Page 13 of The Princess's Pet

“My nineteenth birthday is in a few months,” I answered. “I didn’t know that there was more compulsory education for so many people past your sixteenth year. I’ve been working the last couple of years.”

“How did you come to be the personal servant of the Princess of all people?” she questioned.

“Yeah, Percy, what’s the deal with that?” Harris asked leaning forward interested, having heard Ana’s questions.

“I purchased her.” The smooth, cold voice of the Princess answered behind me.

Everyone at the table rose as if on cue, bowing their heads in the direction of the Princess. I stood also, slower, awkward, was that how I was meant to greet her too? I looked to the Princess for guidance and her silver eyes met mine in a steely stare that said I had done something wrong, but I didn’t know what.

“Have you eaten, pet?” she asked me, ignoring my new friends who stayed stood heads bowed silently.

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered, not liking the tension that I could practically feel buzz around me.

“Come along now, say goodbye to your classmates,” she instructed, and at her words, my new friends all stood up straight and looked at me with small smiles.

“Bye guys, Ana,” I said, wrapping the bubbly girl in a quick hug.

“See you later,” she spoke as I pulled away.

“Bye, Percy,” the boys sang in unison and I’m sure they didn’t mean it, embarrassment reddening their cheeks.

I followed the Princess from the café along corridors, struggling to keep pace with her long strides. Eventually, she slowed down her pace as we entered a library. I followed her as she walked through rows of old books further and further into what seemed a maze of shelves.

When she stopped in what appeared to be a forgotten corner, where the books held visible dust, she spun to look at me. Her eyes flashed for a moment and she closed the space between us, her head ducking to sniff me.

“Why do I smell that boy on you?” she questioned through clenched teeth. I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“What boy, Ma’am?” I asked, confused. She stood up to her full height.

“The larger one, part beast shifter,” she spat out slowly, her eyes steadily growing brighter.

“Uh, he held my arm briefly as we walked to the café.” How on earth could she smell that briefest of interactions? “You have incredible senses,” I blurted out, unthinking, not noticing the angry twist to her lips.

“Why was he holding your arm?” she questioned, ignoring my comment.

“I’m not sure, Ma’am. It was innocent fun. I was walking arm in arm with Ana and Dylan joined with my arm, and Harris with Ana’s….” I trailed off. What had I done wrong?

“Do you want to have fun with that beast shifter?” she questioned. Was she even listening to me? What was she hearing?

“No, Ma’am,” I answered her.

“Then why did you let him put his stench all over you?” she asked, her eyes brighter still. Was this possessiveness? Were other smells not allowed to be on me? Surely the scent of Ana was stronger, did Ana not count? A growl rumbled from her chest when I didn’t answer quick enough.

Scents were to do with marking, and I had just sat through a lesson on the topic. Don’t resist the vampire’s instincts, and this line of questioning had to be all instinct because it made no sense whatsoever.

I stepped forward towards the Princess. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, I didn’t know his scent was on me,” I spoke softly as calmly as I could. “I don’t want his scent on me, or anyone else’s, only yours,” I told her, looking up to meet glowing silver.

She reached for me. Her arms snaked around me, holding my arms tight to my sides and crushing my front to hers. The Princess bent her head, rubbing her cheek against mine and dipping her head further, she ran her tongue from the base of my neck to my ear, repeating the action on the other side. And she began to nip the flesh of my neck with her teeth almost frantically.

“You’re mine,” she hissed in my ear.

“I know,” I replied, not resisting whatever this was.

“He wants you,” she said, her voice sounding less strained. “His arousal is what I sense,” she continued, lower against my neck.

“He can’t have me,” I reassured, and was rewarded with that growl that was more of a purr as she nibbled gently on my ear.

5. Understanding a Vampire’s Nature

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