Bound By Blood: The Pureblood Prince

Chapter Eleven

We came to this new world with blinding light and ringing in my ears. Suddenly I was in a new library- old and dark. I grasped a chair to steady me, swallowing back nausea. Gabriel held my shoulders and asked if I was alright. The broken plastic was still in my hand. I kept it in a tight fist, holding it behind my waist.

"Splendid! Absolutely splendid!" Claire sang, a bit breathless from the travel. A servant approached us, dressed head to toe in blue.

"Your Highness," He bowed. "If you and your guests would follow me."

We followed the servant to a tall, arching doorway. I stared in awe at the white vaulted ceilings, adorned with an intricate mural. It looked as if it was hundreds of years old.

 We turned the corner and met another servant, when the first turned back to Gabriel.

"Pardon me, your highness, but may I ask where your unexpected guest be placed?"

Gabriel furrowed his brow. "Claire can be accommodated by the servant's quarters, I assume."

The servant nodded nervously. "Of course. And your... other guest?"

"Cora will be staying in my quarters. Thank you." Gabriel stated matter-of-factly. I stared at him.

The servant obliged apologetically, walking us to our room. "Are you sure that's appropriate?" I whispered.

"The king will think nothing of it."

"Gabriel," I pressed. "This is the home of someone you're supposed to be marrying."

Gabriel stopped his tracks. "Nothing is set in stone," he snapped. "Besides, this is purely political. The princess understands."

I stared ahead, pressing my lips together firmly. I almost dared to tell him he was behaving like a reckless teenager, but decided against it.

We entered the room, which was large, lavish and moody. The whole palace seemed to have a strange feeling to it. The servant shut the door behind him, leaving us alone in the room. Suddenly, all the pain in my hand returned. I had forgotten what I was still holding tightly in my hand. I gasped and uncurled my hand, the broken plastic falling to the floor. Dark blood dripped from my palm, leaving a drop on the marble floor. Gabriel was beside me in a flash, cradling my hand in his. He noticed the black shard on the ground, and picked it up.

"What is this?"

I pulled my hand away, looking down. "It's... nothing, it was an accident." I said, shrugging.

Gabriel's fangs pierced against his lips. His eyes shaded against the light, darkening like a storm. My eyes darted to the corner of the room, struggling to avoid his gaze. "I picked it up in the library and forgot I had it when we... arrived here. I was nervous, I guess I didn't notice I was squeezing it." I lied, praying he'd believe me. Gabriel hunched over, breathing audibly. I noticed he didn't seem to be listening to what I was saying.

"I need to step out." he said, speeding to the balcony.

I exhaled and leaned against the edge of the bed, suddenly acutely aware of the tightness in my dress. I cradled my injured hand, palm up. I watched the blood glisten in the light, wincing from the sting as it became exposed to the air. I glanced up at the sound of Gabriel's steady footsteps as he returned to the room. He smoothed back his hair and took my hand, gently uncurling my fingers.

"I'm sorry." he whispered.

"You should feed..."

"No," he pursed his lips. "I'm fine."

I sighed, furrowing my brow with frustration. Gabriel brought my hands to his mouth, carefully, and drew his tongue along the wound. I squirmed, and he released my hand. I noticed that stinging feeling was gone, and looked down. I ran my thumb along the flat of my palm. Smooth. My cut had disappeared. I brought my hand closer to my eyes, flexing my fingers in confusion. Gabriel took my fingers in his, drawing my hand back to his lips, and kissed my disappearing wound.

I pulled my hand away and kissed him. Gabriel was stormy, crashing, warm against me. That familiar ache returned in my stomach. I felt him push me against the dresser, then immediately jerked away. I grasped the edge of the dresser tightly, steadying myself. We sat in silence for a beat; me breathing audibly and staring at the ground, him with his back facing me.

"Just feed on me Gabriel, you're making it more dangerous by avoiding it." I murmured.

Gabriel turned, and tried his best to seem fine. "I'm afraid if I start I won't be able to stop." he admitted, quietly and evenly. 

This made my stomach turn a bit, but I didn't dare let it show. "What makes now any different from before? You were-"

"It's not the same now." Gabriel interrupted, louder this time. I noticed the soul in him then; so old and so young. He'd seen and done so many things, but this... was new to him. 

Gabriel clenched his jaw and bore into me with a look I knew was meant to frighten me. So I sighed, and placed my hand neatly on his chest. He closed his eyes and I leaned in to leave a kiss on his cheek. "You won't hurt me, Gabriel. You have to trust me for trusting you. Here."

I pushed back my sleeve and held up my bare wrist. "It's safer to draw blood from the wrist. People do it all the time."

Gabriel watched me carefully, eyes dark with agitation and hunger, until he finally gave in. His lips were soft against my skin, and I barely processed the pain. The raw feeling of Gabriel's satiation washed over me as he fed, causing me to sink into him. He swung an arm under my legs and lifted me up, placing me gently on the bed. My cheeks burned but I only felt a bit light-headed, not nearly as weak as I had previously. Still, Gabriel sat on the bed beside me, watching closely with concern.

I shrugged. "I'm fine, Gabriel. This is the best I've felt so far."

Gabriel smiled weakly, and that strange look in his eyes returned. 

"I'd like you to come to dinner with me tonight."