Page 15 of The Princess’s Pet (Soul Match #1)

I felt disconnected from my body the next morning when I awoke alone. My first thought was of the previous day, of a lifeless girl looking up at me, of the fear that gripped me at the sight. I found the Princess sitting on the couch dressed casually and not in school uniform. She turned to me as I entered the room.

“There is cereal for you,” she told me and I looked to the kitchen table and saw a bowl waiting for me and a glass of orange juice. “Eat,” she commanded. I wasn’t hungry but I didn’t protest and sat down to eat the sugary breakfast mechanically.

When I was done she told me to shower and that she would lay out what I would be wearing that day.

The Princess had chosen a soft blue, lightweight skater style dress for me that stopped just above my knee and a pair of black canvas pumps. I dressed and met the Princess who wore loose light blue washed jeans with rips in the knees and thighs, a white sleeveless crop top that showed part of her midriff, and a preppy short plaid open shacket on top.

She truly was beautiful, with large silver hooped earrings and blue smoky eye makeup. I couldn’t help but look appreciatively. No one that looked so much like a warrior goddess could truly be a monster. Perfection stood before me and I no longer felt so disconnected from myself, not when her dark pink lips quirked and smiled at me, not when she looked me over approvingly.

“Come here, pet,” she said and held out her hand to me.

I placed my hand in hers and she pulled it to her lips, pressing a kiss against my knuckles and locking her eyes with mine. “You look good,” she told me as her hands found my waist and pulled me flush against her. “Are you feeling better?” she asked softly and brushed my hair behind my neck.

“I think so,” I told her, the connection between our bodies heating me and calming my turmoiled mind.

She hummed, her lips pressing against my neck. I let my head fall back, extending my throat for her. I had come to love her lips against me, a primal part of me needing her mark, needing to surrender. And at that moment, nothing else mattered. It didn’t matter what happened the previous day. It didn’t matter if she was an angel or demon at my neck. She could have me. I would give myself to her.

Teeth so carefully nipped at my skin, tongue soothing over her healing bites, kisses tenderly pressing against me. Her arms circled my waist holding me steady against her strong frame. Her marking left me flushed and breathing heavily as she pulled away. Her lips found mine and her tongue pushed inside my mouth dominating a kiss that was hard and fast in contrast to her treatment of my neck.

“The Spring Festival will be in full swing this afternoon,” she told me when she pulled back. “I need to be in the grand hall soon to start the festivities. After I will be engaged with Lord Halvorsen. You will be free to enjoy the festival with your friends during that time,” she told me and I felt my face fall at the mention of Lord Halvorsen and that she was choosing to spend time with him. It didn’t make sense, he wasn’t even a vampire, pureblood sure but he was a shifter, and I thought the purebloods had a thing about keeping their family lines pure. She couldn’t do that if she accepted a shifter as her Prince consort .

“What has you thinking so hard?” she asked as she released her grip from around my waist.

“Lord Halvorsen is a pureblood shifter. Why are you interested in him? I thought Borealis kept their bloodline pureblood vampire,” I asked the familiar feeling of jealousy bubbling in me. “I’m more vampire than he is!” I added indignantly.

She laughed at me, and her hand lifted my chin to look at her. “Your jealousy is cute,” she commented with a gleam in her eye. “The Halvorsen house is strong. I am not looking for a specimen to produce an heir, a donor would be found when it came time. I require and seek a strong alliance,” she explained and it did nothing at all to quell my upset.

When we arrived at the main school building it was decorated with ribbons and lanterns, which would look lovely in the evening. Spring flowers in baskets hung and weaved on sparkling string all around the edges of the grand entrance.

“The Royal Sanguis Academy is a spectacular show of decoration every year,” the Princess commented as I looked around.

“It is very pretty,” I replied looking up as she wrapped her arm around my waist.

“Your friends will probably be in the grand hall. I must meet the student council and faculty seniors before the festival opening. Explore and enjoy what the festival has to offer, my pet, behave. When the main clock tower strikes seven this evening, I will meet you here,” she told me as she looked down at me. I couldn’t help how my brows fell in displeasure that she was leaving me and would be gone all afternoon and into the evening, with Lord Halvorsen .

She leaned down her lips pressing against my forehead fleetingly and then she pulled away and left me standing watching her as she walked away.

In the grand hall, I spotted Harris in the crowd his tall head and well-kept curly hair visible. When I reached him I found Ana too.

“Percy, are you okay?” Ana asked.

“What happened after the Princess carried you away?” Harris asked.

Both spoke to me at once with Ana rushing forward to hug me, pulling back, she looked me over as if for injury.

“I’m okay,” I told her. “We went home. Nothing happened,” I said turning to Harris. “What happened when we left?” I asked slowly, trying not to look where Evie’s body had fallen the day before. I felt sick again.

“All hell broke loose. Justin was screaming and Leilani had to call the school administration to have Evie’s body removed. She left shortly after to make arrangements. It was a long slug to get the hall ready after. We were all shook,” Harris explained. I looked around at the hard work that decorated the hall so beautifully, but I couldn’t appreciate it.

“I don’t think I can be in here,” I said feeling panic prick the back of my neck, and like I couldn’t breathe properly, the memory of Evie falling to the ground on repeat in my head.

“Yeah, I get it, let’s skip the opening speech,” Ana said linking her arm with mine. Harris followed as we left the grand hall and Ana ushered us to a side door leading out the building.

“Where’s Dylan?” I asked as we walked around the gardens that surrounded the main building .

“He’ll be here soon. Takes him a while to get ready for anything, 30 minutes in the shower this morning. I don’t even want to think about what could have taken him that long,” Harris answered.

“Eww, Harris, seriously?” Ana replied gagging.

“I didn’t say anything, you’re the one with a dirty mind,” Harris said wagging his eyebrows suggestively and I laughed at the look on Ana’s face.

It was nice to be away from the grand hall, but Evie was still on my mind. It felt like my doing she was dead.

“Hey, smile Percy, it’s the Spring Festival and just past that grove there lies a field of entertainment, fairground games, rides, and attractions,” Harris said noticing my quick change in demeanour with my thoughts.

“What happened was horrible Percy,” Ana told me. “But it’s not entirely unheard of,” she added. “I’m guessing from your reaction yesterday it was the first time you’ve seen anything like that.” I nodded. “It’ll be tough for a bit, but eventually you won’t think about it anymore. It’s simply the way of things around nobles and Royals,” she said it as if murder was normal, and I was taken aback by her attitude.

“Yeah, I don’t know what that girl was thinking! It shouldn’t even need saying, but you don’t mess with a source that a Royal has claimed. Never mind that you’re claimed by the Princess. She was Borealis too. Should have known better,” Harris said.

“She didn’t deserve to die,” I replied stunned at what I was hearing.

“No, she didn’t.” We were interrupted by Dylan’s arrival. “Brutality is all Borealis know,” Dylan added as he walked beside us .

He was dressed nice, in light jeans and a tight top that clung to his arms, his mop of blonde hair styled neatly for a change. He smiled at me apologetically. “I’m sorry about yesterday, Percy, for my reaction when I saw those bites.” His eyes hardened as he looked at my exposed neck, bites on display for all to see. “And I’m sorry for what happened with Evie. You should never have witnessed something like that. You’re too innocent, you didn’t grow up around such viciousness. It might seem like the others don’t care, that’s not true, they’re simply used to atrocity,” he told me, yellow eyes meeting mine.

“I, thank you,” I stuttered, not knowing how to respond. Dylan for all his brashness could be very sensitive it seemed. I knew that under his loud, unruly exterior there was a boy that cared deeply for others.

“Anytime. But we shouldn’t waste a sunny afternoon, or the Spring Festival. We should enjoy the day,” he said smiling at me with his signature large grin. “Race you to the hotdog stand.” He challenged before Harris, and he were running ahead of us into a grove that I hadn’t passed through before.

“I do care, Percy,” Ana said shyly beside me.

“I know,” I replied and smiled reassuringly.

Ana spoke about how excited she was for the Ferris Wheel having never been on one and I told her I hadn’t either. I’d never been to a fair. My village was small and attractions didn’t come to us.

We chatted happily as we walked through the grove. Large paths led the way and lampposts lined the path meaning it would be lit even in the evening.

“I’ve never been along this path before,” I told Ana.

“This grove leads to the servant and other residence halls, apart from the royal residence hall. We use it every day. The fair is being held in the fields that surround the residence halls,” she explained as we walked.

The path was occupied by others making their way toward the fair too. I could hear music playing and shouting and laughter the closer we got. Soon I could see flashing lights of attractions and smell food.

I was stunned and silent as we approached the fair. There was so much to see, and I couldn’t wait to explore.

“There’s the guys over there.” Ana pointed. Through the throng of people I could see Harris waving a hotdog around and Dylan trying to take a bite despite holding a half-eaten hotdog in his hand.

“I vote we leave them to whatever they’re doing and explore for a bit,” I offered to Ana who turned to look at me nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, they’ll find us, hopefully they’ll have stopped playing with their food by then,” she agreed and looked confused and concerned all at once. “Why are they like this?” she asked herself quietly as she looked back at the two boys shaking her head.

We explored the fair, there were rides and games and food stands. After playing and losing a few impossible games and standing in line for rides that went too fast, we stopped for a snack of cotton candy. It left my fingers sticky and my stomach protesting at the sugar. Luckily Harris arrived and was more than happy to finish the treat for me.

“Hey Harris, over here, look,” Dylan called waving the other boy over to a stand that had a water shooting game. “Play ya?” he offered. Harris didn’t reply as he shoved the last of the cotton candy in his mouth and ran over to join Dylan.

“We should go on the Ferris Wheel next. The line looks long,” Ana suggested .

A Ferris Wheel was far more intimidating in person. A giant wheel with little 2-person chairs, and only a bar barely across your lap to stop you from falling a million feet to your death. I wanted to ride it but my hands also began to sweat as Ana grabbed my arm and dragged me over.

“We should get in line now while the guys are playing their game, instead of waiting,” she told me a little bossily as I followed clumsily at her side.

It was only about 5 minutes before the boys found us. They approached with a kind of excited nervousness, that made me uncomfortable. Both their hands behind their backs hiding something from us.

“Ladies,” Harris greeted formally, bowing his head slightly.

“What are you up to?” Ana demanded and I took a step back as they smiled a little wider.

“We have something for you two,” Dylan answered.

“If it’s a bug or something gross, I don’t want it,” I told him as he came closer to me.

His smile dropped slightly. “I would never Percy. I’m not a child,” he argued. I hummed in disagreement.

“Here,” Harris said first, holding out a keyring to Ana that had a small plastic white dog attached to it. “For you,” he said shyly offering it to Ana.

“I won one too. It’s like my beast,” Dylan said, a big smile back on his face as he revealed a keychain with a small black wolf attached. “If you want it?” he asked a little hesitantly, a slight blush to his cheeks. It was very cute, and he was very cute in his puppy-dog way. I nodded my head smiling at the offered gift.

He smiled back brighter still and dropped to his knees, hands reaching for my shoes .

“What are you doing?” I giggled.

“Attaching this little dude to your shoe, not anywhere else for it to go,” he said in answer and I waited for him to fiddle with the clasp and loop it through the shoelace hole. “There, all done,” he said standing up rubbing his hands on his thighs and happy with his work.

“I love it,” I told him toeing the ground and looking at the small figure attached to my shoe.

“It’ll bring you good luck,” he told me.

“Oh yeah, is it a magical keychain you won?” I asked teasingly.

“Of course, didn’t you know this whole fair is enchanted? Any prize won and gifted to a pretty girl is automatically a good luck charm,” he answered seriously, I blushed and pushed him away.

“Stop being silly Dylan,” I told him, feeling a mixture of flattered and anxious at his compliment.

Dylan was handsome in the classical shifter way, tall and broad and very confident. And if I was being honest with myself, just a couple of weeks ago I would have been wooed by his exuberant puppy charm. But even as I looked up at his boyish grin and watched as his top strained when his chest flexed and he lifted his hand to run through his hair, the Princess flooded my mind. I felt guilty for even thinking Dylan was cute. But I reminded myself that I didn’t have to feel guilty. Dylan was only being his version of overly friendly and ridiculous I had come to expect. Plus, there was no harm in recognising someone as attractive.

“It’s getting late,” Harris commented and I noticed that the sun was setting .

“Does anyone know the time?” I asked. I remembered hearing the clock tower, but I hadn’t paid much attention.

“It’s just gone 6,” Dylan told me.

“Do you think we’ll be finished with the Ferris Wheel in time for me to get back for 7?” I asked the group.

“Oh yeah, the Ferris Wheel only lasts 10 minutes and we should be at the front of the line in the next 5, plenty of time. Why 7?” Ana answered and I could hear the excitement in her voice as she bounced on her toes when she looked at the line to estimate our waiting time.

“I’ve to be back by 7,” I told her a little anxious, wishing I had a watch.

“Eh don’t sweat it, Percy. We won’t let you keep the prissy Princess waiting,” Dylan answered his hand patting my shoulder.

I glared at him for his comment about the Princess, but I didn’t respond. He had made it clear he didn’t like her, and I didn’t want to get into another shouting match with him about it.

As we made it to the head of the line, I tried to follow into the chair next to Ana only to have Harris skilfully twist past me and take my seat.

“Hey!” I called as he pulled the bar down and the chair began to move away.

“Sorry, Percy.” He laughed and Ana looked bashfully pleased. I laughed along turning to Dylan. “Looks like we’re sharing.”

“Na, I’m not a heights person,” he said turning like he was about to leave. I grabbed hold of his arm.

“I’m not getting on this thing with a stranger,” I told him seriously and I was a little scared to be on my own up so high. He turned back to me with a grin he couldn’t hide .

“Well, if you want to sit next to me that bad…” he trailed off. I huffed and turned from him.

“I’ll sit with a stranger,” I replied getting in the chair. He only laughed and got in the chair after me sitting down heavily causing the chair to sway as he pulled the bar down to us.

“Is this thing safe?” I asked as we began to move slowly higher.

“Perfectly. There was only that one accident, a few years ago,” he replied looking at me from the corner of his eyes. “We just shouldn’t swing the chair is all,” he continued before purposefully rocking his body and making the chair swing back and forth dangerously. I screamed clutching the bar in my lap with white knuckles.

“Stop it!” I cried. He replied with uproarious laughter as the Ferris Wheel came to a stop while we were close to the highest point.

“I’m sorry,” he said wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. His arm came down around my shoulder. “I’ve got you, girl. I won’t let you fall,” he promised.

“You’re a jerk Dylan,” I told him as my heart calmed against my chest and I opened my eyes.

We were up very high, and the school buildings looked magnificent in front of the setting sun. The lanterns had been lit and it was a show of yellows and oranges.

“Over there is the main building where we have our classes,” Dylan told me pointing. “And over there in the distance, that’s the royal residence halls, where you stay,” he said twisting to point. “Over there are the stables, bet you didn’t know the Academy also has equestrian lessons for the nobles and Royals,” he said a bit excitably. “Past that grove, you can just see the peak now. That’s another school building, mostly the sciences they teach there, have a morgue and everything for the anatomy freaks,” he continued.

“A morgue?” I asked confused.

“Yeah, for dissections,” he said and was obviously trying to weird me out. “Dead bodies for chopping up.”

“Okay,” I answered pretending to be disinterested. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes enjoying the view.

“If you’re so against the current system, why are you here?” I asked him my wandering thoughts spilling out. He seemed so enthusiastic when pointing out the buildings and genuinely happy to be a student at Sanguis Academy. Still, he claimed to hate the system and it confused me.

“Have to be. It’s law that all those that live within the legally recognised houses, of at least half-blood, attend servant training. And I want to be here. I want to know what they’re teaching people. I want to be a thorn under their nail, reminding the other non-purebloods that we aren’t less than. Can’t get your message to the people you want to reach if you hide away behind safe walls,” he told me.

“So, you’re here to cause trouble?” I asked. He smiled wide in response.

“Trouble has a way of finding me. But no, I’m here to make friends. Friends Percy, are the most significant thing you’ll gain from Sanguis Academy.” And he was serious for a moment the playful glint leaving his yellow eyes.

“And you need friends?” I asked curious as to what he meant.

“We all need friends. And when shit hits and things get messy, a good friend will help clean up with you,” he answered but I was still confused as to why he was at Sanguis Academy to make friends. “We’re friends, right?” he asked .

“Yeah, I guess, I sort of like your annoying ways,” I told him honestly when he looked at me with hope.

“I like you too Percy. I feel like we’re the same. Viridis and Auster have always got along, we have no choice but to be best buddies,” he joked pulling me closer and the chair began to ascend higher before it made its descent back to earth.

He turned to me and there was something in his eyes, in the way he smiled at me. A charged beat passed between us, and he leaned forward. I almost didn’t turn away from him, but I did.

“Sorry Percy, I misinterpreted the moment,” he mumbled and pulled his head back.

“I like you Dylan, but things are complicated,” I told him.

Things were complicated. And right then, only briefly, I wished they weren’t.

I had a soul match, that I had very conflicting and confusing feelings about. A soul match who seemed to want me, at least physically, but shunned an actual relationship. And it was confusing because I wanted more. I wanted everything. And a part of me hoped, perhaps in vain, that given time the Princess would want more too. But there was no guarantee. There never was with a soul match.

And here I was, sitting next to Dylan; a young handsome shifter that my father would utterly approve of. Whose boisterous enthusiasm for life was oddly endearing and endlessly annoying and it would be easy to love him, I could tell. If things were different. But things weren’t different.

Even if I wasn’t falling hopelessly for the Princess, I still belonged to her. Actually belonged to her. She purchased me. I didn’t have the freedom to choose Dylan, even if I had wanted to. And I didn’t. Not really. We could be good but never perfect.

I wanted perfect. I wouldn’t give up on the possibility of perfect; not when the smallest taste of what could be with the Princess was the best and most addictive of my life.

“Are you scared of her?” he asked me. I shook my head no. “If you are Percy, Viridis would protect you. I’ll protect you. Just say the words and I’ll take you away from her. She’d never find you.” And I found his offer so completely offensive. I never wanted to leave her. I wanted to be close to her always.

“I don’t want to leave her,” I told him seriously. He looked at me like I’d grown an extra head.

“Percy, you can’t truthfully tell me that you like being her bloodbag,” he replied and the chair was almost on the ground.

“I do,” I admitted my face flushing red. I’m not sure if from my embarrassment at the admission or the discomfort his incredulous wide-eyed stare created. The chair reached the starting point again and I could see Ana and Harris waiting for us to disembark.

“What has she done to you?” he asked angrily taking a hold of my arms.

“Nothing Dylan. She hasn’t done anything to me.”

“She has to have done something to make you such a docile, well-behaved slave!” And he shook me a little like trying to physically shake sense into me.

“Let me go, Dylan,” I demanded trying to pull away.

“Right kids, time to get off.” The Ferris Wheel operator interrupted, lifting the safety bar. Dylan released me and when we were off I headed quickly to Ana’s side.

“Is everything okay?” Ana asked me.

“No. Percy has lost her mind,” Dylan answered for me .

“Leave me alone Dylan, I’m capable of making my own choices,” I replied raising my voice to match his.

“Not if you’re being manipulated in some way. Maybe it’s magic? Have you thought of that? Borealis love blood magic and oaths. Has she made you take a blood oath, Percy?” he demanded to know.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I shot back angrily.

“Ana, could you tell if blood magic was being worked on Percy?” he asked turning to Ana almost desperately.

“I, uh,” Ana started.

“Leave Ana, out of this. This is because you can’t understand why I choose her over you,” I accused. “And the reason doesn’t matter. All that matters is I belong to her and I’m happy enough about it! I need to leave now,” I finished marching away before he had a chance to recover from the shock on his face and respond.

I heard him calling after me, but I ignored it and made my way back to the path, through the grove that would lead me to the Princess.

As I walked back I began to worry. The Princess somehow always knew what I’d been up to. And that was a very public argument. What if someone had seen the almost kiss? What if I was covered in his scent of arousal again? He wouldn’t do something like that twice, would he?

My worry seemed to carry me swiftly to the main school building. I was upset with Dylan, but he wasn’t a bad guy, an idiot I decided, but not bad. He didn’t deserve the Princess’s wrath.

The main stairs to the entrance hall were lovely as the evening grew with the lanterns now lit. I wasn’t sure of the exact time, but I hadn’t heard the clock tower strike 7 yet .

As I reached the open doors, I was met with a sight that physically hurt.

Lord Halvorsen was stood, head dipped in a kiss, and arms wound around the waist of the Princess.

I couldn’t breathe.

It was like I had been punched in the gut. Hard.

He pulled back, releasing the Princess from his grasp. “I have enjoyed our date and look forward to your company again, in the near future, my Royal Highness,” he told her and I wanted to scream. If I could take even one breath I would have.

“Lord Halvorsen, I’ll contact you with arrangements,” she replied.

She turned, and her eyes landed on me. Her face was unreadable. I was aware of Lord Halvorsen walking past me and exiting the entrance hall. The entrance hall was empty apart from us. Everyone else must have been at the fair.

“Pet, you’re early,” the Princess greeted me.

“Early enough to find you kissing him,” I replied bitterly, finding my lungs again and with them hurt and anger.

She walked towards me, and I backed away dangerously close to the steps. She walked faster and more determined at my retreat, reaching me and pulling me by my shoulders away from the edge of the stairs.

“Is that any way to speak to me?” she asked, her nostrils flared and I knew she was scenting me.

“When I find you sucking face with that...” A sharp slap across my cheek cut off my words. One elegant hand held my head still while the other raised in warning prepared to strike again. The sting nipped fiercely and spread out to cover my whole face.

“Try again, pet,” she commanded, eyes flashing brightly. And I was shocked for only a moment before a fire started in my chest.

“You heard me, you, you, slut!” I hissed out, practically a whisper, I was angry, and hurt, so much so I couldn’t seem to raise my voice.

Molten silver burned down on me. I braced for another slap, but it didn’t come. Her head dipped low to me and she breathed in deeply.

“Want to tell me why I smell that boy all over you again?” she asked and the calm in her voice was terrifying.

“We rode the Ferris Wheel together,” I told her confused at the change in speed and topic and instantly worried for Dylan’s sake.

“Is that all?” she asked lowly, her hand gripping my waist and pulling me closer, nose pressing against my neck. “You accuse me of being a slut . Yet I leave you alone for a few hours and you return stinking of Viridis scum with his image attached to you,” she continued and I was confused.

“Image?” I asked. She nudged my keychain on my shoe in answer. “It was a gift,” I told her.

“Accepting tokens from your Viridis admirer. Allowing him to touch you. Did he wrap his arms around you and keep you warm in the cold?” she asked and I would have thought she was mocking if it wasn’t for how calm she spoke against my neck. “Did you let him steal a kiss?” she continued and moved away from my neck to watch me. “Or more? Did he offer to whisk you away from me?” she asked and my brain stopped working. How was she possibly able to know about our conversation ?

“What?” I asked feeling like the tables were being turned on me.

“Did you let that pretender have a taste of what’s mine?” She growled angrily.

“No,” I said after a moment, voice wavering. She growled louder in response.

“Are you sure? You don’t sound it,” she asked.

“I didn’t kiss him,” I told her more strongly. “Unlike you!” I added my anger back again. “I turned away Dylan, only to find you swapping spit with Lord Halvorsen!”

Her hand gripped my throat tightly, I couldn’t breathe.

“I’ve been too lenient with you, pet. No more.” She growled.

She released my throat and I gasped for breath. Her hand grabbed my upper arm and she dragged me down the steps and held onto me in silence as we waited. The clock tower struck 7 and a black car drove up the driveway to us.

She opened the door dragging me into the vehicle behind her. She reached forward and slammed the divider between us and the driver shut with a force that vibrated loudly before she pulled me uncomfortably across her lap and lifted my dress to my hips. Her hand began coming down hard against the back of my thighs.

I cried out in pain at the sting, squirming to get away from her. She was relentless, her strikes rhythmic and painful. She only stopped when the car did and my dress was pulled back down over my rear and I was pushed from her lap onto the gravel drive.

Her hand fisted into the back of my hair, and she pulled me to my feet and back to her rooms. The guard did not greet her on our arrival as normal but simply opened the door for us and shut it heavily again .

She whipped me around to her. I knew I was a mess of tears and snot from the spanking in the back of the car. Her hand released my hair and she pushed me towards the bathroom, following closely.

“You’re going to wash the stink of that boy off you,” she told me and I stood still as her glowing eyes watched me, her ire growing with each passing second.

“Strip,” she commanded coldly. Although she had seen me naked many times, I found myself humiliated as I clumsily pulled the dress over my head, kicked off my shoes, and removed my underwear.

I climbed into the shower and turned it on, flinching back when her hand passed me and turned the temperature to cold. I was hit by freezing water that stung as it landed on my skin. I was shivering and trembling as I reached for the shampoo and soap to wash. I tried to be as quick as possible, to avoid being in the cold any longer than necessary.

When I was done, she threw a towel at me and watched as I dried myself and rung and dried my hair as best I could.

“Follow me,” she said coldly, eyes bright, and I followed her to the bedroom.

“On your knees,” she instructed. I fell to my knees unsteadily following all her commands my instincts demanding I submit to the Princess.

She walked around me and trailed her hand across my shoulders.

“You’ve been disrespectful, pet.” She paused walking back to my front. “And too familiar with another that would try to have you.” She bent at her waist lifting my jaw to look up at her. “Does that sound about right?” she asked .

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered feeling fresh tears begin. I was hurt and called her a slut, in a derogatory way, and I had entertained the thought of Dylan. Everything she accused me of was true.

“You’ve been a very bad girl, haven’t you?” she asked, voice softer than before.

“Yes,” I whimpered, unable to fight my tears. I had been bad, and I felt awful for it now, kneeling at her feet. Her free hand wiped across my cheek.

“I can’t decide if I want to beat you or fuck you,” she told me thoughtfully.

Gripping my jaw tighter she leaned forward and kissed me hard, her hand slapping her bite mark on my breast causing me to gasp into the kiss. Her tongue entered at my gasp and ruled my mouth. It was delicious and intoxicating and confusing as I didn’t expect to be kissed so passionately given the circumstances. Her hand squeezed my breast and pinched my nipple and I moaned heatedly into her.

“I’ll always lean towards fucking you,” she told me as she pulled away standing straight.

Her hands pulled her crop top over her head and unzipped and removed her jeans. I watched her movement with rapt attention. Unable to look away as she unclasped her bra and shimmied her panties down her legs.

“I’m going to fuck you, pet, until you can’t take any more. But first, you’re going to put that naughty mouth of yours to work,” she began and lay in the middle of the bed. My pussy clenched at her words, my mouth watering with anticipation. “What are you waiting for?” she said sternly.

At her command I stood and made my way to her on the bed, kneeling between her bent legs. Her hand found my hair and pulled me forward. She was already wet, her lips plump and clit hard. I lost myself for a time to her pleasure, her moans and growing wetness encouraging me forward. Her taste was slightly sweet, like nectar I craved more of with each drop I could lap up. When her hips bucked harder and her hand held me firmly against her, I knew she was close and I was rewarded with a wave of her slickness as she came.

She did not pull me away, allowing me to slowly clean up her wetness and then bring her to another release. It was heaven, between her knees, arms under her legs, hands gripping her wide hips, my face and mouth pressed against her pussy.

She didn’t say anything as she pulled me up her body and kissed me hard, rolling us over so she was on top. She allowed me to touch her, my hands running along heated skin, groping at her buttocks and back. Her hands grabbed my breasts massaging and pinching and pulling deep moans from me.

Her hand ran down my body between us until she was pressing through my dripping folds. I bucked beneath her desperate for more as she teased my entrance. She kept me there a moaning mess, hardly able to think, teasing me for what felt like a lifetime before finally entering me. I was already so close to cumming.

“I’m gonna, oh, please.” The words tumbled from my lips as my orgasm crashed over me. Her lips found mine, kissing me softly as she continued to pump in and out of me, her thumb rubbing furiously at my sensitive bud.

It wasn’t long before I was at the edge again and she pushed me over. Her mouth attacked my neck, moving down my chest to suck and bite at my breasts.

As I came down, overly sensitive I tried to move my hips away, gasping for air.

“Ma’am, it’s too much,” I told her, through moans that would argue otherwise. She pulled away from my chest .

“I’ll decide when you’ve had enough,” she told me before going back to my chest, hand still working frantically in and out of me, adding another finger and becoming more forceful.

My third orgasm took longer and when I came, the pleasure was accompanied by pain as my over-stimulated pussy quivered and clenched against her. I cried out gripping her closer to me and trying to twist away again as I came down.

Her teeth bit down against my shoulder. Her hand left from between my legs, spanking my engorged clit and I whimpered at the almost overwhelming sensation that pulsed through me. She spanked me again and I squirmed in pain and pleasure.

She flipped me over roughly. “On all fours,” she growled out and I complied my entire body shaking in effort to comply. She was behind me then, hand gripping the back of my neck pushing my face into the pillows and she was back at my entrance pushing into me with three fingers, deeper than I thought possible. Her thigh added force and depth to her fingers as she pounded into me hard. I was pushing myself back against her, moaning loudly, tears running down my cheeks at the pure pleasure and overstimulated pain of it.

“Tell me who’s a slut,” she demanded leaning over me, her chest pressed against my back.

“I am,” I answered loudly, unashamed.

“And who’s slut, are you?” she asked punctuating her question with a particularly forceful stroke into me.

“Yours,” I cried out, biting the pillow below me.

“How close are you?” She growled against my ear, licking me.

“Very,” I told her, desperately .

“I want you to come for me, pet,” she spoke roughly against my ear and as if on command my whole body shuddered with the force of the orgasm that consumed me.

She kept herself within me, thrusting as I rode out the last wave of ecstasy.

As I came down and she slowed her movements, my moans were more of pain than pleasure, a mixture of overstimulation and exhaustion.

“Please, Ma’am, no more,” I moaned into the pillow. She laughed above me, trailing kisses down my back, her fingers slowly leaving me as her teeth bit into my buttocks. I missed the fullness of her fingers immediately but shuddered in relief also.

“Do you have one more to give me?” she asked softly, before slapping my backside and she pushed me over onto my back.

Knelt between my legs, she bent forward to my pussy, fingers spreading my lips and kissed me delicately. My hands came down to push her head away.

“Are you really done?” she asked, a little pout on her lips and a look of disappointment as she looked up at me, and instantly, I wanted to give her whatever she wanted. “I’ll be gentle,” she promised her hand coming up to hold mine, entwining our fingers.

“Okay,” I stuttered out still catching my breath.

“That’s my good girl.” She purred and her head dipped lower again to my heated core.

She was true to her word as she licked and sucked at me, slowly and carefully. Her other hand joined the first, both her hands entwined with mine, pushed into the bed securely at my sides. I liked her hands holding mine down, like an anchor, and somehow her mouth and her moans brought me slowly to another peak. One that was less extreme but left me feeling entirely floaty.

When she was finished cleaning me up, she crawled up to me, trailing kisses up my body until she reached my lips and almost innocently pressed hers against mine.

“Well done, pet,” she praised and my chest felt full of butterflies at her words. She rolled to the side of me and pulled me into her embrace.

“How do you feel?” she questioned softly, her chin resting against the top of my head and her hand rubbing up and down my back.

“Like all my bones are bendy,” I told her pressing my face further against her chest. She laughed lightly above me.

“Is that good?” she asked pulling me tighter to her.

“I think so,” I responded after a moment of thinking it over.

She held me for a long time, and I loved it. I wanted to be wrapped up in her forever. But my blissed-out headspace began to recline, and I remembered our earlier interactions.

“What’s wrong, pet?” she questioned, able to tell I was feeling low.

“I’m sorry for what I said,” I told her quietly, glad that her arms were still securely around me. I felt her lips press against my hair.

“I know you are,” she replied. “I won’t tolerate name-calling from you, pet, regardless of how upset you are,” she told me seriously but there was no bite in her voice. “If it was not very clear before, you belong to me,” she said a little more heatedly, arms squeezing around me. “You will not see that boy again. If I smell him on you once more, I’ll tear his head from his neck and start a war with Viridis,” she added a slight growl rumbling her chest.

I wanted to protest. Dylan was my friend, soft of, and I didn’t want to have to stay away from him. But something about the Princess’s possessiveness and the threat that sounded more like a promise made me hold my tongue. At least partly.

“I don’t want you kissing Halvorsen ever again.” I made my own demand and her growl died out replaced with a light chuckle.

“Making demands of me, pet, I thought we’d already covered that you do not own me,” she replied, lips pressing against my hair again. “I’ll kiss who I want, fuck who I want, and marry who I want,” she told me matter-of-factly. “But do you think I kissed him as I kiss you?” she asked and I was confused with the question.

“Do you think I have any desire, to fuck him until he can’t walk?” she continued. “Do you think I want to leave my fang marks all over him so the world can see who he belongs to?” she asked pulling back slightly to look at my confused expression.

“My pet, you are the only one I want to own completely.” She purred leaning forward and giving me a chaste kiss on my lips.

Her words felt like a semi-admission that she might want me as much as I wanted her. It made me feel warm. Although it wasn’t the declaration of undying love I craved, it was enough for now.