The Vampire Twins' Breeder

Unladylike

Aurelia’s POV

Frozen there with nothing but a flimsy towel, I felt like my heart was going to stop.

Draven didn’t move or look away. He didn't even have the decency to act surprised that he had just walked into a room where a girl was sitting in nothing but a piece of towel.

I scrambled backward on the bed, my heels digging into the soft fur throw. I pulled my knees up to my chest, trying to make myself as small as possible.

The towel was useless. It was wet from my skin and stuck to every curve. I could feel his eyes moving over me. For a second, just one tiny second, the coldness in his eyes dissolved.

His pupils dilated until his eyes were almost entirely black. I saw his throat move as he swallowed hard. It was the look of a starving man looking at a feast.

My pulse was thundering in my ears and for a second, I was sure he was going to walk over and take what he wanted.

He looked hungry, like he wanted to rip the rest of that towel off me and bite down on my neck until I stopped breathing.

Then, just as quickly as it happened, his face became cold again.

He blinked and the hunger was replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated disgust.

He sneered, his lip curling back to show the tips of his fangs. He looked at me like I was something he had stepped in on the street.

"Get up," he barked.

I flinched, my shoulders hunching. "I... I..."

"Did I stutter, human?" he snapped, taking a step toward the bed. "Get up. Now. We are leaving. I have no time to wait for you to sit there and pout."

"I can't!" I finally found my voice, though it was high and shaky. I gestured down at my body. "I don't have any clothes. Mara didn't leave me anything. I can't go anywhere like this."

Draven let out an annoyed growl. "Useless. Absolutely useless."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door so hard the pictures on the walls rattled.

I sat there, shaking. I didn't know what to do. Where was he taking me? Where was Caelum? Caelum was the one who promised to keep me safe. Draven only looked at me with hate.

A few minutes later, the door flew open again and Draven didn't walk in this time; he just reached around the frame and tossed a bundle of dark fabric at me.

It hit me in the face before falling onto the bed.

"Put those on. Now," he ordered from the hallway. "You have two minutes. If you aren't out here by then, I will drag you out exactly as you are. I don't care about your modesty."

I didn't doubt him for a second. I scrambled to pull the bundle apart. It was a pair of thick, black trousers and a blouse.

It was rough and smelled of dust, but it was thick. I threw the towel off and pulled the clothes on as fast as I could.

They were a little big, but they covered me. I didn't even have shoes, but I didn't dare ask for them.

I stepped out into the hallway, my bare feet cold on the marble.

"About time," he said.

He didn't wait. He grabbed my upper arm in a grip that was just short of painful. He started walking so fast that I had to almost run to keep up with him.

He led me away from the light, toward a narrow stone staircase I hadn't noticed before.

"Wait," I gasped, stumbling as we went down the stairs. "Where is Caelum? He said he would see me tonight. Why isn't he here?"

Draven didn't stop. He didn't even slow down. We were going deeper into the castle now.

“Draven…”

"It's Prince Draven, human!” He hissed in irritation.

"Prince Draven, please," I tried again. "Where is Caelum? I want to see Caelum."

He stopped so suddenly I ran into his back. It was like hitting a wall of solid rock.

He spun around, his hand moving from my arm to my shoulder, pinning me against the cold stone wall. His face was inches from mine, and he looked furious.

"Do you think you are only loyal to my twin brother?" he hissed, his eyes glowing red in the dark. "Do you think he is the only one who decided your fate? I own you as much as he does. I am a Prince of this Court, and you are a breeder assigned to us. Not just him, us."

I shrank back. "I didn't... I just..."

"Stop asking stupid questions," he growled. "Stop saying his name. Every time you open your mouth, you piss me off even more. You are a human and you are lucky to be alive. Now follow me and keep your mouth shut."

He let go of me and kept walking. I had no choice. I followed him and we went deeper and deeper into what looked like a dark hole.

The further we went, the colder it got. I began to shiver and my bare feet were numb from the cold floor.

"Walk faster," Draven called out over his shoulder. "I don't have all night to wait for your slowness."

I tried. I really did. But the hallway was uneven and I couldn't see where I was going. "Where are we going?" I whispered again, unable to help myself.

He didn't respond. He just kept moving through the gloom. Finally, we reached a heavy wooden door at the very end of the corridor and he pulled a large iron key from his pocket and turned the lock.

The hinges groaned as he pushed it open.

"Get in," he said.

I stepped inside, my eyes blinking as they adjusted to the dim light.

The room was much smaller than those in the main living quarters.

The walls were painted a dull, flat gray. There was a small bed in the corner with a thin blanket.

The most striking thing about the room were the windows. They were large, but they were almost entirely sealed up with thick iron bars. They left just enough space for air to pass through, but no person could ever fit through them.

"Look around," Draven said, his voice echoing. "Do you like it?"

I turned in a circle. It was cold. It felt lonely. It felt like a trap. "It's... it's nice. Is it for one of the servants?"

Draven walked into the room, snorting.

"I guess you forgot where you came from," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've been out of the forest for less than a day, and already you think a room like this is for a servant? You think you're better than this place already?"

My heart hurt. "No! No, that’s not what I meant. I was just hoping... I thought the other room was where I was staying. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that."

"Good," he said, crossing his arms. "Because I think my brother is giving you too many privileges too soon. You’re getting arrogant. It’s high time you learn your place here."

He turned around and walked toward the door. "This is your new home."

"What?" I gasped, taking a step toward him. "No! Caelum said—"

"Caelum isn't here," Draven interrupted, his hand on the door handle. "You will stay here until my brother comes to his senses and realizes you aren't a princess."

"Please, Draven! Don't do this!" I ran toward the door, my hand reaching out to stop him.

"You will have food brought to you," he said, his face a mask of cold stone. "Maybe a few weeks within these walls will remind you to be grateful for the air you breathe."

"Please! Don't lock me in here!" I yelled but I slammed the door shut and locked it. "Prince Draven!”