Page 80 of The Princess's Pet

“5 days,” I repeated. “That’s a long time,” I spoke mostly to myself.

“It is. It will take a little time for you to regain your strength, but you are young and healthy and a strong witch. I’ve never seenanother achieve what you did Percy. I know of no witch successfully treating a pureblood vampire poisoned by Hades’ Delight and of no other, that has survived such long exposure to any variety of Wrath let alone Poseidon’s Wrath. How did you know the treatment necessary?” Piper asked me and I was hesitant to answer. The first page of each of my mother’s books stated that they were the property of the Flores coven and not to be shared.

“Aunt,” Ana admonished softly. “Would you tell Percy, of the knowledge Syngeneia holds?”

“No. I apologise, Percy, for my curiosity,” Piper relented. “I will send word that you have woken to the Princess.”

“I’ll go,” Edward announced and smiled happily at me before running from the room.

“Why are you here?” I asked Ana again.

“Edward called Leilani back at the Academy, who in turn gave me the message that you were gravely ill. I called my Aunt, who stays in a city on the other side of the Dark Mountains. She was able to get here within a couple of hours and I made my way here arriving the following day. We’ve worked continually, taking it in shifts to keep your heart rate as low as possible to allow your body time to eliminate the Wrath toxin,” Ana told me taking my bandaged hand in hers.

“You did all that for me?” I asked feeling so grateful for my friend. “Ana you’re the best friend I could have,” I told her, squeezing her hand and trying not to cry.

“You’d do the same for me,” she said dismissively.

“Don’t be humble Ana, you saved my life!” I told her seriously.

“That she did.” I turned sharply at the sound of the Princess’s voice. Ana released my hand and moved away.

The Princess walked towards me with purpose, and I was overwhelmed to see her alive, strong, and regal with a gold crown upon her head. I couldn’t stop my tears of joy. I was a sobbing mess in the few strides it took her to reach my side.

She bent down and scooped me up from the bed holding me firmly in her arms. I wrapped my arms around her neck intending to never let go. The last time I saw her I thought she was dead and I was praying to Poseidon that the myth of his Wrath was true.

“Percy,” she spoke like a prayer against my throat, and I heard her take deep breaths of my scent. “Mine,” she said forcefully and her tongue swept against my neck. I clung to her with all the strength I had.

I could hear the clearing of a throat and coughing. The Princess lifted her head from my neck but I kept my face pressed firmly against her.

“Percy will require rest and care. Soft foods, plenty of liquid and gentle exercise for the next few days.” I heard Piper speak.

“Thank you, Piper, Ana, Thomas, Edward. I appreciate your efforts in Percy’s recovery. I will not forget what you have done. Now I am taking my pet, to care for personally,” the Princess said and though it was rude, I did not say goodbye to my friends or Piper as the Princess carried me from the room.

She took me swiftly through the courtyards and back to the castle and her wing.

“Pet,” she spoke softly. “It’s been too long since your last marking and your scent is contaminated with others,” she told me.

“Sorry,” I whispered roughly into her shoulder; I didn’t like knowing I no longer held her mark.

“Don’t apologise,” she reprimanded softly, lips pressing against the side of my head. “I’m going to bathe you.”

I opened my eyes and although I didn’t pull my face away from her neck, I knew from the bright light and pale marble that echoed her footsteps we were in her bathroom.

I tried to protest when she put me on my feet, but only managed to whine pathetically as she kept one arm around my waist supporting my weight as she turned the shower on.

The Princess undressed me from the pyjamas I wore, carefully unwrapped the bandage from my hands which were red and sore, with ugly black scabbing in some places, and helped me step into the shower. I didn’t want to think about the fact that my friends must have washed and changed me from my soggy pond water clothes.

The shower like her bath was far more spacious than any one person required. There was even a bench along one wall which I was thankful for as she guided me to sit. I didn’t think I could stand for very long on my own. While my legs were coming back to me, I was still incredibly weak.

She crouched down in front of me, her hands pushing my hair behind my ears and the smile she gave me was breathtaking. Her happiness was contagious.

“I’m so glad you’re alive,” I told her, feeling like I was in a dream and briefly as she pulled her hands away from me to remove her clothing, I worried that I was dreaming, that I was lying, delirious from Poseidon’s Wrath, on the bedroom floor.

“What’s the matter?” she asked returning to me quickly, her hands on my cheeks, thumbs wiping away my tears.

“Is this real?” I asked her, weakly lifting my arm to trace my fingers along her jawline. She smiled and tilted her head amused, pressing her lips against my fingertips.

“Yes,” she answered simply and stood to direct the spray of the multiple nozzles towards us.

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