Chapter 2

Just at midnight, Lor's eyes parted when she noticed her arms wrapped in someone's powerful grasp. Her gaze traveled along the man's muscular biceps that embraced her. As if familiar with his touch, she breathed out comfortably, feeling safe.

When his chest closed in on her back, she arched hers, turning her face to catch his lips as if she already knew he would kiss her. Then, out of no where, the bedroom window shattered, stealing her attention away from the kiss, which would reveal the man's identity.

Daggers of glass flew with points aiming in their direction. She let out a scream when only their edges, to an astonishing degree, sliced across her flesh. Deepening her horror, a monstrous beast emerged from the window, leaping to the floor, prowling beside the bed at first. With sudden movement, it stood to its towering depths, taking the man by his neck and throwing him against the concrete wall.

Fear consumed her, eyes fully rounded as they lingered on the monster's patchy flesh, thinking she was next. It lurked through the sheer draping of her canopy bed, eyeing her, giving her time to take in its fullness.

Wolf like in its physique, with matted, charcoal fur, his drawn out fangs caught the moonlight, glistening drool stringing from them. She saw her smudged reflection in their yellowish curves, terrified by their length. The beast could accidentally be mistaken for a minx, but its face was far too hideous, body way too tall. The monster's flea nipped ears sprawled, one up, the other dangling to the side. They only shifted forward when they sensed her probing.

What she knew for certain, this beast was dangerous. She veered to the floor, eyes full of tears from seeing the motionless man laid out. As she squinted, just enough to make out who he was, she gasped, confused on how it could be, Prince Nel? The sight caused her heart to break in such a way that losing him seemed to matter. When her sadness turned to rage, she felt her flesh rip, fur slice through her pores as she screamed out in agony. What's happening to me? Just as fast, the monster jumped through the hanging canopy and crawled over her legs running his nose along them. With its mouth widened, she waited for it to devour her.

Then she woke up with a winded gasp, realizing it was only a meaningless nightmare, oddly including the prince of Ustoria. She found herself repulsed by the idea of him holding her in his grasp like they were some sort of lovers. Deemed out of line in its context, she almost blamed him for the morbid dream. But the thought of him could not compete with the irritating foot shuffles of her maids. She scoffed as their heels hastily clacked against the wobbly floorboard to prepare her morning. Breakfast was always served first, bright, and early.

"Princess?" said the youthful voice of Kira. The twelve-year-old maid took the initiative to carry over Lor's folded omelet, already immune to her morning ritual of outbursts. "I have breakfast."

Lor's face remained under her blanket, voice strained and muffled. "Go away!" If only Kira saw the snarling princess's face, lips bent up, nostrils flared, she would have moved faster.

Naomi butted in, swiping the food tray from Kira's hands. With a light slam, she placed it on a food cart, then waved the young maid away. With her chin tucked, Kira tottered into the washroom where a bath was drawn for the snooty princess.

With her patience wearing, Naomi plunged both knuckles at her hips and said, "The king requires your presence in an hour. It's time to get up." She rushed to Lor's bedside, peeling the blanket below her waist. "There is a council meeting about your betrothal."

"There will be no betrothal. I'm not marrying that foul beast."

"Regardless, it is my job to make sure you eat, dress, and attend the meeting."

"I don't wish to go." As Lor yanked the blanket back over her face, Naomi ripped it away, sending it to the floor. Lor's jaw dropped, astonished she'd ever be so bold. There was definitely something off about her maid's mood. Naomi was usually a bouncy person whose smile never missed a beat, even in spite of Lor's attitude.

Naomi took her chances to explain herself before Lor chewed her out about her silk duvet laid out on the floor.

"Princess, please! Your father has been very anal about things lately and he's convinced I told you about the marriage. Still blames me for the spectacle last night. He threatened to fire me if things go wrong today. For a change, can you do as your told?"

Lor's scolding eyes softened with pity. She took a moment to empathize with her. "I'm sorry about my father. You needn't go to him anymore for anything else." She palmed her maid's hand, clasping it softly, in an effort to reset the mood. Still, Naomi had no idea the stress she was under. "I'm overwhelmed myself, by everything. Terrified that I might not be able to talk Father out of marrying me off to the enemy. Maybe I'll just run away."

Her mind channeled Prince Nel and his god-forbidden, handsome face. Their encounter seemed to have left lasting effects on her, which led her blood to boil. She despised how close he was last night, not minding her space, brain still boggled by her physical responses. She scolded the air when she remembered he played a role in her nightmare. Even now, her eyes lingered at the edge of her bed where her mind cast a full picture. The things he said, the things he did, and his confident advances, triggering her inner thighs to warm, even now. Uhg! She was enraged by such feelings, shaking her head as to help them pass. Naomi, however, lured her back.

"It's quite alright. I can't imagine the stress you're under, but still, running away isn't the answer." Naomi's face lit up with an idea. "Why don't you use that strong voice of yours to speak against the marriage at the meeting? There must be another way to form peace."

Lor took a deep breath. "Perhaps there is. I'm certain the Council of Ten will be in agreement with me. They hate change." Her body shifted forward as her brows shot up. "Maybe I can get them to back me or even sway my father to call off this peace treaty."

"It's not such a bad thing to end our quarrel with them. They seemed on board with things before they left."

"I hope you're not serious. We can never trust vampires after all they've done."

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Dom met Lor at the castle entrance to escort her to the meeting hall. In the nearby town of Ractun, it stood dead center, surrounded by marketplaces and row homes. As he ushered her down the stairs, he kept his distance, remaining tight-lipped. She perceived his silence as discretion for their relationship with the expansion of soldiers surrounding the castle. As he warned her, they grew in number since the vampire's arrival.

When they approached the carriage, he dangled a hand at her face, which she grabbed, supporting her inside the vehicle. The interior held a fancy essence, enveloped in ruby-red valor. The windows had shutters with dangling, red curtains for privacy. She sat down and Dom sat on the opposite side, not for a second looking her way. He still said nothing, clearly holding on to some bit of anger from their encounter yesterday. It didn't hurt to ask him to be certain.

"Dom are you okay?" said Lor. Just as she went to sit beside him, the carriage took off, throwing her back to her seat. Even that didn't get a reaction out of him when she checked for some type of vengeful chortle. "So you're just gonna ignore me?"

"There's nothing to talk about." He cradled his chin, hunched forward, and narrowed his gaze as if he were thinking. "Unless….it's about you." His back rammed against his seat and he raised his voice just enough to startle her. "Your wants. Your desires. Your requests. I've been so patient with you, hoping you'd love me in return. But when u shunned me away because you thought I came to sleep with you— No! Because my feelings are always in the back of your mind. Did it ever occur to you that—" He cleared his throat ready to conclude his rants. "Never mind. Doesn't matter anyway. You're getting married!"

"Which I know you're hurt about. I'm sorry." It finally hit her, how selfish she could be. As a princess, she didn't understand how to be anything less. That was the conflicting issue, holding relationships where she was expected to give just as much as she took, but then again she made it very clear to him they were only friends with benefits. Perhaps he needed a reminder.

When her drawn eyes squinted at him, the corners of her mouth sunk. "I see you're hurt. To make it clear, I won't marry him. I have a plan." Her tush dropped beside him as she gave him a pleading gaze. "Tell me what to do to make us better."

"There's nothing you can do," he said in a standoffish way.

She traced her hand down his chest, little space between their lips.

"You sure?" She brushed her lips along the bulk of his neck, swirling her tongue. When her knee bent, she pressed against his groin. A soft moan left her when his strong hand gripped her breast. Instead of the sensual caress she expected, he shoved her away.

"No!" The sting in his voice cut her like a knife. Dom's eyes and lips, wilted simultaneously as he scooted toward the window, redirecting his gaze outside.

Lor crawled next to him and leaned over his shoulder. Her voice cracked as if he'd been the one breaking her heart all along. "I told you I won't marry him."

"You will!"

"How can you say that?"

"I am in agreeance with this marriage and what it means for our country, so if it's my blessing you're looking for, you have it."

"You're not thinking clearly? What about what you said earlier about wanting my love?" As seconds passed, she realized he was ignoring her. She climbed on top of him, adamant about getting a response out of him. "If it's my love you want, I can work on that." Her hand wrapped his triceps, shaking it. "Dom?"

The gesture lingered on and produced no reaction from him. Instead of crying, she let out a heavy sigh, fighting back the overdue tears from all that happened in so little time. Their relationship finally came to an end on his terms.