Chapter 36

I watched the prince carefully, as he smiled benevolently at me, but I could tell how fake it was.

"Of course, Lady Colter. I wouldn't deny you such an honor" the ridicule in his voice so clear I could feel a few ladies grin.

"Thank you, your highness".

I approached where he sat, waiting for him to move, but he did not. He simply waited for me to pick the glass up one by one. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of my displeasure.

I pulled out my handkerchief and laid it flat on the table. Then I began to lift the broken shards of glass.

It was broken in a way that suggested it was held with too much force. Squeezed in places that should've been handled delicately.

I may have paid more attention had I not found myself hyper-aware of the eyes that watched my entire body. The small breaths that I could make out along with every twitch in his arm.

I was sure I had collected all the pieces.

"You wouldn't happen to have any fallen on you?" I asked, not lifting my head and simply glancing over his shirt.

"Why not take a better look?" He leaned closer, standing slightly so my vision was blocked by the sight of his chest.

I backed away as my face burned.

Who- Who does something so?-

My thoughts cut off when I caught the smile on his face as he stared down at me.

"What's the matter?" He whispered, voice muffled by my hair, "I thought you had no interest in me?"

I stepped further away, rushing to collect the handkerchief full of glass shards and in my haste my finger brushed against the tip of a stray shard.

I didn't dare make anything of it as I tied the cloth and handed it to a nearby maid who waited diligently beside me.

I could feel the burning sensation of the cut in my hand and I looked at it for a moment. My mind recalling his words.

'I want to drink your blood'.

My eyes snapped up to the prince to find him staring at my finger. Eyes resembling mine when I had saw that steak from earlier. I wasn't sure how the etiquette for offering blood to a vampire was and as much as I didn't want offer any to him I also wanted to see his reaction.

"Your highness, we should allow the servants to do a proper sweep of this place. There may be more glass" Lady Willows words went unheard. He was barely in his right mind…

"Your highness?" I said, catching his gaze as he answered absently.

"Yes?"

"It's not safe here" I noticed the immediate understanding in his eyes as he stood up.

"Of course. Please clean this area thoroughly!" He ordered and left in a hurry.

I stared at his retreating back, unable to help a smile as I caught the redness of his ears.

I looked once again to the cut on my finger.

This was it.

This is his weakness.