Prince Darrius

Part 2 Chapter 24

It isn't long before I feel like I literally collapse into a deep sleep, with Darrius holding me tightly to him. I was just exhausted from the hours I spent with Darrius making slow and sweet love to me, over and over again. My legs were jelly, my mind just simply switched off – my body could only handle so much pleasure. Darrius never required sleep as a vampire, but chose to sleep with me anyway because he said how he didn't want to leave me alone – knowing me, he said I would probably sleep walk my way into danger.

I wasn't going to be let out of his sight anytime soon. Which was perfectly fine with me.

This sleep was well needed and well deserved considering how much we all had to deal with these last couple of days. Eddrick changing Johnathan, hurting Caitlin's sister, Abbey, the werewolves abducting Maximus and Isobel – both of whom were human. Not to mention Jaime, my twin, was apparently the Queen of Darkness which meant Eddrick wanted me dead as soon as possible.

So sleep? Was more than welcome.

The dreamless sleep I am dwelling in, however, is interrupted when curled up next to Darrius. The door slams open and the ceiling lights are suddenly flickered on.

And I hear a voice I do not expect to hear.

"Before you both ask – no, I don't care that I'm interrupting, and yes, I escaped the werewolves," Maximus is cut off by Darrius growling loudly, and I open my eyes, squinting in the light to look from Darrius to Maximus.

Maybe I was dreaming. Maybe –

"Maybe I care about you barging in," Darrius snaps, sitting up and pulling the covers in around me tighter, hiding my nakedness. I just squint and rub my eyes with my hands, trying to see more clearly.

"Are you okay?" I ask in a sleepy whisper to Maximus, watching him walk right over and sit on the edge of the bed, closer to Darrius where he can look down at me and face his best friend.

"I'm dandy," Maximus says slyly, giving me a little smirk which I can't help but smile back to, "However, I could be dandier if I wasn't human anymore –"

"Maybe you can stay human, since you're an annoying shit and deserve it," Darrius snaps, glaring at Maximus with all the hostility of a jealous, maddened vampire prince.

"I'm a vampire hunter right now," Maximus loses his smirk – looking more serious, "I literally want to punch you in the face. I don't want to feel like that."

"Get out, I'll turn you later, Jennifer and I don't need you coming in here like you own the place. This is my bedroom and I'm a Hunter, I feel like punching you right now," Darrius gets out of bed, fully naked and unashamed as he grabs Maximus' arm and hauls him to his feet also.

Maximus looks over to me, still wrapped up in the covers and contentedly watching the exchange between best friends who were clearly irking each other.

"Jennifer, I'm sorry you have to see what is about to unfold," Maximus says in a genuine, but slightly mocking tone.

"Hmm? – Oh!" I gasp as I see Maximus turn to Darrius, who is about to escort him out of the room – and Maximus suddenly, out of nowhere, punches Darrius in the face as hard as he can. The force behind the hit even makes Darrius' nose start to bleed almost instantly, while he looks shocked from the sudden attack and he stumbles back a step or two.

With wide eyes, my heart beat already speeding up, I watch as Darrius goes to punch him back, but Maximus side steps and conveniently kicks him in the naked ass – while laughing.

I watch Darrius pause, facing away from Maximus, his face twitches in anger before he slowly turns around. He brings his wrist up to his mouth, fangs ripping out a gash in his arm so it starts to bleed heavily. Then I watch as he suddenly pounces at Maximus, throwing him to the floor and jumping on top of him, shoving his wrist into Maximus' mouth.