Vampire Prince's Hybrid Princess

Full Moon

Veronica POV

I dodged to my right to avoid the blow Eli threw at me. But before I could gain my balance, he grabbed my wrist, swirled me around, and pulled me to his chest. He leaned his face to my ear, and whispered, “You need to be faster, cupcake.” His close proximity hitched my breath. He is too close for my own good.

I elbowed him in the stomach, twisted his left arm, and kicked his leg, going behind him. He fell on his knees. This time I leaned down to his ear and whispered, “And you need to be alert.” He scoffed at my words.

Taking me by surprise, he grabbed my legs with his right hand, making me fall to the floor. He pinned me down on the ground. His face was an inch away from mine. Both of us were breathing hard from our sparring. I looked down from his enchanting dark eyes to his luscious lips. I gulped hard, remembering how delicious his lips were and how expert he was with this tongue of his. I instinctively closed the distance between us, closing my eyes.

But I no longer felt his weight on mine. I snapped my eyes open and found Eli lying beside me with his eyes closed. Damn! I was about to repeat the same mistake.

“I must say you have improved,” Eli said with a proud smile.

“My reward?” l asked smilingly, extending my hands towards him. Before he could reply, the door burst open, revealing a flustered Edwin.

Eli sighed, sitting up while saying, “The door will break someday if you keep doing this.” I couldn’t help but giggle while following Eli.

“Is something wrong?” I asked Edwin, noticing his serious face.

“Today is the full moon,” I and Eli looked at each other. It totally slipped out of our heads.

“Don’t worry. She won’t shift unless she removes the bracelet from her wrist. And as for me, I will spend the night at my safe house,” Eli told Edwin, who breathed in relief.

“I am going with you,” I stated. There’s no way I am gonna leave him alone tonight.

“No,” Eli said so casually.

“Yes.”

“Cupcake, you can’t go. What if my demon loses control...” Eli was cut off by Edwin.

“Then I will kill him.” We both turned our heads toward Edwin. “If your damn demon ever tries to hurt her, I will kill him,” Edwin repeated his words, holding the tilt of his sword. I swat his arms, glaring at him, but he dismissed me with a shrug.

“Edd, she is immature, but you aren’t,” Eli said, looking straight at Edwin as if he were deadly serious.

“Hey!” I shrieked. How dare he call me immature!

“I know she is, but still, I can’t say no to my mate,” Edwin replied to Eli, ignoring me as if I weren’t present beside them.

“I’m not immature,” I pouted, stomping my foot. Edwin grabbed my waist and pulled me to him.

“You are mine,” Edwin said, giving me a peck on the lips, then turned to Eli. “Besides, I have already let my little brother suffer alone long enough. I won’t let it happen again,” he said, looking at Eli.

Eli’s eyes filled with tears as he engulfed Edwin in a bear hug. Edwin patted Eli’s back affectionately. It’s a rare incident of brothers showing affection for each other.

“Let’s go then,” Eli said, holding me and Edwin as he teleported us.

“I think I am getting used to it.” Edwin and Eli laughed at me, shaking their heads.

We passed a few hours chatting, cracking jokes, and listening to embarrassing stories about each other. I love spending time with these two boys. Eli excused himself to bring drinks for us. I was sitting on Edwin’s lap, enjoying his warmth, when I heard a noise coming out of the kitchen. I had a bad feeling about it, so I jumped out of Edwin’s lap and ran towards the kitchen. I found Eli kneeling on the ground, clenching his chest. I rushed to him and wrapped my arms around him.

“Cupcake,” he whispered in a pained voice.

“Shu, it’s okay. You will be fine,” I told him, brushing my hands over his heart. Tears ran down my cheeks uncontrollably. Then I heard him calling my name again.

“Cupcake, it’s gone.” I looked up at him. He gave me his softest smile. “The pain is gone,” he said, wiping my tears with his thumb. I smiled, inhaling his fresh, minty cologne. I stared at his lips; I couldn’t think of anything other than his soft lips.

Eli turned his face away from mine as my damn stomach growled. I heard someone clear his throat behind us. I turned my head only to find Edwin standing. And for the first time in history, I thanked my damn stomach. I almost kissed my mate’s brother in front of my mate. Am I f*****g crazy?

“Looks like someone’s hungry.” Edwin’s words turned my face a bright shade of pink. “Let’s get you some food then,” he smiled, extending his hands towards me and Eli.

We got busy preparing food, and no one talked about our embarrassing moment earlier. But I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I felt so restless, and my head was throbbing from Liana’s continuous whining.

I was startled to feel a hand on my shoulder. Edwin and Eli were both giving me worried looks. I smiled, reassuring them that I was fine, but who am I kidding.

“Don’t resist her, cupcake. You haven’t shifted since your first shift. It’s obvious she is feeling restless.” I was about to refuse when he stopped me by raising his hand. “No. Let me finish. Don’t deny it. You are too easy to read. There’s unclaimed land nearby. Go with Edd and let her shift. It’s safe,” Eli said softly. There’s no way I’m gonna leave him alone. “No, cupcake, I will be alright. You don’t have to worry about me,” he added, seemingly reading my mind.

“He is right. Liana needed to shift. Let’s leave after we eat, okay?” Edwin said, agreeing with Eli. I took a last glance at Eli before nodding my head reluctantly.

---------

The chirping sound of crickets reached our ears as we walked through the forest under the full moon. Edwin turned to me as soon as we reached a clearing. His intriguing blue eyes were twinkling under the moonlight. I fell for him deeply every time I looked into those enchanting orbs of his.

“Little fairy, let’s not trigger my desire, okay?” Edwin muttered in a hoarse voice, taking deep breaths. I tilted my head in confusion. “If you keep staring at me with this hungry look, we might end up doing something else in this forest.” I was damn sure it wasn’t even possible for my cheek to turn any redder than it already was. He chuckled softly, watching me blush. “You are adorable,” he said, starting to remove my bracelet and kissing my forehead.

“Now, you can shift, and remember that you need to imagine your human form when you want to shift back,” he reminded me for the 100th time. I smiled, looking into his eyes.

‘Can you stop staring at each other and let me shift?’ Liana whined again. Edwin and I both laughed before I let my Lycan take control.

As soon as she shifted, she leaped at Edwin and tackled him to the ground. She started licking his face. Edwin chuckled heartily. Someone was enjoying themselves. She got to her feet and began jumping around Edwin. Edwin was adoringly observing her.

‘Do you wanna race there?’ Liana asked him with her puppy dog eyes, pointing to the cliff.

“On it. But the loser will be punished,” he said, his eyes having an evil glint as he fluffed her head.

‘Agreed,’ Liana stated.

‘You better win, you stupid lycan,’ I mind-linked her, as I knew, I had to pay for the consequences.

"Oh, come on, chill out. I will. You sound as though you wouldn't appreciate the punishment," she shot back sarcastically. In this, I agree with her. I would certainly take pleasure in his so-called punishment.

They started running. Liana was a natural. The swiftest vampire in the kingdom, Edwin, was nearly caught up by her. Edwin gave her a thump on the back and exclaimed, “You are awesome,” flashing his most endearing smile. Liana sagged to the ground near the cliff. She just kept staring at the green, deep forest underneath the cliff. Edwin sat down and leaned on her, putting his entire weight on her. He had his eyes closed. They were both smiling blissfully. A few silent hours were spent in this position under the full moon.

‘Liana, let’s shift back,’ I mind-linked her.

‘Can’t I spend a few more moments with him?’ she whined in my head.

‘Liana, it’s been hours. Eli is alone at home, and I am worried about him,’ she sighed.

‘You are right. We should go back,’ she said, nudging Edwin with her muzzle, who sat up slowly.

I closed my eyes, imagining my human form, and when I opened my eyes, I was sitting where Liana was a few moments earlier.

“Do you enjoy yourself?” I questioned him as he reached out to grab my hands. He smiled and nodded.

“Thanks,” he replied, pulling me close to him and giving me a long kiss.

“For?”

He grinned mischievously and added, “For not being envious of Liana.”

“Who said that I wasn't?” I remarked, furrowing my brow, appearing to challenge him.

“Were you?” Edwin c****d his head and pretended to be stunned.

“And that's why you play with me now, you know,” I said, stepping back from him.

“Hey…”

I yelled back, "Catch me," and started to sprint in the direction of our return.

“Stop, little fairy. Stop running. Don’t go there.” I could hear Edwin pleading with me to stop, but I wasn't going to. He has to catch me. And within a few minutes, he caught up with me, pulling me into his chest as if his life depended on it.

“I caught you. Now let’s leave. It’s not safe here,” he uttered in a pleading voice, leading me in the opposite direction. And right then, we heard them before we saw them. A series of growls echoed around the woods, and 15 to 20 large wolves surrounded us from different directions…