I know. And you’re mine.
He took another drink, his mind growing even foggier.I could never watch you be with another or know that you were intimate with someone else. Just the thought—He stopped again, and my guilt tripled.
I’m sorry, I said again, even though it was a meaningless and trite response.I wish I’d never hurt you. I wish I could explain.I bit my tongue so as not to continue, but I knew that if Kole and I were going to somehow make our relationship work, he would always be burdened withthis. With me and my damned new nature. With my vile vampiricwants.
Did I hurt you?he asked quietly.
My brow furrowed.Hurt me?
I could have sworn he winced.When I fucked you. Did I hurt you?
No.
Are you sure? I was rough. Mentally, I wasn’t myself.
I know. It’s okay.
No, Prim, it’snotokay. It’s not at all fucking okay what I did to you.He took another drink.I didn’t mean for that to be how our first time went. I’m sorry, Princess. I’m really fucking sorry.
My heart broke all over again at the absolute despair in his words.I know. I am too, but it’s okay. Really, it is.
He took another drink, and silence descended. The length of it stretched, and I hated myself so much for hurting him. More tears formed in my eyes, and the pain in me felt as though it was ripping me in two. Especially because I knew he might eventually find this to be too much. That he wouldn’t be able to handle my unwanted responses to other fae. That someday, he might decide to leave me versus watching me respond to others, even though the gods had destined us to be one.
Please don’t give up on me, I whispered.Please, Kole.
A moment of silence passed between us, and then he replied just as quietly, but his words were surprisingly clear.I could never give up on you, Prim.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After I closed down our connection, I sank onto my bed. I had no idea what state the warrior would be in come morning, but I had a feeling the Imperial Council had potions their warriors could ingest for horrendous hangovers. If not, I could always make him anavoseconcoction to help. I snorted inwardly at that thought. Knowing how to make hangover cures had made me quite popular at university, although at the moment, even that silly thought didn’t raise my spirits.
Despite Kole and I both apologizing to one another, I couldn’t bring myself to open the folder Nathaniel had given me. It would have been the perfect thing to read since everyone else slept, but it reminded me too much of how I’d reacted to the lordling and what it’d done to my mate.
Instead, I climbed under the covers and pulled them up, then willed myself to sleep.
As I had the night before, I didn’t dream nor wake up early. Still, I was surprised when sunlight pierced my eyelids just as the feel of Kole’s mistphasing magic flooded my room.
Sitting up, I pushed my hair out of my eyes to see the warrior standing at the foot of my bed. He looked impeccable. Freshly washed clothes covered his body. His jaw was clean and shaven.Even his eyes were alert, not a hint of a hangover anywhere. And he looked absolutelymouthwatering.
Muscles tightened under his long-sleeved shirt. And his aura was powerful, as visceral as the warrior beneath it.
I tried to stop my reaction, but my vampire urges responded. Hastily, I squeezed my thighs together as arousal flooded me as quickly as the rising sun.
“Hi,” I whispered.
Kole frowned, and his gaze roamed over my face and then down my arms as his nostrils flared.
With a start, I realized that it’d been a day since I’d strengthened my glamour or drank one of my uncle’s potions to hide my new scent.
I hastily whipped the covers up and buried my limbs under them, but not before I caught a flash of my pale skin disappearing beneath the sheets.Oh Gods.
“Can you please wait in the hall until I’m dressed?” I said in a rush. I had the covers up to my nose, only my eyes exposed.
He cocked his head, and I could have sworn that he inhaled again. Eyebrows drawing together, he finally nodded. “All right. Let me know when you’re done.”
The second Kole was out of the room, I called upon my magic to replenish my glamour, then I slammed one of the potions that would hide my vampiric stench.
Betsee showed up just as I hid that vial deep in the wastebin. “Good morning, Princess Primelle. Would you like me to choose your outfit for the day?” Her pleasant smile and bustling energy filled the room.
