There was no point bickering with the prince. Selene might not have know him for long but it was apparent that once he had set his eyes on something there was no talking him out of it. And for better or for worse, she was now stuck with him and those stupid ideologies. So in silence they made their way back to the inn.

Now that the sun has made it’s way into the sky, more people filled the streets, the stalls were set up and waiting for someone to go up to them. Selene had to admit she was struggling not to just do that when so many of the stalls were filled with pastries that her stomach was crying out for. Alas she had no money so there was no point stopping.

The vampire walked confidently, and Selene couldn’t help but wonder how long it has been since the sun kissed his skin. No doubt something he wouldn’t share with her. So they continued to walk in silence.

Hungry and bored.

This was not a good morning.

Or that was what she thought until the prince suddenly tossed something her way which she barely managed to catch in time before it would have went tumbling down on the floor.

“I can’t feed on you if you’re starved.” Kaelan explained as he stopped walking, leaning against a nearby wall, closing his eyes without a care.

“Oddly thoughtful.” She muttered as a silver coin rested in her palm.

Without a further complaint, Selene quickly grabbed a few pastries she’s never seen before and quickly got to work with them. Even though the market place was rundown and the people there looked miserable, humans knew what they were doing with their baked goods.

Before they got back, the pastries were no more and Kaelan held the inn door open for her, still playing along the marriage act for the keeper who again didn’t bothered spare them with a single glance.

“What have you done to him?” Selene asked once they enter back into their room, sitting down on the bed as she wrestled those stupidly tight shoes off her feet.

“The keeper?” The prince asks before shrugging his shoulders. “I told him to ignore us and if anyone asks about us, then he hasn’t seen anything.”

“Isn’t that exhausting?” If she were to cast a spell with similar effects it would constantly drain her, leaving her exhausted at all times of the day and the prince didn’t seem bothered at all.

“Since you so nicely offered yourself as my daily meal and your blood is rich with magic… things have became easier.” His tone was cocky again, she didn’t have to look to know there was that irritating smirk written on his lips again, so she decided to just ignore that.

“I’m going to sleep. I would rather be rested for our suicide mission.”

“Do as you wish, witch.”

When Selene woke up she felt a little groggy, not wanting to go ahead with this plan and it irritated her the prince looked so calm and happy while he read a book he got god knows where from as he sat in the arm chair.

“Where did you get that?” She asked as she walked over, ready to snatch the book out of his hand if necessary.

“That’s what you want to know? Not what it is or why I’m reading it?” The prince’s voice was disinterested and his pale blue eyes tracing the lines on the paper.

“Both. Where did you get it and what is it?” Selene leaned against the table as she looked down at him.

“I got it from a nice lady who I met in the lounge while you were sleeping. I think her name was Caelia.” Kaelan finally paused reading as he pondered. “Maybe Laelia. Doesn’t matter. She was a historian for a local school and had a few books of note, and when I saw one specifically on the recent royal lineage I thought it would be worth a read. The lady didn’t even need convincing to hand it over, although I doubt she was satisfied when I didn’t offer anything in return.”

“Are you always this much of a fool?” Selene looked at him in utter disbelief. “I was asleep. The spell hiding away your appearance could have snapped at any moment and you would have alerted all the guards near.”

Kaelan closed the book and put it down on the table. In a moment he was before her, placing his hands on either side of her body on the table behind her and leaned forward. An odd emotion was written on his face and it was impossible to pinpoint if it was amusement, challenge or perhaps just pure hatred. Maybe it was all of them at once. Either way Selene wasn’t impressed by the new position she found herself in and was tempted to call on her magic to get him away, but she wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t accidentally hurt him too much and cause him to accompany her around the kingdom. So she did all she could and glared up at him with as much irritation and hatred that she could muster.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Are you always this insecure about your abilities?” His voice was like poison, so falsely sweet it made her feel sick.

“And are you always this rash and idiotic?” Selene asked right back, but she couldn’t hide the contempt in her voice like he did.

“I can feel your magic touching every inch of my skin. A constant layer that is impossible to forget, and I can tell you that while it is wearing thin, I am confident it will still last another couple of hours.”

She wishes to curse him. Perhaps she should. Selene could have sworn he leaned closer, and when she tried to lean further away she was just reminded of the fact her body would just tumble down on the table.

“Do they not teach vampires the concept of personal space?” Her voice came out sharper than she had anticipated.

“Why am I bothering you?” Kaelan laughed, his voice surprisingly light. “Will you magic me away?”

“If you don’t move perhaps I should.”

“It is time for my next meal.” The vampire smiled and due to the proximity of them, the illusion spell was rendered useless, revealing the fangs that made her breath stop in fear.

“Get it over and done with.”

Selene knew it was something she would have to get used to. Becoming a meal for something her magic called to end, and yet she had no choice unless she wanted to have death of innocent humans on her consciousness. Yet the thought of having those fangs sink into her skin terrified her. At any moment the vampire could decide to either snap her neck like a twig or bleed her dry and Selene wouldn’t know until it was too late.

Kaelan lifted one of his hands and gently moved away the long strands of hair that covered her neck. His face leaned down and his nose brushed against her skin, soon followed by a gentle touch of his lips. The movements were so slow and deliberate, it caused Selene’s cheeks to flush involuntarily and her breath to come out more shaky than she intended. Before she could utter a single word, telling him to hurry up, the fangs pierced her skin and a wince escaped her lips. She could feel the prince’s lips form a smirk against her skin, no doubt enjoying the pain she was in.

As the blood made it’s way out, the sharp pain disappeared and it turned into something else. Something Selene didn’t want to admit as her breath quickened and she gripped tightly onto the table edge. One moment she felt repulsed by how close she found herself to the vampire and the next it wasn’t close enough. It took all her willpower to not drag him closer, to tangle her hands in his hair and whisper what else she would so much like him to do in that moment.

When the thoughts were becoming overwhelming, Kaelan bit down hard and snapped Selene out of whatever trance she was experiencing. Her hands immediately found their way to his shoulders, ready to shove him as hard as she could, desperate for that bit of space. But the prince didn’t budge and instead pulled out his fangs, making blood trickle down her skin. He took that moment to lick it off and run his tongue over the wound. There was no need to ask why he did such a thing when Selene felt the two puncture wounds close right after.

“Can’t have you enjoying yourself too much can we?” The vampire took a few steps away and sat back down in the arm chair. His voice teasing to the point it was sure to make anyone’s blood boil.

“What did you do to me?” Selene’s voice was sharp and she quickly made her way back to the other side of the room and sat on the bed. Even that didn’t feel far away enough.

“Ah, that.” Kaelan obviously planned whatever happened, his eyes revealed as much as they carefully watched her. “It’s a little side effect of when one feeds on another.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?” She scoffed. “You fed on me before and I can assure you nothing like that happened.”

“Last time I stopped drinking before the pain could disappear. This time I took enough to actually give me my fill.” His laugh filled the room as he rested his chin on his hand.

“Something you couldn’t have warned me about?”

“Was it not a pleasant surprise?”

“Keep something like that from me again and I will not hesitate on killing you, leach.” Selene’s words were harsh and she knew that, but her emotions were a turmoil that wouldn’t calm down and she was never the best and keeping her feelings in check.

The prince’s cocky smile fell off and instead his lips formed a thin line, making his features uncharacteristically harsh. “I guess we will see which one of us would be faster.”