The Missing Princess
Chapter 1 - Old Friends

Randy

20 Years Earlier

“We are happy for you and Estella.” I say.

“Do you know what you are having yet?” Aaron asked.

“No, every time we have an appointment and they perform the ultrasound the little brat isn’t in the right position to see if we are having a boy or girl. I say it is a girl, since the child is being so damn stubborn, but Estella says it is another boy. I haven't said anything to her but I am positive that it has to be a girl with how stubborn the little shit is.” Jasper responds.

I am not surprised that the baby isn’t cooperating with the doctor. When Estella was pregnant with the twin, Rory and Vance, they were not the most cooperative either. The only reason they were able to replace out they were having twin boys was because once the twins were big enough they couldn’t move around enough to evade the doctor. This little one has all the space he or she needs to move around to evade the doctor as he tries to replace out what Estella and Jasper are having. Aaron and I have known Jasper since we were young. We had all gone to school together. Jasper and I had grown up in the same coven while Aaron was the son of the alpha of a wolf pack that our coven was allied with. We were there when Aaron had met his mate Amelia and they had been there when I had met my mate Lorena. Jasper had met Estella when we had been invited to the Fey kingdom, another one of our allies, for Estella’s 18th birthday. Fey King Zhamaxin and Queen Elymyna, were thrilled with the pairing. Estella had an older brother that had disappeared when she was a teenager. He had never been found, but their family connection had never broken so they knew he was still alive. I believe he was pissed that she was born. He was also an asshole and their father had informed him that he would not be the next one placed on the throne if he didn’t straighten up. That is when he disappeared. Rory and Vance would rule after Estella and Jasper. The twins are now six. They are your typical boys. They have Estella’s pale golden blond hair and Jasper’s sterling silver eyes which stand out against their pale tan complexion and cause all sorts of trouble.

“Are the boys excited for a sibling?” I asked.

“They cannot wait. They want a sister and have told us that if it is a brother to give it back.” Jasper laughs.

“They come with us to every appointment and tell the little one to move so we can see if it is a girl or boy. They get so mad when the little one will not listen. Which again makes me think that it is a girl.” Jasper adds.

I laugh at this. Most boys want a little brother but not those two which is not surprising. I know they were fascinated when they saw Amelia pregnant with Dani. When they learned it was a girl that she was having they thought that was the greatest thing ever. Reign was not as excited for a little sister but he came around. Aaron and I look at each other. I can tell Jasper is not telling us everything. I am not sure what he is hesitant to tell us, but it must be something serious. I can tell he is trying to figure out how to tell us, but he is not sure. I watch as he lets out a sigh and leans back in his chair.

“Jasper what is going on?” Aaron asks.

“While we do not know the sex of the baby we are able to feel that the little one is powerful.” Jasper answers.

“Okay.” I comment.

“You both know Estella’s parents, but what no one knows is that her mother was not her grandfather’s daughter. Her grandmother, Jezabelle, was a beautiful woman and had many admirers. Estella’s grandfather and grandmother were fated mates, but the disowned prince of the dark Fey kingdom was obsessed with her. He kidnapped and raped her, thus she conceived Estella’s mother. While Jezabelle’s mate accepted her and the child it was hidden who her father truly was. The two Fey kings were able to capture the disowned prince and he was promptly executed for what he had done. While in the light Fey world power is more or less equally distributed between children, in the dark Fey world while males have magic and power, the females are always more powerful than the males. The dark Fey are a matriarchal society and the queens always hold the power.” Jasper explains.

“Oh shit, and with your family being the only direct descendants of your goddess that granted witches/warlocks their power that means if this child is a girl that she will be powerful beyond imagination.” I gasp.

“Yes. There have been whispers within the kingdom about Estella’s brother, Zenos, returning to claim the throne. I need the two of you to promise that if something happens to us that and if this child is a girl that you two will hide and protect her for us. If Zenos does return then Estella and I will be his main target. What I am concerned about is that he would marry this child, if it is a girl, or if he has or does have a son that he will try and force them to be mates.” Jasper added.

“Of course, we will protect her with our lives.” I state.

Aaron nods his head in agreement. There is no way we will let Zenos get his hands on this child. I tell him that if it comes down to it, he can bring the child here and I will make sure he or she is safe. I can see the fear and worry fall from my friend’s face. Aaron says that his pack, the Ahi Mokupuni Pack will be ready to protect this child if needed. Aaron’s pack is the sole pack on the big island of Hawaii. They are the only pack within the islands. My coven is located on Maui while the sole vampire clan is located on Oahu. There are some of us that live on every island and we all work together to protect the islands. We are also allied with both the light and dark Fey. Eons ago we realised that the islands were their own world in a way so instead of fighting against each other we agreed to work together to protect our beautiful islands and their inhabitants that accepted us and our supernatural powers.

Jasper and Aaron stay the night as we continue to talk. Aaron tells us about his son, Reign, and his friends. They are now four to six. I know Aaron’s son, Reign, is six and build like fucking stone, just like his father. Aaron is 6 ’8″ with shoulders damn near as wide as he is tall. He was born and raised on the big island as was his family. He is a native islander. Reign is the perfect blend of him and his mate who passed away giving birth to their daughter Dani. Lorena and I never had children. I lost Lorena a few years ago to a rogue attack. Lorena and I live in Texas and while we are on good terms with the two local packs, there are rogues here. I stand on my porch as I watch Aaron and Jasper drive away. I have this terrible feeling within me that says shit is about to happen. I had no idea at the time that my feelings were going to come to fruition.

One Year Later

I awoke to someone banging on my door. I groaned as I stood up. Nothing had set off my magical alarm system so whoever was at my door meaning my magic was familiar with them. I made it to my door and ripped it open to replace Jasper standing there looking like a ghost. In his hands was a small child, a boy, their youngest. I jumped when someone crashed into one of my tables. I glanced over my shoulder to see Aaron lying on the floor. Jasper stumbled in and collapsed on the couch as Aaron stood up groaning as he shook his head. He looked about as awake as I felt. I watched as he stood up and stared at Jasper. Jasper himself looked like he had been through hell. Something had happened and I had a bad feeling that Estella had not survived.

“What the fuck is going on?” I asked.

“Estella and I were attacked a day ago. I was able to make it back to the castle, but Estella is dead. The king and queen are livid and have sent out every available person they know to replace the person responsible. They have the twins but I knew I needed to get Kodi out of there.” Jasper explained.

As we sat there the small boy faded from sight revealing a small girl with copper coloured hair and eyes the colour of fire. Her eyes were the perfect mix of gold, red, white, and copper. Her light tan skin tone barely let the light sprinkle of freckles that spread across her nose and cheeks be visible. Kodi had been born a little over a year ago in Aaron’s pack. Jasper and Estella had been visiting when she had gone into labour. The pack doctor was the only other person beside me, Jasper, Aaron, and Amelia that knew Kodi was a girl. As soon as she was born both Jasper and Estella had placed a glamour on her to disguise her as a boy that looked almost identical to Estella. I am not sure that Rory and Vance knew they had a sister.

“Randy, I need you to take Kodi and keep her safe. They do not know about you, that is why I came here. I thought about going to Aaron and his pack but they know we are friends and I knew that would be the first place they would look for her, even if they do not know that Kodi is a girl.” Jasper gasped.

“Jasper, tell us what happened.” I say.

“I am dying. I fought them off but they wounded me and my magic nor Fey magic can heal it. I told no one I was coming here. Rory and Vance are safe. Whoever pulled this is not only after Estella and I, but they are also after Kodi. Once I die the glamour will fall and it will be revealed that the son everyone thought we had was really a daughter and I will not have her in danger. Her power is unmatched, but Estella and I have been able to control it so far so no one is none the wiser. All that ends when I die. Please take her and protect my princess. I need to get back to the castle before someone realises I am gone.” Jasper groans.

Kodi is asleep in his arms when he hands her to me. I have seen her a handful of times. Jasper is able to magically send all her stuff here to my house. I moved here to Oregon about six months ago after a few Fey that I recognised were nosing around. I place Kodi in my bed as Jasper kisses her one last time before disappearing.

“Do not worry my friend, I will help. I am just a phone call away.” Aaron told me.

“I know, but this should not be happening. We need to replace out who the fuck is responsible for this.” I growl.

“We will, but this little girl is our main focus at the moment. I need to get back to the pack, but I will be back to check on the two of you every chance I get. I will have to tell Naydeen what happened so you will have her help too.” Aaron added.

The next morning I woke up to a small cry. I look over and Kodi is sitting there staring at me. I smile at her as she crawls over to me. Jasper and Estella brought her to visit me several times so she knows me. I scrunch my nose when a not so pleasant smell hits my nose. She needs her diaper changed. I pick up the little princess and carry her into the bathroom. I smile when I see that Jasper had even magically transported some of her furniture to my house. I am not sure what happened after he left here, but I am sure I will soon. I am surprised to see that her motor skills have already come in as well as her magic. We are eating breakfast when Aaron and Amelia pop in.

“Ucle Arow and Nay..” Kodi squeals.

“Hey little flame, those pancakes look good.” Aaron chuckles.

“Well?” I asked.

“Dead, the king called me about an hour ago and told me. They still have not found out who is responsible, but they think that it was an inside job. They fully believe that Zenos is behind it, but cannot prove it since he still has not been seen. The twins are fine. The king and queen have a strong suspicion that Kodi is not a boy, but they are not sure but they do agree that this is the safest place aside from the kingdom until she is old enough. They will not tell me why they are suspicious of her being a girl, but they are.” Aaron explained.

We laugh as Naydeen picks her up and carries her to the bathroom to clean her up. Aaron and I keep discussing what happened. We can’t help but laugh as we hear Kodi giggle as Naydeen bathes her. The two of them hang around for a few hours since the kids are in school. Naydeen shows me a picture of Aaron and Amelia’s daughter Dani who is about six months older than Kodi. I would love it if they could be friends. I think it would be good for Kodi. I mention this to Aaron and he agrees.

“Do not hesitate to reach out if you need anything.” Naydeen comments.

“I will not. I will talk to you soon.” I told them.

Kodi squeals as they hug her before them leave. She cries a little when they leave but I tickle her and she starts wiggling and giggling in my arms. I stand there till I am sure they are gone. I know I can count on them but Aaron has a pack to run. Naydeen came to the pack while Amelia was pregnant and never left. She has helped Aaron raise Reign and Dani. Those two are the sole reason that Aaron did not die when he lost Amelia. Naydeen being there helped as well.

“Well princess it looks like it is just you and me. Shall we do this?” I asked.

“Yay.” Kodi squeals.