"I love the way you say my name
Your sun kissed skin
and your dark brown mane
Now I know
you feel the same"
Say my Name - Nello

(I'm even doing first person pov cuz I like to keep y'all fed &
This is a mini chapter JUST for you guys because I wouldn't put this in a real book)

🆘

🔹Taehyung🔹

I knew it was her as soon as she walked in the room. I always do.

The senses of a Vipera are sharper of that of a humans. And due to that reason, we have accustomed to the onslaught of sights, smells, sounds, and tastes by tuning them out. I do, unless I am on high alert. I let every scatter of mice, every rush of blood pounding through someone's veins, or the taste of the air after a fire go unnoticed.

But Leila, like everything else, is a different story.

She cuts through my shields. My walls. The ones I carefully craft to keep everything out.

I hear her first, as she steps through the iron doors. Her quiet footsteps that show she's had good posture her entire life. The slight shuffle of her right foot despite this, because of an injury she sustained that didn't heal properly in her ankle. She barely even notices it.

Then, she carries in with her that scent. Of cinnamon, of amber. Of all things warm and good and her. The undercurrent of oud always made my pulse race, and I could feel it now. Drumming a beat against the column of my throat.

Ignis. The name dies a tragic death in my chest.

Wait.

So focused on the princess, who arrested me without a glance and who waited for my welcome of her, I did not notice the rest of the room.

The entirety of the lords were talking, whispering to each other in tones that were too low for even me to hear. Some chuckles, a smile here and there. Adult men elbowing and pushing at each other.

All staring behind me. Even the silent ones.

And I felt it, the collective emotion that was soaring through the room. A sense I usually shut off, or denied. But I could not, at the sheer strength of it. Two hungers, mixing. One for her blood, the other for her body. The latter overriding the first lust.

Of course.

Leila was always beautiful, without a doubt. Undoubtedly the most alluring woman I had ever lay my eyes on, and I was not blind or stupid enough to believe that I would be the only one to see that. I had prepared myself for this sort of reaction to her. How could I not expect it? When she was so—

Amber washed over me, as she placed her hair over her shoulder. I could hear the brush of every strand across her smooth skin.

I found myself clenching my fist tightly. I let it go.

I hate this day. I hate how I acted the days before. I hate that I cannot touch her.

I cannot show emotion. Not right now.

My nobles were obstacles, but they were mine. To spy after, to talk with, to command entirely.

The men around us were of course under my jurisdiction, but distance separated me from my subjects. I could not keep on eye on every person that has met Leila today. I cannot convince them I am not bought, if I show her any sort of affection or special treatment outside of our arrangement.

I cannot help quell rumors of the horrid daughter of the moon in smaller, more isolated towns who remember tales of old.

To dispel rumors that I had fallen for the woman of old Persia, and would lead them all into an ashen demise.

This would be the most dangerous encounter of all. To convince them all of her innocence. Between her mouth and her sheer aura of power, it would be a difficult thing to do.

Look at her.

She was right behind me, and I could barely find the strength to move. To see her eyes that had peered at me with nothingness, as she told me she was better off without me. She had been right.

Lily ran around the side of the table, staying far away from me. Trying to avoid my gaze, her cheeks flushed a light pink. I lifted a brow at her strange behavior, and she scattered like an alley cat, eyes wide and mouth in a grimace. Situating herself amongst the nobles.

The nobles.

I finally took notice, around the haze of oud and amber, of their stiff postures. Of them avoiding looking at their princess.

Except Hoseok. Who stared at her openly, even as I glared at him. He winked at her.

What the fuck was that? Are they close? Does she like him?

Yet all thoughts of Hoseok were erased, when I looked at my best friend.

Jimin.

My best friend stared past me, at Leila. With a look of unbridled want. The friend who looked at every person with disinterest. The friend who barely had the energy to even pay attention for a moment to anyone, kept starting at her. He sat down quickly in his seat, looking hazy and flushed. A reaction I had never witnessed from the man, not ever. A sharp pain ripped through my chest. Why was he looking at her like that?

And then, without knowing, sent me an image that would scald me. I would get my answer against my every wish.

I felt his deep desire for her, one that mirrored my own. One that was more than surface level, like what he sometimes projected on a fete night after honing in on a maid or lady. This projection had been from a vulnerability, a moment where he couldn't keep himself in line. He didn't even notice, as the thought slipped into me.

I was Jimin, the night she asked for his bite.

I was looking at Leila, engulfed by the fire light against her tan face. The silver blood that ran down the side of her neck and onto the black of her dress, and how badly I wished the material to slide down.

The image darkened, flickering. But I still saw her. She was all I could ever see, that wasn't bathed by shadow. Her smile lit the room as I leaned down, and kissed her. A deep satisfaction bloomed in me, at the soft touch of her lips. A simple touch, and I was already done for. Her scent enveloped me, her soft rose lips held mine gently.

I'd never been kissed so softly. And I wanted more. More, and more. I parted my lips and she pulled back.

I couldn't feel my lungs. And that pounding in my chest, an unfamiliar beat. One that raced the longer she stared up at me with silver eyes.
I was lured by her mouth once more. She parted under me, letting me explore. And when she laughed against my mouth, I knew I was done for.

I ripped myself from the image, severing the tie. Holding in the breaths that wished to thrust out of me, as I gathered my breath. My mind. My sanity.

Hold it together.

You cannot falter.

Not today.

It only seemed like sheer seconds to everyone else, that I remained paralyzed. But it was an eternity to me.

I cannot do this.

I felt her laugh onto his lips. The quick pulse of breath. The glimmer in her moonlight eyes.

I had an inkling of what my friend felt. I thought it had only been attraction. And now it was written in stone, in the stars.

He loves her. He fucking loves Leila. I laughed to myself, the sound cracking. That bastard loves my wife.

And it confirmed in me that if I left Leila alone for long enough, she would find happiness in someone else.

With him.

A pit opened in me. My vision became blurry, and I wanted to break apart the entire room with my bare hands. My hands went numb, a coldness seeping into every part of me. And I felt that same heaving in my stomach, that same oily sickness that entered my body the moment I heard of my father and Sorina. I tried to keep still, even as my body wished to expel every poison.

I feel sick.

Did he lie? Why did he keep this from me. I would rather know than to find out like this.

I feel sick.

Did the nothingness I feel from Leila the night she kissed him prove to be true? Or was it just wishful thinking on my part? Did my magic make me feel nothing to protect myself?

I feel sick.

How had I not realized? When had I become so involved with myself, I barely knew a thing about my friends?

Out of all the people to love in the world, why her?

I am sick.

I already knew the answer to that question. I gained a new 'why' for myself everyday.

I need to leave. I need to run. I need to cancel the ball, cancel everything before I kill my best friend. Before I do and say things I will regret for eternity.

Later. I need to deal with this later.

I had thought the distance between us was from differing views. From stress that came from him manning the hunt. From his shocking impulsivity. From me being absorbed in Leila.

Later, I took one last look at the stunned advisor. My friend, some of my only family left. My heart squeezed painfully once again. Later.

Only after several seconds of panic did I manage to pull myself together. People were starting to stare now, wondering why I still had not introduced my wife. Leila. Ignis. Despite the gnawing despair and envy coursing through me. Despite wanting to rip through my chest and cleave a new space for my heart. Despite being unable to speak or think coherently after what I just saw, what I felt, coming from a person who knew how I felt about Leila.

But it left me wondering why today was more different than others. Why everyone seemed to lack self control.

And was it done purposefully so.

What the fuck did she do?

Panic ebbed to anger. Anger was safer than anything else. It focused me. From hurt, from confusion. From every unbearable thing I deserved for telling her she has never been loved.

Anger kept me from turning around, and showing every man in this room why she preferred me. It didn't help my murderous intent for every man who looked at her for longer than necessary. Who did not cherish her for her mind, or her political prowess. I held onto the smallest string of sanity.

And so, with every last bit of courage, I faced my wife.

Solis, save me.

I let my face fall, a blank expression. If I did not, I would have been exposed. From Leila's observant silver eyes, and from the watchful eyes from the rest of my subjects.

Torture. It was sheer torture.

I caught her face first, shrouded by a veil. She lifted it from her face coyly, letting the light transparent material fall onto her rounded and slight shoulders.

I connected with her eyes, the silver burnished and blazing through me. Light and unassuming on the surface, smoked with heavy kohl in the way that made it impossible to look away. But I could see, that stony calculation that hid underneath. What game are you playing today princess? My eyes trailed from her own, to her high cheeks, to her cupids bow, to her heavier bottom lip. The the slight point of her delicate chin, and down.

Fuck the heavens.

A punishment, she had to be a punishment for a mistake in a past life. There was no other explanation. A punishment, and a thorny, vindictive award.

I had thought the red dress was to be an existential, obsessive problem. A fool's belief.

For the dress she was wearing now became my new occult religion.

I had seen her in less. Desired her even when she was fully covered.

But this. I held fast, keeping the internal groan from falling from my strained mouth. Every muscle, every bone tensed. Restrained. It took years of grace and will to keep from walking to her. Taking her from this council room. Pressing her into the stone outside, and making her beg for me so loudly every subject would know what I can do for her.

Blue material, the color of mountains in the spring fog hugged her full chest. My color, the kingdom's color, our color. Cut around her contours, lifted above her ribs. Flowy material trailed from her chest to her wrists, a goddess in flight.

The dip in her waist was agonizing, tantalizing. The perfect place to lay my hands, to feel along her. My mouth watered the longer I stared at the curve, which led to her lace covered navel. The flat surface embraced her perfectly, kissed at the smooth and tanned skin. I wanted nothing more than to kneel before. To trace my lips over every part where the material touched. To move aside the silk fabric that fell down her front. Gods what is she doing to me?

When she took a single step forward with impatience, my mind blanked. The long, midnight colored skirts parted around toned and long legs. Glittering with crushed mica and her favorite scent oil. Glistening and soft and parted the sea like hills of sand. I am done for. I am done. Touching parts of her I had met with my mouth. Tasting her. Delighting in her scent, in her softness. Close to her in ways I have been and could not be, not anymore.

For fucks sake, you are a being not an animal.

And yet, my body nor my mind responded. I felt it, the blood rushing down where it couldn't. Fuck. Fuck, fuck.

Dead things. Blood. The massacre. Death, dying.

I let the image of my father, my mother, Sorina and the court lay dead before me. An image I always tried to erase from my mind. It was the only thing that made my blood turn icy, the only thing that let it flow back to my brain.

The pain sobered me, only slightly. I wanted to slice my own throat. I have sunk to new, decrepit depths. Only the death of my family keeping my arousal for her at bay.

I hate myself. I am sick. I am losing it.

I forced myself to look back in her eyes, a new flame to the rage I felt spurring.

Leila picked the wrong day. And from the flair in her siren cut eyes, she knew exactly that. It had been her plan all along to tease me, to test me in this moment of monumental importance.

She had meant to undo me. And yet with her seductive purpose, she did even know the extent of what she had done to me.

Wretched woman. Destructive, disastrous, tempestuous, exploitative, plotting woman.

I was not amused, not taken. Bewitched, in the worst way possible. Her life depended on my cunning, my self control.

And if she wished to play? We would play. I refrained from snapping my fangs at her, working my jaw instead.

Even when her supple mouth lifted at the corner, as if she knew every disgraceful thought I felt. Her brow raised, a checkmate.

You don't know what you're doing princess.

I shook my head, pursed my lips. My last warning I would offer her.

Behave.

I held out my hand, expecting her to listen. To understand that this little act of defiance could cost us, could cost her.

She placed her hand in my own, and I held onto my control for dear life. But she walked with me normally to the long table. Thank the gods.

Leila began tracing the middle of my palm with her elegant fingers. I had been grateful too soon. I was a sign, a declaration that she would not stop this madness. That she would indeed try to make me look foolish in front of my court. Was I a sadist to enjoy it?

And with that small touch, I felt it on every part of my body she had already ventured.

I clenched around her hand tightly, scowling at her as I pulled her the rest of the way to the long council table.

Massacre. Silver blood. Nobles attacking her while she sleeps. Dead puppies. Rotten blood. Massacre.

I let go of her hand as if it were made of fired glass.

I was fighting myself. Willing myself to conjure more terrible, painful things to reject how she made me feel. What she made me feel. To everyone else that did not know me personally, I knew my mask would do it's bidding.

I did not dare seek out the nobles. Lily or Jimin. Jeongguk. Anyone who might've guessed that I was dying inside. The slide of coins and laughter in that corner was enough to make me want to split the world in two.

I tried to keep my face away from Leila, who would be able to see my desire plain as day.

I tried to ignore the flair of want that coursed throughout the room again. How Leila seemed to lean forward, and sink into all the attention. Basking in how they watched her.

What beautiful woman shouldn't enjoy the attention? I attempted to rationalize.

Stop pretending to be a sane, chivalrous. You want to kill them all.

I hate you. I hate you. I hate you, Ignis. I want to destroy you. I want to make you beg, plead. I want to be with you, in you, by your side. I want to be the only one who makes you laugh or cry.

I want you to only care about my eyes on you. My lips on your own.

I want you to laugh onto my lips.

I cursed at myself as my eyes kept finding her. And no matter with how much disdain I did so, I needed to stop.

As the seconds ticked away in silence, the room began to shuffle uncomfortably.

I ignored Aera's laugh. I flinched, knowing it was because she knew exactly what was going on. Knew whatever it was, it was causing him pain.

I sent one more warning, longing glance at Leila before I addressed the court. Gripping the table so fucking harshly I was sure it would falter under my grasp. But that was up to Leila, whether she kept provoking me or not. But I needed something, anything to hold on to. I used the bite of splintering wood to keep me grounded, to remind myself our attachement would only bring us pain.

But what if we both liked it?

I said something to welcome the extended court. I don't even know what came out of my mouth. All I could focus on was her heat, her dizzying scent.

Just biding for her next move.

Finding it admirable that she seemed to command herself to pay attention, to take note of every face. A ruler, as she indeed was born to be.

Everything was going fine enough. I was nodding, blinking when I was supposed to. Letting my lips force out monotonous answers that I had already prepared before their arrival, because they asked the same questions every damn year.

But then she sighed. Not the sigh of boredom, but a sound that she has made when I have kissed her neck.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my wife lean forward, so that her cleavage was even more pronounced. Several beings pretend to cough, some avoided looking at her entirely. When they began to discuss military borders, or something like that, Leila made sure to let her gaze seep across a couple of the lords that seemed to be around their age.

I stopped talking. Glaring at every soul who dared to look her way. Taking in names, faces, and the trajectory of their eyes.

Later. I will send out troops to see if any of them have committed a crime that had gone unnoticed. And then I will promptly send them to their respective prisons if they are guilty.

I continued to speak, though again I wasn't even sure what bullshit I was spewing. I needed to watch her, to make sure she didn't go too far.

She already has. But I am also weak, and to blame.

But gods, did I really deserve this torment?

Leila was careful to keep her veil held between her elbows, moving the material so that her favorite scent fluttered around the room, intoxicating those around her. Let her had graze along her stomach. Shifting so that more of her shimmering skin showed through the slit in her dress. More eyes were locked on her as she did so.

It keeps getting worse. And I can feel it. Their leering desire, projected around the room. So much of it it clouded my every thought. My stomach was turning, sick sick sick. Feeling every depraved wish from the crowd of men. For Leila.

For the woman that held my heart in her vengeful hands.

For Ignis.

I only felt wrath and deep regret in my veins. Instead of blood, instead of ichor.

She fluttered her kohl lined lashes, smiling at a man with blonde hair and ruddy cheeks blushed up to his hairline. I'll kill him. I paused. Never mind, he looks like a virgin. He wouldn't know what to make of the fatale that was Leila. None of them would. More of the strangers started to whisper to each other, elbowing past one another to look at the princess. More attention turned to my pretty, intelligent wife instead of me.

I will not lose to you.

If I look at you, I will break.

Leila ran her elegant fingers over the table surface, tracing the grain. She bit her bottom lip, making sure to linger over the plump flesh. I wished to pull it away, to seal it with my own mouth. To bite and lick and taste.

Is this how I die?

Is this the fate of the prince of the eclipse? Death by seduction?

Did the prince even notice?

Words and more words spilled from my mouth. They came out hoarse, tense. She shivered beside him, and it was a crime how badly he wanted to trace down the line of her open spine. I straightened my own back, steeling myself.

"Now men," I started harshly, attempting to pull the focus back onto me, "We need to-"

A voice murmured across the room, from a tall noble with chestnut hair. Lord Cazacu. I had liked him before. I don't anymore. Not as he stared at Leila like a piece of meat. His thin lips were curled in a smirk, as he leaned down to speak to his shorter friend, "Do you think her ass is as full as her chest-"

"Look at her one more time, and you lose your eyes." I threatened, a dangerous edge deepening my voice. It hurled out of me like an axe, cutting off every conversation in the room.

I wanted to strike fear into him so deeply, that paranoia would pass onto his bloodline.

How dare he? How dare he talk about his princess, his ruler in such a degrading manner?

It did not matter, that every eye trained on me was in surprise. Let them. No Lord would walk in into this kingdom and speak of a woman so carelessly. As if they were inanimate and not superior in his court.

And to Leila? I would defend her honor until the death. Until it cost me my crown.

The Lord was lucky I didn't pluck his eyes out with my own hands at this very moment. And I could, his lordship had a younger brother who still remained at his manor home. Another heir. And Lord Cazacu had a shit relationship with his father, which I deduced after one night of drinking.

The taller lord paled, nodding civilly at me and took a step away from the table. His eyes fixed to the floor now instead of Leila.

Deep satisfaction burned along with hardening anger. Good, keep your eyes where they belong. On your untouched, impotent male parts.

I felt a pulse from my left, a yearning that wasn't mine. Not a trick from my lovely, evil princess. But a flicker of truth.

She liked me threatening the man. Too much. Wretched indeed.

I kept my posture icy, so that I would not smile. No matter how badly I wished to.

Jimin.

I took one deep breath, schooling myself carefully
before asking Jimin to relay information about their borders. The secretive man stood, looking extremely bored as he droned on about logistical matters. Oh? Only Leila excites you perhaps you mongrel, I thought so bitterly. I strained, all my attention placed on the advisor.

All my attention placed on not wringing his neck.

And Leila. Always Leila. Capturing me when I wanted to be left to my own destructive devices.
My fingers twitched by my sides, from how badly I wanted to touch her. Only a graze. Maybe I could pretend it was an accident, a misstep along her knuckles. I was so tense at her nearness, I wanted to close the gap between us. Madly needed her, and so terribly I fought against it.

I was trying so hard to pretend she didn't exist, that I forgot I wanted to throttle the monotone advisor at all.

Then, without warning, my mind fogged. My eyes unseeing of the room. Instead, a vision.

Fucking Leila.

No. Not now.

I attempted to push her out, to refrain, but I couldn't. My curious and lust filled magic already decided for me that I would watch. The sheer strength of her will tying my hands behind my back, leaving me defenseless.

Of her forcing me to sit down in the large chair at the head of the table. Straddling my aching thighs, her silver eyes and insolent mouth arresting me. She lifted her arms, waving the soft fabric of her veil over us. The only sheer thing that protected us from prying eyes and outrage. I didn't care, not as the veil mussed my hair, scraped against my nose. Not as it painted in a soft blue glow, her teeth stark under her plump lips. Her scent was intoxicating as she grazed over the hardness in his lap with her barely clothed center.

I did not care if they watched. All they would see, is that she was mine. And that I would be hers, always.

My hands moved achingly up to squeeze her thighs that were parted from underneath the smoky blue fabric. I pushed them further them aside as she sunk down. Lower and lower.

Lower still, and I fell further too.

Biting her lip and gazing through her thick, dark lashes while I shuddered at her confident touches. Taking what she wants. And that's what I found most attractive in her, that she would take her pleasure from me without apology.

I was already hard by the time she made it to his pants. She palmed me through my clothes, and I  groaned. That feeling of pure lust pulsing through my body with every slight of her palm. It felt so good, too good. I threw back my head, she looked as if she wanted to devour me. 

That is until she slinked further and further down. Onto her knees. I was panting and gasping and cursing as she unsheathed me. As she looked into my eyes, with her big silver irises, and took me in her mouth in front of my entire court—

My hand reached out, grabbing her wrist. I was shaking. Leila peered back at me, satisfied but a little breathless. Only the fact she hadn't meant to be so affected allowed me to wrangle some of the fury that wracked me.

"Stop." I strangled out, my cheeks flushed and lips parted. My eyes devoured her in ways that I could not at the moment. I was losing every part of my rational self.

If she didn't stop, I wouldn't be able to either.

My resolve snapped, as I held onto her longer. In front of the eyes of the court, to which I tried to show a strong leader. One who wouldn't be swayed by a potential adversary.

But I couldn't. I needed her to stop. The strain of my pants that was luckily hidden by the high table was sure evidence of that. And it would pain me further to admit that I would've possible lost myself if she kept going with the vision.

Fuck.

Her eyes peering up at me, her hand touching my trousers. Pulling.

Fuck, fuck. Stop.

The sheer look of desire on her face. Despite it all, despite everything. Despite my words. She still wanted me just as badly, and it fucking ruined me.

I shuffled, trying to adjust myself discreetly. Fucking Leila.

My tongue traced my bottom lip, my jaw tightening with vengeance. Her acting out would not be forgiven.

I let go of her, needing to remove the touch of flesh from my own. Moving my legs, pulling down my uniform jacket. Hoping Leila didn't notice that her plan of shaming him worked in the worst of ways.

And not even dead bodies and sick tragedies could get rid of it this time.

I grasped onto the edge of the wooden table for dear life. Pretending to listen to bastard Jimin as he spoke of frivolous things. Breathing sharply and avoiding her eyes, anger and something sharper moving him.

My ringed fingers actually had carved into the wooden table. Primal. I was turning into the beast that Leila had read about. Winged and fanged and all.

And he could feel her gaze. Could feel her lips part, her thighs shift.

End me now.

Leila spoke for the first time she entered the room, "You'll have to punish me first prince."

The room erupted with snickers at its suggestive nature. My head snapped to her. I am livid. Jimin had already finished speaking, waiting for a reply from me. And I didn't care. Because all I wanted to do was press my lips to her own until they bled. Licked at every wound. Snapping and gnawing until she would be a whimpering mess under him, unable to say such things in front of a court. I seethed at her, curling my lip.

I would punish her, I would punish her well until it became something she begged for. Yearned.

Baring my fangs to show her just how I planned to pay her back for this performance.

But I hated more than anything that she said the words aloud. Words in a voice that only I had been privy too before. That low, flirting and a little breathless sound. The one that made him shudder and harden. Revealing parts of herself only I had seen and heard.

And she did not diminish under my gaze. Instead, embraced my wrath with open arms.

Crazy. She's insane.

Thankfully, so am I.

I let go of her gaze, becoming weaker with every passing moment. I swallowed before addressing the room again, becoming rougher with every new wrangling, "Quiet. Now."

No one dared to disobey.

Another Lord stepped forward, a red headed man who declared himself to be from further up North in the territory. I had not yet made his acquaintance. Possibly, he stood in for a deceased family member.

"How do you propose we feed for the ball? Previous years, we were able to fill to our heart's content. With hunting only being replenished weeks ago, how do you propose we get our fill, if not from remnants of the daughter of the moon?" The man asked, careful to only glance at the princess for a moment.

I scowled at him. That look counted, I would need his name.

I expected the question, but I was deciding whether to answer it. To play the prince who did not care about the daughter of the moon, or if his act would allow people to see Leila as vulnerable as easy to discard. I was also trying to decide whether to disembowel him for even suggesting that Leila should be offered up on a solstice table like a pig with an apple in its mouth. This Lord's wants were definitely hunger, though the man wasn't starved.

We had gained more hunting rations. I had drank from Leila. He was asking for more simply because he wanted to see my reaction, and Leila's.

Leila spoke assertively before I could, "I will offer my compromise, and we can take a vote. Feeding should be allowed outside of the ball, considering there is little room to do so inside with the amount of guests. Neighboring halls can be converted into feeding areas if you would like to drink from live offerings. Does anyone mind this?"

The princess paused, and I was pleasantly surprised. Surprised not because she offered a great compromise, but because she seemed unperturbed by being seen as a meal.

More so surprised, that no one immediately rejected her word.

I glanced around the room, making sure no single person spoke ill of the princess. Nor disregarded her authority. No matter what, she was my wife and my equal leader by title. No matter of their prejudices, they had to respect that. And would not find it suspicious that I would adhere to that following.

Every subject seemed to show respect, until I hunted Lord Cazacu. His beady eyes trailed lower than before, practically frothing at the sight of her chest. His eyes alight, and filled with disgusting thoughts that sent images into my head like a pile of sick.

I growled, pulling out my dagger and threw it directly into the man's eye. Enjoying the crack of his eye socket and the sound of rushing blood.

Leila froze beside me, watching as the man began to scream. He grabbed at his eye, his head. The blade sticking straight out of his skull. Blood, dark red blood painted his face. A waterfall down his fine, fine clothes.

Good. His screams were music to my pounding head.

I could kill him, but I would rather him suffer. His injury would be of no consequence to his family, who had already sired another heir. I slowed my breathing, my heart as the room clattered around me. I needed to think clearly, and not only out of protective rage. I didn't care. I had one focus, one intent.

A threat, and a promise, to anyone who dare desecrate Leila.

Moving from the table, focused on my prey and the need for blood, I barely registered that harsh pounding of the heart beside me.

Leila.

Her heart was beating rapidly, so rapidly. And not of fear, I could scent that on her from a mile away.

No it was desire. I honed in on her carefully, taking the fluttering pulse, her soft pants. The way her eyes trained on me as if to undress me.

Ah, you're as sick as me.

It took every bit of power in him to go towards his target, instead of pressing her against the table. Taking her with his mouth, his hand. Teasing her for her dark desires that seemed to reflect his own. But I kept pursuing the crying Lord with no remorse.

Every decision I made.

It was all for her.

I stalked towards him, every footstep sure. Meticulously planned out. I wanted him to piss himself before I made it over.

No one dared to stop me. And if they did, I would flick them to the side like an annoying bug.

I stopped before the pathetic, undisciplined man. And with a purpose. He looked up at me with the eye that was left.

I would be the last thing he sees. The last image burned into his mind.

Not Leila.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'll never look, think of the princess again-" The man cried out, holding onto the end of the dagger as more red blood pooled out. Craning to peer at his tormenter.

I didn't hear a single plead of his.

You like savagery princess? Does it make you wet for me? To see me covered in blood, to hurt men in your name? Does it make you want me more?

"I said both of your eyes."

I plunged the knife into his working eye without another thought, embracing the warm blood that spattered onto my face.

People screamed around me, but I did not care.

There was that same string scent of amber, cut with something more dark. Spiced. I inhaled deeply, taking in the fact that Leila was indeed turned on by what she had seen me do. I painted my face blank instead of the haughty, knowing smirk I wished to send her way.

What other darkness was she hiding?

Knowing just how to use her desire against her, despite how much it made me insatiable.

I turned, using a piece of fabric to wipe at my mouth. Slowly, letting my lip pull taut. Painstakingly wiping blood from every finger, from around my rings. Watching Leila fall forward more, she carefully took in my every movement. 

She's so bad.

It was time to teach her a lesson.

"You're all dismissed." I called out, not lifting my head. I know they would listen to me.

And this time, silver blood did not cool down my thoughts. They only fueled them further, imagining the shock in her eyes as I plunged my fangs into her throat from behind. Pulled aside those sheer scraps of material, and found out just how much she liked making me insane.

Leila tried to rush out of the room. To escape all of the insanity she had conjured from me.

But I liked it when my prey ran.

And she liked being chased.

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(A/N: you guys said you needed his pov and I said damn I need to deliver

Here's a little gift because next chapter is the ball and is gonna take longer to write! I want it to be perfect <3