The sweet juices burst with flavor as I chewed, saturating my tongue with a tangy flavor that made want to cry out with pleasure. It tasted so good, but I kept my moans to myself, wondering how the fruits on other plants would taste when this one was so good.
But I didn’t get the chance to try another one.
The sounds of footsteps t my ear right before I heard Beta Jake’s horrified voice, “Miss Black... what are you doing here?!”
Seriously, what kind of luck did I have?
I turned to look at him, no, them, wondering if my teeth were stained purple with the juice. I doubted I could say anything to hide the fact of what I was doing, and I’d probably be in worse trouble if I lied. “Good evening, Your Highness, Beta Jake...”
They both looked at in disbelief, and finally, I heard Prince Theo yell, “Just what the fuck are you doing now?!”
All right, I’d done it.
This was the first ti I’d ever heard him raise his voice and curse. Needless to say, he was beyond furious. I didn’t even have the courage to imagine what the consequence could be that was waiting for .
Why must fate hate ?
Dipping my head, I apologized. “I’m... I’m sorry, Your Highness,” hoping with miracle, my good attitude would lessen my punishnt.
“You need to do it now before it’s too late, Alpha,” said Jake, ignoring as he made his suggestion in an urgent tone.
What did he an? To do what?
Before I could react at all, Prince Theo had already moved toward . Within a split second, he was on and moving backward in a hasty retreat until I hit the wall.
He had a look on his face I couldn’t quite place, and a thrill pulsed through as my very life flashed before my eyes. It was as if he wanted to kill and eat at the sa ti, but there was no way for to run.
Prince Theo leaned in, his dark eyes locked on mine, and I imdiately felt like an animal, caught in the gaze of a predator.
This was the first ti I was able to see eyes so closely. As frightened as I was, I had to admit that he had a pair of enchanting orbs. They were dark, deep, but at the sa ti, clear. My own reflection was in them and I didn’t want to look away.
My heart started beating loudly and uncontrollably, and then the next mont, his warm lips were pressed against mine.
Shock, disbelief, confusion and mortification... waves of emotions overwheld . My natural instinct to resist him and to try to escape quickly lted away as he continued to kiss .
My mind began to grow fuzzy, and an ache ford deep within . I couldn’t quite understand what was happening. My knees were so weak that I felt I couldn’t keep myself standing, but then one of his arms moved to my waist, holding up and stopping from getting away from him.
Unlike his cold deanor, his body was very warm, and the heat radiating from his body through his clothes felt as if it would light on fire. We were so close that I could even feel his heart beating powerfully in his chest.
His masculine scent, which reminded of the forest after a fresh rain, filled my lungs, making it difficult to hold onto logical thought.
Even when the kiss deepened and his tongue began to tangle with mine, I allowed it, because my mind was in a ss.
Just as I began to drift away into the overpowering sensation, a sharp pain radiated through my tongue, and the tallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
My eyes shot open. Had he bitten ? On purpose?
Prince Theo didn’t pull away from . Instead, he continued to kiss , hard, as the taste of blood continued to coat my mouth. I didn’t know what to think—every emotion washed over , everything from confusion, to sha, to anger, to... fear.
Sothing about this wasn’t right... but there was nothing I could do but stand there and let him get whatever he wanted from .
I nearly lost my ability to breathe. His gloved hands stayed firmly planted on my waist, though. He didn’t try to touch anywhere else, only kept them planted firmly so that I was steady against him.
I couldn’t get away from him now—even if I tried.
Eventually, the prince pulled away from , leaving gasping for breath as I wiped my mouth off on the back of my hand. Sars of blood streaked my hand, and when I looked at the prince, I could see he had a bit of blood next to the corner of his lips as well, making him look... sexy and tempting in a way I couldn’t describe.
His dark eyes continued to stare at , but there were gleams in them that I couldn’t fathom what emotions they carried.
As air flowed back to my lung, so did my ability to comprehend the situation.
Prince Theo... he just took my first kiss!
How could he? How dare he!
The more I thought about the situation, the more I could feel fury build up inside . If it had been anyone else, I likely would have lifted my knee straight into his crotch by now.
But this was the prince; this was his pavilion, and it was who stole his berry...
“I guess it’s too late,” Jake mumbled under his breath.
Prince Theo turned and looked at him, nodding, but he didn’t say anything.
“She must’ve already absorbed everything the dreamberry had to offer. Sorry, Alpha.” Jake looked down at the ground and shook his head. Then they both walked away from and shifted their focus on the plant in front of them.
I was already pressed against the wall, but as the two of them approached the plant, I did my best to fade away from them so that they would have their conversation without thinking I was eavesdropping.
Not that I wasn’t doing my best to hear every single word of what they had to say....
Prince Theo lifted up the vine from which I had taken the berry and his expression was dark. I Imdiately felt guilty.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. I shouldn’t have done a better job guarding it.”
“Not your fault.” Theo lifted his hand to stop Beta Jake’s apology. He was way more forgiving to his Beta than to . That was for sure.
Jake sighed. “Now what shall we do to help restrain your...” He was shaking his head, clearly distraught, but Theo threw his Beta a glare, and I got the impression he didn’t want to know what they were speaking about.
Jake imdiately lowered his head again without making another sound. He clearly understood that he should not have said what he had said.
“What’s done is done.” Prince Theo regained his usual, cold and distant tone. It was as if so of the emotions he showed just a few minutes ago were just my imagination.
Then, he turned toward again.
I wanted to explain to him how it was his own snake that had brought here, but I said nothing, still not wanting to insert myself into the conversation.
“When is the next blood moon?” I knew Prince Theo was asking Jake, not .
“Not for a while,” Jake replied. “I’m not sure of the exact date, but at least a few months.”
His eyebrows raised for a mont as he contemplated the answer. “Well, keep this one safe until then. We’ll need her blood when the ti is right.” Theo was looking at when he said those words, and I felt my blood run cold.
What in the world would they need my blood for? When he said they’d need my blood—did he an... all of it?
Jake seed to realize they’d alard , and a small chuckle ca out of his mouth as he said, “Miss Black, do not worry. Just a bit from the tip of your tongue. To help with the fertilization.”
“Fertilization?” I repeated, but Theo was clearing his throat. He really didn’t seem to want to know much about this.
The prince’s dark eyes landed on , and he finally fully turned to face , taking a few steps closer. I tried not to focus on the fact that this handso man had just kissed . Rather, I looked at the scowl upon his face and reminded myself that he was very angry at for my mistake.
“I’m very sorry I took your fruit without permission,” I told him. “I had no idea it was special. I was just... hungry.”
“Hungry?” he repeated.
I had learned my lesson that when I was with this cranky prince, the less I said, the better, especially since he was the one who allowed Sophia to starve us. To acknowledge that I heard him, I simply replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“But how?” Jake was curious. “Do you and the other ladies not get enough to eat from the royal chefs?”
Theo scoffed. “Or she just enjoys going around at night looking for other food to devour.”
My eyes widened as anger began to take over . He was the one who gave that ridiculous order to starve and Brook, yet, here he was, acting like he had nothing to do with it!
I couldn’t hold back what I wanted to say. “I have no idea what the other young ladies have gotten from the kitchen recently, not since you gave your order that Brook and I were not supposed to be fed. That was almost two full days ago. She passed out today because of it.” I managed to keep my voice even, but just barely. The urge to yell at him was overwhelming.
“What? Order for you not to eat?” he frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Yes, that’s right. The day that I was told I was no longer your personal attendant, Brook and I were told we could no longer eat until you said so. I’ve been able to manage, but she... Well, Brook’s a petite, delicate, waif of a girl. She couldn’t manage. I didn’t want to see her suffer, so I ca looking for food, and Perceval led here.” I looked down at the snake, who was still slithering near my feet.
The prince looked at his snake as well, almost like he was trying to figure out whose side the pet was on.
When he returned his heavy gaze to , he asked, “Do you really think I’m bored enough to make orders of that nature?”
I opened my mouth to tell him I did think so, since the order had been given to , but then I stopped.
“Sophia!” I mumbled under my breath. I should’ve known this was all her doing and the prince hadn’t really given such an order at all.
Shaking my head, I folded my arms and thought about all of the an things I’d like to do to that girl for ssing with , but more importantly, for ssing with Brook.
“Who is this Brook?” Theo asked . “A friend of yours?”
“Oh, yes. She is. She’s lovely.” I was about to tell him more about how kind and polite she was, but then I realized the expression on his face told he was disinterested in hearing anything more about Brook.
Why would he want to hear anything about one of the girls that was there to see if she was a good match for him to beco his Luna Queen? He’d already made it very clear that he wasn’t interested in any of that.
“So...” Jake said, moving to stand next to his Alpha. “Regarding Miss Black...”
Theo switched his attention to his Beta, and I saw a hint of annoyance growing in him. Slowly, he shook his head. “There has to be another way, doesn’t there?”
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