Ours To Love

3.

"Everything is settled, sweetheart."

It was raining, it was dark and gloomy no matter how much lights were in her suite. She watched as her future classmates ran for shelter to nearby buildings. It was the late afternoon and the rain clouds being inconsiderate they were hiding the remaining sun. She felt their presence before she can hear them, her senses were always alert even with so many sentinels around. The scent of her father surrounded her as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. "Emmy..." he began then cleared his throat wanting to get rid of the break that was going to be heard in his voice.

"It's okay, daddy. You and grandfather have taught me how to control it. I can do this. If I am to be the next queen of all the supernaturals I have to learn to be away from the castle. On my own." she said wrapping her own arms around his waist. 

"If you need anything...."

"Just call. I know." she continued for him. King Emmerson gave her a teasing glare before hugging her tightly. She was his only child, heiress to the throne. He had confidence in her that she would make it but fear that people would take advantage of her shyness. Emmaline loved to be by herself, she indulged in a lot of books and dance, her weakness was being very trusting and finding the good in everyone. Knowing that his daughter was like this, he was very hands-on in keeping her safe. Where ever she went a protection detail was present. With her at college it would make her more vulnerable and he couldn't help but worry.

"Before I go, I have just been notified that Princess Jasmine also attends here." 

Her face lit up, knowing that she had a relative here, the girl she envied for being so free and accomplished at such a young age. The family kept in contact with the Kaisers and often visit them at Black Heart but over the years they only saw the young princess in magazines or international tv circuit. "That's great. I wonder what she's studying." she mused aloud.

"Her father said Graphic Art and Business. She wants to get certified recognition for her work," he said with amusement as his daughter was now lost in her thoughts.

"That's very good. I wonder if she remembers me. We were so young ."

"I'm sure she does. Who would forget my beautiful little girl?" he said tugging playfully at her ear. Beside the blonde hair of her mother, the future queen was the spitting image of his great grandmother Queen Emma. It was suiting to name her Emmaline. She carried the name well by her love for her people and family. 

She playfully swatted away his hand then leaned on his shoulder, " I would miss you a lot, daddy."

"I will miss you more," he replied kissing her head while sending a prayer up to the Goddess to keep her safe.

The knocking on her door the next morning signaled the start of her day. A new day of her new life away from home. "Come in" 

She smiled kindly at her assigned guards since she was twelve, all four of them were out of uniform it was a major difference as she was used to the black uniform with the royal crest on their right arms. Seated on the lounge chair in the sitting area of her suite they stood before her at ease with their heads slightly bowed.

"Are you all settled?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am. Our rooms have been met to all our needs." the leader of the four spoke out. When she first met him, he scared her by his unsmiling attitude but over the years she found out he was that way for a reason.

"Very well. Anything that I should know about before I proceed with the day's comings and goings?" she asked politely.

"We patrolled the compound last night and found scents of both wolves and hybrids all are accounted for by packs and covens loyal to the crown. We also met with four other sentinels ma'am..." the leader started. With a slight raise of her hand she stopped him and stood. 

"My father has informed me of my cousin's arrival here at Mueller. She's no longer in Japan and wishes to further her studies here. Part of my schedule I.. I would like to meet her. In an hour I would like to leave, here is her room number. Her sentinels. Do you know any of them?"

"All of them ma'am." another answered. She furrowed her brows in confusion, "They were the first to be assigned a Royal due to the fact the young princess was about to leave the country." he explained.

"Oh. She is very ambitious."

They smiled softly at the little princess as she dismissed them to make breakfast. An hour passed and it was time to start her day officially. Making their way to Dorm A, the stares were bold as they all looked on at the small blonde girl with four guards walking at her sides, none smiled the girls' way as flirtatious smiles and winks were thrown their way. Emmaline kept her head low as they tried to get a look at her and began commenting on her clothing and hair. None was negative but they were starstruck by her beauty.

'Heads up princess. Your crown is falling.' one of her guards said to her over their link. She took a deep breath, straighten her shoulders and held her head higher reigning in the confidence that her men knew she had. Whenever she was about to revert back into her shell of recluse they always mention that quote. They taught her that her position is just not an inheritance or position, it's her whole self. Being a princess is also being strong for herself and others. Not letting anyone break her down.

'Much better little one.' he replied.

Walking the halls of Dorm A they realized Princess Jasmine's room was a customized one, a bit similar to Emmaline's. Instead of the basic one door on the others, hers were a two-door with security cameras facing three directions. "It seems like they truly have things under control," the leader commented. They stepped back as Emmaline composed herself before knocked on the door. After three knocks, the door was answered but not by the low key princess. "Hello?" the red head answered skeptically looking from Emmaline to the guards behind her.

"Hello. I'm looking for Miss Jasmine Kaiser?" the shy blonde asked.

"I'm her roommate Chris. She's on a work call...." she answered glancing back into the room. "Umm..." Emmaline started but Chris cut her off. 

"Wait here. What's ya name chica? You look familiar though." Chris asked squinting her eyes. "My name is Emmaline Starkov-Saville," she answered quietly.

"It's like Royalty at this school wow. Another billion-dollar heiress." the tall girl exclaimed. Emmaline giggled at the girl's forwardness and found it quite endearing. "Wait. Right. Here." Chris continued before shutting the door. They heard the voice of Chris interrupting Jasmine then the cheerful voice in a foreign language before the door opened once more. This time it was Jasmine who answered with a confused look on her face. 

"Hello? Emmaline?"

She nodded her head shyly and gave her elder cousin a shy smile. Jasmine still tried to put the face to memory then it hit her. The first time she saw Emmaline was at her parents' wedding then twice after that due to them always missing each other whenever they came to visit them at Black Heart.

"It's been years and look where we meet again. Come in. You met Chris already." Jasmine exclaimed taking hold of her little cousin's hand leading her into the sitting area of the suite. Emmaline took in her attire as she led her to a seat. She was dressed in a white cashmere sweater and pink tights, her dark hair was in a messy bun with her face clean of any makeup. She was truly beautiful. 

Jasmine was only focused on her shy cousin and was completely oblivious to men who now entered the room, eyeing everything. "So tell me. How have you been? Dad hasn't mentioned you being at Mueller."

"I came in last night, it was a last-minute thing but I guess when your name is as powerful as ours you can get in anywhere. I've been.. good otherwise. First time on my own and it feels great." she said with a huge smile on her face. Her guards watched from afar how genuinely happy she was and how comfortable Jasmine made her.

"Trust me it is great to be on your own but sometimes you miss your family. I missed my family and my friends at Black Heart when I was away. I just wanted a piece of home you know but you learn to work around it. " Jaz commented.

"You guys are gonna be standing all the time?" Chris's bold question brought out a laugh from Jasmine allowing her to turn her attention from Emmaline to the men who now stood by the doorway. Her hands trembled in shock and nervousness as she recognized two out of the four men. Her laughter died as they too recognized her but didn't allow their gazes to falter.

After all the years that passed between them she could never forget the Carmona twins, her best friends. Their brown chocolate eyes were no longer playful but filled with maturity, with experience. The dark curls she loved to play in were shorter now, it gave their faces a much more handsome mature look. The change was well with them.

"These are my guards. Racon, Maxwell, Damien, and Dominic. I had them all since I was twelve." Emmaline explained. Jasmine did the math in her head, the twins became her guards when they were seventeen a year after they left Black Heart. They pleaded with their eyes to forgive them but all Jasmine could remember was them not answering her calls, leaving without a note, just a simple statement as 'Mother chose us'. She wanted more, she wanted them to explain it all to her. Her parents were sworn to secrecy, they were only allowed to say that they were transferred to Landon Prep. Anything was confidential even to her, their best friend.

"N-Nice to meet you all," she said softly swallowing the sob that threatened to come out, blinking away the tears. Dominic kept his eyes on her longing to see her smile once more as Damien kept rubbing his fingers itching to touch her skin to brush away the hair that fell on her face.

'This is torture brother.' Damien relayed to his twin. Jasmine looked away from them but they didn't miss the hurt in her eyes as she mustered up a weak smile for their charge.

His heart plummeted as the hurt never left her eyes, his wolf whimpered in sadness he heard his brother's wolf sadness also as they both focus on their beautiful mate.

'We are torturing her by our presence. Look.' Dominic returned after a moment of silence.

Damien took in a deep breath then hurriedly left the room. 'We would be outside princess.' Dominic said to his charge while eyeing the other two guards to follow. Out in the hall, his brother was on the ground staring blankly at the ceiling. "Dom. I need her." he said out loud his voice breaking. 

"Years we had to stay away from her and now she's here. Did you feel how sad she was?" Damien continued. His twin said nothing as he was trying to keep the tears at bay. The other two men come closer to the twins. "You two know this princess?" Racon asked eyeing the two most accomplished sentinels and the king's executioners. They never saw the twins so torn up.

"Yes. She's ours."