains off Christian. Carefully and delicately, I remove them. Through our bond, he’s in so much pain, and it even feels unbearable to me.
A rogue tries to dive after me. My fist balls up and I punch her in the face. “Come and get some, bitch!” the female rogue baits me for a fight.
The stupid rogue tried to cheat, but luckily, I notice Chris's gun on the ground. I distract the rogue. “What’s red, and incredibly stupid?”
“I have no idea, what do you mean?”
I tumble, and pick up Chris’s gun. “Your stupid head,” I shot her, and her head explodes all over me.
A second female rogue rushes at me, but my fangs descend, and I rip her throat out.
Ian smiles at me. “I think she pissed you off. That’s another great use for your fangs!” Ian shouts over the rogues, and teases me.
My hand slams inside another chest. She pops as a cherry water balloon. Christian still has three silver chains remaining. I slowly peel off the one that’s around his neck. The pain that he’s in, courses through my veins. I peel the two remaining silver chains off his arms.
“You need to duck, Princess!” Ian warns me.
I duck over Christian's body. “I should be the one rescuing and protecting you. This is not exactly, what I have in mind,” Christian smirks at me.
I cover his lips with kisses. “Sometimes, GI Jane needs to do a bit of the rescuing, herself,” I inform him.
Aim my gun, and shot a rogue in the foot. Christian still needs a few minutes to recover. Alexander has silver chains pinning him to the ground, and I start working on him. Christian wastes no time to free the others. Ian shoots five rogues down. One of the ten chains, are off Alexander. Another rogue interrupts me, but Zane shoots her in the head. Zane gives me more room, by blowing three rogues away. Christian runs out of bullets, but I quickly toss him a few more clips. Christian frees Charlie, and Charlie helps me free Alexander. Erik is the last one, to be set free. Willow jerks the rest of the chains off Brennan and Brannon. Alexander takes a gun from me, and he flips me over him.
My grandfather calls me at the most inconvenient time of the battle. I duck behind the bushes, and answer my cell phone. “Hi, my darling, granddaughter, what are you up to?”
Luckily, I behead two rogues. “Oh… nothing much really,” I answered.
“I would love to hear an update. How are things going? What’s that noise in the background? Are you in trouble?”
I start to count, “Oh about seventy rogues, or so… give or take.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I should already be there!”
“Papa, we’re in trouble. Will you please come over and help?”
“I’m almost there, sweetheart.”
I look behind me, and Papa snaps his phone shut. He jerks his crimson hair back in a ponytail, and he takes out his swords. “Thanks for leaving me rogues this time, darling.”
“You’re welcome, Papa.”
Papa eliminates ten rogues, by beheading them. I realize how deadly he truly is. He even left his crown at home. I watch him in action for the first time, and he saves my boyfriend from instant death.
Sophia hands us ammunition, and tosses more swords out the window. Christian dismantles ten rogues, by ripping their heads off. Papa takes out twenty additional rogues, by slicing them in half. Alexander and Erik take care of ten themselves. I take out ten rogues by myself.
With quick thinking, I saved Ian and Zane. Ian returns the favor for me too. The wiping out of rogues continues until Christian takes out the last one, by shooting the rogue behind his back. Without looking, the bullet hits the rogue directly in the head. I watch that rogue pop with the tarry substance flying in Christian’s hair. We survey the total the carnage. There are arms and body parts littering on the trees, grass, and sand. The water fountain has tarry substance covering her, and making her even more Gothic.
The adrenaline subsides, and I collapse on the ground. Christian walks over, and
pulls me up by my shirt. Through all the blood and tar in my hair, he kisses me passionately right in front of Papa. We both have blood covering our faces and bodies. We look a total mess. I affectionately kiss him again, and playfully nibble on his bottom lip.
“Are you dating, Christian?” Papa asks as he cocks his head.
“I love him, Papa.”
Papa finally knows the truth, but he closes his eyes for a minute. This could be either good or bad. Papa walks over to me. “Do you mind answering one simple question? Does he pressure you for sex?”
“No Papa and I pressure him instead.”
The Enforcers try not to laugh, but Papa beams with pride. “I had a feeling that you would be the one pressuring. Our family has a knack for persuasion and torture. I assume that he struggles with resisting the urge?” Papa asks, and that’s a tad big personal.
I flash a worried look at Christian. “I think he is, but it’s hard to tell.”
Papa pats him hard on the back. “I’m so thankful she chose you, and please accept my apology, if I’m out of line. Since, I know that she’s the one pursuing you this eases my mind. I will give you a word of advice,” Papa pauses, and he shakes a finger at Chris, “you better commit to her, before you give in.”
Christian stretches his neck a few times. “My intentions with your granddaughter are pure. I want our relationship to work, and take its time.”
Saber grins, and he purposely cleans his swords in front of him. “You have your hands full. I will allow this relationship to continue. I will have to learn, to keep business separate from personal. I won’t interfere in your relationship, but you’re the only vampire, I would ever permit her to date.”
“I only have the best interests for your granddaughter. You have my word.”