Royal Renegade

Chapter 26: Reckless Embrace

Who knew a child could make me feel so shameful?

Sighing, I find a set of clothes folded up for me on the desk as well. I change into them and then pull the chair over to the couch where I sit and stare at the vampire Prince; particularly at his back.

Wings.

Leonidas has wings.

Not wings made of skin, but feathers. They were the length of a carriage. Thick, black and crow-like in shape.

For what seems like a half hour, I sit and ponder this over. So, I can't help the tormenting urge to poke his back with something to see if they'll come out. However, in case they don't and he tries to attack me instead, I have a plan.

Confident, I take a broom I found in the bathroom and begin to nudge its blunt end onto his shield of gauze.

He doesn't seem to respond at first, but my nerves and lack of patience get the better of me leading me to whack the stick across his back.

Good idea?

Definitely not.

The moment a growl emits from his chest, I bolt towards one of the windows where I've drawn up a curtain allowing a pool of sunlight onto the wood floor.

Just as I turn to face him, he reaches an arm into its rays to grab me but the skin on his hand immediately emits a cloud of steam making him withdraw.

Eyebrows furrowing in confusion, his dilated eyes assess his hand before also taking notice of the gauze wrapping his body. Bold, blue, purple and red veins cascade over his cheekbones as his skin withers, but it's the carnivorous snarls and growls of his stomach that return his glare to me.

"So even in this subconscious state you won't put yourself in harm's way?" I share my thought aloud, aware he won't respond. "You get more interesting with every encounter."

His dark eyes fall to the perimeter of the sunlight that he paces. Jaw tight, his eyebrows remain tightly pinched as though he's in pain. It's possible he is. I remember him grimacing the last time this happened, too.

I realize this is cruel considering I have no intention of donating my blood to his quench his thirst.

"Leonidas."

Nothing.

He continues pacing, eyes scanning my pool of sunlight for any opportunity to grab me.

It's a bit unnerving, reminding me of what the servants last night shared about how he becomes a different person under the wrong conditions.

This mysterious version of him, I don't know. It's troublesome enough that I'm grateful his trigger state is a complete stranger to me; a side of him I hope never to meet.

Just as my thoughts clear, he vanishes.

Huh.

I wasn't expecting him to leave.

I glance throughout the room before taking a cautious step forward making sure to stay in the light as I do, but he isn't anywhere to be found.

Breathing hard, I rise on the tips of my toes to peek over the bed and then it dawns on me to look beneath it instead.

Squatting, I lean as far down as I can but the sheets drape so low I have to get to my stomach. As I confirm he isn't there either, he grabs one of my ankles and drags me from the shelter of the sun.

I deliver a solid kick to his chest, but it doesn't faze him as he drags me under a straddle pinning my legs with his own.

Squirming beneath him, I try and fail to throw off his balance. Unfortunately, he is more stable than a Feral. Stronger.

He bares his fangs at me and uses my moment of stillness to grasp my wrists. There's not a chance I could beat him while he's like this so long as I lack intent to harm him.

Before I know it, he's dipping his face to my neck with his fangs bared, so I quickly groan out the nickname that saved me the last time.

"Leo!"

Pausing, his eyes fully constrict before dilating just like they did before as he enters consciousness.

How is it that name works?

Fear and surprise widen his eyes as he assesses our position and quickly he withdraws from on top of me. Meanwhile, I prop myself up on my elbows annoyed and disappointed by my inability to fend him off.

He offers me a hand that I accept and pulls me to my feet with a single tug. Once I steady, I attempt to back away from him, but he adjusts his grip on my hand to my wrist tugging me forward with a scowl.

"Why would you do that?" he asks, and I assume it's in reference to waking him up again. Although the last time it happened it was technically Miss Elysse's fault.

"I needed to talk to you."

There are a plethora of questions I have that he can answer.

A sharp growl from the depths of his chest causes my own to vibrate as it interrupts my thoughts and draws my eyes to his face which expresses the intensity of a thirst I have also awakened.

"You're so reckless," he glowers, and his grip on my wrist tightens causing the gauze to pinch my skin. "You wander off to the forest in the middle of the night and awaken me knowing what will happen. Have you forgotten your wounds?" he scolds, cheeks withering harshly across his face. "The scent of your blood is strong. I could've seriously hurt you, Axelia."

His anger seeps through every word he fumes which almost leaves me speechless.

Almost.

"Yet you resist," I remind him.

Another tug pulls me to his body, and I gasp as he places one hand on my waist while dipping his head to the curve of my neck. His warm breath fans against me from its base up to my ear. "Stop testing my will to do so," he murmurs against my skin with a tone so low, I shiver.

It's been a while since I've felt threatened by him in this way, but I won't let his anger deter me from why I woke him in the first place.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I yank my wrist free from his grasp and join it with my other as I secure my arms around him in a tight embrace.

A hug.

"Thank you," I softly breathe, "for protecting me."

It's all I've wanted to say since the moment he came to my rescue. I was just so paralyzed by fear last night in the forest that I could barely say or do much of anything at all.

His muscles become rigid as I nuzzle my face in his chest-plate of gauze. I notice the fabric is thinner here than on his back and that he smells of elegance and warmth from the deep, musky, fig aroma rising off his skin.

It almost makes me hungry?

How peculiar.

Silently, he steps away from me with an expression void of emotion while insecurity crawls through my skin at the fact that he didn't even return the gesture.

His lips part as though he will say something, but then they shut as he frowns at the floor, turns, and leaves shutting the door on his way out.

Why is he so upset?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Image of: Leonidas

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