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Chapter 9
Hunter
“Wake the fuck up.”
Pain flared across my cheek causing my eyes to snap open. I took a deep breath, memories flooding me of the pain I’d experienced as my creator snapped my neck like a twig. I should have been dead, but my mind told me instantly that something so small wouldn’t end my life.
An enraged expression was being cast my way and I slowly pushed to sit on the bed I was lying on. The need to attack again, to kill Aetas, was all I knew. Somehow I managed to control myself as I reined in my emotions.
“What you did to the princess …”
He trailed off. His breaths were coming out heavy as he began to pace. Not once did his stare leave me.
“How do you feel?” He goaded. “Can you feel her in you? Does her blood comfort you? Does it fucking make you want more?”
The last came out loud and threatening as I sifted through the sensations within. I could feel her presence, and I did want more. Her flavor had been heaven. The sweetness of her power was intoxicating—addicting.
“Answer me, Prince. Was breaking the law worth the small sample you experienced? Did you know because of your stupid actions, Master Delacroix will be a king? A title I swore I’d never give him?”
Aetas lunged toward me and I sprung from the bed to put my face only an inch from his. We were both panting. Both ready to go at each other’s throats. Darkness crept into my mind and I suddenly got flashes of the tortuous mindfuck he’d put me through before he’d broken my neck. His power was so much greater than mine. He could have killed me in that black abyss. Somehow I knew that.
“Let him be king,” I said in a raspy tone. “A king does not define greatness, his actions do. Besides, the higher the title, the harder he will fall when he fails in what he wants.” I bit my bottom lip, bumping Aetas’ shoulder as I walked around him. “When he loses everything, including his queen, tell me how great he will be then?”
“You’re so sure Tessalyn is what you want.” He laughed and I turned around to meet his narrowed stare. “But your own greed and stupidity make you blind to the truth. She will never be yours, Hunter. Not with the hate she harbors for what you did.”
“You’re wrong. She will overlook our past. My change is a new start for both of us, and I plan to show her that.”
Aetas’ head lowered and his eyes were cut up as he moved in closer. “It’s going to be hard showing her when I plan to not let you see her. Do you hear me? You are forbidden to get near the princess. At least until your lessons are over. That could be years. Decades, even.”
My fangs shot down into my lip, stinging and drawing forth the essence of my blood. Of his blood. Heat burned my eyes as I projected every ounce of hate I felt toward my maker. Tingling raced over my skin and what appeared to be dark shadows against the walls grew and moved toward me. My stare went to Aetas as he laughed under his breath. Was this one of his tricks, or something more? I couldn’t help but feel these dark silhouettes were real.
“I have some mending to do. You will remain here. If you try to leave …” Aetas smile grew. “Well, you’re welcomed to try, but I wouldn’t recommend it. My enforcers are the best in the world. They’d love nothing more than twist your body like a pretzel. Disobey my orders and who you are is of little consequence. They’ll eat you alive.”
In quick strides, he left, slamming the door behind him. I turned in a circle, watching the dark misted figures began to turn into smoke. It spun around me slowly and I hissed, ready to fight. As fast as it began, it stopped, becoming a single form. The black morphed with color and my mouth separated as the princess was suddenly before me.
“You’re not real,” I breathed out.
“Am I not?”
I glanced at the door, only to return to her light green eyes. “Aetas …”
“Doesn’t know all of my tricks.” A smile grew and she stared me up and down as she began to walk around me. I turned, following her movements. Her blood in my veins heated and made weird tugging sensations. I knew she was doing it, but why, I wasn’t sure.
“I didn’t meant to hurt you.”
“Don’t lie to yourself, Hunter, it makes you look like a fool. You didn’t care if you hurt me in that moment. You wanted my blood and you would have done anything to get it. Admit it.”
My brow furrowed as I watched her come to a stop. “You’re right. I wanted it, just as I do now.”
“Too bad. My blood does not belong to you. But yours.” Tessa stepped in, reaching up to place her palm against my cheek. “I do believe that yours will be beneficial to me.”
“You want to feed from me? Why? How will it be beneficial?”
Her hand slid down the side of my throat and her fingers stopped over my pulse point. For seconds she remained quiet, just watching my face. My cock hardened and I licked my lips as I fought the urge to push her on the bed and fuck her as hard as I could. There was no room for passion, just raw, bloody lust.
“You and I are going to have a secret no one can know about, Prince. Not Aetas, and not Marko. In our world, there’s no one you can trust.” Tears came to her eyes. “It’s an ugly truth. A heartbreaking one.”
Tessa’s hand slammed into the middle of my stomach and I gasped as she grabbed to what Aetas had—my core. Fire blazed on my insides and I grasped her wrist, holding securely, trying to pull it away.
