Blue Blood ~ Young Royals

Found

Life with Simon is sweet. It's the best I've ever had. We formed a meaningful connection in a short amount of time, like magic. Like we're straight out of a fairy tale. Sometimes it seems like Simon and I shouldn't work, like we've moved too fast, but I like the way we are. Everything's fine between us, better than fine.

The weeks go by and it seems to just be us, together, so often. I get used to the numbness and slight pain in my tongue and lower lip from Simon biting me frequently, but never drinking enough to harm me. At the most, I might stumble a little from dizziness. He tries his best to stay careful despite the hunger, I let him know when it's too much. It's almost surprising that we're able to make this work.

It's the last day of school before Christmas break, me and Simon skipped our last class to spend another hour together before the car arrives to bring me to the palace. We're in my dorm, getting dressed. Simon gives me a sideways glance, grinning stupidly as I button up my jeans. I throw on my sweater and grin right back at his now fully clothed form. "Gonna miss watching me get dressed during break, huh?"

He rolls his eyes playfully. "Don't act like you're not going to miss me just as much."

I bite my lip, a pang of sadness hitting me. It's only 2 weeks, but I don't like having to be away from Simon. I sigh. "Yeah... I'll miss you..."

He stares out the window, smiling a little. Eventually, he turns to me. "This is the last day we get to be together until next year. So..." He grins mischievously, reaching out to take my hand and pull me closer to him. "Last kiss of the year?"

I wrap my arms around his waist, pressing him against me. Without hesitation, he leans in and presses his lips against my own. I know what he wants already, how much he'll miss this during the break, so I bite my tongue. The familiar stinging sensation in my tongue is quickly followed by the feeling of thick blood in my mouth, and of Simon groaning and holding me tighter when he drinks. He's drinking slowly, as if he wants to savor it. One of my hands finds his curls, twisting his soft, smooth locks around my fingers. I let myself surrender to the moment, loving the feelings.

Out of nowhere, the door flies open and I hear August's voice shouting, "Wilhelm, it's time to go, the car-" 

Simon practically jumps backwards, stumbling when he hits my desk. I stumble backwards the other way, falling onto my bed and hitting my head on the wall. My heart is racing furiously and I'm hoping with all my might he didn't see what we were really doing. But August just stares from me to Simon and back again, his eyes wide in shock. I can practically hear thoughts screaming in his head.

I glance at Simon and see my blood still staining his mouth. He seems to notice at the same time, hastily licking it off his lips. "I..." He stammers, but August interrupts him before he can continue.

"You're a vampire!" He shouts, pointing an angry declaring finger at Simon. I can't tell if he really believes himself when he says it or not, but it's enough to make my stomach twist into a knot. What would happen if he told people, and they believed it...

My body moves towards August without my brain's permission, trying to grab him, but he runs out of the room. Someone asks August what's going on. Simon and I stumble out of the room, into the hallway. It turns out to be Malin who asked, standing beside another bodyguard. They must be here to pick me up.

August points at Simon again, shouting in a panicky voice. "He's a vampire. That Simon guy! I saw him, he was-" He gags, stopping himself mid-sentence. It takes all my willpower to avoid Simon's eye, afraid of giving anything away somehow to the bodyguards.

At first they just stare at him, remaining somewhat neutral. The bodyguard beside Malin purses his lips, his face contorting weirdly before he bursts out laughing. Malin is struggling to hold in her own laugh now, too. I almost exhale in relief at the odd reaction, this must mean they don't believe it.

August stammers desperately. "No, please, I'm not joking-"

Malin cuts him off. "Great prank, August. Vampires don't exist. Now, let's go, alright?"

I finally let myself meet Simon's gaze. He looks incredibly relieved. It's ok, I mouth to him. He gives me a small, insecure smile before I turn to look at the bodyguards again. "Prince Wilhelm, are you ready to go?" The bodyguard who was laughing asks me. 

"Yeah, just... Let me get my stuff." I say, walking back to my dorm. I jerk my head, indicating to Simon that he should come with me. He slips into the room silently, like he's desperate not to be noticed. I grab my suitcase but stay put, looking at Simon.

"Do you think anyone's going to believe him?" He asks, looking nervous, on the border of downright scared. 

I shake my head. Part of me is afraid that they might, but the sensible part of me knows they'd probably burst out laughing like the bodyguards. "No. Don't worry about it."

He sighs, still looking conflicted. "Are you sure...?"

"Look, Simon, those bodyguards are supposed to protect me. If they believed August, they'd already be interrogating you or something. If they don't take it seriously, then no way that anyone else will. It'll be okay." My attempt to reassure him seems to work, and I pull him in for a hug. "See you after break?"

When we break apart, he nods. "Yeah. See you after break."

I kiss him one more time before we leave my dorm. August looks weird, muttering to himself as if he's convincing himself of something. I give Simon a small wave before walking away with the two bodyguards, who insist on taking my luggage immediately. We walk hastily to the car and I get in the back, watching as the snow-covered trees whizz past my window when we drive away.

The last time I sat in the back of the car, it was to go here, to Hillerska. Back then I was pissed at having to go there. Now I'm pissed at having to leave. What makes it worse is that I can't shake the fear of someone believing August, but it'll be fine. I lean my head against the car window. When I come back here, I'll get Simon a Christmas gift...