Page 49 of The Demon Prince

“Cursed spirit,” she hissed, flinging Spite away from her. “Stay out of my dreams.”

It didn’t reply, which was likely good. She would have argued with the damned thing long before she let it touch her again. She’d need to talk with Gluttony about a way to give her better privacy in the room he’d gifted her.

Her room...

Peering around, Katherine realized she was in her bed. Hadn’t she been downstairs with Gluttony the last time she remembered? Yes, she’d been on his lap and been thoroughly enjoying herself when she’d felt a little woozy. Realizing that she was very quickly getting a little too lightheaded, she’d tapped on his shoulder and then... nothing. Just the dream.

Oh, she’d passed out.

She shouldn’t be so embarrassed by that. Gluttony had nearly killed countless of his own subjects with his feeding, but she had wanted to be different. Maybe she had wanted to be the one who could take him.

Ridiculous thoughts. Foolish thoughts of a little girl who didn’t realize what she wanted. That’s all.

Lightning illuminated the room again, falling upon the tall, broad form of a man next to the window.

Katherine screamed before smacking her hands over her mouth so hard it hurt. “Sorry!” she gasped when her heart finally stopped racing. “I should know it’s you by now.”

“Most people scream when they see me,” Gluttony replied, though he stayed where they were. “I’m used to it.”

“That doesn’t make it right.” Clearing her throat, she sat up in her bed and curled her arms around her middle. “What are you doing here?”

A match struck in the darkness. He lit a few candles beside her bed, and a soft, warm glow surrounded them. He looked better than he had when she’d returned, Katherine realized. Those dark circles that were always under his eyes had disappeared. Even his cheeks had a merry, rosy glow that he’d never had before.

“You look well,” she said as he set something down on the side of her bed.

“I feel well.”

“Better than me.” She looked down at her hands clutching the bed sheets and frowned. “Why is that?”

“I believe feeding upon blood does more for me than regular food.” He hesitated at the side of her bed, looking down at it and then back at her. “May I?”

“Of course.” She smiled at him, suddenly realizing that she was rather shaky. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this. I’m not really sure why I feel so strange.”

He snorted. “Probably because I drank too much blood.”

“Ah. That would explain it.” Right. She remembered that. But she was just a little confused right now and very foggy.

Instead of asking more questions, Katherine watched as he gathered the things he’d set on the side of her bed. She recognized them. Clean bandages, a small bottle of salve, and a spiced drink that he handed to her. Without thinking, she automatically held it.

Just like she’d done in his laboratory.

Inhaling the scent of ginger and honey, she took a small sip while he measured out the roll of bandages and started cutting it with his claws. “This is quite nice.”

“What is?”

“The tea.” She watched his brows furrow in concentration before pointing to an edge of the bandage. “You can just rip it from there. No need to use your claws.”

He sighed heavily before letting the bandage fall into his lap, hands limp. “I’m not very good at this.”

“What? Talking with someone after you’ve fed? You’ve talked to me before.”

“No, um. Taking care of them afterward.”

And he looked so sad to admit it. His eyes remained on his lap, as he refused to look at her. The bandages were limp in his grip, so clearly he intended to try to heal her after what he’d done. And sure, she didn’t feel very good. But she wasn’t dead, and that was good news.

“Oh.” She sipped at her tea, waiting until he flicked his gaze to hers. “You are quite rubbish at this, yes.”

A bark of startled laughter erupted from his mouth before he got control of himself. But some of the shadows in his eyes had fled. “You, however, are very good at that.”

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