Chapter 16: Tea Party

Katerina followed Ezra through the hallways until they reached the garden entrance. She watched the back of his head as they walked, trying to figure out why he was persistent on keeping her alive. He was anything but kind to her and only wanted to punish her. A slight shiver when down her body when she thought about the word punishment.

Ezra glanced back at her to raise his brow, warning her to keep her emotionally distressed heart rate to herself.

"There you are." Astrid glided over to Ezra and took his arm to lead him to the table centered in the garden. It was covered in delectable sweets that made Katerina's stomach growl in pain because the bread and soup wasn't enough.

Ezra silently sat next to Astrid while the others began to gather around the table. The maids slowly poured hot tea in each cup and placed more small decorative foods on the table.

"So Lovely." Lilith smiled at the sweets on the table. She took one and bit into it. "The blood filled ones are my favorite." The danish treats were glazed with a sweet sauce but stuffed with a gelatin like substance that was blood. Katerina gulped her breath at the site of the little vampire princess smiling with blood stained teeth and lips.

"For God's sakes, Lilith." Her mother pointed to the napkin. "You are a lady, please act like one."

Frowning, Lilith patted her mouth lightly and continued to eat the treat.

Astrid looked at Ezra then she looked at Katerina. Unsure of why this human was still attached to him at the hip. Normally, pets have their own quarters with which they eat off the floor and are chained up. She found it disrespectful that she was still standing there while they were attempting to enjoy their tea.

"Ezra, dear?" She looked back at him, giving him a polite smile. "Shouldn't your pet be placed in her living quarters? We wouldn't want her to ruin our tea party." She picked her words carefully as to not anger Ezra nor seem disrespectful. She had already won the heart of his mother, and thinking she might have already caught his.

"She is fine right here." He didn't look at Astrid. Instead, he took the padding out of one of the empty chairs and placed it on the grass filled ground beside him.

"Sit." He commanded which made her quickly sit down. Her white gown he had picked out for her spread out as she did.

Astrid looked across the table with somewhat wide eyes. All of the vampires were surprised by his actions and confused because that is not what pets should be accustomed to. Elisabeta shook her head at Astrid to let her know that she would deal with it later and not worry.

Astrid stiffened her posture and smiled. "Can we get the blood pouches for the tea now?" Elisabeta questioned.

"Yes ma'am." The maids bowed and left the area to fetch the blood pouches for the tea.

"So mother," Ezra reached over and picked up a curled sweet that was covered in cinnamon and brown sugar. He bit into it then licked his lips to take away the residue. Astrid watched him do so and it seemingly aroused her to see his tongue slither over his lips when they should really be slithering over her.

Ezra felt a slight touch on his knee. Thinking nothing of it, he continued speaking. "I'm assuming that Alessandro means well when we host the ball in a couple of days?" His eyes didn't dare look at Astrid as she trailed her plump fingers up the thigh of his trousers.

Katerina kept her head low the entire time, ignoring the side comments made by Astrid. She didn't understand what living quarters were and it didn't sound good at all. She was grateful enough that Ezra took pity on her and let her sit on a soft pillow. While she was staring at the ground, her peripheral vision caught something moving and she turned her head. She immediately caught Astrid caressing the Prince's thigh underneath the table cloth.

Her heart rate instinctively picked up in pace as she felt that she was interrupting something. Her eyes quickly averted the visual situation and she attempted to slow her heart by giving herself slow breaths.

"Of coarse he means well. This gathering is entirely made for him. It is a time of peace Ezra. You should really come to terms with that." His mother closed her eyes and took a bite out of the blood gelatin in her bowl. By this time, the maids had returned with the blood pouches and poured them into each tea cup. Allowing it to settle, Elisabeta then sipped from her cup, holding her pinky out as she did.

Ezra sensed the increased heart rate of Katerina and he only assumed that it was because she caught wind of what Astrid was doing to him. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes and smiled internally when he noticed that her fair cheeks had turned pink in color.

"Oh i'm sure that I will." He picked up his cup and drank it quickly. "After I kill him."

Elisabeta set her tea down, annoyed by her son. "You will do no such thing Ezra."

"I'll make sure that I keep him calm at the ball, Elisabeta." She smiled warmly at her. "After all, he is going to escort me. Won't you?" Her gaze shifted to Ezra. Astrid had finally made her way up to the bulging region of his trousers. The firmness that appeared made her excited, but she kept herself composed.

Ezra, knowing exactly what this vampire was doing to him, curled his lips into a smile. "I don't believe I have time to find another to accompany me. You will have to do." He smirked at her, but this response made her somewhat angered so she gripped the hardened bulge then smiled.

"Such a charming Prince." She spoke softly.