Prince Justus and the Rogue
Chapter 25 - Gracia’s Father

Justus POV

As soon as the ceremony was over the guests were moved to the ballroom where music was playing and in an adjoining room food was served with tables spread about. Gracia and I went to the castle vault to place our crowns and my golden scepter back inside as we only used them on certain occasions.

I walked in and Gracia gasped and for a moment I just froze. Once I got myself together I mindlinked Emil, Jackin, and Mack to get here now because of a breach in security. Castle security falls under Mack's position so he'll be investigating this but I also need my beta and delta to know because of the seriousness of the event. I quickly went inside the vault to see what was taken and it didn't take long. They took the Key to the Gates of Guinee. I looked at the two guards and they were definitely killed by vampires.

Mack got there first and we started talking. "They were older vampires that were able to mask their scent."

"That will make it near impossible for tracking." I slammed a fist into the wall.

"Not necessarily. They can not remove their scent one hundred percent just like they can not with witches potion. They still have a strong metallic scent in the air like blood. The trackers will be able to follow the metallic scent until it changes and then they can follow their true scents to wherever their hideout is. Hopefully, they don't go too far and we can get the key back before someone else gets it. I have already sent two trackers out and King Damon offered to send a vampire tracker out with them." Mack said, giving me a full report and explanation.

Gracia POV

We change from our ceremony clothes into more normal attire. I'm wearing a royal blue dress, with a strip of navy blue going straight down the center of the dress with light blue flowers embroidered around the edges, and a large thick brown leather belt to complete it. Justus is dressed in black pants, black boots that have brown cuffs, and a brown suit that has black designs on it. I picked up a silver crown with sapphires and Justus picked up a gold crown with no jewels.

We all congregated inside Justus' study to discuss the missing key. I could tell how upset Justus was over the theft. A servant broke up our discussion by knocking on the door and then entering. "A man has requested an audience with the queen. He did not give a name." The servant informed us.

"Did he say why he wants to speak with me?" I asked, feeling a little uncomfortable with this.

"My apologies but he did not. He just keeps on repeating that he wants to see you." The servant replied apologetically.

"What does he look like? Does he look like a noble?" I asked not to try to sound snobby but I may want Justus to accompany me to go speak with him as I am suddenly getting flashbacks of my father.

"He has on a dirty tunic with stains and holes in it, brown pants stuffed inside of black boots that have seen better days, and an old beat up looking brown coat. He is clean shaven and his breath is fresh but his clothes reeks of beer and cheap cologne." The servant said getting a little nervous.

"What's wrong Gracia? What are you thinking? I can go with you if you want?" Justus intervened.

"I have a nasty suspicion that it is my father. He has not caught up to Cecily and I in over two years. I guess he heard that I have been declared Queen. He probably wants money." I said my cheeks were flaming with embarrassment. "Let's go together and I'll speak first. If I don't feel comfortable with him speaking with you then he won't. Is that okay with you?" Justus asks as he takes my hand.

"Yes, I think that would be for the best." Gracia said as we stand up to follow the servant to the back entrance to the throne room. Once we are seated the guards bring in the man wanting to meet me.

"It's him. It's my father." I whispered to Justus so only he could hear me.

"What do you want to speak with the Queen about?" Justus spoke first.

"I want to talk to the Queen, not you." The man said.

"Well, until you answer my question I refuse to allow your audience with the queen. As king I supersede everything. My word is law." Justus spit right back to him.

"She's my daughter and that gives me the right to have a conversation with her so butt out Mr King Boy. I don't know what kind of sham they're running around here but you're not even old enough to be king. You need to go back to your mother before I spank your ass." The man answered disrespectfully.

Justus stepped down from his throne and approached Gracia's father. Two Guards stepped closer, one on either side. "You do not come into my house and talk to me like that. As far as being Gracia's father that does not give you an automatic right to speak to her. Look at how you're dressed, your clothes are filthy, and they reek of beer. Why should I allow you to see the queen when you're dressed like this? When you dress and act so disrespectfully?"

Justus walked up to the servant that had brought him to the throne room earlier. "Mitchell, take this man and give him a room on the second floor. Give him a new set of clothes, food to eat but no beer, and run him a bath." Justus turned back to Gracia's father. "I'll give you one chance and one chance only. If you screw this up then you won't be allowed back into the castle. If you behave I'll allow you to have an audience with the queen tomorrow after breakfast."

"Well, thank you. This is how the father of the queen should be treated." Gracia's father walked off following the servant.

Once he and the servant had left Gracia got off her throne and came to stand at my side. "Wow." Is all I had to say when I turned to look at her.

"Yeah, that's my father. I need to go get Cecily and let her know he's here. I'm not sure how she'll react."

Third Person POV

The vampire that had stolen the key made it to the cabin in the woods that was to be the meeting point. He met with another vampire that was a part of his coven but did not belong with the ones that were paying for the key. "Why isn't he here? He better show up. I didn't risk stealing this damn thing for nothing." The first vampire said feeling exhausted.

"I don't know. He said if he wasn't there to wait for him. So, let's wait." The other one said. "What is this key for anyways?" The second vampire asked while getting comfortable in a chair at a table..

"I think it opens a portal to the underworld. But I don't know where." The first vampire said while looking out the windows of the cabin.

"What would someone do with an open portal to the underworld?" The second vampire asked. He's not super bright.

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"They could conjure a demon, spirit, or a ghost without having to perform a ritual and because they had the key they would own or be able to control whatever it is they conjured." The first vampire explained slowly like he was talking to a child.

"Okay. I'm feeling antsy as I've been sitting here and waiting a lot longer than you. There is a small human village not far from here. I'm going to get a fresh kill. When I come back you can go." The second vampire said. The Trackers POV

The trackers did a good job of following the vampires that stole the key especially with the help of the vampire tracker from King Damon. They were able to track the vampires straight to the cabin that they were now sitting in. "Should we wait and see who the other person is that they're waiting on or should we just go in and kill them and take the key? Tracker Henry asked.

"I don't think we should take the risk of a third person coming along especially if it's Achard. He's crazy fast and really skilled at battle. I don't really want to fight him. Let's go in and kill these two and take the key." Tracker Edward said.

"I think we should wait for the third person to show up. What if it isn't Achard? Wouldn't we like to know who else is in competition to get this thing? Besides, I think I can take Achard. I'm not scared."

"Well, it looks like two more just showed up and their cloaks are obscuring their faces. They could be witches, vampires, humans, werewolves. We don't know." Tracker Henry said.

A/N Please drop me a comment and let me know if you like the story or the chapter. I love all feedback both critical and complimentary. Also check out my other books Dragon Brothers - Completed

Cyprian and the Slave

Her Demon His Angel

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