Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 16

"Well so much for that." Sabrina sighed and poked out her bottom lip with a pout. "So much for what?" Tonya asked.

"So much for adding Ryan to my list of conquests." Sabrina said with a wry smile.

"Oh goodness Sabrina. That list is disgusting. You really need to find your mate..." Tonya shook her head.

"Your list of conquered?" Lucy asked, raising her eyebrow to Sabrina.

"Have you noticed how gorgeous your mate is? Who wouldn't want to break themselves off a piece of that..." She could see Lucy's eyes darkening as she spoke. She quickly waved her off. "But I never go after mated males. I do have principles after all. He is your mate so I can respect that."

"Well he is but he isn't. He is my mate but I am engaged to your prince..."

"It seems like that doesn't matter to Ryan." Sabrina shrugged. "He must feel confident that the royal family will let him keep you..."

"Well, it is more than just him making the decision here. But we haven't been able to have a proper conversation over it yet. I did explain to him that I wasn't going to choose him though. I have a duty to fulfill our species treaty." Lucy felt her stomach turn as she said this. The idea of parting with Ryan was making her nauseous. Obviously, her body disagreed with what she was trying to convince everyone else. She needed to convince herself as well that she would not take him as her mate. When the time came that she would really walk away from the man that made her heart beat.

"Hmmm." Sabrina said as a smile spread across her face. "And you think he is going to just let you go? Ryan?" She chuckled and shook her head. "He may act sweet around you but he is a fierce leader. There is a reason he can command our band of powerful elites. He isn't a push over. He is dangerous and can be vicious at times. He can be cold and unfeeling, but he ALWAYS gets what he wants. And under his leadership we NEVER fail. THAT is who Ryan is. And if he has decided you will be his then you already are." "I hear what you are saying. But if I choose to leave, Ryan will be in for the fight of his life if he tries to stop me. It isn't just me. My parents will come for me before too long. If they are even waiting as it is. If they know Jasper has come for me then they may be waiting... if not..." Lucy sighed and rubbed her forehead. "My family can be pretty scary. And if the whole family gets involved, I don't care how strong anyone is, they can't fight off my family." It really did come down to this too. If Lucy was held against her will her family would crush anyone who stood in their way. They were not an ordinary family after all. Heck if her Aunt Rhea asked her Uncle Levi to, he could wipe out the vampires. Which is why the other deities have always been cautious of their relationship. Since a god can easily bend the world to their will with their power. But Rhea would never ask Levi to use his powers like that... lucky for the world.

"Sweetie... Ryan wouldn't have to fight anyone to keep you." Sabrina giggled and waved her hand at the silly idea.

"What do you mean?"

"He could just simply take you. He could take you and disappear with you. He wouldn't have to fight with the vampire royalty or your family. He could just hide you away somewhere. There are so many places around the world where he could keep running and hiding. Deep maze-like caves he could hide you in... just think of the possibilities." Sabrina shrugged and held her hand out.

"He wouldn't do that." Lucy said confidently.

"And what makes you think like that? You barely know him." Sabrina was curious where this faith in Ryan came from.

"Well for one if he wanted to, he could have marked me and he hasn't. And two I can sense that he doesn't have bad intentions."

"And on that note let's go and sit down." Tonya said and lifted Lucy up. She gave her an apologetic smile when Lucy shot daggers at her. "Sorry Lucy but Ryan's orders. But I will say I think your faith in him would make him cry blood in happiness."

--

The group of stealthy vampires dashed through the treetops in silence. This mission was all about getting to Jasper before he did something reckless. They have a plan in the works to take down Beryl. But they were waiting for one thing all this time. They were trying to find the location of an ancient evil. One that hid its true character, but time had a way of telling its secrets.

They have been tirelessly searching for Wicker a dangerous witch doctor... well that is what he wanted everyone to believe. But Wicker was not a witch doctor he just used it as a disguise to not get caught. He was more sinister and dangerous... they just needed to find out his location and where they met. Then they would be able to give this information to the Locke's so that they could end him.

Wicker was not someone their group of vampires could take out. In fact, if their suspicions were correct, he was not someone any of them could take out. They would need a tier one deity in order to put an end to him. Yes, he was that dangerous. And one would assume this would be an original demon but that is not the case. Wicker is a tier one deity... at least Ryan was almost certain of this. He wasn't sure what the deity's real name is, but he went by Wicker among the darkness. He lurked in the shadows and assisted the demons.

Wicker was clever, cautious and dangerous. He was never seen. In all the years they had been on this case they were never able to sniff him out. It was beginning to get discouraging and soon he was going to have to abandon finding out more information on him. They would have to take out Beryl and the pests she had created along the way. And all they would be able to do is pass the suspicions along to the Locke family. He hoped to have more than this to present to the king and queen of the vampires though. Ryan wanted to have something. A location, motivation, the overall plan...something! But all he had was a hunch and his suspicions. This all stemmed from whispers he heard from the creatures of the shadows. Demons who hissed that his blood was not their own. But why would a deity lurk among demons? It was almost as if this deity was seeking to cause chaos by any means necessary just to cause chaos.

Ryan suddenly halted and the rest of the vampires immediately froze as well. The scent of blood wafted in the air. The strong smell of iron was getting heavier in the air as the wind carried it to them. The tiniest of vibrations were picked up as he listened closely. He could hear the sound of fighting off in the distance. His eyes flashed over to Zach and there was no need for words. Another scent hit their nose. It was blood again, but it was a scent they all recognized. It had come from Jasper.

Speed was now more important than stealth as the band of vampires sprinted through the treetops. At first Ryan felt relieved they were heading away from the forest where the witches trail went. That was until he came across the scene below him. Jasper dripped in blood both his and foreign. He was holding off a small vicious army of creatures with pale clay looking skin. The only color was from the crimson liquid that was splattered on their bodies. Ryan landed at Jasper's side followed by Enzo, Lenny, Zach and Chaz.

"What the hell are you doing Jasper?" Ryan growled as he took a fighting stance next to him.

"I came out here to invite them to my tea party and they just got hostile. Some people have no sense of culture." Jasper panted out as he wiped a trickling red drop from his forehead. He then looked around nervously. "Where is Lucy?!"

"She is safe. Which is more than I can say for you. You can't fight an army of the voidless all on your own." Ryan shook his head angrily as the zombie-like army fixated on them.

"Oh they have a name now?" Jasper grinned looking over at Ryan who looked less than amused. "We have to take care of them. They are heading for the Slate pack."

Ryan groaned and gritted his teeth. "Let's make it quick and get back. I don't like being away too long."

Jasper looked at Ryan curiously when he said that. "I want to finish this up too. I need to see Lucy for myself." His eyes met with Ryan's and there was a sharp look between them. Which couldn't get more read into since the voidless suddenly charged into the group of vampires.

Chaz leaped forward and crashed into a blob of white creatures like a bowling ball hitting down the pins. Zach and Enzo quickly began relieving the enemies of their heads. While Lenny grabbed the heads and bodies, piling them up to burn.

"You can rest Jasper. We can handle the rest." Ryan said and sprinted forward. As he went to s***h at one of the voidless it suddenly fell over. It's body went one way while it's head went another. Jasper shrugged and grinned.

"You have to move faster than that. And here I thought you were an elite soldier." Jasper gave Ryan a cocky grin and dove into more voidless.

Ryan scoffed. "I'll show you why I am considered elite." He bit on the tip of his finger creating a string of blood. He grabbed the crimson strand that hardened under his touch turning into a blood whip. He raised it upwards and belted it forward. A loud c***k echoed in the air and five heads of the voidless went rolling over the ground.

Jasper turned and quirked an eyebrow at Ryan. "Really? You are going to use noble moves? So petty just to try to win." He turned around with a frown. The voidless were already wiped out and none left to show his own moves on. "I guess I'll have to show you up next time." He let out a big yawn and rested back on his heels. "Man, I am exhausted."

Ryan watched as Lenny torched the bodies and heads of the voidless. These were creatures that started appearing more and more. They were the ones that were responsible for the attacks on werewolves recently. They attacked with claws and fangs similar to vampires only more savage. It is enough for the blame to easily get shifted to vampires. And the fact this small army was heading towards werewolves was not a coincidence.

"Okay... well let's head back. I need to see Lucy. She almost stopped my heart." Jasper said, shaking his head.

"Before that... we need to talk... privately." Ryan pinned his gaze on Jasper. His face and tone were both serious. Jasper narrowed his eyes at Ryan. "Lucy isn't hurt is she? If something happened to her-"

"She's okay. But we do need to talk about her."

Jasper straightened up and stared into the amber eyes in front of him.

What is it? Jasper asked through their mind link. The best way to keep it private would be this way. No chance of someone eavesdropping in their heads. And from the look on Ryan's face it was a serious conversation. Jasper, Lucy is my mate.