Page 13 of The Princess’s Pet (Soul Match #1)

I awoke not to the Princess but to knocking. I was groggy and confused and despite myself, my first action was to reach out for the Princess, but she was not in bed. Her absence cleared my mind of sleep and I sat up listening to the sound of the heavy entrance door opening.

“My Royal Highness a letter for you,” said a rough manly voice and I assumed it was a guard.

I got myself up and dressed for the day and found the Princess sitting at the small kitchen table. She did not look up immediately when I entered the room and for a moment, I saw a deep look of contemplation on her face. When she did look up, she gave me a strained smile that in no way touched her eyes and pointed to the mug of coffee waiting on me.

“Thank you, Ma’am,” I thanked her as I sat down, hands wrapping around the warm mug. Her gaze left me again and she looked away in thought. “Is everything alright?” I asked feeling my insides twist at the odd behaviour. I worried that she was treating me differently due to the previous evening.

“Everything is fine, pet,” she told me distractedly her eyes fleetingly glancing to the table, and I saw the letter she had received that morning, official in nature, the Borealis seal broken. Was the letter the source of her distractions ?

After a few more minutes of silence, she exhaled through her nose standing from the table. She stopped beside me, her hand reaching out for mine and pulling me from my seat. Her free hand brushed my hair behind my shoulder, and she leaned in briefly scenting me before running her tongue from the base of my neck to under my ear and then pulling away.

I was confused. Was that it? Was that her mark complete? Marking was usually much longer and had never felt like a formality, a simple task before. Was she unhappy with me? Was she distancing herself from me? I didn’t want her to.

“Ma’am?” I questioned as I followed her to the door.

“Hmm?” she responded not turning to me.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked. And she turned to me, that same strained smile.

“Everything is fine Percy,” she said and it sounded final like I shouldn’t ask again.

She did not pull me into her as we drove to class and when we parted, she did not check for her scent on me. And I felt so rejected, like an empty shell as I walked into my etiquette class.

“Percy, what’s wrong?” Harris asked before I had even sat down, choosing to sit with my new friends over the other Borealis servants.

“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess,” I told him trying to shake the odd feeling that had set upon me. I couldn’t let the Princess’s behaviour upset me. She had made herself clear from the start that she didn’t want a soul bond with me, she didn’t even really want me. It was my delusions that made me wish for something more and I needed to let go of that wish, or its lack of fulfilment would kill me .

“You look beaten down,” he said his hand squeezing my forearm in support.

“I am a little, I guess, but it’s my own fault. I’ll be good, given enough time, I hope,” I told him and he looked confused but smiled reassuringly.

“We all have off days,” he told me.

“But you’ve got us, babes. We’ll cheer you up,” Dylan added wrapping his arms around Harris and kissing his cheek loudly. Harris protested making a disgusted face and wiping his cheek with the sleeve of his blazer.

“Keep those lips to yourself Dylan,” Ana warned as she sat next to me, leaning over to hug me tightly, briefly. “Why do you need cheering up?” she asked concerned.

“An odd day is all, I’m fine really,” I told her and her eyes searched mine for a moment before nodding.

A lecturer I did not know entered the class and dropped stacks of work booklets on our table.

“Today you will read over the dining etiquette that chef Ahamed instructed you on, then you will answer the questions in the back,” the man informed us. Immediately the class fell into conversation, and he did not seem to care.

“Who is that?” I asked the others.

“That’s Nick, he’s a TA while he studies for his doctorate. Doesn’t like the teaching side of things, so just hands out reading materials and leaves us to it,” Harris answered.

“Yeah, Nick is cool, he’s Viridis like us, knows all this etiquette stuff is shit. Like, chew with your mouth closed. That’s it done. It’s not the end of the fucking world if someone turns a glass upside down,” Dylan said completely ignoring his booklet .

“Edward said that Viridis is not an ally of Borealis. What did he mean?” I asked, I was curious, more than a few times Dylan had been very vocal about his opinions not matching what they taught at the academy, but apart from being loud and obnoxious Dylan didn’t seem that radical to me. I didn’t particularly disagree with any opinion he had shared so far. He seemed in a talkative mood, and I needed a distraction from my feelings and dining etiquette would surely just upset me more.

“Edward doesn’t know what he talks about. Viridis isn’t against anyone. We simply don’t look down on anyone,” he answered.

“Yeah, but Borealis are all about history and keeping tradition. They probably still teach their loyal ogres like Edward, that we’re the enemy. Like it was over two centuries ago. Move on,” Harris added.

“What was over two centuries ago?” I questioned.

“When Viridis sided with Auster,” Ana answered joining the conversation.

“Do they not teach you anything in public education?” Dylan asked and I flushed in embarrassment at my lack of knowledge.

“We don’t learn much about history other than Borealis defeated Auster in the war,” I explained.

“That sounds about right, they don’t want normal people to understand what happened, might encourage unrest,” Dylan replied and it reminded me of how the Princess had told me that people weren’t encouraged to ask questions.

“If Viridis isn’t an enemy anymore, why do I pick up on so much hostility?” I asked.

“Because we lost, we were forced to bend the knee, to live within Borealis rule. But that doesn’t mean that we stopped believing in equality regardless of heritage or bloodline. We’re not about all those titles and status,” Harris explained. “Dylan here is Lord Viridis, but you’d never know it.”

“What?!” Ana and I both asked simultaneously, in disbelief and shock.

“Yip, Lord Viridis, like my grandfather,” Dylan said. “But we don’t use the titles within our house. They’re what Borealis forced upon us, structure, and hierarchy, so we took the titles and then completely fucked them over by allowing anyone of Viridis blood to inherit a title regardless of if they are pureblood or not,” Dylan explained.

“But your title isn’t respected by any of the other houses,” Harris told Dylan. “So, what does it matter what we do when everyone else ignores us?”

“It matters, because they only pretend to ignore us and we’re setting an example of how things should be and that it works,” Dylan answered.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to believe. Two centuries, I don’t think we’re just playing along anymore. We’re as much a part of the current system as any other house now,” Harris continued.

“Systems can always change Harris. Just need the right people to make it happen,” Dylan said looking at me.

“Wait, can we back up? Dylan. We’re talking about Dylan, right? I mean him?” Ana said pointing accusingly at Dylan. “He’s a Lord, kind of, only in house Viridis?” She clarified, eyes a little wide and hand still pointing accusingly.

“Yes,” Harris answered. Ana slowly lowered her arm and mumbled something unintelligible.

“Basically, Viridis believes what my father taught me?” I got the gist of it. “We’re all equal and purebloods aren’t inherently better than the rest of us? ”

“Exactly!” Dylan answered smiling his boyish grin. “Who’s your family other than Flores?” He asked curiously leaning past Harris to look at me.

“My father is beast shifter of Maria clan and vampire of Auster,” I answered.

“You’re Auster?” He asked his mouth falling open.

“A tiny little bit, why?” I asked on guard from his reaction and the way his smile became a grin.

“Auster aren’t allowed at the Academy and here you are. I don’t even think a pureblood Auster still exists, all assassinated. The last pureblood was Prince Nikolas Auster he was killed with his son, half shifter, about 15/16 years ago or something. Was big news at the time, I was just a boy. He was viewed as the last remaining threat to Borealis rule.”

I felt sick. Dylan couldn’t have known he was talking about my grandfather and great-grandfather. He couldn’t have known he was telling me something about my own family that apparently everyone else knew but I didn’t. Father had told me it was an accident that had killed them.

My father’s anger made sense now. His comments and what he had taught me growing up, it all hit me differently. The war and politics of it were closer to me than I knew. And I didn’t like it. I wanted to be removed from it all as far as possible.

“Why’d they let you in?” he asked.

“Maybe with no more pureblood Auster’s they just don’t care anymore,” Ana answered for me giving me a look that said she saw how uncomfortable I was, even if Dylan was oblivious.

When class ended, I was momentarily relieved to see the Princess waiting for me, but that relief was quickly replaced by that unsettling feeling in my stomach when her demeanour just didn’t seem right. Her strained smile upset me. And I thought it might be anxiety that I saw in her eyes.

“Ma’am,” I greeted politely. She walked towards me and took hold of my blazer, her head dipped low and her nose pressed against my head.

“Pet,” she greeted. “No misbehaviour in your etiquette class today?” she asked into my hair.

“No, I was very well-behaved,” I told her, unable to help my smile at her proximity. The distance between us this morning had been like an ache I wasn’t fully aware of until she was back within my personal space. She pulled away hand rising to run along my jaw.

“Well done,” she praised and I leaned into her touch. “My warfare and tactics class is theory today,” she told me as her hand dropped and I began to follow her through the corridors.

She didn’t speak again as we walked but I watched her in my peripheral and the pensive look she had made me worry.

As we sat in the lecture, I was displeased to see Lord Halvorsen walking toward us. The Princess greeted him politely and I felt numb. But the Princess did not converse with Lord Halvorsen, she clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk and while I was pleased that her disinterest resulted in a crestfallen lord, I was concerned for the Princess. The lecture was long and while I was distracted it was not with the Princess’s beauty but with the crease between her brows as she stared into the distance paying the lecture no attention.

When we arrived home, I couldn’t stand the distance a moment more. It felt like the Princess was far away from me and I desperately wanted her to be close.

She changed out of her Academy uniform not having said a word. I followed her lead pulling on grey joggers and a loose sweater. She sat heavily on the couch her hands running through thick black hair. I wanted to comfort her, selfishly to comfort myself, the growing quiet distress I had witnessed all day was difficult for me to bear.

I didn’t know how to tackle the topic of what was wrong and so I decided to just do whatever came naturally to me without overthinking. I walked towards her and dropped to my knees at the side of her, laying my head against her thigh. I looked up and saw liquid silver swimming with burden before her hand left her own hair and buried in mine, scratching at my scalp.

“I know something is wrong,” I began slowly, closing my eyes at the feel of her fingers running against my scalp. “You don’t have to tell me. But I’ve missed you today,” I told her honestly.

“We’ve spent most of the day together.” She replied with slight humour in her tone.

“Maybe, but your mind has been elsewhere, and you’ve barely touched me. What poor excuse for a marking was that this morning?” I asked her, huffing in frustration, and opened my eyes when I heard her laughing above me.

“You weren’t pleased with your marking?” she asked teasingly.

“No!” I said maybe a little too bratty. “For all I know I don’t even smell like yours.” And I would have blushed at how outraged I sounded if I didn’t realise how much it truly bothered me. I liked knowing that her scent was on me. It made me feel safe, and I felt like I had been denied something important, and maybe a little part of me was outraged.

The fingers running through my hair stilled and gripped my hair tightly, her steely eyes held mine. “You’re mine and everyone knows it,” she told me confidently.

“How can you be sure if you don’t mark me properly?” I asked still a little perturbed but the fire dying in my words as her eyes flashed brightly and she growled low at my challenge.

“I think you’re trying to make me mark you,” she said, her hand in my hair pulling my head back away from her leg to look at her.

“And what if I am? You didn’t do a good enough job this morning,” I whispered, having no idea where I was getting the courage to be so cheeky. All I knew was that I wanted her mark, and I was upset and neglected and even if she didn’t want me, I still wanted her. None of it was fair, and somehow that awful mixture of injustice and need resulted in my mouth running away without any common sense.

“Careful, pet, you do not make demands of me,” she warned, a grin tugging at her lips; the first genuine smile of the day. And although a little voice in the back of my head told me to stop, told me not to push the Princess, that smile was louder. It was like a siren call to a part of me I was unfamiliar with. And so, I pushed.

“Why, what are you going to do? Whatever you do will probably be half-assed and pointless like your attempt at marking me this morning.”

I quickly and silently prayed for Poseidon to save me when the Princess glared at me, and her top lip lifted in a snarl to reveal her fangs in the process of extending. I was doomed and worryingly a little giddy at the reaction I had gotten.

“I think you need a reminder of who is in control here.” She hissed pulling me towards her by the fist in my hair forcing me up, my hands bracing on her thigh.

She leaned forward her lips at my ear. “Do you want me to mark you, pet?” she spoke quietly, a growl rumbling in her chest.

“That’s what I’ve been saying,” I said unable to quell the excited defiance that had burst to life .

“Be careful what you ask for,” she warned and licked the shell of my ear. Heat rose up my neck instantly at her touch and I gasped.

She continued to pull me towards her until I was forced to straddle her. Her teeth had found my neck her hand leaving my hair so she could tear my sweater at the collar and down the shoulder for better access. She was in no way gentle and each painful bite that would surely be enough to bruise but not break the skin seemed to send a jolt of pleasure directly to my core.

My hands held onto her at her ribs as she devoured my neck, one hand back in my hair holding me still the other gripping my thigh hard.

Within only a few minutes I was a moaning mess pressing my core as tightly to the Princess as I could, desperate for some friction. She growled against my neck and I cried out as I felt the quick rush of pain as her fangs broke my skin. She became still for a moment, only a couple beats of my quick heart, before I felt her pull her fangs free of my skin and her hot tongue ran over the wound. She did not drink from me. I was lost somewhere between fear and pain and ecstasy and desperately needing her to continue.

And she did continue pulling my head to the opposite side and beginning the same treatment that ended with another excruciatingly wonderful rush of pain as she broke my skin in another bite. She pulled away and looked at me, eyes glowing molten silver, fangs extended, my blood at the corner of her mouth, and I’d never wanted to kiss her more. I leaned forward, ignoring the painful fist in my scalp and kissed her hard, my hands moving to hold her face.

She kissed me back with far more force than I could give, leaving me utterly breathless and hungry for more before pulling away to remove my ruined sweater. Her mouth attacked my decolletage, sharp teeth nipping at thin skin before she moved to my breasts. Her treatment was rough, grabbing hard at my flesh. Her tongue soothed where her teeth had been cruel .

“Mistress, please,” I begged my hips rocking forward. I could feel how hot and wet I had become between my legs and I needed her. I looked down at her mouth around me. She pulled away, sucking hard as she did and I hissed in pleasure.

“You think you’re getting off, pet?” she asked humorously, that wicked grin that spurred me on at her lips.

“Yeah?” I breathed out confused and hopeful. She laughed again leaning forward and sinking her fangs into the side flesh of my left breast. It was far more painful than at my neck and I screamed at the unexpected action but the pain quickly gave way to a wave of bliss.

“This is a marking, pet,” the Princess growled out when she pulled away from me. She flipped our position, with me laid out on the couch, the Princess between my legs.

Her fingers ran under the waistband of my joggers. Her lips placed wet kisses against my stomach and the heat and anticipation had me lifting my hips to help the Princess. She removed my joggers and panties in one swift motion. Her head bent to my pussy and she inhaled deeply.

“Your arousal is almost as consuming as your blood,” she said and I felt her hot breath puff against me.

“Please, Ma’am,” I begged again trying to lift my hips towards her, but one strong hand landed on my lower stomach pinning me to the couch beneath.

“Try not to squirm too much, pet, it’ll hurt more if you do.” She said and I was too far gone in my desire to register fully what she had said.

I felt like I would explode when a hot, wet tongue ran through my folds and I threw my head back hard against the couch, moaning loudly .

Her hands lifted one of my legs up and over her shoulder her head turning to kiss and nip at my delicate and sensitive inner thigh. She didn’t spend long teasing the flesh before I was crying out as her fangs once again broke my skin and sank into my flesh, followed by that wave of bliss. She quickly turned her attention to my other leg and there was no pleasure before her fangs again plunged into me.

She pulled back, glowing silver capturing me, and smiled deviously before dipping her head and I felt her lick the wounds clean.

She crawled back up my heated body and I was beyond desperate for her. I tried to touch her, but she grabbed my wrists and held them above my head, lowering her lips to my ear. “You’re properly marked now, pet.” She placed a kiss beneath my ear before removing herself from me and standing.

I lay there breathing hard, trying to make my mind work past the lust and desire. I looked at her, glowing silver meeting me, and she smiled softly for a moment her hand reaching out offering to help me sit up. I took the offered hand and she pulled me into a seated position.

“I’m going to have a bath. I need to be away from your sent for a while, to calm down,” she told me softly her thumb caressing my cheek and I was only just catching up to the fact that she wasn’t going to touch me more or help take care of the messy wetness between my legs. My face must have given away my upset because she laughed. “Bratty girls, don’t get rewarded,” she said seriously. “No touching yourself, I’ll know if you do. When I return, I’ll take care of your wounds.”

She left me. Left me there in complete shock or confusion or something like unfulfilled desperation. And I became aware as my desire ebbed away that I was sore, really sore, where her fangs had pierced my skin.

The Princess returned later, with a bowl of hot water and a damp washcloth. She had left me long enough for me to regret ever being so arrogant to think it was a good idea to be cheeky. I was feeling sorry for myself.

“How are you, pet?” she asked, as she sat beside me and carefully began to wash the small drops of dried blood from my skin where she had bitten. I hissed at the nip.

“I’m okay,” I said feeling deflated from my earlier excitement. She laughed softly rinsing the washcloth and spreading my thighs to clean there too.

“Did you learn anything?” she continued casually as she brought the washcloth to clean between my legs and I could have died from the embarrassment of being washed so intimately.

“Be careful what I ask for,” I mumbled in my embarrassment. She finished her cleaning and walked over to the kitchen returning with the same tube of antiseptic numbing cream she had used the first time she fed from me.

“I’m glad you learned something, and I very much enjoyed teaching you,” she told me with a small smile on her lips, the crease between her brows from early in the day only a memory, as she delicately massaged the cream into her bite marks.

When she was finished, she inhaled deeply pulling me into her lap and wrapping her arms around me tight. “There’s no denying you smell like mine now,” she purred and I felt satiated at that moment. My sexual desire had been riled up and then ignored but my desire to feel close to the Princess, to help her feel better was fulfilled and I was happy in her arms.