A Battle of Hearts

CAROLINE

Anthony had been around for centuries, likely even longer than I had. He was a seasoned king’s guard, tasked with the protection of my siblings. My grandfather had entrusted him with our lives, which likely meant he was the most skilled, the most formidable guard my grandfather had ever come across.

As I looked at him, it was clear that despite being a pureblood, he could easily break me. A thread of fear wove through me at the sight of his angry eyes. There was fury there too, as if he was barely restraining himself from tearing me apart.

“Don’t push me, Princess,” he warned, his breath brushing against my skin.

A defiant, cheeky part of me surfaced.

“I didn’t think so,” I retorted. “You wouldn’t dare.”

I had said the wrong thing.

Suddenly, his strong fingers were around my neck, pinning me to the wall. His body was flush against mine, his face just inches from mine, his hot breath fanning my skin, his crimson eyes locked onto me.

“Someone should have put you in your place a long time ago, you little brat,” he spat. “I never thought it would be me.”

A shiver ran through me—but it wasn’t just fear. His body was firm and powerful, pressed against every inch of me. His fingers, rough and scarred, squeezed—not enough to cause pain, but enough to excite.

My mother had kept me away from men when I was underage. I had never had a boyfriend, never been this close to a man who wasn’t my brother or my father.

The realization that his gaze was drifting to the side of my throat was both alarming and thrilling. I knew what he was thinking—a display of dominance among vampires. To drink another’s blood, especially from the throat.

It would be an insult. Degrading. For a turned vampire to drink my blood, to forcefully bite my throat and leave me at his mercy.

But with the red glow in his eyes and his fangs resting heavily on his bottom lip, I could tell it wouldn’t be the first time. Who had he drunk from before? How deeply had this turned vampire embedded himself into my family for me never to have noticed him?

His head dipped, his lips grazing my throat. His fingers squeezed a little.

I gasped. The brush of his lips was exhilarating. The hardness of his body against mine shattered my focus on anything else. Heat pooled at my core.

For the first time in my life, my heart betrayed me. It beat once—loud, announcing my true feelings.

Anthony froze. His lips hovered at my throat, his muscles tensing.

“Are you enjoying this, Princess?” His deep voice rumbled, his chest vibrating.

I shuddered.

I couldn’t answer, but my arousal only grew.

“Hmm.” His lips curled slightly. “I thought so,” he murmured. Then his tongue ran up my throat, slow and deliberate.

My heart pounded in my chest. A moan slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

I hadn’t realized I was arching my neck, giving him better access, leaning into him.

His other arm appeared suddenly, wrapping around my waist, holding me against him, taking my weight. His hand on my throat tensed slightly.

I was drowning in him—wanting to sink my fangs into his throat and taste him. To run my tongue across his chest, to explore every inch of his body.

He hummed against my skin again.

“I didn’t expect to see you so submissive to me, Princess,” he murmured, sending another thrill through my body.

“I’m not,” I denied, but my voice was breathy, betraying me.

He only chuckled.

“Yes, you are, little brat,” he answered.

His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me flush against him. The hardness pressing against my stomach told me he liked this as much as I did.

His lips hovered inches from my skin. I could just feel the sharp edges of his fangs.

The desire to have him bite me, to drink me in, to take a part of me inside him, was overwhelming.

He hummed again, his fingers tensing against my throat, and then—slowly—he drew back. A whole step away from me.

Leaving me panting, my heart racing, braced against the wall, aching for his touch.

His crimson gaze swept over my body, lingering, before he shook his head.

The rejection stung more than I ever expected.

When I was a princess, purebloods courted me from every side of the world. They begged for a single taste, which I never gave.

I had never been so wanton. Never had I so openly shown my desire.

Had I become so repulsive? Was I no longer appealing without my crown?

Was this the reality Alexander had always cautioned me about? ~You can never be sure who truly likes you and who is just attracted to your crown.~

Anthony’s lips curled into a smirk.

I shot him a glare, immediately straightening my posture and lifting my chin. He wouldn’t see me wounded.

“It would be counterproductive,” he whispered as I stormed away from him.

I didn’t halt my steps, but he felt compelled to clarify his statement anyway.

“To teach you a lesson—if you find pleasure in it. That would be counterproductive.”

“Leave me be,” I snarled.

His deep laughter echoed through the cave.

“That’s not part of my job.”

“Then I relieve you of your duties,” I retorted, spinning around abruptly.

He had moved closer. I recoiled in surprise.

His eyebrows arched as he looked down at me. “You don’t have the authority to do that, Princess. You’re stuck with me.”

His voice was calm, straightforward.

“Now, I can escort you safely back home, where you’ll complete your punishment.”

“I’m not returning to exile. I’m free. I’m reclaiming my crown. I’m getting everything I deserve.”

Anthony scoffed. “What have you ever done to earn royalty?”

I was livid.

How could I have—even for a fleeting moment—desired his touch? His fangs in me?

I pulled back, shooting him a fierce glare.

“I don’t want you here. Leave me the fuck alone!” I spat.

He simply shook his head.

“If you challenge the queen, I can’t assure your safety,” he cautioned. “I’m skilled, Princess, but I’m not skilled enough to fend off the entire Shahalia guard. You’d be gambling with your life.”

“Some things are worth the gamble,” I retorted.

“Is the crown?”

“The crown is the only thing I would gamble my life for,” I responded.

He pursed his lips.

“All right then.”