Page 26 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
Her question struck at the heart of my struggle. A struggle I had to keep to myself. I pushed another strand of damp hair from her face. My fingers trailed down the side of her cheek until they grazed the edge of her lips. The urge to press mine against hers again rose inside me, but I pushed it back down. “You’re irritating enough to be interesting. It would’ve been foolish of me to let you die.”
She tried to laugh but ended up coughing up more water. I watched her carefully, making sure she didn’t choke. When the fit passed, Claire wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and met my gaze. Holding it with so much curiosity, I wished I could read her mind.
“So, according to you, I’m irritating, interesting, brave, stubborn, and insightful.”
I lifted a brow, unable to control the smile that quirked up one side of my mouth. “Are you making a list of the things I’ve called you?”
“Maybe.”
What an interesting creature.
She was leaving off twice as beautiful as anyone I’d ever met. But, maybe she was keeping that to herself. Gods knew I was keeping plenty more descriptions of her behind my teeth. Sexy. Delicate. Strong-willed. Tantalizing.Stop it, Bastien.
“I’m so tired,” she said.
“Then sleep,” I replied. “Trust that I’ll take care of you.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, and they didn’t reopen. I double-checked that her heart was beating and that she was breathing, then sat back on my heels, trying to catch my breath.
I’d been pushing this brave young woman too hard. She hadn’t seen the world outside the convent, and I had to treat her more gently, no matter how suspicious I was, because this couldn’t happen again. Especially now that I’d sealed our bond. I’d never be able to live with myself if she died in my care. Whether I liked it or not, Claire was under my protection, which meant getting her into dry clothes and back to the inn.
Trying to be as respectful as possible, I eased a hand behind her head and lifted it enough to slip the cotton nightgown on. It took longer than I thought it would to get her arms through the shift and pull it down around her body. Claire’s limp arms and legs weren’t helping the process. And neither was my bloodlust. Every time my fingers touched one of her throbbing veins, my mouth salivated, and I had to force myself to focus on her health. Watching carefully for signs that her heart might give out again.
After easing her arms into each sleeve of the robe, I tied the sash in a knot, then fastened the cloak around her shoulders. Once she was dressed, I dashed to the other side of the pool to dress myself, then returned as quickly as I could to her side. Sliding one arm under her knees, I hoisted her up against my chest. Reveling in the pink tint that had settled in her cheeks. She was alive, and right now, that’s all that mattered.
Her warm body curled against me as we left the bathhouse. Her damp hair soaking into my shirt. Her cheek resting against my chest. It felt good to carry her. It felt right to be this close to her. Nothing had changed. And yet, everything had.
When I opened the door to the inn, we drew stares from my guard, but no one dared say a word as I walked past them and carried Claire up to our room. I laid her carefully on themattress, then sat in the armchair by the fireplace, turning it to face the bed.
The room was dark, save for the firelight, but I had no trouble seeing her face or hearing her breaths. Grabbing a book and thumbing it open, I contented myself with reading while she slept, but I found myself stealing glances over the top of the book, unable to tear my attention away from her for more than a few seconds.
She was restless in the sheets. Tossing and turning. Kicking the covers off. Then there was the little noises she made. Soft moans and sighs. Then I heard my name slip between her lips.
“Bastien. No, don’t stop.”
Something inside me roared with pleasure. I wanted to know exactly what I was doing in her dream that she didn’t want me to stop. I gritted my teeth and banished the thought from my head. This was how I was going to spend the next year of my life. Having her close but needing to keep her at arm’s length.
It was for the best.
There was a sharp knock at the door, and Claire stirred. I extracted my pocket watch and checked the time, cursing when I realized I’d forgotten my meeting. I set the book down and crept toward the door, not wanting to wake her. Cracking it open, I found Natalia waiting for me with her arms crossed.
She opened her mouth, likely to chastise me for being late, and I raised a finger to my lips. I slipped from the room, loath as I was to leave Claire for more than a second, and stepped into the hallway.
“We’ll be staying an extra night,” I said in a voice that allowed no argument. “Inform Shreesa that I’m very sorry, but I must speak with her tomorrow.”
Natalia stuck her hand on her hip and flipped her long braid off her shoulder. “You were adamant thatwe hurry back to Roselyn. Now, you wish to linger? And since when do you cancel meetings?”
“Since when have you questioned my orders?”
“Since you started acting strange,” she snapped. Her glare shifted to the door, then back to me. “And by the gods, Uncle, you look like hell.” I waved her off, but Natalia narrowed her eyes. “You haven’t eaten. Have you?”
“Natalia—”
“Does this have something to do with the orphan girl and your morality? Because I’ll bleed the girl into a goblet and force-feed you if I have to.”
“You will not touch Claire,” I growled. Each word laced with the promise of violence. This was the first time since Natalia joined me at Château Rose that I’d threatened her, and the shock was plain on her face.
“How familiar of you to use her given name, Your Grace.”
