Page 2 of The Princess’s Pet (Soul Match #1)

Light shone brightly against my closed eyelids. I lifted a heavy arm to shield my eyes as they opened groggily. Everything was blurred, and I blinked, trying to clear my eyes of sleep and see better.

“Awake, finally.” I startled, sitting up too fast, my head becoming dizzy at the sound of her voice. My last memories flooded back; my hand reaching for my neck, only to snap away as I hissed at the pain I found there.

Muffled laughter, light and carefree, caught my attention and I looked to my side to see the Princess smiling down at me.

We were in a bed—her bed, I assumed. I was still wearing my old blue jeans and scruffy gardening top, but my shoes had been removed. I lay on top of the covers. The Princess beside me had changed at some point for bed and now sat in deep pink satin shorts and top. They looked comfortable. She looked comfortable, as I gazed at her tiredly.

“You slept for quite a while. It’s late morning now,” the Princess said, and I went to speak in reply, but my mouth and throat were achingly dry and I felt weaker than I ever had before. “Wait here,” she commanded as she stood effortlessly from the bed, leaving the room and returning swiftly with a glass of water in hand .

“Sit up further,” she instructed as she sat the glass down on a dark, wooden ornate bedside table. I stilled when she then leaned over me, fixing the pillows behind my back. “There, come on now,” she commanded, looking at me with impatience after she pulled back. I shuffled further up, sitting more properly, resting against the thick and luxurious pillows. She watched me for a moment, and I watched her myself—waiting, expecting something to happen, to be attacked maybe. She picked the glass back up and handed it to me.

I sipped the water, and it burned its way down my dry throat.

The Princess retook her place on the bed beside me and watched as I drank. I couldn’t read her expression, but she didn’t seem unhappy—quite the opposite.

“You taste splendid. I dare say I’m still feeling a little high. I’ve never had a bloodhigh last so long.” She reached out, moving my hair behind my shoulder, and the glass in my hand stilled halfway to my lips. Her fingers danced ever so lightly, barely a touch, over my neck before retreating. “I almost drank a bit too much. What a shame it would have been to lose a source like you so soon,” she contemplated, as she withdrew her hand from my neck.

Bloodhigh—I’d heard of it—a sort of euphoria only pureblood vampires could feel when feeding. It was my understanding that not every blood source created a bloodhigh, that it was something unique to each individual vampire and prey. It explained the small smile that graced the Princess’s lips. I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was when she smiled like that. I had, of course, seen her beauty yesterday—it was impossible not to—but she was far less intimidating, sat in her pyjamas and smiling like that. It softened her beauty in a way.

I turned slowly, the pain in my neck a reminder that the pretty Princess beside me was dangerous and deadly, as I sat the now empty glass down .

When I turned back, the Princess had moved—without disturbing the bed—much closer to me. I managed to control myself and not flinch.

“Does it hurt?” she questioned, her eyes trained on my neck.

“Yes, Ma’am,” I spoke softly, my throat sore and voice gravelly.

“Hmm, I’ll get some painkillers and balm sent up,” she said, before reaching out and once again trailing her fingers along my neck, her silver eyes sparkling. “Did you enjoy it?” she asked, and I did not expect the question.

My face flamed hot with embarrassment as I remembered how it felt. I didn’t want to enjoy it. I wasn’t sure it even was enjoyable. But as I remembered how her lips had kissed my neck endlessly, how her teeth had teased my flesh, and her wet tongue had soothed the nip, I felt inexplicably hotter.

“No,” I said, focusing my eyes away from her.

A soft growl made me look up at her. Her eyes held mirth as her chest rumbled. She pushed herself up and over me, sitting down and trapping me between her strong thighs and her hands held my shoulders. I forgot how to breathe.

“No one likes a liar,” she said seriously, but her eyes crinkled. “And you must always address me with the appropriate respect,” she continued, leaning forward, her nose pressing painfully into my neck where I was sure her fangs had been the night before. “I can smell your reaction,” she breathed against my collarbone.

I’d never been more embarrassed in my life. I knew purebloods had heightened strength, speed, and well everything—but it hadn’t occurred to me that they could smell... arousal.

She pulled back and locked her, brighter now, eyes with mine .

“A real treat you are.” She laughed lightly, sitting back, her hands bracing on my thighs. “I’ll have to be careful not to overindulge.” She paused, and looked at me in a way that could only be described as playful before continuing “But you’d probably like it if I indulged just a little, hmm?” she winked, and I choked. Her laughter filled the room.

I looked away, feeling my face heat impossibly more. She rolled herself off me and stood from the bed.

“As fun as it is watching you blush and bring that sweet blood to the surface, I do have classes to attend,” she said, opening a large closet and pulling out a deep blood-red uniform. She looked up at me as she turned around. “Go shower now. I’ll have a guard fetch a servant’s uniform for you,” she said, before dismissively waving her hand.

It took my body a few painfully slow moments to follow my instruction to stand, and when I did I had to pause to let the dizziness and nausea pass. Eventually, I stumbled my way to the bathroom. It was large and very bright now that the sun was out.

There was a separate bath and shower. I walked over to the shower, turned it on and then looked around, opening a cupboard to find a towel and leaving it on the side of the bath for after. Under the sink, I found a spare toothbrush in new packaging and used it. Once my teeth were clean, I slowly and shakily removed my clothing. The mirror in front of the sink revealed that my neck was littered with small, dark blue hickeys and two puncture wounds—red and inflamed—where the Princess’s fangs had pierced me.

I took my time in the shower, untangling my hair carefully and cleaning up my neck as gently as I could.

Afterward, I exited the bathroom wrapped in an oversized towel. The Princess was sitting on the couch, seemingly waiting for me. Her eyes trailed over me, and I took a half step back towards the bathroom but was stopped in my tracks by her look .

“There is a servant uniform and fresh undergarments in the bedroom,” she said, her eyes never leaving me. I made my way towards the room and softly closed the door behind me.

While I had seen, from what the Princess wore, that the student uniform was deep red—consisting of a white blouse, red blazer, black trousers, dress shoes, and a red-and-gold tie —the servant's uniform was different, if not similar. It was simple, with no gold trim, but the greatest difference was that it was not red but midnight-blue. The Borealis star crest rested on the breast pocket, and the tie was solid blue to match the blazer.

I tied the dress shoes and made for the door, still shaky on my legs. The collar of my shirt covered most of the evidence of last night, and my hair falling past my shoulders hid the rest.

In the living area, the Princess was still seated, still waiting. Like the previous night, she called me to her with just the curving of a finger.

I walked more hesitantly than before to her.

“Twirl,” she said, her hand rotating along to the command she gave.

I spun slowly for her and wavered on my feet slightly when I stopped. I flinched when her hands rested on my hips steadying me.

“Sit down,” she commanded, not commenting on my appearance. I didn’t know if she was pleased or not. She stood and walked over to a small kitchen area in the back corner of the room that I had not noticed before in the dark.

She returned carrying a tray that contained medical supplies. She sat down beside me and lay the tray beside her. She lifted a small pill bottle from the tray and handed it to me.

“Take two of these; it’s a painkiller.” I did as instructed, swallowing the pills dry—she offered no water .

“And one of these,” she stated, taking the small painkiller bottle from me and handing me a larger pill bottle. The pills themselves were also much larger. “Iron, to help replace what you lost,” she explained. It was harder to swallow, but I did.

She reached forward, taking hold of my tie, and I stilled in worry as she loosened and removed the tie and then undid the first few buttons of my shirt.

“Do calm down, pet,” she said, chastising. “When I next want you, you’ll know it.” She smiled mockingly, moving the shirt to reveal my neck and her mark. I watched her eyes glow slightly at the sight before she pulled away and returned with a tube of cream. “Antiseptic and numbing cream,” she explained as she applied a small amount to her fingertip and, with more care than I thought possible, applied it to my wound. She redid my shirt buttons and even tied my tie again, straightening it before standing.

“Your classes start tomorrow. For now, you will accompany me to my lectures and day’s activities,” she said, standing in front of me. “I expect nothing but the best behaviour from you. Anything else will result in swift and severe punishment. Keep your eyes low and speak only when spoken to. Follow all instructions,” she said seriously. Swift and severe played on repeat a few times in my head, and an anxious knot formed in my stomach.

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered her expectant look. She smiled—not happy or playful like before but more a sneer, similar to the previous day. The bloodhigh she felt must have worn off, her behaviour no longer affected by the euphoria.

I followed the Princess a step behind her as she led us from the building I learned was the residential wing for the highest Royals. A black car awaited us, and she stopped, glancing back at me. “Open the door for me,” she huffed, frustrated .

I moved forward as quickly as I could, and opened the door. She nodded approvingly at me as she entered the car. I went around the other side and got in myself.

Like the last time I was in a vehicle with the Princess, I felt her eyes on me the entire short journey. We pulled up outside a much larger building and I could see others walking about in the same uniform as the Princess and a few others in differently coloured uniforms following closely behind them. I realised that servant uniforms were specific to the family of the individual that they served. That’s why I wore the blue of Borealis.

The Princess turned to look at me expectantly, and I got out of the car walking as fast as I could to open her door. She exited the car, without so much as a glance in my direction. I hurried to follow her up the wide steps and into the building.

There were many people, students, and staff, hustling about. The noise of chatter was a constant background.

“Selene, my dear friend,” a tall blonde called and approached the Princess. The Princess stopped and smiled brightly at the approaching woman.

“Clara, it’s nice to see you; how did you enjoy the spring break?” the Princess greeted, warmth in her voice.

“Nothing new to report. Mother wants me to marry soon after graduation. But I do believe you have some explaining to do,” Clara said, and I felt her eyeing me curiously.

“Oh, this?” the Princess questioned, stepping aside to give her friend a clear view of me.

“Of course, what else?” Clara responded.

The Princess took hold of my upper arm and pulled me closer. “I purchased myself a personal servant,” the Princess explained sounding proud .

“Eventually. I’ve been telling you for years now it’s worth it,” Clara responded, almost teasingly. “And this one is a cutie. I can smell you all over her, Selene!” she said in fake shock.

The Princess shrugged beside me, her hand leaving my upper arm and snaking around my waist, pulling me in close, her nose pressing against my hair.

“What can I say, her blood sings to me. It’s truly something else,” the Princess said, lifting her nose from my head and squeezing my waist a little tightly.

“I can only imagine. Care to share?” Clara asked, and I looked up then, fear demanding I face this new predator that wanted a bite of me. Bright green eyes briefly met mine before I looked away.

“Now why would I share with you, Clara? What do you have of equal value to give me in return?” the Princess spoke smoothly, but her fingers gripped me tighter, and she drew me in towards her closer.

“I can see from your stance you won’t be letting me wet my lips with the taste of your servant any time soon.” Clara laughed, and I wasn’t sure if it was insulting to the Princess or not.

“No, and don’t ask again to take what isn’t yours,” the Princess responded a little tensely. Clara stepped back, her head bowing slightly.

“My apologies, my Royal Highness, I was only teasing as a friend,” Clara said quickly, soberly.

I saw the Princess nod in acknowledgement from the corner of my eye. Her hand left my waist and she began to talk with her friend as if there had been no tension, talking about proposals from nobles and a summer ball in a few months. I tuned out the noise. I was weak and tired and not used to being anywhere so loud or with so many people. It was an assault on my senses .

I followed closely behind the Princess as she spoke with Clara and greeted others.

Eventually, she led me to a large auditorium and a seat in the second row. I sat down beside her and realised that it was some sort of history lecture about a war long forgotten by everyone else apart from those in the room. I felt my eyes drift around the room as inconspicuously as I could. There were many purebloods, some with eyes glowing in response to internal emotions.

I felt the Princess’s eyes on me and I looked up briefly to see liquid silver shining back at me. I smiled nervously and averted my eyes. I couldn’t tell if she was unhappy with me, having been caught curiously looking around. Didn’t she say I was to keep my eyes low or something?

“This lecture is boring me almost to sleep.” I flinched slightly as the Princess whispered low in my ear. Her arm slung over my shoulders, as she leaned close. “Do you know much about the wars of our country?” she continued in a low voice.

I shook my head before remembering to answer in words “Not really, Ma’am, the only war we learned about in school was the war between the Borealis and Auster kingdoms. And how that led to the ruling class we have today,” I whispered back.

The lecturer, a plump and older man, looked over at us, but he didn’t pause his lecture or seem disapproving. Were the staff here allowed to reprimand the Princess?

“The war of our respective families was the most important in our country’s history,” she whispered, her lips so close to my ear I could feel her warm breath.

It was the first time I considered the Austers of the civil war my family. But if my great-grandfather was a Royal, as the Princess had stated, then I guess it was my family history too. Father rarely spoke of his father or grandfather. Both had been killed in the same accident when I was very young .

“Do you think it coincidence or fate that would bring you of Auster blood to be my little pet? Borealis once again dominating Auster,” she continued to whisper, her hand not wrapped around my shoulders, moved to rest on my leg and squeezing suggestively.

I swallowed hard. Her hand inched further up my thigh. “Ma’am?” I whispered worriedly, moving my leg away from her. We were in the middle of a lecture and here she was trying to feel me up! The Princess allowed me to move away.

“You’re too easy to tease, little pet,” she laughed quietly against my ear before sitting back and appearing to pay attention to the lecturer again.

The lecture could have lasted another hour or only minutes, I wouldn’t have known, all I could do was focus on the Princess next to me. She wore a grin on her lips, and I couldn’t help glancing at her. Her brief touch had ignited a fire in my chest that craved more as much as I wanted and tried to douse the flames.

There was a loud ring, and the other students around us began to gather their things and leave. I stood with the Princess, and she left the auditorium without seeming to pay me any attention. I jogged lightly to keep up with her and not lose her in the throng of students.

The Princess turned abruptly to me.

“Are you hungry, pet?” she asked me. And I knew I had to be, not having eaten since the previous morning, but with all the stress of the last 24 hours, I hadn’t thought about food at all.

“Yes, Ma’am,” I said, nodding.

“Good, I’m famished, practically wilting away.” She grinned suggestively at me and my stomach dropped .

“I don’t think I have it in me to uh, you know, uh, give more...blood,” I stuttered, my voice growing quieter as I spoke. I worried that the Princess was thinking about taking another bite of my neck.

Her strong hand grabbed my jaw, lifting my gaze.

“I’ll decide if and when I take what’s mine. Make no mistake, the blood pumping under your skin is in no way yours, it’s mine,” the Princess hissed in my face, surprisingly sweet breath fanning over me. She seemed to have no mind that we were not alone.

I swallowed, fear prickling the back of my neck.

I didn’t respond, only stared into glowing molten silver eyes, before she pushed my jaw away lightly.

“I was speaking of food, not blood,” she spoke more calmly, her glowing eyes dimming to their normal liquid silver. “The café on campus is quite tolerable,” she continued, before turning around and walking again.

The café was large with an outside seating area. Outside the tables were separated by small boxed flower beds containing bright spring flowers with reds, yellows, and pinks of daffodils, tulips, and pansies. They caught my attention so completely when we sat down that I didn’t even notice when a server approached the table. Not that it mattered, as the Princess ordered without needing my input.

I missed my garden desperately as I watched the flowers flow with the wind.

I reached out to a deep blue and yellow pansy that reminded me of the Borealis colours. Brushing my fingers against the petals, the flower bloomed growing larger and brighter. I smiled to myself. Leaning further out of my chair, I plucked the flower turning to the Princess beside me .

“Like your colours,” I said, holding the flower out to the Princess.

I looked up to her when she didn’t take the small gift from me.

Liquid silver stared at me curiously. “What are you doing?” she asked me, her voice strained.

“Giving you a flower?” I responded, not sure if I was making a statement or asking myself.

“Why?” she asked, her eyebrows creasing.

“Because it reminded me of you,” I whispered, feeling completely stupid and embarrassed. What was I even thinking?

“Oh my, how sweet.” The familiar voice of Clara from this morning interrupted my growing embarrassment. I didn’t even notice we were sitting at the same table, completely preoccupied with the colourful spring flowers.

I dropped my hand, holding the flower, and my gaze to my lap.

“Clara,” the Princess spoke in a warning tone if I ever heard one.

“Oh, Selene, it’s absolutely adorable. Your servant is a little witch, something you forgot to mention, growing pretty flowers for you.” She giggled. I felt my cheeks flaming.

“A half-witch, nothing special. Growing flowers is all it can do,” the Princess responded, “and it is my colours,” she added, reaching into my lap and taking the pansy from me, before pushing the stem through her hair and behind her ear.

She didn’t respond in any other way, but I couldn’t help smiling at my flower behind her ear.

A lobster roll and salad were placed in front of me by a server .

“Thank you, Ma’am.” I made sure to thank the Princess for my meal, and she leaned down beside me and spoke softly.

“Good girl. Eat.”