Chapter 24 #2
“Inside,” the guard grunts, and I roll my eyes, but I do not move. The guard grabs my arm and shoves me into the room, and the prince’s eyes instantly fall to where he is touching me.
“Careful where you place those hands, Samiel. I would hate for you to lose them,” he warns in a low growl that seems to vibrate throughout the entire room, and although the words are not aimed at me, I sense the threat behind them.
One could almost be fooled into thinking that he actually cares whether I get hurt, but we both know that it is only to do with the bond.
The guard grumbles his apologies and quietly shuffles out of the room, closing the door behind him. The prince’s attention finally falls back on me, and he lets out a low whistle, his eyes darkening as they sweep down the length of me.
“I’m not sure who is responsible for picking your outfits, but please remind me to reward them dearly.”
I roll my eyes.
“I’m not a spoiled royal like you.” I scoff. “I’m more than capable of choosing my own clothes.”
His smile widens at my words. “Then I guess it’s you whom I need to reward.”
I scoff. “I would sooner die.”
My words seem to amuse him as he takes another swig of his drink, humming as the liquid slides down his throat. A throat I wish I could slit.
“You know I can feel your intentions down this bond, little witch, and believe me when I say your body and mind are on two entirely different continents.”
My eyes narrow and my fists curl at my side.
“I would prefer you stay far away from my intentions altogether.”
His lips curve up at this. “Perhaps you should learn to control them then. I cannot help what slips through the thin walls of the bond.”
“Why am I here?”
He finishes what’s in his glass, enjoying the taste as though I’m not even there.
He’s wearing a loose-fitting tunic and baggy pants that still somehow emphasize every part of his body.
The dip of his collar reveals the rippled muscles that lie beneath.
The fact that the gods made something this cruel so beautiful may have been the reason that they ran away.
“Intentions, Adina, intentions.”
I drag my eyes away from his chest to his black orbs, and my cheeks heat when I realize that he caught me watching him. Felt me watching him. I try to ignore the growing tension between my thighs and focus on the moment. It’s just the bond, I remind myself.
Are you sure about that?
Don’t you start.
“If you don’t explain what I’m doing here in the next five seconds, I’m leaving.”
“Gods, that mouth of yours is a dangerous thing.” He rises to his feet, coming to a stand between me and the door, and causing me to turn to face him.
“To answer your question, my dear mate, the nobles of my court felt it fit to break protocol and arrive early. And tonight I will need to host a welcome dinner.”
The playful nature dies in him with his words.
“I don’t understand.”
“It means that I will be required to entertain our guests during their extended stay, and I need to feed.”
Slowly, I take in the information, my mind reeling. This must be the start of what Ember warned me about. The Blood Vows.
“Why exactly are they here?” I pry.
He steps closer, and I suck in a breath.
“That does not concern you.” He takes one of my curls between his fingers. “All I need is for you to be on your best behavior.”
I slap his hand away and scowl up at him, which only makes him laugh.
“I’m not your pet.”
“No, but you are my mate, and if anybody shows any ill will toward you, I will have no choice but to put an end to it.”
“You mean…”
“I mean, I need you, for once in your life, to just follow the rules.”
There is a seriousness in his tone that makes me hold the quip on the tip of my tongue. I may not like him or anything he stands for, but I understand the impact of our court being weakened and what that would mean for every human that resides here.
“Fine.”
He watches me for a moment, his eyes scanning mine as though he is searching for something, and then the usual cocky arrogance returns.
“Good.” He takes a step closer, and my treacherous mind becomes a muddle of thoughts. He dips his mouth to my ear, sending goosebumps scattering all over me. “Where would you like me to bite you?”
His whispered words fill my ear like a lullaby, and I can feel the tug of the bond begging me to give in to everything he has to offer, but I fight against it. I straighten my back and take a step back, offering my wrist.
He smiles down at my outstretched arm and wraps a hand around it, tugging me toward him until I can feel the fan of his breath against my lips. My heart thunders inside my chest as I watch him lift my wrist to his mouth.
“You don’t need to make it…feel good,” I whisper, and his eyes meet mine.
“I’m afraid the bond despises the idea of me giving you anything but pleasure.”
Before I can answer, his fangs sink beneath my skin, and a gasp escapes my mouth.
My eyes close instinctively, and I squeeze my thighs together to stave off the growing ache that gathers there.
I’m suddenly keenly aware that this is the first time that we have ever been alone when he has bitten me, and the thought makes my nipples peak.
A growl sounds in the back of his throat, and I fight not to press myself against him. It’s just the bond, I remind myself once again. Every inch of me lights up, and I can sense the feeling of euphoria growing in the pit of my stomach, and then it just stops.
I open my eyes and find Karius staring at me, his fangs now tucked safely back in his mouth, and the skin on my wrist clean and healed. He watches me in silence, and his tongue flicks out to catch a drip of blood in the corner of his mouth, and I hate that my eyes watch the movement.
“Careful, little witch, if you keep looking at me like that, it might just make me believe that you enjoy me feeding on you just as much as I like the taste of your blood.”
My eyes lift to his.
“I don’t.” His knowing smile tells me he sees straight through my lies, and I hate the effect that these feedings have on me. “You healed me without using your blood.”
He smiles. “Benefits of our bond. Now, as much as I’d like to stay here discussing how intoxicating your blood is, we have more pressing matters to discuss.”
“Such as?”
His face turns serious. “I need you present tonight because it is customary that a vampire feeds at such events, and given the fact that I cannot feed from another human, I require your presence.”
“And?” I know there’s more since he is literally pointing out the obvious. I bite my lip in anticipation of what else, and his eyes fall down to my mouth. It takes a second before his gaze returns to my eyes again, and his face turns serious once more.
“These vampires may be of my court, but if they choose another, they will become my enemy. It is imperative that none of them learn of our connection.”
“I’m not a fool, Prince. And I’m not stupid enough to reveal myself as your weakness. I may hate you, but I like living more.”
“Good, then you will understand why I have to do this.”
He grabs hold of my wrist before I can protest. I watch in horror as dark wisps of shadow pour from his hand, sinking beneath the brown flesh of my wrist. Inky black tendrils twist and coil, knitting themselves into the Kayn crest in the space where the Blackwood house crest once sat.
He lets go of me, and I pull my wrist to me, cupping it in my other hand as I look down at the branding. A reminder that this monster owns me. A tear threatens to fall, but I force it to dry before it can escape. My eyes rise to the prince’s, and I know that he sees the hatred swirling there.
An emotion I cannot read crosses his face.
“A guard is waiting outside to escort you to the drawing room.” I turn on my heel, anger making every vein sizzle with heat.
I stretch my hand towards the doorknob, but pause when he calls out.
“And Adina. You may be many things. Frustrating, annoying, and downright disobedient, but you are most definitely not my weakness.”
I storm out the door and leave before I can allow myself to be foolish enough to spend even a second more in his presence, and yet I still find myself mulling over his words and wondering what exactly he meant by them.