Prince Justus and the Rogue

Justus POV

It is now morning and we are waiting for Gracia's father in the throne room. We had considered a room less formal but Gracia wanted a certain amount of formality to use as a boundary so that her father would not get too comfortable. She was concerned that he would mistake their kindness for weakness and resort back to past misbehaviors and abuse. Gracia is wearing a purple velvet gown, with gold trimming, a laced bodice, and flaring bell sleeves. Justus is wearing black trousers, a black vest with silver designs, and a red overcoat that has black cuffs silver designs on it to match the vest

He is finally announced in the throne room wearing a fresh white tunic, brown pants, and black boots. He's taken a bath and is clean shaven. He looks and smells much better.

"What is it that you are seeking by coming here?" I asked.

"Well, I would like a relationship with my two daughters. Where is little Cecily?" He asks.

"Why now? Why not when they were just rogues?" I counter back.

"Well, I did want a relationship with them then. I've been searching for them since the day they left my cabin and Gracia better not say anything different." He answers. I turn my head to Gracia for confirmation.

"It's true. He's been searching for us and we've been running from him. As soon as I found out he was in the local tavern or searching for us in local rogue packs I would pack Cecily and I up and we would leave. I didn't want to be found and I didn't want him to find Cecily." Gracia confirmed.

"Why was that Gracia?" I asked her to get to the heart of the problem.

"Because he was a mean, abusive, and alcoholic drunk. He couldn't control his liquor, he would spend every last dime we had on getting drunk instead of on food, and then come home and drag me out of bed and beat me because I hadn't made him dinner or because he was tired of eating venison stew every night when that was all I could hunt for and grow in the garden. I was just a child and I was the one raising my baby sister while he would go out partying at the local tavern with his buddies every night." By the time Gracia was done talking she was crying and I was rubbing circles on her bag.

I glared over at her father who was shifting his weight uncomfortably from foot to foot while standing trying not to look at Gracia. "What do you have to say for yourself?" I ask him.

"Well, I have quit drinking." He starts but I cut him off.

"Since when? Because your clothes from yesterday reeked of alcohol." I ask directly. I'm getting tired of his games.

"Since yesterday. I am truly trying to turn over a new leaf and make myself out to be a better man. I really do want a relationship with my daughters and I am sorry for all of the pain and heartache that I have caused them. I used to be a bad man but that man no longer exists." He started choking up towards the end. If this man was faking it he surely was one hell of an actor.

He started to advance like he was going to touch Gracia and two guards stepped in front of him with swords making a giant X in front of her. "Back away from the Queen." One of the guards stated. He raised his hands in surrender and started taking steps backwards but Gracia touched the guards arms and nodded her head for them to let her through. She ran to her father and threw her arms around him hugging him and holding him tight.

"Would you like to see Cecily?" Gracia asks him.

"Yes I would very much like to!" He answers.

"Gracia, can I have a word?" I motion her to come with me behind the thrones and she follows me. "Cecily just started back in school. I don't think it's a good idea to interrupt her school time. What if we wait until lunch or dinner preferably?" "Okay. I guess I got a little excited. We can wait until dinner. Why don't you show him the palace grounds and maybe have tea in one of the gardens?" I suggest.

She returns to her father. "Instead of interrupting Cecily's school time we'll introduce you at dinner. She already knows that you are here. So, in the meantime, why don't I show you around the palace and then we can have tea in one of the gardens." She takes her father's arm and they leave together. For some reason I don't fully trust the man.

I call a meeting with my Beta, Delta, and Gamma. Instead of waiting until after destroying the key we decided for all of their fathers to officially step down and are only here if one of the sons are away from the castle or are needed for training. They still come to meetings to stay up to date with knowledge for when they need to step and fill their son's places. When I go with my Delta and Gamma to destroy the key once we get it back their fathers will step in during their absences. We all gather in my large study around some large leather couch and chairs. "Mack, have you found any ways to make the vault more safe?" I ask.

Mack stands up to begin speaking. "Posting a third guard, casting a spell over the area outside the vault that will detect the scent on someone so that if a person is using a potion to remain unscented the spell will effectively remove that potion, and casting a spell over the same area that will detect someone that is invisible by removing their invisibility cloak." He sits down when he is done.

"Wow. Those all sound wonderful. Let's get all three implemented as soon as possible. Well done!" I make sure to let him know I appreciate his effort. He smiles at my approval.

"Emil, Have we attacked Achard's coven?" I ask.

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"We did attack the last known location and it was an empty tomb. They already deserted it. Once the trackers get back from going after the key we can send them on to going after the coven. Hopefully, they're not too late." Emil replies looking down knowing that he has bad news to report.

"I know one of the elders is Lord Dempster. See what you can find out about him." I answer hoping that small bit of information will give us some lead.

"Mack, I have a special project to split between you and Jankin. Gracia's father is here and he's staying with us here at the castle. There's something about the guy I don't trust. I want to know about his movements, specifically if he leaves the castle and where he goes, if he's drinking, how he treats the staff here, and anything else that you think might be relevant..

The Trackers POV

We're sitting and watching the cabin that the two vampires are in with the key debating whether or not we should go inside or wait to see who shows up to take the key when two hooded figures show up and walk inside the cabin. Now we're watching while holding our breaths for what happens next.

"So, I say we should wait for the two hooded figures to leave, follow them for a bit, and then attack them to take the key." Tracker Henry says. "Wait did you hear that? It sounds like they're getting into a fight! Oh! Look at all the blood that just got splattered all over that window!"

The two hooded figures walk out of the cabin with blood covering the front of their brown cloaks. We start following the hooded figures, the two werewolves as wolves and the vampire as a bat, making sure to keep our presence unknown. Can you smell what they are? Tracker Henry mindlinks Edward

I think they smell like dragons which would explain the mess back in the cabin. Only a dragon would leave behind such a brutal killing. Edward replies

That's what I was thinking. Can you tell the Vampire? Henry asks.

Now how the fuck am I supposed to talk to a bat? Edward asks

Yeah sorry I forgot about that. Henry says.

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It looks like they're lying down for the night. Do you think we could sneak into their camp and steal the key? Edward asks.

"Which one has the key and where is it at? Henry asks.

"Oh look! They just took the key out and they're talking about it. They're looking at it and passing it back and forth. The taller one is going to keep it. He's tying it onto his belt loop with a ribbon. Now they're lying down for the night. Maybe the bat can fly in and creep over there and until it?" Edward says.

Or maybe we could just tear out their throats while they're sleeping. Henry replies.

Oh yeah. Edward answers.

Henry does an internal facepalm and thinks 'idiot'.

Let's give them an hour. Henry says.

They shift back into their human form so they can consult with the vampire and tell them of the plan. "So, in about an hour, while in wolf form, we're going to attack their camp and rip their throats out. Then we'll steal the key. We need you to stay in your vampire form and be ready to attack in case anything goes sideways." Henry explains.

A/N Please drop me a comment and let me know if you like the story or the chapter. I love all feedback both critical and complimentary. Also check out my other books Dragon Brothers - Completed

Cyprian and the Slave

Her Demon His Angel

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