Chapter 37: Dear Cousin

"Katerina." Ezra growled.

Her eyes must have been deceiving her that she doesn't believe what she had seen. The cousin she'd been hoping to find was demolished by blood thirsty treacherous creatures.

A boiling of anger rose within Katerina as she pushed away from the box seat balcony. Her feet guided her around the chairs but a firm grip clasped onto her arm.

"Пусни ме[Let me go]." She demanded in Bulgarian but Ezra burst into laughter which only angered her more.

"Surely you are not foolish enough as to swim your way through a sea of vampires down there for a mere human." He towered over her, he wouldn't allow for it to come to that but it would be amusing to watch a human try to overpower vampires.

She attempted to yank her arm away. "That is my cousin. She was who I was intended to visit before.." her memories clouded her mind. She then began to worry how she was going to tell her cousin that her parents were attacked and killed by vampires.

He could see the expressions shift on her face which only made him feel pity. Her heart racing was a bit annoying but he felt the need to slow it down and sooth her.

Ezra released her arm. "You are to not leave my side, remember?" His eyes deepened in color. "I will handle this. Come."

Ezra left the box seats and strolled over to the doorman.

"I would like to enter backstage. Please guide me there."

The butler immediately bowed his head and took them to the side of the stage and up the stone steps. There awaited the man who greeted everyone before the play.

"Prince Ezra! It is a pleasure to have you in my theater." He bowed and Ezra nodded.

"I am in quite a hurry, Clint. I'd like to see the human you brought on stage in the last scene."

Clint smiled wide, showing his blood stained teeth. "That was a marvelous twist ending, no?" His Romanian accent made Katerina unsettled.

Clint continued to ramble on about the play but his eyes kept lingering over Katerina which made Ezra very much annoyed.

"I've said I am in a hurry. Please bring her to me."

Clint nodded in response but before he left, Ezra caught his throat and lifted him off the floor.

"Do keep your eyes off my pet also. I'd hate to destroy your precious amphitheater." Ezra tightened the grip then released him, forcing Clint to gasp for air—he was a half-breed but maintained a good reputation to manage the theater.

Clint scurried away in fear and yelled out demands for others to bring out the woman.

Katerina's heart picked up in pace yet again and they carried the woman over. Ezra glanced at her for a moment then back to the group of vampires.

The group laid her down in front of them, she was still breathing but very weak from the loss of blood.

Katerina began to step forward but Ezra quickly stopped her with the actions of wrapping his arm around her waist. He murmured something into her ear that made her step behind him.

Ezra stared at the woman then commanded the vampires to put her in his carriage.

"I expect a more tasteful ending next time." He laid his eyes on Clint who grew embarrassed and stormed away.

Ezra and Katerina headed back to the carriage and intended to leave.

"You're foolish, flower." He placed the palm of his hand on the middle of her back to keep her close.

Katerina kept her head down. "Why is that?"

"This woman is more than likely going to die."

She shook her head. "I won't let her. And you're going to help me with that."

Ezra raised his brows, taken aback by the stern expressions on her face. The characteristics of compassion and bravery this young girl possessed intrigued him immensely.

For now, he'd play along with her.

"Still foolish." He repeated as they stepped into the carriage.

Bethany was lying underneath a wool blanket on one side of the carriage therefore Ezra and Katerina sat together on the other.

Her eyes watched Bethany breath slowly but she wasn't in pain. It was almost unbearable for her to watch.

"There is a castle sanctuary that we grow specific herbs in. There may be something there that will help."

Katerina nodded but didn't break the gaze with her cousin.

As they reached the castle, Ezra told a few servants to take Bethany inside to the greenhouse. Ezra then allowed Katerina to exit the carriage and by the time they made it back into the castle, Ezra's mother met them.

"Where have you been?" She scolded.

"I went to a play, Mother." He dismissed her and began walking away.

Elisabeta widened her eyes when she saw Katerina and stopped Ezra once more.

"You were suppose to be rid of that human." She hissed. "Alessandro will not be happ—"

"I do not care what Alessandro thinks, mother." His eyes intensified in color as well as his mother's.

"He should be grateful I have not ended him already for being so disrespectful in my kingdom." He continued.

Elisabeta narrowed her eyes at him in anger. "That wretched girl disrespected a guest in our home, seducing that man and—"

Ezra cut her words off once more. "Do not speak another word." He gritted his teeth, stepping closer to her.

"Whatever it is that Alessandro told you, is a lie. He's a filthy Pureblood."

Katerina was startled by a swift skin to skin slap. Elisabeta had swung her hand with vampiric strength against Ezra's cheek.

"How dare you speak that way about an important peace maker." Ezra's mother shot a glare towards Katerina before speaking again.

"You are not the king yet Ezra. Watch your tongue. Your pet will be removed from the premises as I see fit."

Her body quickly turned away, blurting out orders to the servants.

Ezra began to chuckle under his breath but Katerina was concerned for what just happened.

"Are you alright?" She asked him.

"Care about my well being?" He replied with a question also.

Katerina shook her head, ignoring the question.

"You didn't have to answer." He smiled as he rubbed his cheek.

"I've not riled my mother up like that for some time. I'm unsure why she is so bothered by my hatred for Alessandro."

Ezra began to walk towards the sanctuary again, but Katerina had something weighing on her mind.

The night at the ball when Katerina witnessed the Queen with the Duke of Mobley. It was a horrid sight but Katerina now felt the need to tell him.

"Ezra.." she spoke softly but caught his attention.

"Dear flower." He subsequently pulled her chin and pushed against the wall of the hallway.

His breath fanned her cheek bone, "Did you forget that you address me as Prince?"

Katerina's heart quickly picked up in pace as her breath hitched in her throat.

Ezra was now towering over her like a shadow. His eyes lit up the darkened hallway but his hand stayed at her chin. She didn't feel a force of his strength, it was gentle but he still wanted to make her anxious.

Katerina stood speechless, she locked eyes with him but couldn't muster up the words. As the servants continued to pass by them as if nothing was happening, Ezra waited patiently.

"Well?"

Katerina closed her eyes then opened them slowly. "Prince Ezra." She spoke.

Ezra's eye color deepened as he was pleased with her.

"What is it that you'd like to tell me?" He questioned.

"Um.." Katerina avoided his gaze this time which made him concerned.

"Pet." He placed his hand on the brick wall beside her face as he lifted her chin once more.

"I encourage you to speak up." He growled.

Katerina quivered against the cold castle wall, unaware of the consequences would be if she didn't tell him what she knew.

"The night..at the ball.." Her voice trailed off.

Through gritted teeth, Ezra became worried. "What happened?"

When she didn't answer, he stepped closer to her.

"Did Alessandro do something I am unaware of? I swear I will rip him to shreds this time." Ezra attempted to move away from her but Katerina twisted the tuffs of his shirt in her fists, forcing him to fall forward against her.

"Katerina.." he lingered.

Her voice was a whisper this time. "I saw your mother..and Alessandro..in the study.."

Ezra narrowed his eyes, trying to fixate what she was speaking of.

"They were entangled.." she breathed out finally.

Ezra blinked his eyes. His expression turned into humiliation and disgust. This was the reason his mother was so fond of that Pureblood. What a disgrace.

Such dishonor on his mother to defile with a monstrosity of a vampire and to completely have an affair against the king, his father. Ezra shook his head in discomfort, attempting to erase the imagination of his mother.

Ezra peeled Katerina's hands off his shirt.

"I thank you for telling me." He pursed his lips. "But if you'd like to be this close to me. Just ask like a good flower." His words teased her and made her face turn a shade of red.

Their bodies seemed tangled themselves. Katerina didn't realize her lips were centimeters away from his when she pulled him back to her. She could see the thin layer of saliva coating them that made her shiver.

After a moment of realization, she quickly pulled away from the wall and waited for him to take her to her cousin.

Ezra smiled. "Soon enough my Flower."