Page 18 of Princess
“One, I could deal with but four is driving me crazy!” Nadira rolled her eyes as they made their way out of the locker room. No one could possibly understand what it was like to have four alpha older brothers, and a father who was king of thevampires.
“So are they going to make you mate with the son of that king?” Anika asked while they waited for theelevator.
“No, Adrian says that my father is trying to negotiate peace another way. We don’t know why after fifty years, they just appeared all of a sudden,” Nadira explained as they got on theelevator.
“That is just crazy! Who gets married or mated through an arrangement now? That is so old fashioned!” Anika chuckled. “But atleast—”
The elevator shuddered to a stop. The lights flickered as the elevator became silent. They both looked at eachother.
“Not tonight!” Nadira groaned as she pushed the emergencybutton.
“I don’t have time for this. I need to get home and crash!” Anika said pulling her phone out of her purse. “No signal. Check your phone; maybe we can call the operator to get someone herequicker.”
Nadira pulled out her phone noting that she too had no reception. “No luck with my phone.” She pushed the emergency button again. The red light next to the speaker came on as the sound of a phone ringing from the speaker next to the emergencybutton.
“What’s your emergency?” A nasal female voice answered through thespeaker.
“We’re stuck on an elevator!” Anika said, speaking into thespeaker.
“What’s your location?” The nasal voiceasked.
“Lutheran Hospital,” Nadira answered. There was no response from the speaker. Loud static could be heard from the speaker. Nadira and Anika looked at each other as the static got louder, then itcutoff.
“Princess…” A low strangled voice came over the speaker. The air in the elevator became chilly. Nadira pushed Anika behind her as if the threat was on theelevator.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Nadira demanded, as she checked her cell phone again, finding it still with noreception.
“We’re coming for you,” the voice whisperedfiercely.
“Who is?” She could feel Anika’s trembling hands grab onto the back of herjacket.
“We’re coming for you,” the voice repeated as the red light next to the speaker turned off and the speakerwentdead.
“When we get out of this elevator, you are to go straight to your car. Get in and go straight home. Do not stop for anything,” Nadira ordered, turning to Anika, gripping her shoulders to make her look at her. Anika’s eyes were wide as saucers as she looked at Nadira. “Do you understand, Anika?” She shook her slightly, pulling Anika from her shock. Anika blinked quickly before nodding her head inunderstanding.
The elevator groaned, shuddered again, and began making its way to the first floor. Nadira grabbed a hold of Anika’s hand as the door opened. She cautiously leaned out of the door, peeking at the empty hallway. With it being a little after three in the morning, the hospital tended not to have many visitors or employeesaround.
“Stay behind me,” Nadira said softly. Even though Anika was a few inches taller than Nadira, it would be Nadira protecting her. There was no way that she would let something happen to her best friend. They rapidly made their way towards the front door. She could see Cyran’s black BMW parked by the curb in front of the door. He took one look them and jumped out of the car on high alert. He pulled his gun from the holster under his leather jacket. He held up his hand, signaling for them to wait as he walked aroundthecar.
Cyran was chosen by Nicu to guard Nadira. He was one of most lethal vampires that were employed by her brother. He has sworn to the king to give his life to protect the princess. He came in through thefrontdoor.
“What is wrong, Princess?” His voice was deep as his eyes assessed the hallway. She quickly told him what happened on the elevator. “We need to get you out of here.” He escorted them out the door, insisting to drive Anika to her car and promising Nadira that he would send a vampire guard to meet herathome.
“You will be safe, Anika,” Nadira said as she hugged Anikatight.
“I’m not worried about me. I’m human, and they don’t want me. The voice said they were coming for you. Promise me you’ll stay safe,” Anika grabbed Nadira’s hand, squeezing itslightly.
“I’ll be fine. I have the best protecting me. No harm will come to me,” Nadira said, squeezing her hand back. Seeming to be comforted by that, Anika got out of the car and jumped in hers. She waved as shepulledoff.
“I have called Idris and he is close by. He will meet your friend at her place and stay tonight to monitor her. She will be safe,” Cyran said taking in her worried looked as he pulled their car ontotheroad.
“Thank you, Cyran,” she said, staring off into the night from herbackseat.
“It is an honor to protect you, Princess,” he replied, his eyes meeting hers in the rearviewmirror.
“You’re just saying that. I’m sure you would prefer to be assigned to any otherdetail.”
“Believe me—” a string of curses escaped his lips as he looked into the reviewmirror.
