"She has hypovolemia"
The head healer says looking scared
Whatever that means,I surely do not want to get sent away because I couldn't get one more job done.
"What does that mean?"
I found myself feeling curious,I mean…. it's my body.
"Since your body is weak…it err happens that when you lose a significant amount of blood quickly.The body doesn't have enough circulating fluid to keep organs working properly"
He explains like I'm supposed to understand anything he just said.
"In lay man's terms please"
"When you lose lots of blood which you will, your body will start getting uncomfortable effects like fainting, sweating, confusion,loss of oxygen,clamm–"
"It's okay!" I barked
"The master wants to see her"Craney said.
"Not now Coral"
Oh,Coral, that's her name.
I'd do well to remember that.Grabbing the large fabric of the gown and raising it slightly up so I could walk with ease I stepped down from the examination table.
"Take me to him"
Anything to leave this scary scene and if I can convince him that my weak body wouldn't be a problem,it will be nice.
I need to convince him that I can be the perfect Crimson consort for him.
Coral opened the door to his bed chambers I suppose and closed the door behind me.
He was busy as usual with something on the table.
"Adele" his voice sent shivers down my spine but I struggled to act calm.
He stood up and walked towards me, stopping just an inch away from me.
"We need to get over some ground rules since you're to be my Crimson consort"
He starts circling me slowly like I'm his prey,and he the predator.
Which wasn't far from reality by the way.
Rules?
Great so I don't even just get to live my life and suffer the fact that I'll be his meal.
"Stand up straight," he said,
I stiffened, pulling my shoulders back.
My skin crawled with the urge to snap at him, but the sheer power radiating off him kept my jaw locked shut.
Then he stopped moving, his eyes tracking the frantic beat of the vein in my neck like a laser.
He stepped closer,forcing me to tilt my head back just to see his face. He smelled like expensive cologne and winter air.
"You eat what I provide, when I provide it. No snacks, no sugary trash. I won't have my blood supply tasting like a tray of desserts"
My face flushed with heat.
'Blood supply' Thats all I was anyway
"No alcohol either" he continued, stepping so close his thighs brushed my dress.
"You do not touch me. Unless I am feeding, you stay at least three feet away. If I find you lingering in my peripheral vision, I'll lock you in the cellar."
"As if I'd want to be anywhere near you"I mumbled
"What was that?"
"Nothing"I snapped, angrily pushing a curl behind my ear.
He let out a breathy chuckle
"Last time I checked you stormed into my office, fishing for attention,No?"
"I—"
"And what was that you said about me not coming to give you a proper welcome on your arrival and hosting you like the princess you are"
Princess? I didn't say I was a princess.
He reached out, his thumb bruisingly firm as he tilted my chin up.
"Keep your hair up. I don't want to hunt through a mess of curls every time I'm hungry. It's inefficient."
Then he walked to the desk of whatever he was working on and picked up a hair pin.
It was in the form of a rose flower,it looked so pretty,the red rose and the stem that was gold they looked like golden wires he must've spent a lot of time twisting to wires to get the shape.
The rose hair pin was so pretty.
Before I knew it he was behind me,he gently raised my hair up and successful styled it in a tight but messy bun with the hair pin.
Where did he learn that?
I smiled to myself at the thoughtful gift but then I remembered that he gave it to me so he can have better access to his blood supply and my eyes stung with indignant tears,I forcefully blinked them away.
"Thank you"I whispered as the cold hands left my neck.
"Are we clear on the rules?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave.
I just nodded
"I need to hear it."
"Yes" I whispered, the words tasting like ash.
He stared at me for a long second, his expression unreadable, cold as a tombstone.
I stared back into those green eyes and the curls that covered most of his forehead and brows.
Then my eyes took in his fit, unlike the other night he was wearing a black shirt and black pants but the shirt hugged his torso in the right places.
He cleared his throat, shooting me a glare and I became flustered,my face turning to a tomato.
"Why aren't you running that pretty mouth of yours like you always do?"
Maybe if I beg him and show him I can be good he won't send me back.
"Please don't send me back, I'll do anything you want,the condition won't be an issue I promise"
I begged him.
"Ah…the hypovolemia,can you handle the pain?"
I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
Can I handle the pain?
"Try me"I shot back.
He cocked an eyebrow at me in amusement.
"Sounds like a challenge"he finally said smirking those damn plump lips.
"It is"
Where was I getting this confidence from in the face of fear?
"Very well then"
Before I could give a comeback,his eyes turned black.
In a blur of motion my human eyes couldn't track,he slammed my back against the mahogany bookshelf.
The air left her lungs in a wheeze. His body was a wall of solid muscle, pinning me so tightly I could feel the cold buttons of his vest against my chest.
Before I could even gasp,his fangs tore into the side of her neck with a violent, predatory hunger that shattered the silence of the room.
My vision went white.The shock was a physical blow, a jagged lightning bolt of pain that instantly melted into a terrifying, dizzying heat.
The pain so unbearable I balled my fists so tight my knuckles turned white.
I held it in, closing my eyes as hot tears streamed down.
I let out a whimper that sounded more like Pip than myself.
I felt his arm snake around my waist as he pulled me closer to him until he drank his fill.
He stepped back as he looked into my eyes and rolled his tongue around his lips.
His hand still holding me.
"Now that,is a feast worth keeping."