Chapter 27 Magic fingers
Deep inside Evyths’ heart, she understood that the prince was furious over something she could not quite place. However, she knew she was the cause.
…
Moments later,
The ride on the prince’s Mustang was slow and steady. It moved with grace, yet its gallops left room for reflection.
The ominous sky was rife with thick, whitish clouds scattered across.
Evyths breathed in and out. The smell of earth and moisture lingered in her nostrils, but then her back, neatly and lightly pressed against the prince’s sturdy chest, sent shivers down her spine.
Strong, sculpted, and smooth.
Her eyes glided down to his strong hands, holding firmly onto the reins as they rode.
The cold wind blew succinctly, caressing her skin with patches of goosebumps.
Although she was warm, given that the white, furry cloak the prince had gifted her made her warmer, having the prince frown at her for more than an hour spoke louder than words.
A dozen thoughts flashed through Evyths’ mind, like how to speak with Valerio or make him talk.
He was not a man of many words, but around Evyths, he often said more than two words.
Evyths’ mind raced. She wanted to say something—at least, she wanted to force a word out to ask why the prince had chosen to neglect her.
Evyths breathed slowly, her lips slowly parted as the fortified walls of the Ravencroft kingdom came into view, hidden behind the gruesome fog.
“Your highness,” she forced out, her voice getting lighter on the note. “Please, I cannot endure the—”
“I will give you a few hours of rest. Afterward, report to me as soon as your rest time elapses. I have to conclude what I have started,” he stated, his icy voice cutting through the chaotic storm that had long presented itself throughout their journey.
His words were firm and authoritative, leaving no room for argument.
Evyths, without being told, recoiled and held her words, swallowing hard.
“He has chosen to make me miserable, I see…” she said to herself.
However, the rest of the ride into the palace was silent like that of a cemetery.
The familiar smell of flesh, metal, wet sand, and dried acorns welcomed her.
Just as Evyths remembered, the bats and crows lurked afar off, cooing intermittently, while the round moon hung very low, almost reaching the tips of the trees.
The heavy, fortified gates flung open. The wind blew across Evyths’ face, causing her to flinch and cover it with her hand for a few seconds. But the prince remained still, like the moon that hung in the sky, unfazed by the harsh wind that made the horse neigh.
They rode into the palace as Vance, the prince’s soldier, who was definitely going to be the king’s guard once Valerio was crowned king, strutted towards them.
Vance went on a knee and bowed his head. “Welcome back, your highness! It is good to have you return,” he said.
Valerio gave a half smile and jumped down from the horse, patting Vance on the shoulder as Vance rose.
His vigor and excitement were palpable, even if he did not show it.
Valerio turned to Evyths, who attempted to jump down. Suddenly, the prince’s strong hands wrapped around her small waist, bringing her down from the horse like a feather. With precision.
Evyths and Valerio stared at each other, their eyes remained glued with unspoken words behind each longing tongue.
“How were your travels, your highness?” Vance interrupted the awkward silence.
“Chaotic!” Valerio’s baritone rang out coldly, as if it had survived a war unbeknownst to them.
Valerio started to walk. Vance instructed a soldier to tend to the prince’s horse while he fell in step next to the prince as well as Evyths.
“Fill me in, Vance!” Valerio said. The same cadence in his tone smeared their ears again as Evyths rolled her eyes secretly.
“Lady Blackwin, as you have commanded, has not been in the palace, although she seeks a private audience with you upon arrival. The queen has been locked away in her chambers. She has not seen daylight or twilight ever since. Duke Octavio also seeks an audience as soon as you return. But then…” Vance’s words halted, as did the prince’s.
Valerio gave a knowing gaze. His straight face was impenetrable.
“Speak, Vance!” he demanded.
“The hunters have made their first attempt, and I'm afraid I shall not go into details at the moment,” Vance explained.
“Hm.” Valerio let out as his gaze shifted to Evyths, who was fiddling with her fingers. “As I have explained earlier, have some rest. Afterward, I will have someone fetch you…” he stated, as she bent, almost clumsily, still contemplative about why the prince had decided to act hard on her, as if their earlier foreplay did not mean a thing to him. Evyths silently thought.
As if he listened to her thoughts, he said, “The longer you linger, the less your rest!” he said, an almost invisible smirk followed suit, as though he enjoyed hearing her thoughts and the depravity he offered her.
When Evyths forcefully turned on her heel to leave, Valerio interrupted and instantly told Vance to stand two feet away from them. Valerio, without physical touch, blocked Evyths with an invisible wind, halting her steps.
She did not flinch. She bravely spun to face. Around the prince, she knew better than to defy him.
“Why the long face?” he asked her offhandedly.
“Oh, goddess! He acts like he has no idea what he has been doing. Now he wants me to explain to him how his fingers glide up between my legs,” Evyths snapped at herself.
Valerio let out a dry, sinister chuckle as he closed the distance between them.
“Say the words out loud that you LOVED how much I stroked you with my fingers…” he calmly said, staring at his fingers as he used his right index and middle fingers to caress her neck. His feathery touch laced with intense effect.
Evyths whimpered before she could control herself. She swallowed hard, her lids fluttering with confusion and uncertainty while Vance watched behind his metallic armor.
“You are still silent, hound!” he frowned.
Slowly, the hall filled with prying servants hiding behind pillars, shocked by the prince’s actions with Evyths.
He had never gotten closer to a servant, let alone a werewolf like Evyths.
The shock and surprise on the palace inhabitants cladded their faces like a second skin.
Valerio, on the other hand, was carefree. He was the crowned Prince, after all, the highest authority throughout the kingdoms surrounding Ravencroft.
He could do as he pleased without a single objection from a single soul.
“Lend me your chain, Vance…” Valerio demanded as Vance stepped forward and placed the chain on the prince’s palm.
“Wh- what are you doing, your highness?” Evyths breathed heavily, her eyes blinking furiously.
“The very thing you desire,” he said, his frown thick and his voice dark.
He took her hands and chained them, his fingers trailing her bare thighs and running up between her inner thighs, feeling the moisture between her legs.
Evyths whimpered, unable to control the prince’s pleasant-sweet touch on her bare skin.
Using his free hand, he held her neck, carefully applying a bit of force that didn't kill her.
“What is it you want, hound?” he asked her, his thick brows knitted like a threat while he rubbed her lower lip smoothly and quickly.
Her breath was rapid, her words choked her, and her sweat was cold, leaving an aftertaste.
Evyths’ eyes glanced around, catching the hungry and baffled gazes of the vampires.
But two gazes stood out, unexpected and still.
Duke Octavio and Lucian.
Evyths tried to speak to Valerio while he intensified the circles. Her legs shivered, and her words, again, choked her. Then again, the chain clanked as she shivered.
Evyths pressed her lips against his chest, stifling her moans. The intensity, her wild squirming, forced her teeth into his chest as Valerio’s gaze darkened. A satisfied smirk sat on his lips while his blood rolled slightly on his bare chest.
Evyths tried to steady her breath as he gently pulled away from her. He unchained her and tossed the chain at Vance, the soldier deftly caught it.
Valerio licked his index and middle fingers while his gaze plunged into hers.
“You are mine, regardless of who catches your eye!” he let out under his breath as he turned to leave. The other vampires hid to avoid the prince’s menacing gaze.
His last words echoed in her head. He had said that multiple times, but this felt different and more intense, as if it were a decree.
Now she asked herself, was that why he had been angry at her, because he felt insecure? And why?
When Valerio turned around, his eyes landed on Duke Octavio and Lucian.
“I did not think that you would both watch our intimate game!” Valerio let out casually.
“You made it public,” Lucian snapped coldly.
Octavio grinned forcefully, suppressing his gazillion questions about Valerio’s act. It was no secret to Valerio that Octavio was obsessed with Evyths' smell and he had to watch his friend’s intimate game.
“I see you enjoyed your meal,” Octavio said.
“Quite! The perks of having a slave pet, yes?!”
Valerio darted his gaze to Lucian, who was undoubtedly staring at Evyths.
A tinge of anger rippled through Valerio, knowing fully that Lucian had begun to pay attention to Evyths.
“I did not think that you would show up. Let alone with my friend,” Said Valerio, his tone carrying pride and authority.
Lucian shifted his gaze back at his half-brother Valerio.
“I bring news from the manor,” Lucian’s unshaken tone resounded.
“What about it?”
“The king has passed,” Lucian finally let out pulling out a parchment from his black cloak, and silence was all the palace heard.