This girl …

Her eyes took half of her pretty face, and her breathing came out in shallows gasps. “Y-you …” she whispered.

Her heart beat as if she had run a marathon and her scent … I let out a long breath before I either slapped some sense into her, pushed her against the wall and tasted her sweet, sweet blood, or threw her over shoulder and locked her in the dungeons.

Instead, I slipped my hand from her elbow to her wrist and held on tight. “What the hell were you thinking?” I asked, barely controlling my rage. “I told you not to try to escape.”

Even though the fear was stamped in her gray eyes, she lifted her chin and faced me with a little defiance. “I’m not your pet.”

“No, but you are mine nevertheless.”

Mine …

The idea of having her just for me both excited and terrified me. If only she behaved, I could pretend she didn’t exist.

“You can’t keep me here against my will.”

Did she really think she could escape from a castle full of vampires?

“Watch me,” I snarled. I tugged on her wrist. “Let’s go.” I marched down the hallway, dragging her behind me.

She whimpered, jerking against my hold, but I only increased the pressure. If it hurt, so be it. She deserved it.

Her scent filled my nostrils and I stiffened, clenching Thea’s wrist tighter. She jerked against my hold again, but I only pulled her closer.

“Well, well, well,” Alex said as he turned the corner and faced us. “What do we have here?”

I halted, keeping Thea behind me. “I thought you would be at the dinner,” I said, willing my tone to remain casual, non-caring.

“I could say the same thing of you.” His predatory gaze slid toward Thea. “But now I see why you left early. If she were mine, I would have done the same thing.” He took one step closer. “Hello, pretty pet.”

I tugged Thea even closer to me, gluing her to my back. Her hands fisted on my jacket. “Do not talk to her, Alex.”

“Oh, but she’s irresistible, brother. Beautiful and enchanting like a siren.” He winked at me. “I meant it. After you’re done with her, I wouldn’t mind having my share of her.”

I growled, a low rumble deep in my chest. “Stay away,” I warned, putting all the menace I could muster into my gaze. He knew me. He knew I wasn’t joking.

I put my arm over Thea’s tense shoulders and steered her away from the evil prince. “Good night, Alex.”

In silence, I guided a trembling Thea back to the chambers. Each step between us and Alex eased some of the tension coiled in my muscles.

Once inside my chambers, I let out a long breath and released her.

She took several large steps away from me and glanced around. “Where’s Thomas?”

“What do you care? You almost killed him.”

She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t kill him.” She chewed on her bottom lip, drawing my gaze like magnet. I averted my eyes. “Is he okay?”

“I took him to the infirmary to get checked, but he should be okay.” I didn’t know why I answered her. She was my blood slave. She answered to me. I stalked toward her. She retreated two steps until her legs bumped on the couch, but she faced me with her fake bravado. I towered over her, fighting the urge to bare my fangs to scare her more. “Listen to me as I won’t repeat this. Do not try to escape. Do not leave my chambers without my permission. Do not do anything without asking first.”

She swallowed hard and her neck bobbed. My breath caught. “So … I can’t eat without asking first? How about taking a shower? Or peeing?”

My hands balled into fists. I groaned, ready to pounce on her. This girl was driving me crazy. Ignoring her words and not retorting was a challenge, one I gladly accepted. “Didn’t you just see Alex out there? He was all over you. I promise you, if he puts his claws on you, he won’t be nice like I am.” My stomach turned with the idea of Thea alone with Alex. “If you want to live another year, another month, or even another day, you will do as I tell you. Got it?” She stared at me, barely breathing. “Got it?” I barked, raising my voice.

She flinched.

Hell.

Still, she didn’t give up. “I’m not afraid of him,” she snapped. “I’m not afraid of you!”

I snarled and my fangs itched to come out. “You should be.”

Her shoulders sagged as if she finally understood. “Then if I can’t escape …” Her eyes turned into two silver pools rivaling the moon outside these walls. Alex was right. She was as beautiful and enchanting as a siren. “If I can’t escape, then let me go,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please, let me go.”

I took a step back. “That’s not possible.”

Tears filled her eyes. “In that case, I just want you to know that I won’t behave, I won’t follow orders, I won’t act like this isn’t all crazy, like this isn’t all wrong. I’m not anyone’s pet or blood slave!” she shouted.

My blood boiled and I exhaled through my nose.

I needed time away from this crazy girl before I did something stupid. “Go ahead. Try escaping again if you’re that stupid!”

I marched out and slammed the damn doors. They rattled against their hinges. Since I didn’t trust her, I locked the doors and turned toward the guards standing by the archway. “Stay here until I come back. That girl isn’t supposed to leave.”

“Yes, my prince,” one of the guards answered while the other bowed his head in acknowledgment.

In need fresh air and space, I marched out of the castle and into the back garden. Breathing in an out and hoping all the anger and frustration left my muscles with each exhale, I walked around the maze.

I crossed paths with two guards patrolling the area, who bowed to me when I approached, then I marched until I was at the edge of one of the many artificial lakes on the estate.

The moon, only a thin sliver in the dark, reflected in the dark water, shimmering and trembling.

Hell, what had I done? By claiming that girl, I had damned my sanity, I was sure. She would drive me insane in no time. If I didn’t lose my temper and drained her in the next ten hours, it would be a miracle. How was I supposed to keep her safe and protect her when even I couldn’t endure her presence?

I wished I had never claimed her. I wished I could simply drop her at the blood slaves’ quarters and forget her. But how could I? The moment I did that, Alex would take her. He would flounce her around to spite me.

There had to be another way.

Please, let me go.

Her words twisted in my chest like a knife in my dead heart.

If only I could …

But I could do nothing for her now. She was mine, and I had to take care of her, to make sure she was safe, even if she drove me crazy and made me want to squeeze her neck every two seconds.

I shook my head.

If anything, this at least made my long days, my long years, more eventful.

After another stroll around the maze, I headed back to the castle. As instructed, the guards were still in their spots.

“Anything to report?” I asked as I approached them.

“No, my prince,” Tank said. “No one came in or out.”

I nodded, then unlocked the door and stepped in.

I braced myself, ready for another round of argument, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw her lying on the couch, sleeping with her long blond hair fanned out over a pillow, and a book on her lap.

I picked up the book and stared at the cover. Dracula by Bram Stoker. I almost laughed at her reading choice. I turned to put the book back in its place on my shelves, but stopped. If she was reading it, then there was no reason to put it away. I dropped the book on the coffee table in front of the couch, then glanced at her.

The sofa was comfortable, but sleeping here wouldn’t be good for her back. Careful not to wake her, I picked her up in my arms, alarmed by how small and fragile she was, and carried her to her bedroom. Her head lolled back before she turned her nose to my chest. Something warmed inside me, but I pushed it down. Away. Back.

I gently laid her on the bed, took off her shoes, and pulled the covers over her.

Then I stood there, watching her. Watching her fair skin and the freckles on her nose, the long lashes resting over her cheeks, the small nose, and the full, red lips. Her hair was pure gold around her, like the sun’s halo.

She was beautiful and enchanting.

The urge to protect her, to keep her safe hit me square in the chest, taking my breath away.

I didn’t understand why I felt this way about her, why I wanted to make sure she was okay and would be okay. I didn’t understand why I felt so drawn to her, but I couldn’t ignore it anymore.