Chapter 22

I found myself unable to sleep. I knew why. It was because I overslept yesterday. I thought I'd eventually succumb to the darkness, but I found myself turning over and over. Eyes blinking at the darkness for at least an hour before I realised that I truly would not fall asleep.

I sat up, stretching quietly as I grabbed a robe and wrapped myself in it.

Usually when I couldn't sleep I'd pick up the most boring book I could think of and read it till the pages stopped turning and I would fall into a deep slumber. It was only my sheer stupidity that I didn't bring a dictionary with me to this event.

I figured the library could hold something terribly boring. Maybe a history book, an autobiography or a book of philosophy. Anything mind numbing enough to tire me out.

I stepped out into the dimly lit halls. The terribly quiet halls. So much it was rather eerie. But that didn't stop me from wanting to retrieve a book from the forest of books known as the royal library.

I knew the way because I had memorised it. Hoping to finally enter the place when I had a moment. I didn't know that moment would be in the dead of night, when each of my small footsteps sounding like bombs going off in the distance.

I went on. Ignoring the darkness of the large halls when I came to the gigantic doors of the library and opened them. I truly thanked the person who oiled the hinges because the only sound heard was the gust of wind breaking the silence in the haunting library.

The heavy door shut behind me as I stared at the tallest shelves I had ever seen. My eyes blinking widely as I looked around the place. Though the halls were dead and dim, this place was very much alive and welcoming. As if calling for people to read.

"It's spectacular…" I murmured mesmerised.

I stepped towards one of the shelves along the wall and read the titles slowly, fingers tracing the spines of the oldest ones with excitement. I could live here forever… I smiled.

I saw a dictionary for a foreign language and pulled it out, or at least, I tried to. I couldn't because it would not budge.

I only realised why when I looked to the bottom of the spine and noticed a large pale hand that most definitely did not belong to me.

Ghost?!

"Ahhhhh!!?!" I screamed as I stumbled back and faced my foe.

My foe… who stared at me with a surprised expression. My foe who had midnight black locks and red jewelled eyes… his beautiful lips opening to let out a laugh.

"I called you" he held a hand out to me, cheeks slightly pink from his laughter. He looked apologetic while I still couldn't recover from my shock. "It seems you were admiring those book and didn't hear me".

"Why" I took a deep breath to compose myself, "why do I feel like I'm seeing you everywhere?"

"I assumed it was you who was stalking me. After all, why would a prince stalk a commoner?" He smiled.

I didn't laugh at that or retort. Instead with an expression of betrayal I said.

"Why didn't you tell me you were the prince? You must've thought it was funny how I ran my mouth without a care" I didn't glare at him. I didn't dare. Instead I glared at my feet.

"I didn't keep it from you on purpose and you aren't wrong in saying it was amusing. It truly was, but I found you rather refreshing" his words sounded true.

"I don't know what that means?" I replied, hands reaching for the book once again and this time pulling it out without interruptions.

"You really didn't care who I was when we met. I think anyone else would have heard those same complaints had they approached you".

"You aren't wrong about that" I sighed, deciding he really meant no harm, "it sounds like you consider us friends".

"Are we?"

"I hope so, otherwise I'm really being lead on here" I replied annoyed at his question.

He laughed.

"You befriend a prince like it's nothing. How many princely friends do you have?" He plucked the book from my fingers with ease, a playful smile on his lips. Like that of a predators playing with its food.

"You're the first" I grumbled as I reached for the book. He stepped back to avoid me, causing me to stumble in to him. My head hit his chest with a thud. "Why did you step away?"

I looked up to glare at him, but instead my expression turned to one of surprise as I stared at what you might call an embarrassed expression. He held a hand over his nose and was looking away.

I stepped back, unable to help the interest that sparked in me as I asked.

"Are you craving my blood?" It was mostly out of interest. I hadn't expected his face to become a deep red as he stepped away, hand covering half of it.

"Of- Of course not! I don't have any vampiric urges" he insisted and I nodded skeptically.

"I believe you" I said in a voice that portrayed the opposite.

"You truly care very little about what you say and to whom, don't you?" He lowered the book and handed it to me, his hand still latched onto his face.

"Didn't you say you liked that about me?" I smirked.

He clicked his tongue.

"Touché".

I touched the cover of the book and felt a yawn in my throat. I held it back, out of politeness, but then I realised I stood before the prince in my nightdress and a robe. I should've at least started with the basics.

"Well, your majesty. I should head back now" I turned to leave with my book, but he grabbed the back of my robe and pulled me back. In the process the robe slipped and the cool air snaked against my shoulders.

"You can't leave the library with a book. That's considered stealing. It could cost you your life" I froze at his words. Heart beating faster at the thought of being humiliated and beheaded over… a book.

"I'm so sorry!" I turned to face him and bowed deeply, "I hadn't realised that I'd be stealing the book! I just meant to borrow it".

He didn't reply as I kept my gaze shut, awaiting some kind of royal decree. Nothing came. I peaked open and lifted my head to see him staring at me, eyes once again trained on my now exposed neck.

He moved closer, lifting a finger to trace the veins. Prodding at the largest. His breathing heavier, meeting my skin which it cast a vapour on.

My heart beat faster as I watched that beautiful face rest on my shoulder, eyes glowing so brightly it was alluringly dangerous. Like blood.

"Jules…" I whispered, shivering when I felt his tongue on my neck, his teeth brush across the surface before I moved to push him away.

He grabbed my hand with one hand and the other grabbed my waist, pulling me so close our bodies pressed together.

"Let me smell it at least" his voice was a thrum against my neck. He let out a strange moan as he opened his mouth, I felt my pupils shake in terror, yet I could only watch.

He stopped as his red eyes rolled to me. I could see his face so well from this close. His long lashes and his sharp nose.

"Are you going to drink?-" my words cut off by a gulp.

"Can I?" There was a look in his eyes that was not that of a human.

I stared at him.

Seconds ago he claimed to not have these urges and now… now he was a slave to them. I might have said no if… I had plans on being queen and not making my own path. There was a strange desire to know how it felt. Maybe just for a moment…

I opened my lips to speak.

"Just… Just a sip" I answered, my voice shaking.