(WARNING: THIS CHAPTER MAY CONTAIN SOME VIOLENT SCENES AND SEXUAL ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE GRAFIC FOR YOUNGER VIEWERS.)
I was up just before dawn to get ready for the large search area that we were able to narrow down to just about five square miles. Just as I was getting ready to leave my phone began to ring; It was Ken. A large smile stretched across my face as I answered.
"Hey."
I said happily.
"Hey, love. What you up to?"
"Getting ready to go to work."
"At 5:30 in the morning?"
"Yeah, we got enough evidence to believe that the missing girl is somewhere on this massive plot of land."
"That's good, but how big is your search area?"
"About 3,200 acres, no big deal."
Ken scoffed.
"Yeah right, it's definitely not that big of a deal."
He said sarcastically. I chuckled.
"Anyway, I'm hoping to find her alive."
"I am too. Just be safe."
"I will. Foster, Chester, and Rose will be there to watch over me, from a distance at least."
"Good, I'll be back later tonight. So, I'll talk to you later."
"Ok, see you tonight."
"See you tonight princess."
I then hung up. Time for me to get going.
When I got to the location everyone was already here and getting ready. Once parked I got out and looked around me. I saw officer Francis, Elmore, and Wren, Detective Olive and Kirk, Dr. Harvey, and standing next to them was Juli and Josiah. I almost forgot, I still have to deal with a curious Juli. When I got out of my car I headed towards Juli and Joe when my eyes locked with Kayla's who was standing under the forensic team's tent. When our eyes met she nodded her head to me. Kay too? Hiding my surprise I nodded my head back to her before continuing on.
"So, Juli! Do you want to talk?!"
I called as I headed over. When Juli turned to me she jumped as she tried to hide behind Joe as Joe started laughing hysterically.
"Told you she'd find out."
Joe said in between laughs. I looked to Joe.
"Oh, you're not out of the woods yet either."
I said, pointing sternly at him as I placed my other hand on my hip. Joe gulped, clearly nervous. Good, as he should be. Fear my tinny fury!!
"For now we have bigger fish to fry. So, what's the plan?"
I asked. Juli cleared her throat as she hesitantly stepped out from behind Joe.
"Well, we have volunteers coming in the next 20 minutes. When they do get here we're all going to start walking in a grid search. We know there's a house on the property."
Juli then turned to me.
"So, you, Joe, Elmore, Olive, and Wren will head over there now."
She said looking at each of us that she just named before continuing.
"We have a warrant, so when you enter the house proceed with caution."
We nodded as I turned to More, Olive, and Wren.
"You ready to go check out the house?"
I asked as I put on my bullet-proof vest.
"Hell yeah!"
Wren said pumped as she redid her bun to keep her thick dark brown hair out of her face and away from her soulless dark brown eyes. The only time any of us see this kind of enthusiasm from Wren is whenever a kid is involved and when we get to do a big raid like today. Whatever motivates her to be at her best I guess.
We had to get through the thick backwoods in order to get to the house. As we began to get close strange noises began to fill my ears. It sounded like girls crying and whimpering. The closer we got not only did the sounds get louder, but the smell of blood that hung in the air became thick. The stench was so overwhelming that it made me nauseous, and it was by no means fresh. It was definitely old, dry, and dirty. I have a really bad feeling about this whole situation.
Once the house came into view I had us stop just short of the ecotone, also called the forest edge. Instead of speaking, I used ASL to explain the plan.
"Wren, you go around back. More, you search the barn with Olive. Joe, you're with me while we go to the front."
I then looked to Wren and Joe.
"When the three of us go in, Wren you cover the second floor. Joe, the first, and I'll head into the basement. Wren, once done go check with More and Olive, Joe, with me once you're finished too."
I then looked to everyone.
"Everyone know what they're doing?"
I asked. They all nodded.
"Good. Guns out and safety off, let's move."
I signed as we all pulled out our pistols. As Joe and I approached the front door More and Olive went to the barn and Wren went around to the back door. I looked to Joe who nodded. I knocked on the door loudly.
"Open up! KTPD!"
I waited a few moments but there was no answer. Joe moved to the side as I kicked down the door right off its hinges. Ignoring what just happened Joe entered first checking the corners first. Wren entered moments after, quickly doing the same before ascending the stairs to the second floor. As Joe began sweeping the first floor I headed to the basement where the smell of blood was strongest.
The basement didn't look very big and was pretty clean, but I didn't trust my eyes. I followed the scent to a bookcase and noticed the disturbance in the dust around it. I was thankfully able to move the bookcase with ease. Bingo, a secret iron door. I tried to open it only to find it locked. Sighing I grabbed my lock picking kit and easily picked the lock. When I opened the door I was met with a long hallway. I turned my head as I heard Joe walk down the stairs and towards me.
"Don't go in alone."
I scoffed.
"Trust me, I wasn't planning to."
Joe clicked on his flashlight and whistled at how long it went. It was only then that I noticed how dark the hallway really was.
"Ladies first."
He said as he moved his hand in a motion to gesture me to go ahead of him as he bowed like a gentleman.
"Wow, thanks."
I said chuckling as I rolled my eyes and turned my flashlight on before heading in. It took over ten minutes to get to the end of the hallway where we were met with another iron door. I went to grab my kit but Joe stopped me. I looked at him confused.
"Why are you stopping me?"
"I know you don't need it."
"What-"
"I know what you are."
My eyes widened as my mouth dropped wide open.
"H-how?"
"My step-father is my mother's mate. When you were bit I couldn't be sure if you were turned or not. But when I saw Kay nod to you and when you kicked down the door I knew right then that you indeed were turned."
I was speechless. I looked down at my feet.
"But I don't think I'm strong enough to pull that off."
"I know you are, just focus your strength and imagine you're kicking down a regular wooden door."
I sighed as I nodded; Joe took a couple steps back. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I did as Joe said. Suddenly I felt power and electricity flood my body. I opened my eyes and kicked the door, sending the door flying as lighting fueled my kick. Joe looked at me with wide eyes.
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but that works too."
Hiding my shock I walked straight in to see a room lined with cells, each holding a weak, tired-looking young girl covered in blood and bite marks not only on their necks but all over their body… vampires. I noticed that out of the 15 girls Lacy was thankfully one of them. At first, I didn't see our kidnapper till I heard whimpering in the corner. I looked over to see the pathetic sick man who bowed to me on his hands and knees, quivering in fear. His head slowly moved to look at me, his scared eyes meeting my furious ones.
"P-please, please Your Majesty, please have mercy on me!"
He sobbed. Joe turned to me confused.
"'Your Majesty'?"
"I'll explain later."
I said quickly. As I approached the man I was suddenly grabbed and pulled back. When I looked back to see who grabbed me I saw Chester staring daggers at the man as he held my arm tightly, but not hard enough to hurt me.
"Careful Your Majesty, you almost set off a tripwire."
I looked down to see that he was right. Without warning, the sound of manic laughter filled the room; echoing off the walls causing the girls to instinctively whimper as they cowered away from the man and further into their cells and closer to each other.
"I was so close!"
We turned back to the man, his laughing continuing as we went on a rant.
"Could you imagine, me!? The one to kill the Queen and simultaneously taking down the King! Thus allowing the true King to take his rightful place on the throne! But no!"
His laughing then stopped as his voice and face became dark and twisted.
"You! You had to go and ruin it! My plan was perfect!"
He got up and went to charge me, but before he could I aimed my pistol at his heart and pulled the trigger as one of the black iron bullets embedded itself in his chest, killing him instantly. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding as I turned to Joe.
"Go get the others. I'll get these cells open and the girls who are tied up untied."
I said, feeling both numb, sad, confused, angry, and relieved all at the same time as Chester disarmed the tripwire. Joe nodded and headed back to get back up and to lead them here.
As I was untying the girls I noticed that the bite marks were identical to the ones of the case that involved Kendal, but how?
It wasn't till 9:30 pm till I finally got home. I heavily sighed as I plopped myself down on the couch as I closed my eyes, not bothering to change from my work clothes.
"Long day?"
I jumped upon hearing Kendal's voice. I looked at him as I gave him a small smile, too exhausted to move from my spot.
"You have noo idea."
Kendal chuckled as he sat down next to me and pulled me into his warm strong arms. I smirked as I already felt a hundred times better.
"I'm glad you're back."
"I'm glad to be back."
That's when today's recuse popped into my head.
"Kendal?"
"Hum?"
"You didn't have anything to do with that 15-year long case, did you?"
Ken sighed.
"No, not exactly. The guy you caught was the culprit for those attacks. I've been trying to catch him for years, but after I turned you his victims changed from just killing couples in their home to kidnapping young girls. I suspect that he changed his M.O. out of fear."
I looked up into his large black eyes.
"So, you didn't kill all those people?"
He shook his head.
"No. I made it illegal to kill humans without reason. That's why we have LBBs as well as blood banks."
"Then, what about the survivors who say that you were the one that they saw?"
"Because we're only allowed to feed on the LBBs and other methods that we have as otherwise it's illegal to leave a human. But when one of us does feed on a regular human we either have to give them the option of becoming an LBB. a vampire, or death. It is imperative that our existence not be revealed."
I nodded, feeling much more confident about my relationship with Ken. I turned around in his arms, not even caring that I was not straddling him. Our eyes locked as my lips suddenly became dry. I fought the urge to lick my lips as the most luscious and addictive scent of lemongrass and citrus filled my nose. I leaned in closer to Ken, the scent got stronger. Is this Ken's scent? If so, I never want him to leave my side again.
Suddenly, Ken's lips were on mine. My eyes widened for a moment before melting into the kiss, my arms snaking around his neck as I pulled him closer. He licked my bottom lip asking for permission, which I gladly allowed as his rough hands to travel under my shirt, his touch sending pleasurable sparks across my skin making me feel weak, but a good weak. His tongue immediately plunged into my mouth, our tongues fought for dominance, of course, he won, his tongue exploring every inch of my mouth. A moan slipped through my lips when his hands reached my breasts.
I quickly broke the kiss to take off my shirt before placing my lips back onto his. As the kiss intensified his hands moved to unclasp my bra, sliding it off. His lips moved from my mouth to my left breast as his hand massaged my right. After each breast received the same treatment he continued up my neck where I felt his canines elongate against my skin. As I felt his teeth sink into my flesh unimaginable pleasure erupted throughout my body as I let out a loud moan, throwing my head back as I gripped onto his hair. That's when a knock sounded at the front door. Shit.
Kendal released my neck as he let me get up to put my bra and shirt on with an irritated growl. Once dressed I opened the door to see Javier and a girl with elaborate styled elbow-length thick black hair and large blue eyes; she has toned arms, a powerful torso with well-defined muscles, a narrow waist, toned legs, pale tan skin, and 5'6. She gave me a warm smile as they both bowed to us.
"Good evening Your Majesties."
Jay said respectfully.
"Jay, Colette, what brings you two here?"
As soon as Jay's light green eyes met with Ken's black eyes his warm and happy expression turned serious.
"We need to talk, and I think Adelaide needs to hear this too as it concerns her."
Ken nodded as we let the two of them in and into the living room.
"First things first,"
Ken started.
"Addi, this is Duchess Colette Acker, Jay's wife and mate."
He said, directing to the blue-eyed woman who bowed her head to me.
"Nice to finally meet Her Majesty Adelaide Clayden."
I smiled at her.
"Please, no need for such formalities, just call me Addi."
Her smile widened.
"In that case, please call me Cole."
Ken then became serious as he turned to Jay.
"So, what's going on?"
"The council is becoming restless. They're demanding that you marry and crown a Queen within these next three months."
Jay said, glancing to me. Ken sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He was about to say something, but I beat him to it.
"I'll do it."
Ken quickly turned to me.
"Addi, are you sure? I can talk to the council, we can wait till you're ready."
I shook my head.
"I'm sure. I'm your mate so it was bound to happen sooner or later, and as your mate, I'd like to perform my role as such. Besides, I have four months worth of PTO and Vacation time saved up anyway."
Ken nodded.
"Very well."
Ken looked back to Jay.
"When does the council want us at the Royal Capital?"
"In two weeks."
Ken nodded.
"Ok, thank you. We'll begin to make preparations."
Jay nodded as he and Cole left. Once gone Ken turned to me as he placed his hands on my cheeks as he stared deeply into my eyes.
"Are you sure you want to get married so soon? I can talk to the old bastards. Once they know I've found my mate they'll calm down then."
I shook my head as I placed my hands over his.
"I'm sure."
A small smile formed on my lips.
"It's still at least three months away, and besides, we have a lot of people waiting for their Queen."
Ken smiled as he kissed my nose. My smile widening.
"You're too good for me."