Page 159 of The Princess In A 'Prince' Disguise

Aekeira went still.

"Em…!?" her voice choked with a new fear.

"Do you have another brother?" Vladya pressed sarcastically.

Her hand fell away from his wound. Aekeira spun away, skirts swirling as she lunged for the door.

Vladya nodded. "I thought so,” he muttered under his breath. His eyes slid shut, and his head fell back with a weary sigh.

But she halted. "Wait. You saved Em? You?" Incredulity laced her voice.

Vladya's eyes flew open. Silence fell.

"I did not say that," he stated, at last.

"But that's what happened, isn't it?" Aekeira murmured, "It would explain the wounds, the poison."

Vladya was too exhausted for this confrontation. Were all human royals this stubborn, or was it a trait shared solely by this female and her brother?

"Fine," he conceded, angrily. "I saved the boy's life. Are you satisfied? Now, go tend to him and leave me in peace, Aekeira."

She only stepped closer. Hesitant. "You saved his life. You saved Em’s life." Wonder warring her features.

Vladya sighed.

Her eyes locked with his, a lot of emotions revealed in them—concern, a fierce protectiveness, and a strange glint of... fascination? "I can't leave you like this."

“Of course, you can.”

"Let me help you,” she whispered.

He laughed. A harsh, empty, mirthless sound. “You cannot help me.”

The hush was only broken by the rasp of Vladya's breath.

"You can drink from me."

He stopped breathing. The words, soft yet loaded with shocking resolve, sent a tremor through him. His inner beast roared in response, and a deep hunger attacked him, almost drowning all reason.

In a flash, he had her pinned against the wall. "Are you mad? Do you tempt death so freely? Do not utter such words again. Ever.”

She met his gaze without flinching. “I wish for you to drink from me,” she repeated in a soft whisper.

His body throbbed in eagerness. Hunger clawed at him. His control was weakening with every beat of her heart.

If her blood were as sweet as it smelled, he would drink her dry.

“Speak those words again, and I may take you at your offer," he warned in a low tone.

"Your kind need permission to drink from a person the first time, do you not? Without it, the blood tastes bland and useless?” she nodded. “You need blood to heal. And so, I give you my consent.”

Vladya was surprised and it showed. Most people fled when he was like this—witches, Urekai, werewolves, all of them. Yet this tiny human princess held her ground. A perplexing blend of bravery, stubbornness, and an iron will.

Qualities he'd once adored in a female. A lifetime ago.

“Drink from me, Your Highness,” she urged, eyes closed as she tilted her head in a gesture of complete surrender, "I give you permission."

Her throat, pale and vulnerable, pulsed under his gaze. There are certain battles a male simply cannot win. This was one of them.

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