Vampire Prince's Hybrid Princess

Training Part 1

Veronica had been muttering curses inwardly for the last hour. Edwin and Eli discussed on the last day that she needed the training to defend herself. And here she was— inside Eli’s private giant gymnasium, running on the treadmill for the last 3 hours.

“Come on, cupcake, faster,” Veronica groaned at Eli’s words. Her legs were already numb. She might collapse at any time, and he was telling her to run faster! She was already running faster than any human could ever run.

“Can’t I take a break? I was running for hours,” Veronica complained for the nth time, looking at Eli with her adorable puppy-dog eyes.

“NO. There’s no time for a break,” a loud voice echoed through the room before Eli could answer her. And she knew that voice, but it sounded so different. Edwin sounded so edgy, with so many emotions flooding his voice. He immerged in front of them. His eyes were bloodshot— it was as if he was crying or angry. “You think it’s fun for us? I felt happy to see you in pain?” Edwin continued, speeding up the treadmill. Veronica stared at him with wide eyes, increasing her speed as well.

“It was killing me, to see you in pain. No one can touch you whenever I am around. But what if someday I won’t be there to protect you? You need to learn how to fight and control your power. You need to run faster than a Vampire. I don’t want to hear you complaining about training,” Edwin stated sternly, looking straight into her eyes. Yes…he was yelling, but his eyes were holding so much pain.

“Enough, Edd,” Eli yelled at him, pressing the stop button. Veronica was about to fall at the sudden halt, but Eli was fast enough to catch her. “Have you gone crazy?” Eli shouted, glaring at Edwin. Edwin was breathing hard as if he were trying to control himself from lashing out. Without saying anything, he stormed out of the room.

Veronica was staring in the direction of his disappearing figure. Veronica could sense his distress, his frustration, and his anger. She wanted to comfort him, hold him, kiss him, and tell him, ‘It’s alright’, but he needed some time alone to calm himself down. So she let him be. She knew he was hiding something from her, but what? She wanted to know… she needed to know for his sake.

“Are you alright, Cupcake?” Eli asked her concernedly and pulled her to his chest as tears rolled down her cheeks. “We can stop the training today if you don’t feel good,” Eli said softly, but Veronica refused. She needed to train, she needed to bear the pain. If not for herself, then for him.

“If he can see me in pain, I can bear it too. I just didn’t want him to feel it,” Veronica stated with firm determination.

“Let’s do some serious training then,” Eli stood up, extending his arms to Veronica, which she gladly accepted.

***

The training went on until 7 in the evening. Veronica was tired but somehow managed to take herself to their room and collapse on the bed. Her entire body was aching like hell. Eli looks like a charming, cocky guy who likes to play around, but he is a hardhead trainer. There’s no slacking off during his training.

Veronica didn’t see Edwin all day after the incident. She wondered what he was doing. Her question was answered immediately as she felt someone’s hand wrapped around her belly; she angled her head to give him access as he inhaled her sweet scent, placing his face on the crook of her neck. The tension in her body relaxed as Edwin brushed his fingers on her.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I was just worked up,” Edwin explained suddenly, placing his lips on her neck. A soft moan escaped from her lips. Her entire body shivers under his touch. But suddenly his touch disappeared, and she snapped her eyes open.

Veronica opened her eyes for the first time after Edwin came into the room. Her eyes fell on his face— his perfect hair was disheveled, and there were dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. He looked awfully tired and pale. Her heart clenched, looking at her mate in that condition.

Veronica sighed and caressed his face softly. “Because of me, wasn’t it?” she asked, mindlessly brushing her thumbs on his face. He didn’t answer; instead, he mumbled brokenly, “I can’t lose you... not again.”

“You won’t,” Veronica assured Edwin, giving him a soft smile. Edwin smiled, leaving a trail of kisses on her face, nuzzling her neck, and inhaling her sweaty cologne. “Hey! Don’t do that. I am drenched in sweat,” Veronica complained, giggling.

“I don’t mind,” Edwin whispered with a smug face. Veronica glared at him. Edwin sighed and scooped Veronica into his arms. “Let’s get you a warm shower then,” Edwin said, taking her to the bathroom.

Edwin removed her clothes and placed her in the already-prepared bathtub. He undressed and joined her in the tub. Edwin took some soap and gently rubbed it on her smooth skin. Veronica was enjoying the small electric sparks she was feeling due to his touch. A small moan erupted from her lips, making Edwin grumble. She leaned in, placing her back against his chest. Edwin wrapped his arms around her belly, making small circles over her tummy. Veronica felt so relaxed under the warm water and being close to Edwin that she fell asleep in the bathtub.

Unconsciously, a smile crept onto Edwin’s face as he looked down at his innocent mate. But his smile disappeared, and a slight pain clenched his heart as he remembered the earlier event when his father summoned him today. His greedy father wanted the hybrid princess so badly that he could do anything. If anyone else found out about his mate, the entire kingdom would go against him.

Thinking about the consequences, Edwin placed Veronica on the bed and lay beside her. ‘No matter what, he would protect her with his life,’ he mused to himself, placing a kiss on her forehead, and soon he drifted off to sleep full of nightmares.

***

“Cupcakkkkke!” Veronica stirred at Eli’s voice but didn’t open her eyes. “Cupcaaake!” she groaned, and she turned to the other side, pulling the cover over her head. Eli sighed, shaking his head, and pulled the cover from her. “Come on, cupcake!” Eli screamed again for the nth time. He had been trying to wake her up for the last hour, but there was no sign of her waking up.

Veronica opened her sleepy eyes this time and asked Eli with a pout, “Can’t I have a day off?”

“No,” Eli answered firmly, without looking at her. It’s too hard to say no to her. Sometimes Eli got lost in her beautiful, dark brown eyes. How can anyone be so tempting, even when she has just woken up from sleep!

“I hate you,” she huffed, crossing her hand over her chest. How could someone be so cute while being angry? ‘Get a grip, man! She is your brother’s mate!’ Eli reminded himself once again. Even though he continued to remind himself over and over, he kept forgetting this when his eyes fell on this cute, adorable face.

“I know. Now get up and get ready. We have the training to do,” Eli said, keeping his emotions at bay. Veronica got up, groaning loudly.

It’s become their everyday routine. Getting Veronica out of bed was a damn challenge for Eli. Edwin didn’t stay around all day, but at night he took care of Veronica like a baby while she collapsed on the bed, out of exhaustion.

The training was tiring. When it came to training, Eli was strict as hell. But training with him was so much fun. Throughout the whole week, she didn’t get to talk to Edwin. Cause every night, when he was with her, she was too exhausted to talk. But she loved the comfortable silence between them. Keeping her head on Edwin’s chest and hearing his faint heartbeat became her favorite thing to do at night. She hadn’t even had fun with Jace and Sam for a long time.

“Come on, move it,” Eli shouted, entering the gym, and following Veronica when she stood in front of him, crossing her arms over her chest with an adorable pout on her lips. Veronica didn’t even budge. Eli sighed and said, “Fine! You can have your day off tomorrow. But don’t blame me if Edd bursts out,” he added, raising both hands. Pointing out that he wouldn’t face Edwin’s wrath towards her again.

Veronica gave him her brightest smile, which made his heart skip a beat. He had never seen someone smiling so carefreely. He wanted to lean closer and touch those soft lips, but controlled himself from doing anything stupid that he would regret forever. Eli ignored the whining of his demon and started the training.