I loved watching Jacen feed.

Ever since he’d been brought to the palace, I’d been fascinated by the vampire prince—the handsome swimmer I’d advised that Laila turn after her previous prince had been driven mad by the bloodlust and had sacrificed himself to the wolves.

As Jacen drained the old man, I reached for the pendant I always wore around my neck—the one filled with wormwood—stroking it and holding my breath. I watched as the man stopped struggling, as his hands went limp, and as his head eventually rolled to the side, his eyes empty and dead.

As predicted, Jacen had lost control again. Consumed by his bloodlust. It wasn’t surprising. Because the stronger the vampire, the harder it was for them to control their urge to drain humans dry.

Jacen was shaping up to become one of the most powerful vampires that ever existed.

And I was determined to make him mine.

“Take the body away,” Laila told Daniel, barely glancing at the drained corpse.

Jacen didn’t tear his eyes away from the old man as Daniel heaved him over his shoulder and walked out of the room.

“You’re not ready,” Laila told Jacen sharply. “In time you will be, but not yet.”

“How do I control it?” he asked her—begged her. “Why don’t I know when to stop?”

“You’re improving,” Laila said. “The fact that you didn’t maul him the moment you smelled his blood was significant progress. But you need more time.”

“How much more?”

“There’s no exact formula,” she said. “It will happen when you want it badly enough. In the meantime, I have work to attend to.”

She exited the room, leaving Jacen and me alone.

“What are you staring at?” he growled at me. “Don’t you have work to do, too? A kingdom to help Laila run?”

“Of course.” I nodded. “But I also wanted to let you know that I’m here for you, if you ever want to talk.”

“Don’t play that game with me.” He scowled.

“What game?” I reached for the amulet again, forming my expression into one that I hoped looked like complete innocence.

“The game where you pretend to care about anyone except for yourself.”

“There’s no pretense here,” I told him. “I do care about you. I want you to become the strongest vampire prince that ever lived. Perhaps even a king.”

“I’ll never become a king.” He crossed his arms. “I don’t want to become a king.”

“Then what do you want?” I asked, truly curious.

“To be human again.”

“Why?” I laughed. “Even if that were possible—which it isn’t—why would you refuse the power you’ve been given? Why would you want to be so weak?”

“I’m not going to bother explaining it to you,” he looked away from me and walked over to the window, gazing longingly at the human village below. “You’ll never understand.”

“I might understand more than you think.” I slithered toward him, and when I was close enough, I laid my hand gently on his shoulder. “I understand that you need comfort, Jacen. I can provide that. Let me give it to you.”

I leaned forward, looking deep into his eyes, my lips getting closer and closer to his. What would kissing him feel like? I imagined that old man’s blood must still coat his tongue—I wished I could know how delicious it tasted to him.

It must have been incredible, to make him lose control like he did.

“Stop.” He stepped back, his eyes dilating as he stared into mine. “Leave my quarters. Now.”

“Are you trying to compel me?” I laughed again, although disappointment fluttered in my stomach. I wouldn’t be turned away that easily. Instead, I leaned forward again, willing him to give into temptation. He’d given in with that human. Why not with me?

He simply backed away and repeated his command.

“You know I’m wearing wormwood,” I continued, reaching for my necklace. “Even if you’ve mastered compulsion, it won’t work on me.”

He just stared at me, saying nothing.

“Have you?” I tilted my head, bringing my hands together gleefully. “Mastered compulsion?”

Compulsion was an ability that only the originals—and the vampires they directly turned—possessed. It was the ability to make others do as they willed. It could be used to achieve greatness, but it could also be used to achieve great destruction. Which was why the originals were extremely selective in who they turned into a vampire prince or princess.

They couldn’t risk creating a vampire who might use the powers they’d been gifted to destroy their own sire.

“I’m working on it,” he said shortly.

“Good.” I nodded, at a loss for words. Jacen was like a wall. I couldn’t get through to him, no matter how hard I tried.

Which only made me more determined to try.

“We’re done here.” He took another step away from me, narrowing his eyes. “Unless you have anything more you need to say?”

“No,” I said. “At least, not now.”

With that, I turned on my heel and headed out the door. Fire ran through my veins as I stomped down the hall—frustration. I hated not getting what I wanted.

Jacen may not want me now. But in time, he would learn to.

Because eventually, I would be his queen.