I had a hard time breathing with how hard Azriel was clutching my throat, but I forced out a chuckle.

I was a little fearful, but I had to stand my ground. I was a luna, after all.

"Me?" I snorted.

"Yes, you." Azriel mused. "Your blood."

"How does my blood make Asra strong?" I rolled my eyes. "It is my blood."

"No, no, Princess." He shook his head. "Not the physical properties of your blood, more your... inheritance."

My inheritance?

My father?

"Ah, so you already know."

I blinked, shaking my head, but he tightened his grip, fingers curling into the dip behind my ear. My mark burned, itching beneath his thumb. It didn't like him touching me, just as much as I did.

I couldn't speak, my throat too constricted, but Azriel didn't care.

"You know who your father is, little thorn?" He cooed. "Know that Daddy abandoned you in a human village?"

I glared at him, and he grinned.

"Daddy should've stayed dead." He grumbled. "You should've died."

His fingers flexed, moving further up my throat until he was holding me by the jaw. I felt my heartbeat quicken and his eyebrows rose with interest. His thumb tickled a circle into my skin, before he tightened his grip. I swallowed, nervously scratching my elbows with my hand. He tightened his grip until I instinctively couldn't handle it anymore. The crushing warmth of his palm on my teeth had my hands moving to grab his wrist, my eyes fluttering closed.

"Please." I whimpered.

"Don't like to be touched, Princess?"

I remained silent.

"Or is it just here?" He mused, tilting my head.

I opened my eyes, losing composure as he stared at my neck. I pleaded with him again, squirming in his hold.

"Maybe I could just kill you now, end it all. End the god-forsaken bloodline." He murmured. "You have not carried his brood yet, have you?"

I glared at him, shifting my weight to kick his shin. It didn't bother him, making him laugh.

"Anger does not taste as good as fear, Princess." He mused.

"Just kill me then." I breathed.

Damn my fucking jaw.

"I would, but he is so far away." He mused. "Besides, I don't think he really cares right now."

My alarm bells rang. "What have you done to him?"

"I have done nothing." He chuckled. "They locked me in a cell, Princess."

"Then why sprout crap?" I spat. "All you're good at?"

His hand left my jaw to land a sharp smack on my cheek. My head whirred, a startled gasp whispering past my lips at the shock. I groaned softly, moving my hand to caress my cheek as pain-filled tears brimmed in my eye.

"You slap like a bitch." I murmured.

He laughed, grabbing my shoulder and squeezing it. "I don't see why you hate me so much."

"I don't know you."

"Exactly." He nodded. "I rescue you from a cold cell that your mate put you inside, showered and clothed you, and I have not hurt you...up to this point."

"Exactly." I repeated. "You kidnap me and force me naked so you can watch me shower."

"Princess, I have no desire in your body." He shook his head. "As tempting as you are, I am not that shallow. I prefer consent."

I glared at him. I wouldn't put it past him.

"Now, before you so rudely interrupted, where was I?"

"Some crap about hurting my mate."

"Ah yes." He chuckled. "I have not touched him. Nobody has touched him. The damage is all his own doing."

Own doing?

What has Asra done?

"My, nobody came to tell you what was happening whilst you were in the cells?"

"I know he was training. A lot." And some people died...

Minor thoughts, Ailia. Level head.

"Oh yes, that was last week." He shook his head. "Do you know how I escaped the cell, Princess?"

His lips brushed my ear, leaning in close.

"A distraction." He whispered, and I shuddered. "One so large that the obnoxious, blunt thinking alpha called all his men to his aid. One of my men was already in the cell, a pre-planned attack. He had been there quite some time. Your mate is not as smart as he seems."

That wasn't Asra, though. As hot headed as he could be, he wouldn't just charge into a fight. He was a Continental Alpha, an ancient blood passed down from the first wolf himself. Asra was powerful and confident, sure, but stupid enough to leave the cells unattended? No.

"Do you know how teleporting can work?" Azriel breathed.

I shook my head, only causing his lips to caress my cheek.

"You cannot teleport to somewhere you don't know." He explained. "The crystal I hold can only take you to a place or person that you know."

"So, you place a man in the cell, and when the time was right, teleported to his location."

"Ah-ah, not I." He muttered. "They locked me up, remember?"

Why did he keep repeating himself?

He inhaled sharply, running his nose down my ear. I tensed when he inhaled a shuddering breath.

"And I have been so starved down there..." He murmured. "They only fed me such delightful warmth once a month."

My heart picked up in pace, and I internally cursed when he chuckled. I felt him lick his lips, his tongue grazing my skin.

"Azriel..." I murmured. "Please."

He leaned away to look me in the eye. "Begging?"

"Please." I whispered. "Don't."

He grinned; all traces of the indifferent male vanished.

He cocked his head, flashing his fangs. "I was just thinking, Princess."

I was shaking, fully aware of his upper hand. "You were?"

"Yes." He nodded. "About ridding the world of the blood in your veins."

"I don't understand." I muttered. "I am nobody; I am not even a wolf."

"You should understand, Princess." He muttered. "But I am too thirsty to explain. Maybe if you get out of this..."

I squirmed beneath his hand, but he kept me pinned. "Wait, no, please, Azriel-

My voice cut off when the sudden sharpness of his teeth sank into my throat. The scream on my lips died with the warmth that escaped my skin, my fingernails digging into his skin. Burning fire scorched my veins, suffocating me in its warmth until my head and chest felt like it was on fire.

The burning, furious fire spread its intensity as the seconds passed. I felt Azriel hum into my skin; the sound vibrating my veins. A soft moan escaped me as pain burned to pleasure, and my grip softened, palms falling flat on his chest. My head felt light, a dizzying pleasance of glee coursing through me. I felt my heart flutter, but my head was too out of it to realise where the delight was coming from.

Azriel pulled away all too soon, and I whined, reaching for him. He chuckled, licking his tongue across the fang marks as he stepped away.

My vision swirled, and I weakly crashed into his bare chest when forced to stand alone. I could sense his elation, his voice soft as he picked me up. With barely any strength in my limbs, I let him carry me. My body was tingling, goosebumps on my skin and heart beating wildly in my chest.

I felt something firm against me, the blurred face of blonde Asra standing beside me.

"Sleep, Princess."

With no fight, I closed my eyes and succumbed to it.

***

I woke with a start, screaming at the top of my lungs as reality crashed with dreams.

My heart was fast in my chest, my skin covered in a sticky sheen of sweat. I panted, fighting for breath as I tried to regulate my present.

What the fuck happened?

Did Azriel seriously bite me?

I exhaled, wiping my hair from my forehead.

Where was I?

Looking around the room, I noticed I was in a bedroom. Much like the rest of the house, it was small and lacked decoration. The walls were cream, the carpet a beige brown with oak coloured furniture. It was a simple room for a complex man.

I glanced down, glad to see I still wore the clothes I remember putting on. He truly had left me alone after he drank my fucking blood.

The door creaking open had me snap my head up, my chest wheezing with a sharp inhale. I coughed to clear it, wiping the sweat, snot, and tears from my face.

I slept so good, though, but this cold was kicking my ass.

Wonderful picture.

"What happened?" Azriel grunted.

I stayed quiet, glaring at him.

The light from the hallway illuminated his figure as he stepped into the room. He scratched his neck and in the dull glow of the light; I noticed how less pale he looked. Damn, my blood must be magical.

"Did you just decide to wake up and scream?"

I scoffed. "Last thing I remember is being pressed into a table and bled dry."

He smirked. "Well, I didn't bleed you dry. You would be dead if I did. Besides, I didn't hear you complain after I did."

"I remember complaining quite vividly."

His eyebrows quirked, and he sat at the foot of the bed. I shifted away, hugging my knees.

"You're sweaty."

"I had a bad dream." I glared. "Hoped I would wake up back in the cell."

He chuckled. "I am not that bad of a host, am I?"

"I do not know your intentions. You change your mind constantly." I shook my head. "You bring me here to drink my blood, is that it?"

Azriel shrugged. "Maybe. Man's gotta eat."

I curled my lip with disgust. "You are a half-breed. Can't you eat some raw rat instead?"

"I find half-breed offensive, Princess." He tutted. "Hybrid is much better. You are the half-breed."

"What's the difference?" I scoffed. "Bigger ego?"

"I am both vampire and wolf shifter. You are just human."

"Is being human so bad?"

"I think it is wonderful."

"You only say that because I have blood in my veins." I rolled my eyes. "What did you do with me after I passed out?"

"After you moaned with pleasure?" He mused, and I scowled. "I put you to sleep."

"Put me to sleep? Like a baby?"

He exhaled loudly through his nose. Was I frustrating him already?

"When a vampire drinks from a human, we can cause them immense pleasure. If we dosed them, just slightly, with our venom, they go into a trance-like state." He explains. "In that state, you listen to my commands."

"That's hardly consent."

His lips quirked. "It does not last for long."

"How do I know you didn't... curse me?"

"You are already cursed. I will not place another on you." He laughed. "Although I wish you were dead, cursing you would make your soul haunt me."

I hesitated, uneasy with the conversation's turnabout. Azriel noticed my sudden lack of comebacks and cocked his head.

"What do you want to know?"

I blinked, confused. "Huh?"

"I know a lot more than you, Princess." He mused. "In return for your blood, I shall give you three answers."

"You are bribing my blood to sate my curiosity?"

"Is it working?" He grinned.

"No!"

Maybe.

As barbaric as it was, I would get answers. Besides, I didn't remember a single thing after his fangs pierced my skin. Just sleep. Sleep was good until you got to that part where you dream.

"How about a taster?"

"Of me?" I squeaked.

"No, I already had that." He chuckled. "It was delightful, Princess. First time I had a live specimen in nearly a decade and you did not disappoint."

"Gross."

He kept staring at me, expecting me to take him on his deal. I was desperate, but not so much that I would dive into an agreement that meant I would get bloody bitten! Literally!

"Okay, a taster answer." I nodded.

"Great, question?"

"What curse?"

"I feel that question is a little too vague." He pursed his lips, his finger tapping his chin.

I scowled. "What? You said a question."

"Be more specific. I could go on about curses for hours, Princess."

Huffing, I crossed my arms. I needed a good question. I couldn't just say who cursed me-oh, wait, I could. If I gave him my blood, I'd have infinite questions!

But no, that was silly. I couldn't let him feast on me like a damn all you can eat buffet. That was Asra's pleasure.

Wink.

I had to make these questions count.

If they gave you a magic bottle and discovered a genie, what would you wish for?

Money? Power? Fame? Family? Love?

Or rather, lack of all the above...

"Okay." I breathed. "I have my question."

"Go on, Princess."

Clearing my throat, my tongue darted out to wet my lips.

"Who made my father erase my childhood memories?"

Azriel inhaled sharply, and despite hoping I threw him off guard, he didn't react the way I wished. Instead of shock, his eyes softened with emotion. He seemed rather pleased with my words, smirking slyly.

"Now that is a question, Princess."

********

Azriel is going to be such a ride in this trilogy, i cant wait.