The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 73 (Last Chapter)

CHAPTER 73

Tracy yawned and stretched as the cool morning made her shiver slightly. Quickly getting dressed, she grimaced at the sight of the morning dew. With a sigh and grumble about her shoes getting wet, she went off to find her grandfather.

The Protector yawned. She had been woken out of REM sleep when the former vampire king, Darius, had arrived late the night before with over 500 hundred Born Hunters. A number of the men did not have tents or clothes since they were forced to flee in due haste. Fortunately, there was enough tents and extra gear to supply those without with the necessaries. The Omegas and Cotton, who was in charge of supplies, quickly sorted the men out. Darius and several new arrivals were bunked up with those who had extra space while the others helped set up the tents.

Arriving at the grandfather's tent, she saw Cotton already up and working on a Sudoku puzzle. "Good morning. Is grandpa up?"

Cotton pursed her lips, "He is."

Upset that he would be going out during the daytime, Cotton was not liking the set up. While Roger wouldn't go up in flames like the movies, he was a new vampire and more sensitive to light. Young vampires tended to sun burn easily and be prone to headaches and sensory overload during the day.

"I told him to stay behind." Tracy said. "But you know grandpa. Official hunter business, duty, and all of that."

Roger Evans insisted upon joining them for the exchange. Two of Alec's men were being held hostage and they had Warren Garner's only son. Ivory White and representatives would be discussing the terms of war after the exchange.

"Well, I still don't like it! He's not getting any for a week because of it."

Tracy cringed and then smiled, "That sounds more like a 'you' punishment." Knowing that her step grandmother was very attached her Beloved's... anatomy. 

Cotton sighed, then muttered, "Men."

"Good morning, Tracy." Roger said coming out of the tent dressed in coveralls, gloves, and boots with a large brim hat to complete the ensemble. Wincing as the cloudy sky cleared for the sun to peck through, he donned a pair of dark shades. "How do I look?" he asked jokingly.

Tracy laughed, "Your hat and boots match."

"Delicious as always my love though you would look far nicer in our tent with nothing on you but me." Cotton griped.

"And with that! I'm leaving!" Tracy shouted as she literally ran off screaming, "SOMEONE BRING ME A LOBOTOMY KIT!"

"I have water!" Reilly called from the several yards away.

"Hey Reilly!" Wheat yelled as he approached from the south side with Rye in tow. "What do you do for fun?"

"Usually my mate." Reilly said earning a slap on his arm by a glaring Tracy. "Ow woman! I'm fragile!"

Tracy huffed and walked off. Reilly returned his attention to the waiting pair of witches. "But since my gorgeous mate isn't here, want to help me draw dicks on those shields."

"REILLY!!! Don't you dare!" Tracy screamed as the group ran off. With a frustrated sigh, she stomped off in the opposite directions muttering about finding her stepfathers. 

Roger chuckled before turning back to his Eternal One. "I'll be fine. It's a simple exchange and then we'll be back."

"I have a bad feeling about this." Cotton said. "And it's those gut feelings that have kept me in one piece."

Roger's brow furrowed with worry lines. Cotton, for all her quirks and little nags to take better care of himself, she never outright tried to stop him from doing things. Part of him was glad that he had found a way around insuring that his love would live even if he should meet his untimely end.