Chapter 41

41

Ella

I lazily brushed my fingers across my swollen lips as I lay dreamlessly on the prince's fur coverlet, enraptured by the aftereffects of the exquisite things he'd just done. The rumors about the blood tithe had been wrong. It wasn't just pleasurable—it had been far, far more.

The prince climbed off the bed, something unreadable on his face, and the warm, bubbly haze that had settled over me dissipated. "What's wrong?"

Before he could answer, two hard knocks sounded at the door. Suddenly, I was on full alert, my heart racing. Had they come for me? I bolted up to hide, but Cassius gently restrained my shoulder, his eyes serious. He shook his head once before dipping his mouth to my ear. "It's best if they see you here," he whispered, sending shivers of heat down my tender neck as he pulled the coverlet over my exposed skin. "We must keep up the ruse."

Right. Because that's all this was.

Cold rushed over me.

He traced his lips down my neck, then was up and striding toward the door, leaving my skin pebbled and wanting.

"Yes?" he asked as he threw the door open, wide enough for the visitor to catch a glimpse of me on the bed. His hair was tousled and shirt undone, and the way he stood there, cocky and relaxed, made him look just the part—a prince who'd just bedded and fed on his mistress.

Anger rose within me, alongside something heavy in my chest.

The visitor wore crisp military attire, a uniform I didn't recognize. In addition to the royal insignia, he had a silver knot pinned to his shoulder. He stepped across the threshold of the room, and his searching gaze found me immediately.

I instinctively pulled the fur to my chest.

"Well?" the prince demanded, his tone imperious. "What is it? As you can see, I'm presently occupied."

The man didn't flinch. Instead, his scrutinizing eyes zeroed in on the bloody marks on my neck. Cassius's arm shot out, blocking the man from getting any closer.

The man—an immortal, I was certain—met the prince's gaze without an ounce of trepidation. Who was he? Did he work for the Triad?

"Just checking on you, my lord," the man said placidly, though there was a subtle undertone of suspicion.

"I'm feeding, as you can see, and not quite finished yet." Cassius's voice was even, but each word was laced with threat.

"It's been a long time since you've fed on a human," the man said, but the marks on my neck were undeniable proof.

Turning toward me, Cassius's gaze raked over me slowly, and he grinned. "I've made an exception for this one."

This one.

I knew he was just putting on a show, but it felt slimy all the same.

The man exposed a fang as he eyed me.

Cassius turned back in time to catch the newcomer's expression, and a muscle in the prince's jaw tightened. Protectiveness echoed in his voice when he growled, "Keep your gaze away from her, or I'll have your eyes."

The slimy feeling disappeared. There was only so much Cassius was willing to tolerate, it seemed.

The man swallowed hard and nodded, averting his gaze.

"What of your duties?" Cassius asked. "Has the intruder been found?"

"Not yet. But we'll find him. Or her." I didn't miss the emphasis on her , nor the way his eyes flashed to me again. "It's a strange time to feed, Your Highness. With a spy on the loose."

The prince gripped the man by the throat and thrust him against the wall. "I was interrupted earlier, and now you've interrupted me a second time. If you don't have any news for me, I suggest you continue your search."

Face pale and eyes wide, the officer struggled against the prince's grip, barely choking out an apology. Cassius dropped him, and he scurried away.

As he was leaving, a boy in a servant's uniform appeared at the door, obviously terrified. "Your Highness," he stuttered, bowing low and holding out a folded purple garment with trembling hands. "The dress you requested."

The prince took the dress, then shut the door.

"Here," he said, tossing me the purple dress. "You should be seen. It's best if as many people know about us as possible."

About our lie.

Climbing off the bed, I took the dress and pressed it to my chest, wishing I could rub away the ache there. "That was quite the show you put on."

"Hopefully, it works."

It seemed he wasn't going to give me any privacy, so I set the purple dress on the bed and began shimmying out of the red and black gown. "Who was he?" I asked over my shoulder. "You gave him more leeway than you would a normal guard."

"That impudent fucker is the head of the Triad's personal guard. He owes allegiance to them, not me—a sticking point in our relationship. I shouldn't have been so aggressive with him, but… "

The prince's voice cut off as I dropped the red gown to the floor. Suddenly, he was behind me, tracing his fingers across my bare shoulders. I shivered, his rich scent making that ache in my belly return.

"Still thirsty?" I asked, my voice low and shaking a little with the thought.

His hands traced down my sides, leaving fire in their wake. "It's almost noon. You should go. You have a part to play."

"Just like that, you're done with me?" I knew he was right, but I also wanted to stay—I wanted him to want me to stay.

The prince growled, and his lips grazed the sensitive skin below my ear. "You could give me a century, and I wouldn't be done with you. You taste like nothing I ever imagined."

When he said things like that, I wanted to believe that this had been more than creating an alibi. But if so, where would that leave us?

His hands grasped my hips, and he pulled me against him. "Go back to the servants' quarters wearing that dress, and the rumors will spread like wildfire."

His words said go , but his body…

I squeezed my eyes shut. "I'm never going to live this down."

"That you're the prince's blood mistress?" He slowly kissed the span of my neck, each touch of his lips prickling my skin and sending a shiver along my back. "Yes. I think that's going to stick with you."

What would the servants think of me? That I'd given in? Or was feeding so common here in the castle that it wasn't looked down on like in the village?

"My mark will protect you," he said as if reading my thoughts.

Or get me killed.

I leaned back into him, savoring how broad and strong and safe he felt. He was supposed to be my enemy. I despised the immortals—so why did the thought of him trying to protect me fill my belly with warmth?

Because I'm inches from the hangman's noose.

Cassius's tongue brushed over the tender puncture wounds, sending a silent promise down my spine. This man—this immortal—was quickly unraveling me.

Breaking free from his grasp, I stepped into the purple dress and faced him. " Will you protect me? Can you, even?"

It was clear the Triad had some power over him, and I was a servant girl, not a queen. Hell, he was going to be king, and I was living a lie.

His stance hardened, and the man who'd seduced me was gone, replaced by cold iron. His perpetually stormy eyes turned dark. "I can, and I will. I'll get you out of here, right now, if that's what you wish."

I should run. I should flee this place with its cutthroat court and secret rulers. What I knew was certain to get me killed—what I was could get me killed. There were lands beyond the Bloodvale—I'd seen them documented in his desk. He could get me there, couldn't he?

But I couldn't abandon my sister or Cara, or the rest of the townsfolk. They had so little hope to live on, and even less truth. If I could find some way to help them, then the risk would be worth it.

There were other reasons as well. This relationship of ours was supposed to be nothing more than an alibi—but that intention was quickly becoming more and more a distant memory.

I placed my palm against his chest, feeling his corded muscles beneath the layers of fabric. "I'm not running. I want to stay."

Relief and concern flashed in his eyes. "You have work to do, then. If anyone asks—and they will—you slipped out at dawn to join me, and I drank from you twice. There's a salve you could use to quickly heal the bite marks, but I think you should leave them and let the rumor mill do the rest. By the end of the night, I expect I'll hear tales that we were together for days without sleeping."

The blood rushed from my face. If the sisters heard, I wouldn't have to worry about the Triad. They'd rip me to pieces between them. "So much for my reputation."

"Your reputation comes second to your safety. Every time someone repeats the rumor that you were with me today, it makes you that much safer."

That's all he and I were—a lie to ensure that I kept my life and he kept his throne.

The prince gently lifted my chin so that my eyes met his. All the tenderness he'd shown earlier was gone. "You need to be careful, Ella. The Triad are perilous. They will interrogate everyone in the castle until they find their spy or determine that he can't be found. When it's your turn to be questioned, choose every word cautiously." His thumb traced along the side of my cheek. "Do not let them see who you really are."

A flicker of guilt squeezed my chest. Did he suspect I was working for the resistance? He couldn't, or I would've already been hung from the castle walls. Could he sense I had magic? I was almost certain he hadn't bought my story about exploring, yet he hadn't asked again. Why turn a blind eye, and more importantly, what did he suspect?

My breath came a little quicker. "And who am I, really?"

A traitor and a liar.

The prince leaned in and brushed his lips across mine. "You're someone who is brave and kind and beautiful. Someone who's far more than she seems."

My stomach fluttered, and I pushed back against the emotion. Lying to the prince wasn't supposed to be this hard, and he wasn't supposed to say things like that to me. I was working against him. Although I didn't move an inch, it felt like I was plunging down the face of a cliff.

Cassius kissed me softly and gently, then stepped back. "Whatever you do, don't let them see how strong you are. Make them underestimate you. Only then will you be safe."

It was just past noon by the time I reached the servants' hall, and everyone was awake. The murmurs started the moment I stepped in. Some of the girls stopped and stared at me, while others leaned close and whispered to each other. My neck heated, but I strode forward, wearing my dress proudly. People had whispered about me my whole life. My hair. My eyes. Now the dress and the marks on my neck.

To hell with them all. Why should I hide?

The bleary eyed headmistress turned to me and raised her brow. "That's not the traditional staff uniform, Miss DuPonte."

I angled my head slightly, exposing the bright red bite marks on my neck. "My other one got damaged. I'm afraid I'll need a replacement."

She shook her head and gave me a sad smile. "Oh, lass, you've gone in deep now. Careful with yourself."

Her words weren't judging or unkind, and when she brought me a new uniform, her typically stern disposition had thawed. "It's a very nice dress, but I'd appreciate it if you'd wear this while at mess and when going about your, well, less intimate duties."

Would they all assume I was sleeping with him as well as paying the tithe? Considering how his bite had pushed me over the edge, it wasn't much of a stretch.

I blushed and took the clothes, then nearly bumped into Cara as I headed into the women's residence. "What is that gorgeous thing you're wearing?" She stepped back, and her eyes widened. "Oh, gods, Ella, your neck ! Who?—"

"The prince," I said, flatly. Loudly.

The room around us slipped into a shocked silence, and my neck heated as everyone turned to stare at me. For a moment, no one said a word, and then Annie snorted. "You're full of shit. He hasn't fed in centuries ."

I raised my chin. "Well, he has now."

"But you? " she said incredulously.

Had the Fates made us bunk mates just to torture me?

Whatever shyness I'd felt earlier melted away. I would own this. I gave her a withering look. "He didn't just drink."

Annie's eyes rounded.

Cara pulled me aside, and we headed into the washroom, away from the prying ears and eyes. " The prince . Are you serious? I can't believe it!"

"I can't either, really," I said, voice low. "It just sort of happened."

Her expression clouded. "Are you okay? You always said you wouldn't let one of them feed on you. He didn't force you, did he?"

I shook my head and gave her a guilty smile. "He had my full consent."

She grinned and plucked at the sleeve of my dress. "In all fairness, I think I'd let him bite me anywhere for a dress like this."

"They bite other places than the neck?"

Cara's mouth opened, then snapped shut.

"She means they stick their head between your thighs and lap it up," someone shouted from the toilets in the back.

Cara winced. "I mean, there are other places, too. Like your wrist. Not just, um, down there." She coughed. "Though there are big blood vessels in that spot."

I nodded as my mind came to terms with the idea of Cassius's mouth dragging across the soft flesh of my inner thigh. Goosebumps rippled along my skin, and suddenly, the dress felt very, very constricting.

Cara cocked her head to the side. "Wait a minute, are you serious about what you said to Annie? You two didn't?—"

I coughed loudly. "We found a variety of ways to engage ourselves, thank you very much."

I had to establish an alibi, but that didn't necessarily mean airing all my dirty laundry for everyone to see. I didn't think I was strong enough for that level of public scrutiny. However, Cara looked at me expectantly with wide and eager eyes, like a puppy waiting joyfully for table scraps. "So, I guess you were with him all day, then?"

"I joined him right after dawn," I said loudly enough for my voice to carry to the back of the washroom. Hopefully, it would be common knowledge in an hour. "We didn't get much sleep."

"Then you have no idea what's been going on?"

"What?" I asked, a pang of guilt prodding at me. I hated not telling Cara the truth, but it was safer for all of us this way.

"Something crazy happened in the castle. We were all sleeping, and then there was a commotion in the halls. Guards burst in, asking the headmistress for her list of names—that's when everyone noticed you were gone. They were searching the servants' halls, the kitchens, everywhere."

"Searching for what?"

"We don't know. I've heard a dozen rumors ranging from someone robbed the treasury, to a prisoner escaped, to there was an assassination attempt on the prince himself."

My stomach twisted at the thought of one of his rivals coming after him, and that left me unsettled. Now I was worrying about him? Not only could he take care of himself, but I should hate the bastard. His kindness toward me couldn't erase the evils he'd stood for and committed. Had I gone completely daft?

My fingers traced the bite mark on my neck. Yes, I probably had.

I lifted my brows in what I hoped looked like shock. "Well, I can verify the last one didn't happen. The prince was alive and well when I left him."

"Whatever happened, it was big," Cara said. "They've been taking the staff away and interviewing us, one by one. No one has ever heard of them doing that before."

The low weight of dread settled in my stomach, and I rested my back against the wall as my doubts began piling up. "What did they ask about?"

"That's the crazy thing. No one will say. I even tried bribing some of the girls with extra dessert or free sewing, but they wouldn't come clean. They were scared silent. Practically terrified." She flopped back against the wall beside me. "Whatever it is, I hope they catch whoever is responsible before my turn comes. I don't want anything to do with it."

"Yeah," I said weakly, as I let my treacherous head clunk back against the wall. "Me, neither."