Page 51 of The Princess's Pet

Things were complicated. And right then, only briefly, I wished they weren’t.

I had a soul match, that I had very conflicting and confusing feelings about. A soul match who seemed to want me, at least physically, but shunned an actual relationship. And it was confusing because I wanted more. I wanted everything. And a part of me hoped, perhaps in vain, that given time the Princess would want more too. But there was no guarantee. There never was with a soul match.

And here I was, sitting next to Dylan; a young handsome shifter that my father would utterly approve of. Whose boisterous enthusiasm for life was oddly endearing and endlessly annoying and it would be easy to love him, I could tell. If things were different. But things weren’t different.

Even if I wasn’t falling hopelessly for the Princess, I still belonged to her. Actually belonged to her. She purchased me. I didn’t have the freedom to choose Dylan, even if I had wanted to. And I didn’t. Not really. We could be good but never perfect.

I wanted perfect. I wouldn’t give up on the possibility of perfect; not when the smallest taste of what could be with the Princess was the best and most addictive of my life.

“Are you scared of her?” he asked me. I shook my head no. “If you are Percy, Viridis would protect you. I’ll protect you. Just say the words and I’ll take you away from her. She’d never find you.” And I found his offer so completely offensive. I never wanted to leave her. I wanted to be close to her always.

“I don’t want to leave her,” I told him seriously. He looked at me like I’d grown an extra head.

“Percy, you can’t truthfully tell me that you like being her bloodbag,” he replied and the chair was almost on the ground.

“I do,” I admitted my face flushing red. I’m not sure if from my embarrassment at the admission or the discomfort his incredulous wide-eyed stare created. The chair reached the starting point again and I could see Ana and Harris waiting for us to disembark.

“What has she done to you?” he asked angrily taking a hold of my arms.

“Nothing Dylan. She hasn’t done anything to me.”

“She has to have done something to make you such a docile, well-behaved slave!” And he shook me a little like trying to physically shake sense into me.

“Let me go, Dylan,” I demanded trying to pull away.

“Right kids, time to get off.” The Ferris Wheel operator interrupted, lifting the safety bar. Dylan released me and when we were off I headed quickly to Ana’s side.

“Is everything okay?” Ana asked me.

“No. Percy has lost her mind,” Dylan answered for me.

“Leave me alone Dylan, I’m capable of making my own choices,” I replied raising my voice to match his.

“Not if you’re being manipulated in some way. Maybe it’s magic? Have you thought of that? Borealis love blood magic and oaths. Has she made you take a blood oath, Percy?” he demanded to know.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I shot back angrily.

“Ana, could you tell if blood magic was being worked on Percy?” he asked turning to Ana almost desperately.

“I, uh,” Ana started.

“Leave Ana, out of this. This is because you can’t understand why I choose her over you,” I accused. “And the reason doesn’t matter. All that matters is I belong to her and I’m happy enough about it! I need to leave now,” I finished marching away before he had a chance to recover from the shock on his face and respond.

I heard him calling after me, but I ignored it and made my way back to the path, through the grove that would lead me to the Princess.

As I walked back I began to worry. The Princess somehow always knew what I’d been up to. And that was a very public argument. What if someone had seen the almost kiss? What if I was covered in his scent of arousal again? He wouldn’t do something like that twice, would he?

My worry seemed to carry me swiftly to the main school building. I was upset with Dylan, but he wasn’t a bad guy, an idiot I decided, but not bad. He didn’t deserve the Princess’s wrath.

The main stairs to the entrance hall were lovely as the evening grew with the lanterns now lit. I wasn’t sure of the exact time, but I hadn’t heard the clock tower strike 7 yet.

As I reached the open doors, I was met with a sight that physically hurt.

Lord Halvorsen was stood, head dipped in a kiss, and arms wound around the waist of the Princess.

I couldn’t breathe.

It was like I had been punched in the gut. Hard.

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