The Vampire Queen

Chapter 7

Opening Up a Little

"What do you mean something else is going on?" The princess asks.
"James you're in danger, we need to leave. You two stay here. Don't speak to anyone about this, and don't look inconspicuous." Mira grabs the future king's arm and drags him out of the room.
"Where are we going?" He asks.
"To my room, I can protect you better there." Once they make it to Mira's room, she looks around before bringing him inside. She closes the door and walks over to the weapons wrack. She takes some throwing knives, and a katana.
"How long do you think it'll take for them to notice?" James asks. A knock on the door answers his question.
"Not long enough," Mira mutters. She signals for him to go into her restroom. He does this before she answers the door. The woman at the door looks around Mira.
"Do you know where Prince James is?" The woman asks. Mira lets her inside before closing the door. Then she points a gun at the woman's head.
"Here's the deal. You tell me why you're here. Or I kill you." The girl is trembling.
"I-," the woman pauses, "we-. I'm not going to tell you, go ahead and kill me." Mira locks her door, then uses the woman's bandana to cover her mouth. She makes a squeak. Mira ties the woman's wrists together with her whip. The woman lets out small screams of agony from the silver.
"You see, before you die you're still going to give me my answer." Mira puts her hands at the sides of the woman's head. She closes her eyes and concentrates.

"I got an anonymous tip from someone. My mate, our queen has been taken to the vampires' palace. We need to get her back no matter the cost. Even if we have to kill everyone inside," Mira's old mate says, "we will give no mercy!" The crowd cheers.

It was an organized ordeal.
"Why did you want to see the prince?" She asks.
"Our leader told us to kill him so you had no purpose to be here. He said that whoever kills him gets to have the honor to become third in command," she replies around the cloth.
"How many of there are you?" Mira asks.
"Over one hundred," the girl says. Mira plunges the katana into the werewolf's chest. James walks out of the other room and looks down at the woman.
"What are you doing? There are plenty of vampires downstairs that'll smell that blood," He says.
"If they have good senses, they'll know she wasn't human, or a vampire. Only vampires and me were invited to this party, once the vampires know she wasn't one of them, they'll be looking out for more," Mira's head darts to the door, she shoves James out of the way. Multiple daggers come through the door and hit Meredith. She sighs in frustration.
"There goes another dress," she says as she pulls the blades out.
"Mira," James' voice makes her look up. Werewolves are looking down at the body then at Mira.
"Stand down," she demands.
"We follow Branden, not you." One of them says.
"I am your queen, born of the right." They both look at her like she's crazy.
"If you don't believe me, then suit yourself." Before they can move Mira holds their hearts in her hands.
"Our best chance is to keep moving," she grabs James' arm and drags him down the hall.
"I can protect myself," he says a little too fast.
"For a vampire, how old are you?" She asks.
"A little over seven hundred years," he replies.
"I'm not taking the small chance that you could die from one of those bites." She walks faster, which makes James do the same. They stop when a horde of were-people fill the room but leave a large oval empty. The entryway is filled with people.
"Now, Meredith. You are going to come back, or face the consequences." Her old mate, Branden, stands on the other side of the oval.
"I'll make a deal with you Branden," Mira hands James her weapons, "We fight. If you win you get to take me back. If I win, I stay here and you never harm me or James. We can use our other forms if you wish, just for fun." The man looks at her suspiciously.
"Fine, I'll agree to those terms," he says slowly. Mira tears the train of her dress up to her knees. She hands the cloth to James.
"If I Turn put this around me," she stares into his eyes for a moment before glaring at Branden. He took his shirt off, and he's smirking at her.
"No weapons," she reminds him. He removes his gun from the holster. He drops it and kicks the weapon behind him.
"You changed from being the little defenseless girl, I almost miss your innocence." Branden smirks.
"Don't get cocky and start yapping," she warns.
Mira crouches close to the ground, one hand on the ground while the other is behind her with extended claws. She charges, Mira lands a few good hits. Branden lets out a growl. Instead of attacking, he Turns into his lion form. Pops, and snaps fill the room. Once he's the strong, agile monster, Branden circles the woman. His growling never stops, until he pounces. Mira pushes him away, but his sharp teeth sink into her arm. She grabs his bottom jaw and slams him into the ground. Branden squirms, under her touch. His claws scratch Mira's cheek. She backs away holding her cheek. It doesn't hurt, it only shocked her. Branden staggers backwards, he shakes his head. Mira gives Branden the death stare. He pounces on her, Mira's hand grips his throat. Meredith's claws pierce his windpipe. Branden jumps back choking. Mira brings her fingers to her mouth, she licks the blood off of them. Once she's done, her arms and cheek are healed. Mira clears her throat.
"I, Meredith Seraph reject Branden Grant as a mate and leader of our kind." With that said Mira pounces onto the lion. She turns into her agile lioness in midair. Branden does all he can to kick her off. Her jaw clamps around his throat. Only when Branden has stopped moving, does Mira walk back to a shocked James. He puts the material she gave him on her back. Mira morphs back to her human form, she wraps the cloth around herself.
"Bring my weapons to my room," she says before she uses her speed to get to her room. She grabs jeans, a black T-shirt, and undergarments. Once she's done that she walks to the bathroom. Before she gets there, Mira collapses. Before black dots fill her vision, she grabs her clothes and walks into the bathroom. Mira locks the door then gets into the shower. The water burns her left side, she looks at it. One of her ribs has been broken to the point that it is sticking out from her skin. Mira pushes it back into place. A sigh of relief leaves her mouth, and it reminds her of the last day she kissed Branden. She hears her door click shut, then footsteps into the bedroom. Mira turns the shower off, she dries off and gets dressed. When she looks in the mirror, Meredith sees someone other than herself. A faded image of Branden stares back at her. She turns around but nothing is there.

Sorry 'bout that, I forgot I didn't update this book. I apologize for that. Thank you for your patience. I didn't think this book would be so popular compared the other ones. Thank you all. I wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for you. My greatest apologies for such a delay...

❤~ACR