13. Chapter 13- Felix

Someone could have caught her. Anyone could have walked upon her and that woman, killing Victor. Then, there would have been nothing I could have done to keep her safe, especially if my father had heard about it. He would have taken her, used and abused her, until there was nothing but a shell of her existence left.

I can't let it get that close again or allow her to be taken. I need to figure out her secrets so that I can help her—and maybe start disclosing some of mine as well. If I am going to make this work, I may have to look into getting rid of more than just the vines.

"Felix?" Tia says, breaking through my haze of worry.

"Yeah?" I run my hand through my hair for the hundredth time.

"Stop worrying so much. We will make it through tonight. She will have both of us watching her." Tia leans against the doorframe with her arms crossed. She is an imposing figure of strength, even clothed in her floor-length, form-fitting gown.

"My father—"

"He will not have any excuse to touch her. You know that your mother will require all of his attention." She has a point. I can always count on her to keep my head on straight.

"True."

"When will you finally stop doubting me?" she cocks a brow and pushes away from the doorframe. "You would think that after all these years, I would have already gained your undying devotion and obedience."

"Watch it! I am still your Prince," I teasingly reprimand her.

"Oooh, so scary. Now, come upstairs and receive your date. She looks absolutely stunning."

"She does every day."

"You big softy!" Tia shakes her head and leads the way up the stairs.

"I have literally torn heads from bodies and gutted people for crossing me. And yet you dare to call me soft?" She stops before the door to Nyx's room and gives me a bright smile.

"Yes, you have done that with Elani and Keryth. But with her…you are soft." Before I can say anything, she throws the door open. "Kaelin, we must go!" Tia bellows.

Without another word, Tia and Kaelin leave me alone with Nyx. But she is nowhere to be seen.

"Nyx?"

"I am not going!" she calls from behind the bathingroom door.

"You know we don't have a choice, Little Thief," I chuckle.

"Yeah. Well, you probably get to wear comfortable clothes. I have to go in this stupid dress." The door opens, and my heart immediately stills within my chest.

She is breathtaking. Her pale skin looks so soft against her long black hair. The coal around her bright blue eyes makes them stand out and almost glitter in the low light. If she would let me, I would keep her here for only my enjoyment or to just stare at. Her lips are painted a deep red—almost black—and they call to me like a dying male to water. I could kiss along her exposed shoulders and watch my hand disappear up her thigh through the slit in her dress and explore every scar that covers her skin.

"Say something, damnit!" she yells at me while fidgeting on her feet.

"Red is my new favorite color." It's all I can muster. The way it makes her skin glow and my mouth water will be a new obsession that may be the end of me.

"Shut up," she growls. But I see the slight quirk on her lips from fighting back a smile. "You look…" She motions up and down toward me with a tiny wrinkle between her eyebrows. "…fine."

"Fine? Is that all?" I walk toward her, loving how her eyes widen slightly as I get closer. "You can do better than that." I take a small piece of hair from over her shoulder and twirl it around my finger while she struggles to form words. It is such a stark contrast to the promise of death she always gives me.

"What do you mean?"

"You can give me one compliment." I tuck the hair behind her dainty ear and watch her throat work as she swallows thickly.

"I don't want to," she whispers.

"Try," I nearly groan.

"Why?"

"Are you saying you can't do it?" My heart races as her eyes harden. It might be the slightest change, but the new look on her face screams I am in trouble. "Give me your best shot, Hellcat."

I flinch slightly as her hands shoot out and land on my shoulders. Her fingers torturously slide down to unbutton the top of my shirt, and then they spread out onto my bare chest. My cock stirs at the contact, and I have to bite my bottom lip to keep from moaning out loud.

"Your skin is so smooth," she purrs, stepping more fully into me. "So smooth, a dagger would slide through it as easy as a hot knife slides through butter." She tries to pull away, but I hold her in place, savoring the connection for just a bit longer.

She smells so fucking delicious. My mouth waters with the thought of sinking my fangs into her and devouring her in one of the many ways I crave. The hunger is becoming relentless. I thought I could survive on food for a lot longer. At least until I could win her over, but she is more stubborn than I initially thought. And feeding from another seems like a betrayal and has my stomach tied in knots. I will have to figure out something soon, or I will be useless in protecting her.

"If you want to give it a try, I would be more than happy to supply you with the dagger."

"As much as I would LOVE to slice you into pieces, we don't have time for that." I just stare at her, trying to remember what we were supposed to be doing. "The ball…"

Fuck!

"It will be fine. I will tell my father what happened." I turn away from her so she can't see my smile.

"And what is that?" she huffs, following me to the door.

"That you distracted me and were misbehaving." Her hand wraps around my bicep and tugs on me until I stop.

"I thought you wanted me to remain alive!" she yells. I can't hold it back and begin laughing. "You are…joking?" The look of disgust on her face has me doubling over. "You can't have a sense of humor. It is unnatural for a Keryth." She still looks like she has been forced to smell bad cheese or something.

"So, we are just emotionless beings that walk around?"

"No. You have emotions. Just none of the good ones." She pushes past me and opens the door before I can.

"I would argue, Little Thief. As a killer, you lack some of those emotions as well." She pauses before descending the first step.

"True. But at least I am a villain with a purpose. You are just a dick." My smile is wide and genuine as she walks away from me. I am going to make this woman my mate if it is the last thing I do. It probably will be if she has any say about it…or if she has a dagger.

We make our way down the stairs, out of my office, and through the halls without saying another word. I occasionally slow down to let her walk ahead of me so I can watch her hips sway as she stomps around in the heels. Only when she glances over her shoulder with that adorable wrinkle between her brows do I catch up with her.

There is so much I am dying to say. It doesn't help that the tiny bit of softness that has entered her eyes has my hope soaring when it shouldn't be. I want to share my research with her. Learn about her past and future goals. Ask what drove her to kill the first time. I want to tell her all my plans for this kingdom once I finally get rid of my father. To see if she holds some of the same hopes that I have for the people trapped here.

"Felix, is this her?" My mother's voice sends chills down my spine. She shouldn't be here. She should already be in the hall with all the guests.

"It is, Mother." I pull Nyx to my side and hold on tightly so that the queen can't get her claws into her.

Mother came dressed for war, it seems. Her tight-fitted black dress shows off every curve, with silver chains that resemble armor draped over her shoulders. Her long nails are painted black, with the tips covered in metal embellishments that connect to her bracelets with small, dainty chains. Her bright red hair is stacked in curls on top of her head, threaded with jewels and stones, with her crown of spikes tucked snuggly within.

"Let her come forward," Mother says, pointing her small nose in the air while clasping her hands together in front of her.

"Mother…"

"Now, Felix!" she demands, with no room for denial.

Nyx's spine stiffens under my hand before she steps away from me and moves toward my mother. She doesn't flinch as the Queen's sharp nail catches her under the chin.

"What a weak-looking little thing. Beautiful. Familiar. But still weak. Are you sure she can sustain you?" Mother's piercing green eyes meet mine over Nyx's stiff shoulder. "You look pale. Feed. And then come to the party. We can't have you passing out on my birthday. Maybe find you a pet that's not…lacking." She roughly slides her nails from under Nyx's chin and heads for the giant double doors, finally leaving us alone.

"Nyx?" I reach for her, but she swiftly pulls away.

"I'm fine. Let's get this over with," she says through clenched teeth.