Page 2 of Princess Broken

Hers will begin, but I will finally be dead.

Chapter Two

Ana

“How long does it take to fall in love?” I glance at Ember, my new friend, who’s sitting cross-legged on the garish, red leather sofa in my temporary office at DEFTA.

Formally known as the Dutch and English Fur Trading Alliance, DEFTA is actually the oldest vampire syndicate in the new world. I’m only here for a short time, acting as an Ambassador for the King and the Vampiric Council. It’s my duty to clean up the mess here. A big mess.

I practically begged for this role as temporary CEO of DEFTA. I can’t blow it.

Now I’ve finally left the palace, I plan to see the whole world. If I do well here in Philadelphia, my father and the council will assign me even more challenging diplomatic duties. Duties that will let me travel the world. I can’t wait.

“How long does it take to fall in love?” Ember gives me a quizzical look. “I don’t think there’s a set amount of time, per se.”

I cross the gleaming, black marble floors, and they reflect the room’s excess of twenty-four carat gold trim and flashy trappings. I am well used to luxury, but I’d be much happier with a simpler, subtler decor. But I’ll leave the redecorating to whomever replaces me once my work here is done.

Tucking one leg under my silk gown, I take a seat near Ember. “I guess what I’m really wondering is…” I clear my throat. I might as well just come right out and ask her. “Do you think I might learn to love Timur? Over time?”

Ember shifts. “How much time do you think you need, Ana? I mean, you’ve known him for a century, haven’t you?”

My stomach contracts as the truth in her words strikes. I nod.

“And in all that time you two were blood partners…” she leans forward “…you never—”

“No.” I cut her off. “Not until we traveled here to Philadelphia.” I already told Ember that Timur and I first performed the sex act after we arrived here, a month ago. I am no longer a virgin.

“I don’t know how you did it.” Ember’s cheeks flush. “I can barely function after drinking another vampire’s blood without, you know…” A soft, mischievous smile brushes her face.

My cheeks heat to match the color of my friend’s. “I was just a month past my seventeenth birthday when I became a vampire. That’s why the king selected Timur as my blood partner.”

“Because he thought Timur was a eunuch,” Ember says.

“Yes. Given my age—” and my trauma “—King Dunkan wanted to give me time before I was exposed to the more sexualized aspects of being a vampire. Time to mature.”

“A hundred years is a long time to mature.”

I flinch.

“Sorry.” Ember reaches forward. “That was insensitive. It’s just…”

I take her hand. “No, you’re right. The ruse with Timur went on far too long.” When I explained to Ember that most single vampires in the palace had one or more exclusive blood partners, she called it ‘friends with benefits’. If the benefit is blood, the descriptor fits, but I’m not sure that’s the benefit she meant.

As vampires we need human blood for nourishment and vampire blood to build and maintain our strength, but most blood partners share far more than their veins. Feeding and sex go hand in hand for vampires—most vampires.

I thought Timur and I were different. That sex was something we simply didn’t need.

Leaning toward her, I whisper, “Now I’ve had sex, I think about it all the time.”

Ember squeezes my hand. “Honey, that’s normal. Absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“But that’s not what I’m worried about. Not really. I want to have sex again, I’m just not sure I want to have it with Timur.”

Her eyes widen. “Did he hurt you?” She shifts toward me. “Did he do something you didn’t want?”

“No, no.” Shaking my head, I glance down. Talking about sex like this is beyond embarrassing, but I need to talk this through with someone, and Ember is the only person besides Timur I know and trust in this country. My sestra, Selina, is currently on the other side of an ocean, as is my father, the king.

I raise my gaze to meet Ember’s. “The physical part with Timur, I found it pleasurable.” So pleasurable I always want more when he’s done, like there’s something left unfinished.

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