Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 45: Patient

I yawned and opened my eyes the moment the sun had begun sinking closer to the horizon. I lay there, unmoving, as I listened to the sounds of night birds outside my windows. I had fallen asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow after unlocking the adjoining door and slipping out of the evening gown for Jason's t-shirt.

He had come in to lie next to me for a few hours. I had only woken briefly, just enough to acknowledge his presence before my dormancy took a stronger hold and I had gone back to sleep. He had pulled my body close to his, his hand rubbing back and forth across my torso. Not a word had been said.

I sighed and rolled over to look at his side of the bed, finding a moonflower on the pillow. Smiling, I pushed myself up into a sit and looked at the empty sheets beside me. I wished he had stayed until I woke up, but there were probably matters to handle before he was officially crowned. I leaned over to slide across the middle of the mattress to lie on his side, inhaling his scent deep into my lungs.

After I allowed myself a few minutes of quiet, I climbed out of bed. The carpeted floor was warm underfoot and I stepped into the bathroom to wash my face. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and threw a washcloth under the faucet, flipping on the hot water. I looked at my face in the mirror. I looked tired with slight bags under my eyes. My eyes themselves—bright blue in color again, thanks to a little magic before I had left South Africa—were lackluster and dull from lack of good sleep.

I glanced at my wristwatch that sat on the sink counter and checked the time. It was just after seven, still a little early for me to be up during the early summer months. The reception didn't start until nine o'clock, giving me almost two hours to get ready for my appearance I planned to make at nine-fifteen. No one ever showed up to be first at a party. And I was the queen of Fashionably Late. It was the one monarchy title I had ever held.

Once I washed my face, I meandered back through my bedroom and into my sitting room where the curtains were still drawn. Someone had come in and left me a decanter of warmed blood with a glass, as well as coffee and a selection of croissants and fruit. A bouquet of moonflowers, lavender hydrangeas, and pink roses now adorned my tabletop. I smiled, pouring myself half a cup of coffee and blood then grabbing a croissant. I bit off the flaky end and wandered over to the bookshelves to see what books there were, finding mostly classics and more Alpha journals.

I returned to the couch and curled up with my pastry and mug. I sipped slowly to allow my hunger to soak it up. I didn't want to be seen downing a glass of blood at the reception or at the formal dinner. The last thing I wanted was to be labeled more of a freak than I already was to the wolves. I took another bite of the croissant and closed my eyes as I chewed. I took a few more bites and then reached for a dark red grape off the platter and popped it into my mouth.

I finished my last bite of croissant and took another few grapes before I got up. Bringing my mug with me, I walked back into my bedroom for the bathroom again. I sat it on the counter before I dug out my toiletries case and began to place my makeup and brushes on the white marble. I found my curling iron and plugged it in before I turned to climb into the shower. I wanted to be fresh and clean for tonight.

After I had showered and dried my hair, I began to put on my makeup while keeping an eye on the time. Just as I was about to start applying eye shadow, I heard my door open out in the sitting room. I hadn't heard a knock. I stepped over to the bathroom door and peeked through the crack I had left so only some of the heat from my shower and blow dryer would escape. Unintentionally, I held my breath.

"Hello? Serenity?"

It was Maria.

"Back here," I called, opening up the bathroom door the rest of the way. I watched her push the bedroom door open and she came in, smiling. She was already wearing a plum-colored dress made entirely of lace. It was sleeveless with a shirt-collar detail around her neck. The gown was form-fitting and when she turned to the side to push the door halfway closed behind her, I noticed she had the train gathered and buttoned to be shorter until the reception began.