He continued to stare at me, and I sighed.
“Don’t worry about it.” I swung my legs off the bed, wrapping the blanket around me before clutching the pillow to my chest. “I’ll just sleep in the bathtub.”
At least then there would be a door between me and the handsome vampire prince.
Sebastian’s eyes widened, and he snarled, showing me his fangs. “Like hell, you will. No wife of mine is sleeping in the bathroom.”
“I just thought…”
“No.” Shaking his head, he pushed himself off the wall as his wings snapped out of the shadows behind him. Crossing the room in three strides, Sebastian loomed over me. He growled, “You are not sleeping anywhere but in this bed.”
My eyes widened as I looked up at the vampire looming above me. My heart thudded in my chest, and any thoughts I’d had earlier this evening about forming a fragile alliance with the prince dissipated into thin air.
How could I ally myself with someone who could kill me in the blink of an eye? How could I build something… more with him?
Growing up, I had always strived to be the best at everything. In school, with reading, even when it came to learning new activities. I enjoyed it, because, for the most part, I was able to reach and even surpass my goals.
But now?
This male made me realize just howmortaland imperfect I truly was. None of my accomplishments meant anything now. He could squash me like a bug. I had no training, no way with weapons. I was just a short human living in a castle filled with a multitude of vampires willing to drink my blood.
Estrella said I would be lucky to survive. I was beginning to believe she was right. These vampires were going to be the death of me.
I wasn’t sure if it was my exhaustion or the way Sebastian’s wings sucked the light out of the room, but a large part of me quaked at the sight of him.
Swallowing the growing lump in my throat, I whispered, “I don’t want… I just thought… I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me.”
I hated the whimper that escaped me on the last word, but at that moment, I had nothing left.
“Hurt you?” Sebastian blinked, sounding stunned. “Why in the gods’ name…” His voice trailed off, and he must have caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror because he ran a hand over his face and frowned. “Shit. Sorry.”
Sebastian turned around and walked into the bathing room, shutting the door behind him. The sound of running water filled my ears, and I continued to grip the pillow against my chest. From here, I could see the stretches of forests and mountains through the windows.
Had it only been two weeks since I left the plains of Ipotha? It felt like I had been here for so much longer.
Sebastian must have felt the same way because when he came out of the bathing room, his shoulders were slumped and his eyes were heavy. He leaned against the door and his wings flared out on either side of him as his damp black hair stuck to his forehead.
“There was a suite prepared for you, but now…” He gestured to the marking on his wrist.
“The Tether?” I guessed.
“Your room is on the other side of the castle.” Sebastian nodded wearily, his wings drooping. “As I’m sure you saw, there aren’t any other bedrooms in this wing of the castle. I like my privacy and…”
“And you didn’t plan on being Tethered,” I surmised.
I didn’t like it, but I understood far too well. This damned curse was taking everything from me. Castle Sanguis had never felt like a cage more than it did at that very moment.
Sebastian groaned, running a hand through his damp hair. “Just… go to sleep, Luna. It’s fine. A little while longer on the floor won’t kill me.” He snorted. “It would take a hell of a lot more to do that.”
I glanced at the stone floor. It certainly did not look comfortable. Frowning, I pressed my hand into the mattress. It was soft. Luxurious.
He was giving up a lot for me. That meant something. I just wasn’t ready to unpack what that meant.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He nodded, his own eyes heavy. “Tomorrow evening, before the ball, I’ll speak to a few people and sort out the situation with your suite. Julieta looks fairly similar to you, despite her wings. I’ll have them move her into your room. That way, if anyone snoops, it will look like it’s being lived in.”
That was a good idea. I opened my mouth to say as much, but a yawn came out instead.