A soft curse escaped her lips as the familiar smell of English biscuits flooded her nostrils. The Icelander prince was here again! Couldn’t he take a hint? She had no interest in him. Prita didn’t care if he had a killer body or if he tasted as good as he looked. She didn’t like him, or his insufferable personality.
Rising from where she sat on the ground, she scowled at the prince. He was too early. He should have shown up when she had locked herself away in her tomb.
His smile dropped. “Is my love not happy to see me?”
She glared at him, adjusting the woolen dress he had gotten her. The thing was too itchy. “I’m not your love, and I’m not happy to see you.”
“Well, that’s a shame because seeing you just made my day.”
“Go away, you annoying brat. What are you even doing here? I told you to stay away.”
“And leave you all by yourself? I told you that I won’t give up, Prita. I’ll keep fighting until you agree to come with me to my room.”
“Now, what would I want to do in your room? Just leave me alone, Massa.”
“I can’t. I need you to heal.”
“I knew there was a sinister reason behind your daily visits. You didn’t realize that I was your mate today, but since you need to heal, you remember me? You’re such an arse.”
“I never forgot you for once, my love. I tried to see you, but I got caught up with work.”
She scoffed. “Work? So, your work is more important than me, is that what you’re saying?”
“I didn’t say that, love. I just want you close to me, Prita.”
“That’s a bummer because I don’t want to be close to you.”
“Prita!”
“Keep quiet. I don’t want you to wake up my brothers. They don’t like you.”
“I don’t need them to like me, Prita. I need you to like me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Get me the girl, and I’ll think about it.”
Massa stomped his feet. “Baby, don’t be like this.”
“Don’t baby me. If you want me to consider you, get the girl.”
“Of course, I want you to consider me.”
“Good. Then get the girl.”
….
Eloive was thoroughly exhausted when he entered his chambers an hour after noon. Not only did his bones ache from playing dress-up with Waxlyn, but his wrists also hurt from playing multiple rounds of chess with Avetha. The Fae Queen was very infuriating. While they played, she kept mentioning his illness. Annoyed, he left her, and Waxlyn forced him to play dress-up. For Eloive, there was nothing more tiring than squeezing himself into clothes meant for a thirteen-year-old. He shut his chamber doors and rolled up his sleeves, exposing his scarred arms and the bracelet on his wrist.
He walked into his bedroom and was surprised to see Toreh there. She looked cleaner than before, her hair pulled up into a ponytail, exposing the small choker she wore.
“I thought you wouldn’t be able to come?” he asked coolly, taking off his shoes.
She glared at him. “Don’t think I came here for you. Just give me my bracelet so I can leave.”
“The bracelet stays on my wrist,” he said, playing with the beads.
“Eloive, please.”
He raised a brow. “So no more ‘my prince’?”
“Eloive, I don’t have time for this. My owner doesn’t even know I’m here and might probably be in need of me. Just give me my bracelet so I can leave.”
“Why do you care about it so much? Could it be a gift from your boyfriend?” he asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
She snorted. “Only the rich are allowed to have such entitlements.”
“But your sister has a boyfriend.”
“She’s a worker, and I’m a slave, so she’s richer in a way. Just give me my bracelet, Eloive.”
“How long have you been a slave?”
“I didn’t keep count, but it hasn’t been long. My bracelet, Eloive.”
He walked up to her, and she took several steps backward. He stopped, leaving enough space between them.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a slave?”
“I didn’t want you to know.”
“Why? I thought we were friends, Toreh. Friends tell each other everything.”
“Friends? How can a prince and a slave be friends? We’re not friends, Eloive. Friends don’t know the taste of each other’s lips.”
Eloive smirked. “So, you did enjoy the kiss. Mind telling me what I taste like?”
Toreh reddened. “I… I don’t know.”
Eloive noticed that she didn’t deny enjoying the kiss. His smile only widened. “Don’t fret, darling. I’ll kiss you again so, you’ll be sure.”
He moved closer, and Toreh ducked under his arm, fleeing to the other side of the room. A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as he faced her.
“Scared? Don’t worry; I’ll keep my fangs in check.”
She glared at him. “You… you can’t just go around kissing someone else’s property.”
“You’re no one’s property, Toreh.”
She scoffed. “I am a slave, Eloive, which simply means that I’m someone’s property.”
“I’m certain your owner won’t mind, Toreh. Just a small kiss, so that, you’ll be sure.”
“Friends don’t kiss on the lips, Eloive.”
“We could be friends with benefits.”
“Friends with benefits? What does that mean? What benefits?”
Eloive was shocked that she didn’t know. She was just so innocent and pure. “You’d have to kiss me to find out.”
“Eloive! Just tell me…”
“Kiss me.”
She glowered. He laughed. “You know what? I don’t even want to know what it means anymore. Just give me my bracelet so I can leave.”
“Now why would I do that?”
“Err, because it’s mine?”
“Toreh, you still haven’t told me who gave you the bracelet.”
“My father gave it to me before he was taken away.”
“Who took him away?”
“That’s none of your business. Just give me what’s mine.”
“Will you be back?”
“No. It was kind of hard for me to sneak in.”
“Then why don’t you just work in the palace?”
“My owner makes sure I avoid the palace, so I’d rather not.”
“Then I’ll keep the bracelet because I know you’ll be back for it,” he said, approaching her.
“Eloive…”
“You’re the only friend I’ve made here and I don’t want to lose you. Please let me have it, in order to assure me you’ll be back”.
“Eloive…”
“Please,” he pleaded, taking her hand.
“Eloive…”
He remained silent, reaching into his drawer and retrieving one of his gold watches. Toreh’s eyes widened as she realized what he was trying to do. She attempted to pull her hand away, but he held it firmly, securing his watch around her wrist.
“There. Take it.”
“Eloive, I can’t accept this. It must have cost you a lot. Why would you give it to me?”
“We’re friends, Toreh, and friends give each other gifts. Now, please accept my gift, Toreh.”
“I won’t be able to wear it, Eloive. My owner would notice.”
He took off the watch and replaced it with a small bracelet.
“My mother gave me this before she died, but since I can’t wear it, you can have it.”
“Eloive…”
“Please, take it, Toreh. Let it be a token of our friendship.”
She simply pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around his back. Eloive stiffened, not expecting it, but he gradually relaxed and returned the embrace. They parted, and Eloive sighed, as he missed the feeling of her body pressed against his.
“Friends?” he asked, extending his hand.
She looked unsure but ultimately shook it. “Friends.”
…
“We have to do something about Izal’s arm, Hanos,” Avetha said as she polished her nails. She would have asked the maids to do it, but they wouldn’t have been able to do it perfectly.
The vampire king raised his head and glared at Avetha. The day wasn’t over yet, and she had already changed clothes! The woman was truly infuriating! Now he understood why Thjis had rejected her advances years ago.
“Don’t tell me you’re still fixated on that, Avetha. The kingdom doesn’t love him any less just because he’s disabled.”
A knock interrupted them, and Dogara entered without permission.
“Sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to inform you that the ceremony has been canceled.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I had to leave my wife to come here.”
“I apologize on behalf of the kingdom, Hanos, but you know that she can’t become my son’s concubine now that she’s in jail and a human.”
Avetha’s ears perked up. “Jail? What happened?”
“Thjis caught her trying to escape,” Dogara replied.
“Ha! I knew she was up to no good,” Avetha said with glee.
Dogara resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Thjis is with the elders right now, discussing what to do with her.”
“I say they kill her.”
“No,” Hanos retorted, fully aware of the repercussions if she died. “She can’t die. The girl has to live. Prepare an auction, sister. May the highest bidder win.”