Their Hidden Princess Chapter 92

Valentin

A Year Prior to the Great War

They silently walked down the hall and into the castle. Aveline’s long fingernails pressed into Valentin’s exposed skin, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It was a warning not to do anything stupid. He took it seriously.

“So,” Aveline finally said, as if it wasn’t as if she was holding a dagger to his throat. “I saw the way Zahara reacted to you. I think it’s safe to say she has feelings for you.”

Valentin swallowed thickly. “She may have them,” he choked out. “But you know this castle isn’t kind to wolves who take an interest in other wolves.”

“It’s not,” she agreed. She tilted her head in thought. “Though I believe Renatus may be able to be swayed to pair you together. For the procreation laws, you know.”

Of course, he knew the laws. The twisted, sick ones that stated females had to birth a child as a duty to the vampires. Furthermore, a child from the male of the vampire’s choosing. Nothing was done for the wolves’ desires or wants. It was a way for them to continue making new slaves and control the wolves. Otherwise, wolves were forbidden to mate in the castle.

He wondered if it were a trick. Would Aveline really ask Renatus to make a special case for Valentin? He’d never done so before.

But also, he’d never had a servant as loyal as Valentin.

“Perhaps,” Valentin mumbled as they reached the grand dining room. Aveline loosened her grip on his arm before leaving it entirely. She floated across the floor towards a seat at the head of the table.

Valentin quickly pulled her chair out for her. She fell into it as if she were a flower petal. He bowed deeply to her then turned to leave to go back to his duty at the entrance of the castle. Her hand whipped out and grabbed his wrist. He felt her nails pierce his skin, ever so lightly. He looked down at her, terrified of what she was going to say or do next.

“Do stay for service,” she hummed.

“I—I have to make sure the gates are guarded,” Valentin stuttered. “It’s my role and I—”

“Hush, hush,” Aveline cooed. “I’m sure they’ll manage. I’d love to have you stay.”

Valentin had no other choice but to nod. A passerby would’ve thought she meant him to take a place at the table. Valentin knew better. He went back to stand against the wall with another wolf. Valentin thought his name was Thanatos but didn’t know him well enough to be certain. They both stood, facing the table as they heard the approaching voices of their Master and his guest.

Renatus and Francois walked into the room with hushed, hurried whispers. When they noticed Aveline, they immediate changed tone. Francois held his arms out to her.

“Aveline, mon cherie!” he cried. “Ça va?”

Aveline laughed and pressed a kiss to both of his cheeks. “Ça va bien, Francois,” she cooed in response. “Et tu? Ton voyage, c’est bien?”

“Oui, cherie,” Francois replied. “Come, come. Your mate has prepared us an excellent feast.”

Valentin took a slow breath as they all sat down. He knew what came next. His heart started to beat rapidly in his chest as they brought out the first girl. She was not a wolf, but a young human with bright blue eyes and honey colored hair. Her expression was blank as she moved towards Renatus. He curled a hand around the front of her throat and brought her to his mouth.

Valentin slammed his eyes shut as Renatus pierced the side of her neck with his fangs. She whimpered, then there was the steady trickle of liquid as her blood filled the three massive chalices in front of Renatus. As Valentin opened his eyes, Renatus was licking a line up the side of her throat to clot her blood.

The bleeding stopped and the girl stood up, still dazed. Renatus gave her a light tap on the hip and she trotted back off the way she came. Then, he flicked his wrist and two of the chalices spun towards Aveline and Francois.

“It’s a young blood,” he commented. “Aged fourteen years. Full bodied. Hints of honey. Pure, just as you like them, Francois.”

Francois grabbed his glass in the air and tipped it towards Renatus in cheers before bringing it to his lips. Valentin’s stomach rolled as he watched the thick red liquid be consumed by Francois. A drop of it spilled down the side of Francois’s throat and Valentin had to resist the urge to vomit.

For the rest of the dinner, Valentin paid attention to their conversation. Vampire politics were boring to him, but he kept note of all the weaknesses he could find. He hoped one day, he could use them against the vampires. As long as he was a slave, however, they stayed unused in the back of his mind.

Francois slammed his empty chalice on the table to signal he was done with his meal. Valentin rushed forwards and collected it. He watched as the wolf next to him collected Renatus and Aveline’s glasses. Renatus then waved his hand. He smirked at Francois.

“How about some dessert, Francois?”

Francois mirrored his expression. He gestured to Aveline. “Only if the lady doesn’t mind,”

“I’ll be indulging as well,” Aveline purred.

Valentin sucked in another breath. He was hoping they wouldn’t but he knew most guests tended to enjoy Renatus’s famous “dessert.” He waved his hand again. This time, instead of a young girl, three female wolves emerged. The first two went and perched themselves on the side of Aveline and Francois chairs. Immediately, the two vampires began rubbing their faces into the side of the women’s necks.

The third female had bright red hair and soft, angelic features. Valentin’s stomach dropped as he realized it was Zahara. His heart pounded out of his chest. He didn’t know she’d been Renatus’s latest obsession. He thought she was safe, confined to the walls of Aveline’s chambers as her waiting maid.

Zahara was just as surprised to see Valentin as she dropped into Renatus’s lap. Her beautiful, honeyed eyes blew wide, cheeks turning beat read as Renatus nuzzled himself into her neck. Valentin stood by, helplessly, watching as Renatus opened his mouth enough to knick the side of her neck. She whimpered in pain.

“Valentin,” Renatus called across the table. Valentin’s heart threatened to burst through his ribcage as Renatus lifted his head to glance at him. “Come here, boy.”

Valentin shuffled across the floor, stiff as a board. He came to a stop in front of Renatus, who was collecting Zahara’s blood on his finger. He shoved it towards Valentin’s mouth. \

“Taste,” he demanded.

Valentin swallowed thickly before opening his mouth. His tongue felt like sandpaper. Slowly, Renatus dipped his finger into Valentin’s mouth, coating the insides of it with Zahara’s blood. The acrid, metal taste lit up every bit of Valentin’s sense, causing him to gag slightly.

Renatus tutted slightly and used his finger to push Valentin’s jaw shut. “Now, now,” he murmured. “Swallow and savor the taste as it’s the most of her you’ll ever have.”

Valentin did as he told, fighting against the lurch of his stomach in disgust. Renatus tipped his gaze up to hold Valentin’s. His red eyes were the same color as Aveline’s dress, as the liquid that was sliding down Zahara’s shivering neck. His gaze was hard, demanding.

“I heard rumors, you know,” Renatus mocked. “That you and her both felt something for one another. I thought it to be ghastly. My two most loyal servents, having impure thoughts about one another? They must have been wrong.”

Renatus turned back to Zahara. He swiped his hand up the side of her neck, collecting the blood that held there. It smeared across Zahara’s skin as she whimpered. Renatus brought his hand to his lips and darted his tongue out. He hummed in ecstasy then turned back to Valentin. He dropped his voice and glared into Valentin’s eyes.

“I do not take kind to those trying to take what is mine,” he snapped. His face softened. “But, you are, again, my most loyal servant. So, I have gifted you with a taste.”

Then, his face twisted into a sinister smirk. Valentin watched as his bloody hand trailed down the front of Zahara, dipping in the valley between her breasts and slipping under her skirts. Zahara gasped as he did. Her face flushed more and she bit on her lip to muffle any noises. Renatus leaned forwards and brought his bloodied lips to Valentin’s ear.

“It’s too bad she tastes better down here.”

Valentin shook with rage as Renatus pulled back. His hand was still working under Zahara’s skirts. She looked at Valentin with her wide, pleading eyes. He kept his gaze fixed on Renatus, fury lashing through him.

“Go,” Renatus finally snapped. “Leave us to enjoy ourselves, alone.”

The irrational part of Valentin wanted to stay. He wanted to take Renatus’s wrist and snap it then shove it down his throat. But Valentin knew that would lead to Zahara being hurt. So, he stood up straight and ran out of the dining room.

He didn’t stop until he reached his bed chamber, deep within the bowels of the castle. He threw the door open, lungs burning with the fire of a thousand suns. As he stepped in his room, Victoria looked up from where she was sitting on her own bed. Her face dropped as she noticed Valentin. Immediately, she was on her feet.

“What’s wrong?”

“Zahara – he – I –” Valentin panted. Victoria’s eyes went hard.

“What about Zahara?” she snapped.

“She’s his – his plaything,” he cried.

Victoria went still. “No,” she breathed. “She can’t be. She told me she was taking extra shifts in the kitchen. She – no. No!”

“We have to get out of here,” Valentin said, manic. He grabbed Victoria by the shoulders and shook her. “We have to get out. Now.”

Victoria shook her head, fervently. “It’s no use,” she whispered. “They’ll kill us. They’ll kill us and throw our bodies at her feet to hurt her more.”

“We can’t live like this anymore!” Valentin roared. “Our magiks are repressed. Our people are tortured. Our women are assaulted.”

“What do you want to do?” Victoria scoffed. “Start a revolution?”

Valentin dropped his hands to his sides and pinned Victoria with a look. “That,” he said. “Is exactly what I want to do.”