Bound to the Shadow Prince

Chapter 16 - Blood Hunger

By nightfall, I was ravenous. I slipped on my nightgown over myself and pulled at the fabric against my stomach. I was so hungry. Every sense was dimming, my muscles were feeling weak. My body felt like it was revolting against me and never before had I ever craved something so badly as I did blood.

It took me every self-control I ever had from myself to not just fling at any servant or person that walked by. I took a deep breath knowing who was waiting for me on the other side of the door. I needed to hold on a little longer until I figured something out.

Torrin stood by my bed with my shackles in his hand. I approached him, now knowing the routine.

I glanced out the window at the no moon. Erevus said he would visit me tonight. Maybe he could help me with my blood craving. A shiver went down my spine. What if he couldn’t come?

I approached Torrin. I could smell his blood. Not exactly what I wanted, but I was so hungry, at this point I would take anything. I leaned towards him feeling my breath quicken in anticipation.

He silently watched me. I took another step towards him, pressing my body into his, wanting to be closer to him, to what he had underneath. Torrin wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. I could see pleasure enter his dark eyes and curiosity. But I didn’t care, I just wanted one sip. Slowly, I leaned up onto my toes, getting closer to his neck. I softly kissed his neck, breathing in the intoxicating smell of blood. My lips traveled down his neck, smelling and trying to find where a large vein was.

He moaned, pulling my hips towards his. My hands traveled up his chest and around his neck, drawing him further down so I could get a better angle on his neck.

Torrin put his thumb and forefinger on my chin, lifting my lips to his. He tangled his fingers in my hair, holding my head as he kissed me one way and another. His tongue explored my mouth.

But I didn’t want that. I wanted to be near his neck. I wanted to feel his warm skin that was pumping with blood. Blood I desired.

I moved across his jaw, softly kissing him as I made my way towards his neck. My fangs already coming out.

Torrin chuckled, pulling away.

“That won’t work, Isadora.”

I blinked. He lifted me onto my bed, kissing my lips hard. I tried to keep him there, but he pulled away.

He placed the shackle on my ankle.

“Your charm can be as deadly as lacing my drink. I don’t know how you discovered I’ll be gone tonight, but you’re not going anywhere.”

He left the room, and I groaned in frustration. I needed to eat, and my food just walked out of the room. A pebble tapped on my window. I went to the window, with my leg fully extended behind me just to lean over enough. I opened the window.

Garith stood below. He smirked, devilishly.

“High Princess, want to go for a stroll?”

I grinned, wouldn’t I?

“Yes. Give me a moment.”

He grinned unashamed. My tongue tingled and every sense heightened at the idea I had just found my food. Delicious, yummy, food.

I ran to the bed where he had shackled my chain to. I pulled at it, leaning back using all my strength. My food was just outside and I wanted it. I needed it. One of the chains of the shackle broke and bent. I pulled the other chain link through freeing myself. I still had the shackle on my ankle with two other chain links still attached, but that didn’t matter. I was free and I was hungry.

I wrapped my robe around myself before I nearly jumped out the window into the sequoia tree. Quickly, I went down the tree, jumping to the ground where Garith stood.

I could already smell his blood, sweet, sweet blood. It intoxicated me in every sense. I grabbed his hand.

“Let’s go somewhere quiet and dark.”

He grinned as pleasure washed over his features. He pulled my hand, leading me towards the stables. Quickly, he pulled me inside and shut the door to the stable. I glanced around, we were alone except for the horses. As I approached Garith, I could feel his nervous, excited energy.

Instinctively, I knew this would be easier and his blood would taste better if he was relaxed. Slowly, I untied my robe, exposing my thin low cut nightgown. I let the robe fall off my shoulders to the ground. His heart rate increased. Holding his gaze, I approached him, pushing him up against the stable door. His hands hesitantly touched my waist. I pressed up against him, gently kissing his lips. He deepened the kiss and his hands became more confident as they roamed up my back and over my abdomen. I moved my kisses to his jaw and neck. I could feel his body relax underneath me as my fingers weaved into his hair. Glancing up, I could see his eyes closed as he groaned quietly. My lips rubbed along the curve of his neck, finding the spot. He relaxed further.

My fangs emerged, and I bit into him. He gasped, and I took a large gulp. His body soon stilled. He collapsed to the ground as if he passed out, I quickly threw myself on top of him wanting more and more. I drank hungrily, ravenously, every gulp was sweeter and more satisfying than the last. My body warmed as the liquid pounded through my being. I moaned in satisfaction as I continued to drink more and more.

Arms wrapped around my abdomen, attempting to pull me away. I clawed onto my prey’s clothes and gripped onto his shoulders, pulling myself down to his neck. I wasn’t done. I wanted it all, I wanted more.

The arms pulled me harder, but I wasn’t going anywhere, not until I was done. Hands gripped my wrists, pulling them away as my intruder pulled me further away from my food. I struggled against him trying to break free.

“Isadora, stop. You’ve had enough.”

But I didn’t. I didn’t have enough. There was still plenty more inside of him. More sweetness to fill my being. Again, I tried to reach my prey, but my annoying intruder held me back, spinning me in his arms until I looked at him.

“Stop, Isadora. You’ve had enough.” Erevus put his hands on my face. “Take deep breaths. Slow breaths.”

I took a slow breath, but it wasn’t enough. I tried again and again until I felt my body calming down, and my craving died away on a full stomach.

Erevus moved his thumb over my mouth where remnants of Garith’s blood remained. He wiped it away.

I closed my eyes, now feeling more like myself again.

“Erevus,” I breathed in relief, “You’ve come.”

“I told you I would.”

I leaned into him feeling a clam wash over me. He wrapped his arms around me, securing me against him.

“Thank you,” I breathed out.

Peeking over his arm, I saw Garith lying in the hay. I covered my mouth as I realized what I had done. Unbeknownst to him, I had tricked him into coming here to feast on him. I didn’t care about him, I cared about his blood. What kind of monster was I?

“Did I…did I kill him?” My voice broke.

“No. He will be fine. But it is a good thing I came when I did, because you could have.”

Wide-eyed, I looked back at Erevus backing out his arms, horrified that I had actually attacked another human being. My craving for blood overpowered all other logical thoughts. I had told myself I would never feast on a living, and the first moment of hunger, I broke it.

“I’m a monster,” I whispered.