Chapter 88

I could hear the silent screams of horror among the ladies. I didn't understand why. Wasn't it better to offer it like this? Over having Jules tear through your neck.

It was a mistake to imagine the feeling of his lips on my neck because my body heated up and I shook my head. Grasping onto the knife and holding it against my hand, the others followed suit.

Blood droplets hitting the glasses surface somehow echoed in the room and I waited until everyone had pulled away their hand before I spilt blood. I bit my lip at the pain, wincing as I pulled away quickly and wrapped my hand with the napkin.

I could feel the sharp snap of Jules' gaze on me. The heat emitting from his body and I was only thankful I was next to a line of ladies who could mistake it to be directed at them.

"Now your highness, please pick your first drink" the empires prince stated casually, he didn't seem fazed by the blood and I wanted to assume it was because he only felt the desire for his "fated".

Jules was silent and I could hear his laboured breaths as he tried to keep himself in check, but I didn't dare look at him. I tried not to think of him, but it was hard when he sat right beside me.

"From the end of table… start from the last lady" he ordered, his voice audibly strained.

Lady Montgomery, who sat at the end, straightened up. Her glass was lifted carefully by her delicate hands as she made her way to the prince, lowering herself as she offered the drink to him.

I had looked at him at that moment, seeing how he disgusted he looked. No inner will to drink it as he lifted it and in a single gulp drank the small droplets.

"Thank you, Lady Montgomery. Please return to your seat". He grimaced, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Our eyes met for a moment after he spoke and I turned away in a hurry, glaring at the glass before me as every lady stood up and offered her blood. When Lady Brown stood up beside me I felt a tremor run down my legs. Stomach churning in nerves until she sat down.

I took a deep breath and stood up, kneeling and offering the glass to the man before me. I didn't look at him. I didn't dare, until I realised he hadn't taken it. Or even made a move to.

I looked up at him in caution and found his gaze on mine. I didn't realise I was below his legs or rather… almost between them. The way he stared down at me, cheeks pink and gaze evidently elsewhere. And then I realised the movement before me as his member erected.

My eyes widened at both the size and the situation. Was that a baguette?

If anyone were to see this then his honour?!?-

He took the glass and drunk the blood- turning away from me and back to his guests, but anyone could see he was barely in control.

"Your majesty, you seem a bit tipsy" the empirial prince commented with a light chuckle. "How strange… vampires like ourselves do not get intoxicated from the blood of just any human… maybe your fated one is among these ladies? How exciting" he seemed to enjoy this.

"Do not tease his highness Syl" his wife laughed.

I wanted to ask her if she was truly as happy as she was. Was it a farce? Did he drink from her often? Did she love him as much he proclaimed he desired her?

But what stopped me was not anxiety or fear.

It was the hand that brushed against my leg. I hadn't felt him lift my dress but his hand was, no doubt, on my stockings. Slowly moving to the top of my thigh. My bare skin. I hadn't looked at it. I didn't dare. But when it neared between my thighs I had grabbed it. I thought that it may continue regardless, but instead it wrapped around my fingers and squeezed.

My cheeks flushed so deeply it didn't go unnoticed.

"Are you okay dear? You look quite red" Francesca asked and suddenly everyone was looking at me, even Jules who was the cause of my fluster.

I shook my head.

"No"- his hand plunged between my thighs and I jumped in my seat, "I'm just rather warm is all" I laughed off, trying to pry his hand away.

"You do look quite unwell. You look very hot" Jules finally spoke to me, lips much too close to my ear, a finger casually brushing my cheek as if his other hand was not squeezing my inner thigh. "Would you like to retire?"

I nodded.

"Yes. I would like to"- his finger pressed dangerously close to my lady parts and I realised it was a warning, "I-I shall stay. Thank you for your concern, your majesty".

I looked at him, our eyes locked. His face the epitome of serious with a slight smirk and the words of the empires prince echoed in my head.

'We vampires enjoy a good hunt'.