9. Chapter 9- Nyx

That good-for-nothing son-of-a-bitch made me question myself. And if he does it again, I will kill him. Or at least cut something off of him!

Tia looks at me once again through the corner of her eye as I sigh again for the hundredth time. She brought me new clothes this morning after Felix left. Thank goodness it was trousers and a button-up shirt. I choose to leave off the infuriating corset. The shirt is a bit frilly, but at least it is all black, so I don't complain too much. And now she is entertaining me in my old room. All. Fucking. Day!

Apparently, the prince was worried I would destroy his room if I were left alone. He was right. And I should stab him for denying me my fun.

"Was it really that bad?" she finally asks after hours of silence.

"What?" I grumble.

"The prince's attention. From what I have heard, he is an excellent bed partner."

"What the fuck? I didn't have sex with him! He forced me to…cuddle." I nearly gag on the words. Just another thing to add to my list of things to cut him for.

"Oh, well. I just assumed since you were in his bed this morning." Everything in me screams to punch the sly smile off of her face. But unfortunately, that would probably just hurt my hand more than do any damage.

"Yes, well, that is because he didn't give me a choice."

"Oh, is that what we are calling it?" she chuckles.

"Listen here, bitch." Her laughter fills the room, and I have to fight back a smile of my own. Careful there, Nyx. You almost showed you have a sense of humor. I clear my throat and get back on the topic. "I didn't fuck him. I slept in the same bed with him. That. Is. It! Nothing else happened. Supposedly, that is where I will be stuck sleeping from now on," I groan, covering my face with my hands.

"Did you like it?"

"No!"

"What are we talking about?" Kaelin asks, busting into my room without a care in the world. Her purple dress flows around her in gentle waves. The slits show off just up to mid-thigh, revealing golden sandals that wrap around her calves and tie off in a bow above her knee. Even her thin arms glint with gold cuffs on her biceps.

I cough back a laugh when her long, bouncy curls cover her face as she nearly falls forward. She somehow managed to shut her dress in the door.

"Are you alright?" Tia laughs.

"I'm fine!" Kaelin grumbles, pulling her skirts free. "What are we talking about?" She rights herself and pushes her hair from her face with determination.

"The prince and Nyx sleeping in the same bed."

I glare at the infuriating female who seems to enjoy my discomfort.

"He what?" Kaelin squeals. "Ok, tell me everything!" She sits at the table with us, filling her tea cup and covering her plate with meats and cheeses.

"There is nothing to tell." I get up from the table and walk to the window.

I thought I would get some time alone today, at least for a moment, to devise a plan. Instead, I have these two here begging for information that I don't even want to think about.

There isn't enough hot water and soap in this cursed castle to wash away my disgust. But I need him. He is the prince. As aggravating as it may be, he is my only source of protection here. And he knows something about the vines.

"There is something to tell. The prince doesn't just sleep in the same bed with anyone. Not even the females he…" Kaelin shifts uncomfortably in her chair and covers her mouth as she whispers, "Not even the females he makes love with."

"Kaelin, you are a grown woman. You CAN say fuck. Because that is what the Prince does," Tia says, shaking her head at her sister.

"I can, but I don't want to," Kaelin says, pointing her nose in the air.

"I don't care what he does. Because he won't be doing it with me!" I say, leaning against the window.

"I believe the woman protests too much!" Tia says through the corner of her mouth.

"Yep," Kaelin pops the p.

I roll my eyes and ignore them. They can talk all they want. But it won't change anything.

I wonder if they brought my bag with me. My darts should still be in there. I could knock the prince out and take the key. If I can get to a lower level, I can find a window to climb out of. There will be no need to run into anyone else.

But should I miss the opportunity to take him out? To feed my vengeance a bit of Royal blood? It is almost too tempting to stay here for. But then I may find myself in the position of not being able to leave. Would it be worth the risk?

Ugh! So many choices.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" I jump from the deep voice being so close to my ear.

I turn to find I have been left alone with the prince. Traitors! They could have at least warned me. It just shows that their, ‘playing nice,' is all for show.

"Nothing." I push away, but he grabs my arm before I get too far.

"Nyx, if something is wrong, you must tell me."

"And why would I do that? Does the vermin discuss with its hunter why it is uncomfortable between its teeth?" His brown eyes heat and focus too long on my lips. "Stop that!"

"What?" he asks without looking away.

"That!" I yell, slapping his chest. Why is he so fucking thick?

"I can't look at you?" The dimple on his right cheek makes an appearance with his crooked smile.

"No, you can't." I wrench my arm from his grasp. It isn't lost on me he allowed it to happen. "You can't touch me. You can't look at me, cuddle, kiss, talk, smile, or smile at me—" He prowls forward. And like a coward, I back away. But I won't stop talking because then he might have a chance to manipulate me. "—bite me, feed from me, touch me—"

"You said that," he whispers, so deep it vibrates through my chest. His large hand snakes around me and settles on my lower back, slightly pulling me into his body.

"That means I am serious. I won't repeat myself unless it is worth saying twice." I glare daggers at him, wishing it would cause immense harm.

"Or—" he growls, leaning forward, causing his glasses to slide forward, placing his lips right below my ear. And my stupid, treacherous stomach does a weird fucking flip. "—could it be because you are nervous, and I have an effect on you?" he chuckles.

That's it! This bastard is going to learn quickly not to fuck with me.

I lean forward and bite into his shoulder. HARD. He groans and pulls me in closer, just like I wanted. As fast and hard as I can, I drive my knee up into his balls. I don't release my bite, forcing him to rip himself free. Spitting the blood out onto the rug, I quickly run to the bookshelf and grab the giant vase. With as much effort I can muster while trying to fight off the effects of his blood, I slam the vase over his head and watch him crumble to the floor.

I won't have much time.

Without wasting another moment, I run straight for the door. His taste lingers on my tongue, and I groan from how it lights my veins on fire. My jaws and teeth aches, but I fight the urge as hard as I can. I will not be one of them. I will not! No matter how good he tastes or how my body aches for more. The strength and speed are not worth it. Nothing is worth being one of them!

My footfalls are loud on the stone steps. My breathing is labored from the internal fight and malnutrition. Still, I push on.

A loud roar echoes from above. I don't know if it is the reason I move faster than I have ever before, or if it is the blood that my body has been starving for since HE started the process of turning me. Either way, I use the curse to help move me further away from the monster hunting me.

Another door appears on the right, and I head for it. Maybe I will luck out, and he will run past me, thinking I would be too stupid to stop. Thanks to the being above, it is unlocked. I rush in, locking it behind me and lean against the heavy wood.

It appears to be a storage room lit by a small round window in the back. Shelves and shelves of blankets, crates, and books occupy the space, and a thick layer of dust blankets all of it. It has the same layout as the Prince's room and my prison. I skirt around the clutter and hold my nose so I won't sneeze and give myself away. I do not want to be trapped in this small space with an angry Keryth.

My luck continues as I find a bathingroom in the back, just like upstairs. I shut and lock the door and then run to the sink. Using it to rinse out my mouth and chug as much water as I can handle. I need to get rid of his alluring taste. It is too tempting to want more. To throw out everything I have worked so hard against.

The roar comes again, accompanied by the shattering of wood and stuff being thrown around. It is so loud that my ears ring. I quickly smile at the mirror and send up a silent thanks that my fangs still haven't come in. I avoided it and haven't become one of them.

But even with that settled, there is nowhere to hide here. There are no cupboards, closets, or boxes. There is only a large tub and a small basket in the corner. I look at the window and argue with myself for a moment.

"Little Thief!" His growl from the other room makes the decision for me.

I jump into the tub and press my forehead against the glass window above it. I am closer to the ground, but the fall will still kill me. But there are vines here that I can use.

"Come out. Come out, Little Thief."

Nope!

Of course, the other room is full of shit that would be helpful, and this room has NOTHING! Doesn't matter. I will get out of here no matter what.

I hit the window with all my might. The panes of glass are thicker than I initially thought, but I don't stop. I hit it over and over again. My noise blends in with his as he tries to break down the door behind me.

Blood splatters against the cracking glass just as the door bursts open. I kick out, and the glass shatters with that last powerful blow.

"No!" the prince shouts, as I leap through the window.

The wind softly caresses my skin as the ground gets closer with each passing second. I breathe it in and sigh happily with the freedom of this moment. Whether my plan works or not, I will be free. But I still have work and can't perish into the abyss…yet.

So, I grab onto one of the hanging vines and grit my teeth against the pain of my skin being shredded by its rough bark. It takes a few moments for my grip to slow me, but then I swing back toward the castle and on a collision course with the bright white stone wall. Closing my eyes doesn't help keep the wind from being pushed from my lungs with the impact. I take a few steadying breaths and look up to find the prince hanging onto a different vine, quickly climbing down toward me.

Shit!

I need to get moving. Ignoring the pain all over my body, I propel down the side of the tower. Blood drips from my damaged hands, and my grip slips. I right myself a few times, but it only gets worse. And then, to top it off, the lower I get, the more thorns pop up. When I can't dodge them any longer, I look to the ground and pray that it is a closer than it appears and let go.

My legs crumble from the impact. I groan and quickly get up as a loud thud lands behind me. In a blur of motion, I am picked up and thrown over the Prince's broad shoulder.

"Put me down!" I yell, pounding against his back and leaving blood all over his once pristine shirt.

"No. I own you. Eventually, you will have to come to terms with it," he chuckles.

"Never! I will never stop trying to get away." The world spins while I am roughly placed on my feet and pushed against the side of the tower. Felix adjusts his glasses back up his nose and gives me a malicious smile.

"Good. I want you to run. I love a good chase. My body screams for it." He leans down, lightly brushing his lips against my sweaty neck. I have to suppress the shiver of fear before he can sense it. Please don't bite me, I silently beg. "Because if I catch you, then all bets are off." His hand tightens on my hip and pulls me firmly against his body. Showing me exactly what kind of mood the hunt puts him in. "I will be so mindless that I will take this beautiful body and own it in every way possible."

My eyes shoot to his. The intensity in his brown gaze makes it impossible to suppress the shiver any longer. But this time, it isn't from fear but from something else—something I have never been shown before. I don't even know what to call it.

"My body is not beautiful." Why the fuck did I just whisper that? I should have yelled that he couldn't touch me in any way. Or that he doesn't own me. But no! I have to be worried about him, thinking my body is beautiful! Pull yourself together, Nyx!

"How about we get you out of these clothes so that I can judge for myself?" His fangs glint in the waning light and his fingers lightly stroke my hip. I am almost too distracted by them to answer.

Almost…

"Keep dreaming. Because that is the only place you will ever see me nude."

"If I can't see you naked. What are the chances of you biting me again?" he groans the words—like he would die if I didn't do it again. Good! Because then I wouldn't have to worry about tasting blood, and he would die. A win-win for me.

"Even less likely to happen." I roll my eyes.

"Why did you bite me?" His voice is almost as gentle as his fingers when he tucks my loose hair behind my ear.

It throws me off. I don't owe him any answers. I don't owe him anything. And yet I still give him one.

"Self-defense."

"So, if I make you feel threatened—"

"Don't even try it!" I slap his chest, but he catches my hand and holds it against his massive pectoral.

"Don't try what?" He presses against the wall, sliding his thigh between my legs. It forces me to stand on my tiptoes so I can't get leverage to knee him in the nuts again. And he still has my hand trapped against his chest. I'm completely disarmed by a simple movement. Effectively putting me in the position that if I want to do any damage at all, I will have to use my teeth.

"I won't bite you again!" I say, narrowing my eyes.

"Come on, just a little nibble." His fucking dimples are back, and my free fist clenches, desperate to punch them.

"No!"

"Maybe…if I kiss you, then…"

"Don't you dare!" I struggle against his hold, but he is too strong.

"Ugh, fine," he complains with a small smile. "Maybe I should make you wait until you ask for it."

"It's not going to happen." I try pulling my hand away from his chest, but he grasps it firmly and pulls it to his lips.

"Better yet, until you beg for it," he whispers, brushing his lips gently against the back of my bloody hand.

I relax against him, and his hold on my hand lessens just like I knew he would. I know I won't get a lot of power behind it, but anything at this point would be preferable. Pulling back slightly, I put as much power as I can manage behind my fist as I punch him in the mouth.

His lip catches on his fang, but to my dismay, he doesn't move back. Instead, he pushes more firmly into me and growls into my ear.

"When will you learn that your fight only makes me burn hotter? I want you to hit me. Kick me if you must. Your blood all over my body lights a fire deep inside my core. My body demands you are nowhere close to being able to answer. If I were you, I would refrain from poking the beast unless you want to be devoured whole."

Every instinct demands to test him. To prove to him I am not some weakling to walk away from a challenge. But I already know he will follow through. It isn't entirely a terrible thing. It's a weakness I can exploit. But I need a weapon first. So, for now, I will have to…play…nice. Gag.

It takes all my strength to say, "I won't fight."

"Damn," he huffs. "Alright. Let's get back inside then." He finally backs away, but once again, I find myself thrown over his shoulder.

"I can walk!" I shout.

"I know. But if you walk, then I wouldn't be so close to your beautiful ass," he says once again. I grind my teeth against the sting of his large hand coming down hard on my ass, refusing to give him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me.

I can't do anything other than hang useless as he walks through the gardens and down the long hallways of the castle. I can't see anything past my hair and his filthy shirt. And every time I try to lift my head, he jostles me until I am hanging again.

"There he is!" Every muscle in the prince stiffens at the deep, gravelly voice.

"Father," he answers emotionlessly. And now my muscles are just as taut as my captures. The King of the Keryth is here—the oldest and most powerful of them all. And here I am, defenseless and bleeding before him.

"What do you have there, son? And why are you bleeding?"

"We fought."

"And yet it lives?" I grind my teeth to avoid answering the king with a sarcastic remark. Felix may allow me to get away with it, but the king will not be so merciful.

"She is my pet." Felix's voice is still void of all emotion, and I don't know how to take that. I thought all the Royals were close. But the way he reacts to his father has me questioning everything. Maybe it's another weakness I can use to my advantage.

"Finally!" the king cheers with a boisterous laugh that echoes loudly around us. Even blinded by hair and fabric, I can tell his outburst has everyone stopping in their tracks and staring at us. "I never thought the day would come. You will bring it to your mother's ball." A large hand lands on the opposite shoulder of the one I am trapped on.

"She has never been a pet before. I still need to break her before bringing her into public." I said I would never bite him again, but right now, I am so fucking tempted if it gets him to put me down. Once we are alone—

"You will bring it, or I will take it and make you watch how pets are to be treated," the king's voice drops dangerously low and chill bumps rise all over my flesh. Felix's grip tightens against my legs.

The fear ignited by the nightmares his voice springs forward would have me offering Felix my veins and body willingly to bribe him to keep me out of his father's hands. I thought HE was terrible, but all the pain and suffering I endured would never compare to what the king would do.

"We will be there," Felix finally says in the same emotionless voice.

"Good. I knew you would understand. Break it quickly. We do not need a scene on your mother's birthday." Heavy footsteps echo down the hall, and Felix doesn't relax or say a word until they fade away.

"Felix?" I whisper.

"Not now," he whispers, just as low.

He moves again at a neck-breaking pace. It almost feels like we are flying across the smooth floors, through huge wooden doors, and up the massive flight of stairs until he gently puts me down on my feet in his bedroom.

I don't know what to say or do. Felix looks as agitated as I feel. But where I stand still, observing and silently planning, he prowls and runs his hands through his unruly hair.

"He is making you take her to the ball?" Tia asks, rushing through the door and looking panicked.

"He fucking caught me carrying her. I couldn't get out of it!" He stops pacing, removes his glasses, and rubs the bridge of his nose.

"Why would you bring her outside?"

"I didn't! She jumped out of the fucking window!" He throws his hand out, gesturing toward me.

"What did you do?" Tia crosses her arms over her chest and raises a brow at him, tapping her foot impatiently.

"I didn't do anything. She bit me and then hit me over the head with a vase."

"Again, what did you do?" she asks.

They continue to go back and forth, arguing. I can't add anything to the conversation; I'm covered in blood and exhausted. So, I quietly make my way toward the bathingroom and lock the door.

Their voices only pause for a moment before they start up again. I sigh heavily at the hopelessness this whole day has left me with. I was so close to getting away and even closer to completing the change. I can't allow myself to ever do such a thing again. I refuse to be that kind of monster.

I strip from my ruined clothes, use the strange contraption to relieve myself, and then sit in the giant tub while letting the water run over my bloody hands. Luckily, the damage isn't too bad. They will be sore and hard to use tomorrow, but that should be the worst of it.

Once the water no longer runs red, I plug the drain and fill the tub as high as it can go with steaming water and put a little bit of the oil Kaelin made into it. The smell has become something that helps relax me, not that I would ever tell her that. I undo my braid and allow my hair to flow freely around me. Every muscle unlocks and melts into the hot water, helping me to lean comfortably against the side.

I am so far gone to the exhaustion that is setting in; I don't even care that the door handle giggles before it opens.

"It has been so quiet in here, I thought you had drowned," Felix chuckles from where he leans against the doorframe.

"If you would have waited a few more moments, I would have fallen asleep and done just that." My voice comes out languid, giving away my weakened state.

"Then it's time to get out."

"No. Let me perish in my comfort," I complain. The thought of moving seems like too much work.

"I don't think so, Little Thief." His deep laughter pulls an involuntary smile to my face. "Fuck," he whispers so low I almost miss it.

"What?""Nothing." He clears his throat and begins lifting my useless body out of the water. I don't bother fighting him off. I know I won't win, yet I can't even care that he is seeing me completely nude after I promised him he never would.

Surprisingly, he doesn't rub it in my face. He sets me gently on my feet long enough for him to grab a large, fluffy towel. He squeezes my hair with it until it is no longer dripping. And then he grabs another towel and wipes away every single drop of water from my body.

I swallow thickly at the gentleness of his hands. I can't remember a time anyone has been so careful with me. Even Tia and Kaelin were not so soft. His thick, dark red brows pull together as he sees more of my body. He probably has many questions about the hundreds of scars marring my flesh.

"Maybe one day I will tell you about them." I surprise myself by even offering that kind of information. But I don't let it show on my face.

"Whenever you are ready, I will be there to listen," he says just as softly as he dries my legs. He doesn't even look up at me when he says it.

And then it hits me: I have just as many questions about him. Not just questions to find weaknesses to exploit, but questions because I am genuinely curious about him. What kind of male does he tend to be when no one else is around? He is even different around Tia and Kaelin. It is like there are three different versions of himself, and I, for some unknown reason, crave to know why.

But I don't ask a single one. Not while he finishes drying me, not while he holds one of his large shirts open for me to slip into, or while he slowly buttons it up. I don't say a single word while he brushes through every knot in my hair and then tucks me tightly into bed.

I stay staring at the wall under the thick comforter while he bathes, blows out every candle, and slips under the blankets to hold me tightly in his arms. It isn't until his soft snores brush against my neck that I finally find my voice.

"What are you?" And with the question floating freely into the night, I shut my eyes and allow the shadows to pull me into a deep slumber.