The Prince's Gift

Chapter 3.

Zane's POV

I knew as soon as I'd said it that I'd hurt her. She tried to hide the pain on her face, but she was too slow. I tried to call her back, to try and explain myself better, but she didn't stop. She left faster than I thought possible for a human to move, and I cursed at myself for giving into her touch for even just that small moment. I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help myself. She was the most gorgeous creature I'd ever seen, and I let myself forget, just for a minute.

It wasn't until my hand connected with the cold silver around her hips that I was brought back to the sickening reality. She was here by command, not by choice. She would never have thrown herself at me that way had someone not conditioned her to do so. I'd seen her under the wandering eyes, and even sometimes hands of other males in the kingdom. She didn't revel in their attention, but instead shrank away from it. She exuded self confidence, but did not care for being the center of attention from someone she did not want in return. I'd even seen her embrace her position and retaliate, fighting against them and threatening to have them killed if they touched her again.

She was feisty and strong when she wasn't being pushed to fit into her role as a slave. Slave. Just thinking of her as one left me with a distaste in my mouth. She'd come to us so young, only three years old and was placed in the care of my mother's slaves. Once she began to develop, my mother instantly saw her potential and moved her to train both with her personal servants and privately. I remembered when she turned thirteen as her body began to fill out. She'd been beautiful before, but as she came into her own, I couldn't help but notice her. She was stunning. Even as a human, I remembered thinking she was the most beautiful female in the entire kingdom. And now she was mine. But not because she wanted to be. And what's worse was that I couldn't have her, not in the way I wanted. I couldn't be with her knowing she would never have chosen this if she'd been free to choose for herself. I couldn't use her that way. She was worth more than that.

I woke groggily from a whiskey filled slumber, my head pounding as I sat up in the bed. I picked up the phone next to my bed and texted my servant Anthony to bring up breakfast. I couldn't make it out of the room to eat just yet. After a few moments, a gentle knock sounded on the door. It didn't sound right.

"Come in Anthony." I groaned as I ran my hands across my face, trying to shake away the hangover.

The door opened and she walked in holding a tray of food, closing it shut with her bare foot as she came over to my bed. Her eyes remained on the floor as she placed the tray gently on the bench at the end of my bed. Memories of her toned legs wrapped around me as her curious hands explored my body instantly popped into my thought and I snapped my gaping jaw shut, pushing the memory out of my mind.

"Is there anything else I can get for you your highness?" she asked quietly, not looking at me.

"Why are you here? Anthony normally handles my personal errands."

She hesitated, her emerald eyes flashing up for only a moment before answering. "He was instructed that I would now be filling the role of your personal servant."

My entire body stiffened and I commanded, "Look at me."

Her eyes shot up to stare into mine and my breath caught in my throat. She had the most beautifully intense green eyes I'd ever seen, like a pair of emeralds had been placed inside of her.

I tried to shake away the whiskey haze still racking my brain and softened my tone. "I don't want you doing this. You shouldn't be bringing me breakfast because I'm too hung over to go and get it myself."

Her eyes held mine, but I could see she was struggling to maintain her blank expression. "I am happy to, whatever I can do to help." She says softly.

"You're not my slave Adriana. I can't have you doing this, ok? I need you to tell Anthony to resume his duties." I felt the anger filling my gut at the thought of her having to fetch my every whim.

"Actually, I am." She stated plainly, like she was saying the color of the sky.

My jaw clenched tightly and I took a breath to calm myself. "You're not. You were given to me, yes, but I will not use you in that way. You deserve more than that." A flash of emotion filled her eyes and I sensed her pulse suddenly increase as her body tended in anger. "Why are you upset? You should be thrilled with that."

Her emerald gaze burned into mine and I felt my own anger begin to build, matching hers. "What am I supposed to do then Zane? Would it be easier for you if I just went back to the Queen and told her you refused me? You won't let me do what I was sent for, you won't let me work. You've made it very clear what you don't want anything from me. What do you want me to do?" Her words were curt and she was fighting her voice from rising.

She knew she could be punished for speaking to anyone above her this way. But I was glad she was. I was glad to see a break from her role.

"No. No, don't go to her. She'd just give you to the next person my father deemed important enough to receive you. I can't do that to you." I took a calming breath, trying to quiet the anger at her position, at the life she'd been forced into.

"Then what do you want me to do?" She spoke smoothly, control in her tone again as she stood still, staring back at me.

"Shit, I don't know to be honest. I haven't figured that out yet. I would free you right now if I didn't think some lunatic would try and steal you away. I imagine every free male here would like to sink their fangs into you, and themselves." I ran a hand through my hair as I answered, my voice now free of any tiredness. "I just want you to do what you want to do."

"Well, when you figure all that out, let me know." Her eyes flashed to the floor as she dipped her head. She turned on her heels and quickly left the room.

I cursed under my breath as I stood from the bed, sliding into a pair of sweats before sliding my hand back into the bed in search of the phone. I wanted to tell Anthony myself, knowing she would just keep allowing him to send her every time I messaged him. My hand touched something cold under my pillow and I stopped, gripping the hard metal object in my fingers. I pulled my hand out to reveal the key hiding under my pillow securely. I must have grabbed it last night in my drunken stupor.

The thoughts of her on her knees in front of me holding out this key made my dick twitch. Her body straddling against mine popped back into the forefront of my mind and it felt as if I'd been jolted with a bolt of electricity. She was wrong. I did want her, more than anything. I'd wanted her for as long as I could remember. But I wouldn't let myself have her, not like this. Not against her will. She hadn't chosen this. She wouldn't have chosen this, and I wasn't going to take that from her.

I shot Anthony the text to let him know to resume his normal role before scarfing down the plate full of eggs, bacon and toast. I chased it down with the glass of OJ before hopping into the shower.

Fuck. I don't know how I'm going to get out of this.

The water washed over me and I turned it straight to cold, trying to rid myself of the thoughts filling my head. Her incredible eyes, high cheeks and pouty lips staring at me as her hands roamed my body. Her gorgeous toned legs gripping against my sides as she eyed my very hard erection beneath her with a triumphant smirk.

Fuck!

Even the smell of her pulled me in. Just thinking about her scent had me hard again. Thank God she had that thing around her hips. That's the only thing that snapped me back to reality last night. I'd have to be more careful next time she tried.

I don't know if I can keep resisting her, but I have to. I won't take her like this. She deserves better than this.

*A/N: Short chapter, but wanted to give a little sneak into Zane's perspective on his gift before we dove in. I hope you enjoyed!