The Future King and the Commander's Daughter

Nothing Will Stop Me Pt. 1

Bjourn is Thirteen

Bjourn was watching his youngest brother at the moment, Harper, in a park at the sand box. He was playing with Gunner Percival so I had him too. They were inseparable. Brandi Turks, a friend of my mom’s, was about to give birth and both boys were protective of her. She was supposed to join us soon. It’s like somehow Harper and Gunner knew that. They kept giving me looks as if I was keeping Brandi away.

Finally I said, “Harper, I’m sure she’ll be here.” He shot me an annoyed look. I sighed, “Hey, I want the distraction of this playdate too.” Astrid was out of the realm on a mission. She’d be back soon, but it wasn’t going to be fast enough. She’d been my girlfriend from the moment she stepped back into the realm a woman from her mission. I’d asked her before anything else happened between us. I wanted her to know that she was my woman and meant the world to me.

I nearly groaned when I heard a squeal, “Bjourn!” Now Gunner and Harper both shot me glares. I whispered, “Hey, I’m annoyed too. I didn’t invite her. Nor did I think she’d be at a playground. I’ve never seen her around a baby.” Probably because her voice would make them cry, but it was possible that it was just me. That had them giggling.

I turned to say, “Briar, Hello.” I told myself, “She’s Astrid’s friend, be nice.” She nudged me, “Hi BB, would you like to go get some coffee?” I took a deep breath hating the nickname she called me with a fiery burning passion. If she wasn’t Astrid’s friend I would do and say so many things right now.

I declined, “I’m watching my little brother and Gunner Percival.” She nodded, “Sure, Jeanie’s little boy. I don’t think I’ve met him before.” Gunner huffed because she had in fact met him several times. Which clearly he remembered. It was a little sad he remembered and she didn’t, but honestly Briar was pretty self-absorbed. She didn’t seem to have an interest in kids, which was fine. Some people choose not to be parents in our realm and that’s a perfectly acceptable choice. She could change her mind one day, but I was positive she didn’t want them any time soon.

Briar waved dismissively saying, “They will be fine for a second. There are several parents around who could watch them.” I replied, “I promised my mother I would take care of them, and I will. Astrid’s meeting me later anyway.” She smiled, “Oh well, then I’ll wait with you. I haven’t seen her in a week.” No one had since she was on a mission. She sat down and Gunner actually groaned.

Briar attempted to coo, “Isn’t he so cute?” It fell flat since it was clear she didn’t want to be here or talking about him. Gunner glared at her and kept playing with Harper. Harper felt calculating in our bond and I noticed his fistful of sand. I wanted to groan. I sent him a warning in our bond and he glanced at me and pursed his lips but dropped the sand. I understood my brother’s emotions because he was just upset that Gunner was unhappy. I’d gone through the same with Astrid when we were younger.

I looked at my watch. Briar said, “Astrid’s just taking longer than normal, it’s pretty much the same old Astrid. Always running late. She probably got distracted last minute like she does.” I bristled, “Astrid isn’t ever late without reason. Besides, I wasn’t looking at my watch for her. Brandi Turks is supposed to join us with her boys. She’s late and she’s never been late a day in her life.” Biar asked, “How late is she?” I answered, “Five minutes.” She laughed, “You’re so silly. She’s pregnant and a mom. It’s normal to be late.” Yes, in other cases but not Brandi. She had four boys and was never late and it was a matter of pride with her.

I sent Marcus my feelings. He’d know to start looking at my calendar. He’d catch on and discover I was worried about Brandi. Harper easily picked up on it, and Gunner picked up on his distress. They started to get fussy. Briar grimaced asking, “What’s their problem? They were fine a second ago.” My annoyance spiked and Harper threw sand at her. She screamed. Damn it. That was my fault this time. He picked up on my feelings.

I chided him, “Harper, we don’t throw sand no matter what we feel in our bonds. Say sorry.” He huffed, “Orry.” He didn’t sound sorry at all, but I didn’t ask him to mean it. Our bond told me he’d do it again in a heartbeat. I sent him my laughter which had him smirking at me. Briar stiffly told him, “It’s alright.” She tried to get the sand off her designer outfit. I was somewhat surprised she’d come to a park wearing that. My mom loved designer clothes, but she’d wear workout clothes to the park with us boys. To each their own though.

I saw a kid walking up behind her with chocolate on her hands. I considered warning Briar, but then I saw the look she gave Harper and decided to say nothing. Plus, I hated the nickname BB and this seemed like the perfect revenge that I had to do absolutely nothing for. I turned my attention to my brother and Gunner. Harper smirked at me when Briar screamed in a high pitch octave. I wanted to wince and several near us did. Gunner threw his hands over his ears. All the parents around glanced sharply thinking someone had been injured. Only to make faces seeing what had truly happened. I wanted to join them making that face, but I stayed passive.

Briar yelled, “WHAT DID YOU DO?” I turned to defend the child, “She was just trying to get your attention.” From the chocolate stain there was a chocolate stain on her shoulder where the little girl clearly tapped her. The little girl’s mom ran over. She apologized, “I’m so sorry.” Briar indignantly replied, “You should be! This is couture!” The little girl started crying. Harper grabbed my shirt to roll his eyes. He was getting ready to throw sand again based on his feelings in our bond.

I said, “We’ll replace her shirt.” I meant the Royal family. Briar cooed, “For me?” I replied, “For the little girl who didn’t mean to ruin your outfit and the mom who is embarrassed by your shouting.” It was for literally everyone but her so I didn’t have to listen to her incessant whining about it. The little girl cried, “I just want to tell her she dropped her phone.” The little girl held it out to her and Briar snatched it back without saying a word. I told the little girl, “That was very nice of you.” I felt Marcus’ concern spike. Damn it. Something was wrong with Brandi.

Grimes ran up with his little brothers. I frowned, asking, “Where’s your mom?” He said, “She told me if she wasn’t back in ten minutes to bring my brothers here and she’d meet us.” I questioned, “Where did she go?” He frowned, “She said she had a hankering for something.” I assured him, “Marcus is on it.” Briar snorted, “You are such a worrier, BB. She had a hankering. She’s pregnant.” Gunner snickered and I shot him a somewhat amused look which set Harper off too.

Grimes mouthed, “BB?” I rolled my eyes then replied, “I understand hankerings and pregnant women. I’ve been through it with my own mother, but Brandi is nearing her due date.” Suddenly Grimes and his brothers clutched their chests. The younger ones went down. I was on my phone instantly. Marcus answered, “Brother.” I ordered, “Find Brandi.” He told me, “I’m working on it. She left the realm, and I’m with our tech guys.” Grimes told me, “She’s in labor.”

I saw Astrid’s brother hobbling my way. Fear gripped me because that could only mean one thing, something was wrong with Astrid. Aaron screamed, “BJOURN!” I picked Harper and Gunner up and started to run to him. Aaron went down to one knee when he realized I saw him.

I asked, “What’s wrong, Aaron?” A group gathered around us. He gasped, “As….Astrid.” Even though I knew my heart skipped a beat. Drake ran over and I handed him Harper and Gunner. He nodded, “Go, I got this. Bring her home, brother.” I told him, “I will. Take the Turks to the castle. Get ahold of their dad or send someone to get him.” Harper cried, “Bo!” It’s what he called me because he wasn’t able to say brother yet. I told him, “I’ll figure all this out, Harper. It will be ok. Marcus is going to find Brandi. I have to find Astrid.”

Briar complained, “Seriously? She’ll be fine. You guys worry too much. She’s the commander’s daughter, she doesn’t need help.” I reasoned with myself that killing her would be wrong, for reasons I couldn’t think of right now. Aaron argued, “She’s hurt! We are aware she’s capable, but we don’t leave our own to their own devices, especially if they are injured.”

If I had a bond with her I’d be throwing her strength. I knew Tierra, Remington, and Aaron were doing that though. I just wished I could because then I could find her easier and know that I’d given her every bit of strength I had. I took off and called my dad. He answered, “Bjourn.” I asked, “Where?” He would know what I was asking. He replied, “She’s in Colorado. I’d tell you to come here so we could make a plan, but I knew that would be wasting my breath.” He was right, it would be. Then his words hit me and I stalled. I told him, “Brandi’s favorite ice cream is in Colorado.”

My dad asked, “What does that have to do with….?” I interrupted, “Get Marcus and tell him that something happened with Brandi. Astrid must have stepped in. He needs to start tracing them both.” My dad surmised, “So Brandi didn’t make it to the play date.” I explained, “Grimes said she had a hankering and Astrid wasn’t doing more than gathering intel. She was faded into the background. No one should’ve been able to hurt her.” My dad agreed, “She was but it’s a leap to say they are together.” I disagreed, “It’s not.” I hung up because I wasn’t going to argue my point. I felt it in my bones that Astrid and Brandi were together.

I opened a portal near Brandi’s favorite shop. I’d come here several times for her pregnancy because Harper threw a fit if Brandi didn’t get what she wanted during this pregnancy. Everyone thought it was cute. My mother said it reminded her of me with Astrid. I felt I understood my brother best, so I didn’t mind coming for him. I wish Brandi had joined us and asked me. I would’ve come in a heartbeat.

I walked into the shop and asked, “Have you seen this woman?” I showed Brandi’s photo. The guy looked leery. God, I did not have time for suspecting humans, but I did appreciate he didn’t just blurt it out. I explained, “She’s in labor and called her husband. I was the closest to this place so I was trying to find her. This is her favorite shop, and her phone died before she could tell him where she was. He’s on his way to the hospital they chose, and I’m checking out her favorite spots.”

The guy looked relieved, “Oh yeah, she got a frozen chocolate covered banana and left. I thought her husband was right behind her though. He followed her outside and he was pretty close to her.” I shook my head, “No, it wouldn’t have been her husband. Do you know what he looked like?” He shook his head, “No, he’s been coming for several months. He sits in that corner baseball cap down. He orders our boxed chocolates then leaves.” He’d been stalking her? I nodded, “Thanks.” He said, “I hope you find her. She’s a sweet woman and always has a kind thing to say.” Yes, Brandi did. I assured him, “I’ll find her.” He shivered a little, but I didn’t care.

I called my dad. He answered, “Son? I’m honestly not surprised you already found something given who is involved.” I said, “Get our tech guys on the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory feeds and the surrounding area. Someone has been stalking Brandi and hanging out here knowing she frequents this place. He followed her out, and they thought it was her husband.” I heard a yell. I winced, “Boden, I will find them.” He demanded, “You bring me that son of a b***h, Bjourn. Human or not.” I assured him, “I will.” I knew he’d be arguing with my dad about coming himself after I hung up. I wondered if it would take a royal command to keep him in our realm.

My dad said, “I sent Marcus a text. Where are you at?” I looked around and saw an alley leading to a parking garage. I told him, “I see the most likely path to take if you were looking to get away quickly.” I followed the path and saw dark liquid near a spot where a car had been idling. There were fresh oil stains on the ground in the parking space. I knelt down and touched it and grimaced realizing it was amniotic fluid.

I said, “I found where Brandi’s water broke.” I walked further and saw tire marks. I said, “Two cars peeled out of here. I think Astrid stole a car and followed them.” My dad argued, “You don’t know that.” I was about to respond when I saw a couple arguing about where they parked.

The man said, “I clearly remember it was here. We need to call the police, it’s been stolen.” The woman said, “I clearly remember us being parked on a different level.” He scoffed, “No, I didn’t. I parked right here.” The woman shot back, “Who wants to steal a silver Camry that’s over twelve years old?” Astrid would. It’s not eye-catching or noticeable.

My dad acknowledged, “Ok, you’re clearly right.” I gritted out, “I know.” I hung up and followed the path outside and glanced around. Which way would I go? This was planned so they had an escape route. I pulled up my GPS and looked at the surrounding area. There was a service road two miles from me. I took off jogging and sure enough I saw more fresh tire marks. I stalled when I saw the Camry the couple was arguing about crashed into a tree.

I screamed, “ASTRID!” I went over to the car, but there were two men inside instead of Stella Mea (My Star). I checked their pulses. One was dead and the other was barely hanging on. I opened a portal and threw them through it. My dad came through. I said, “Get the one breathing talking. I’m hot on the trail. I can’t stop now.”

He said, “Zader can hear you. He’s working on it I’m sure. Talk it through, Bjourn. Take a beat here.” I ran a hand through my hair, “Why wouldn’t she open a portal? Can anything stop that?” He answered, “Of course it can, you know that.” I argued, “She’s going to be Queen and we all know it. She’s the commander’s daughter and my mate. She’s just as strong as we are.” My dad said, “She’s the Commander’s daughter, but until she turns sixteen and is accepted in our bloodline she does not have the royal ability behind her. It would take very strong magic to stop her from opening a portal though.”

I rubbed my face, “What enemies does Brandi have?” My dad answered, “None. She’s deadly but she never came to this realm on a mission. So, unless someone is deeply upset she took the last frozen chocolate covered banana ....” I cut him off asking, “Boden then.” My dad sighed, “He’s making a list.” I nodded, “I need to keep moving towards them. Let me know if Astrid comes home.” He put a hand on my shoulder, “You know I will.” I did know that. I took off running where the next tire marks were.

I found the van and my heart stopped. There was blood everywhere. Dead bodies littered the area. I knew none of them were Astrid because I knew her body better than my own. None of them were her. She’d killed three of them though. I knew her style and she was in fight mode going for the carotid. That was Stella Mea (My Star).

I yelled, “ASTRID ELIZABETH, WHERE ARE YOU?!” Not even the wind answered me. I yanked the van open and found more blood from Brandi. I eyed it knowing enough to know she wasn’t hemorrhaging it was normal after her water broke which relieved me. I texted Marcus we needed people to this location to clean this up. I studied everything around me.

Marcus called. I answered, “What?” He replied, “I ordered people to you, but they couldn’t open a portal.” I turned and started to open one myself and felt the air crackle as if fighting me. Magic. Whoever did this would pay dearly. I fought it and eventually managed to open it. Marcus waved and hung up as men came through. I began to sweat keeping it open for them to do their job. They ended up just moving everything to their side. I went to my knees when I closed it. My dad threw me strength. I realized everyone in my bonds were. That’s how I kept it open.

I yelled, “STELLA MEA UBI ES?! (My Star where are you)” I got no reply. She needed me. I stood taking all the strength being thrown at me. Where would she go? I looked around me and took a breath to steady my hands. Think like the future King. Astrid is smart and she has to know this is a plan. I saw footprints everywhere and realized someone was pursuing them. It wasn’t over. Where were my Stella Mea’s footprints? Where were Brandi’s?

I looked all around me and realized Astrid would go to higher ground. If she had to make a stand then she would want the high ground. She’d need somewhere to stash Brandi, my woman would look for a cave. I took off running towards the mountain. I began to see things that shouldn’t be there. I lifted a large branch and bent down and ran my hands over the footprint. I whispered, “Stella Mea (My Star).” I’d know that footprint anywhere. I grabbed the branch and removed their footprints like Astrid would’ve if she wasn’t hurt and helping a woman in labor.

I moved further up and faded back when I heard voices. One hissed, “How could you screw this up so badly?!” The other huffed, “I’m sorry but where was your intel that another Hackura was in the area.” One groaned, “We FINALLY had an option to steal a Hackura child! A FULL BLOODED HACKURA CHILD and you screwed it up! She even went into labor with you. HOW DID YOU SCREW THIS UP?!”

They wanted to take the child? Why? That was suicide. Did they not understand our bonds? Boden could find his child even if they hurt Brandi. If they kept her alive, then he’d easily come for her and his child.

The other guy replied, “She’s a goddamn assassin! Both of them are. In labor that woman killed one of our own when she knew one of her people was helping her.” Good for Brandi. The same guy continued, “Look, we split up. There are thirty of us left. They can’t portal out, they will never find them before we do.” Someone scoffed, “You’d better hope they don’t. Do we know who the girl helping the pregnant woman is?” Astrid was a woman not a girl.

The first guy scoffed, “Hot as s**t. I want her when we find them. I’ll tie her to my bed and…” I screamed out a war cry and pulled my weapon from my back and beheaded him. We had the ability to hide weapons on our person that no one could see if we didn’t want them to. The other man began to chant. I scoffed, “Time to die, warlock.” I stabbed him through the abdomen. I asked, “Where is Stella Mea?” He coughed, “I don't speak Latin and I don’t know where your pregnant…” I cut him off, “She’s not mine. The other woman is.” He gasped for breath, “We didn’t want her. She went psychotic on my men. She crashed her car into the getaway van like she was possessed! She’s crazy!”

I twisted my sword in his guts. I said, “She is not psychotic. Why did you want the pregnant woman?” He scoffed, “I’ll never tell you.” I laughed and inserted my finger below my sword and shoved it through until I felt his guts. I wrapped a finger around it. I said, “I’ll bring my sword through your guts and cauterize your wounds letting you go septic. I’ll paralyze you so you can’t move and die slowly from fecal matter leaking into your bloodstream. Care to re-think your answer?”

He stammered, “There’s a black market request for partials, but the full bloods get more. A Hackura has never been done let alone a full blood. We realized she came here enough we could plan it out. We tried having some guys flirt with her, but she didn’t pay them any attention.” I scoffed, “She’s mated. As a warlock, you know that.” He shrugged, “Off periods.” I told him, “Mated women only have periods with women.”

He rolled his eyes, “And you call us sexist.” I retorted, “You are. A discussion could be had if the woman in question wanted an off period with a man. It’s their choice and the couple’s decision. No Hackura male would have an off period fling with a man or woman if their mate disagreed. We have open relationships based on open and honest communications. Not to mention the fact that Brandi and her mate are rarely on off periods.” I sliced his guts with my sword.

I pulled my sword out and used my knowledge as a doctor with the tools we had to cauterize his wounds and seal his wounds. He stared at me in horror as I smirked, taking my hand, and locating his spine. I slammed him into a tree and twisted his spin in my hands before cauterizing that wound too.

I told him, “Enjoy sepsis. It’s quite painful and can take up to twelve hours when untreated.” He startled, “But I told you everything.” I grabbed him by the chin, “You tried to hurt my woman and another Hackura. We do not abide disrespect to our people, but I definitely don’t about Stella Mea (My Star).” He grumbled, “I still don’t speak Latin.” I didn’t care.

I opened a portal after several minutes. He gasped, “How did you do that?” I scoffed, “Enjoy meeting my family while they torture you while you die slowly and tell us how the HELL you pulled off making it so damn hard to open a portal.” I threw him through before it closed.

I gritted my teeth knowing I didn’t get enough information and opening another portal had taken my strength. I took a breath before checking the other man I beheaded. I found a pocket notebook and put it in my own. I checked him for a phone or any type of communication I could tap into to get their locations, but I didn’t find it. I cursed, “Damn it!” I dragged the body until I found some bears in a stream. I left the body there and ran watching to make sure they were eating. They did. I found some mud and painted my face in it along with my arms.

I stuck some leaves that had fallen to me and began to move. I was on the hunt and nothing was going to stop me from getting to Astrid. I looked for more of her footprints silently pleading, “Come on Stella Mea (my Star), give me some signs. Lead me to you.” I made it further up the mountain when I saw blood streaks in the snow. I followed the drag pattern and found wild animals feeding on another dead supernatural. This one was a demon. What the hell was this group of people? Warlocks and demons teaming up? It wasn’t unheard of, but it was certainly rare.

I didn’t bother to check the man because Astrid would have searched him after she killed him. If she dragged the body this way she wouldn’t have gone this way. Many would assume she went in the opposite direction, but I knew her. She wouldn’t have done something so obvious, but those after her didn’t know that. The indecision tore at me. I knew I should go after the men that would’ve gone that way. Even injured Astrid would kill anyone who stood in her way. The need to see her was pounding in my veins.

Ultimately, I had to protect her and making sure everyone after her was giving us information was what she would want from me. I wasn’t going to question them when I found them though. I was opening a portal throwing their unconscious selves through then finding my woman.