"No." He shrugs. A shadowed finger brushes a stray hair off the side of my cheek.?
"Where's Ethan?" My voice comes out squeaky from frustration and nervous energy. I sure as hell don't like the prince, but that doesn’t make my treacherous body any less attracted to him.?
"You sure do roll your eyes a lot." Sebastian licks his lips and ignores my question.
"And you obviously don't have a filter!" I challenge. His voice is smooth like velvet, making other parts of me tingle.
"Filter?" The Prince's English accent is more polished and regal sounding than Ethan's. Rich bitches.?
"Yeah, over your mouth. You just say whatever you're thinking. So rude!" I accuse and poke his chest again—his nice, hard chest. A skull tattoo peeks up from underneath his black tank top.
Sebastian grits his teeth and takes a deep breath while pinching the bridge of his nose, "Listen, I don't have time for this shit. Let's go, you’re coming with me."
He grabs my arm, but I move out of the way just in time. "I'm going back to the palace. ALONE! I don't need an escort. Thanks, but nah." I turn to walk away, but he stops me.
"We haven't even been properly introduced, and you're already being a nuisance. Just do whatever the hell I tell you to do, and we'll get along fine." He snaps.?
Standing on my tiptoes, I grab his shoulder-length raven-black hair and yank him down until we're at eye level. "I don't answer to you, Jackass. As soon as you understand that we'll get along just fine."
I revel in the fact that he's seething. Sebastian takes his hand and grabs my hair at the nape, applying pressure to the point of pain. "I like my hair being pulled, do you, Arabella?"
Fuck. The wetness between my legs proves that I apparently have a new kink. “N-No!” I lie.
A beautiful smile spreads across his angelic face, and his other hand pulls me closer to his body. Sebastian’s massive erection hits my belly. “That’s a lie, Arabella. I can smell your arousal.” He leans forward and places his nose into the curve of my proffered neck. “Your blood smells delicious. It calls to me like a siren from the shores of Azure.”
My pulse accelerates, but not from fright, as his elongated fangs graze my neck. Do the shadow kissed drink blood likevampires? I’ve heard just one bite from a vampiro can give you long-lasting pleasure.Sebastian licks the spot that he’s nipped, and embarrassingly, a moan passes through my lips. His seductive smile answers my question that he heard. Looking up into his lime green eyes, the desire there mirrors my own. The dark Prince lets me go, shaking his head as he does. A look of hostility replaces the lustful one from seconds before.
My lip curls in irritation, and his scornful gaze is like a splash of cold water on my want for him. “You always lick people you’ve just met?”
He grunts. “As I recall, that elicited a pretty moan from your lips. You’re welcome.”
I draw in a deep breath, but not before turning around in an attempt to hide my blush from him. With no other words, my feet carry me towards the palace. He follows me quietly, both of us lost in our thoughts. No one has ever made me feel the way Sebastian just did, and I’m not okay with that. He reeks of danger, and I have enough trouble coming my way. No extra drama is needed in my life, so it’s best if we steer clear of each other. Ethan would be a more suitable choice for stress relief.
Sebastian growls behind me. Can he read my thoughts? Please. God. No. One of his shadows slinks up and down my arm in a gentle caress.?
His answer not only makes me cringe, but it makesme angry as well. “Yes, shadow kissed are gifted with many abilities. Mind reading and control are in the mix. Don’t tell anyone, not even my father. Nobody knows.”
I slap his shadow away from me. “Don’t read my mind again, Sebastian.”
He laughs. “You’re cute when you’re angry, Bells.”
Putting my hand on my hip, I turn around to face him with my resentment. “Don’t give me a nickname, I don’t like you.”
“I don’t answer to you either, Bells.” He taunts as his shadows turn me back around and pushes me to start walking towards the palace again.?
Uncle Jo rushes toward us, giving me a death glare as he nears. Yeah, I’m not going to like this conversation. His face is dark with anger. “What the hell are you doing, Arabella Grace?”
Damn. He said my middle name, that’s not good. I stand up fully, not one to walk away from pissed-off uncles. This is not my first time in the hot seat. “I found a letter in my jewelry box from my parents. It told me to meet with Eleanor, so that’s what I did.”
His face softens at the mention of my parents, but the intense look he gives me doesn’t. “Meeting with Eleanor is fine, going by yourself is not.”
My eyes roll, and Sebastian talks to me inside my mind.
Next time you roll your eyes in my presence, both of us will get a reward. Stay away from Ethan, Arabella. He’s not who you think he is. Oh, and your tits are perfect in that see through top.
I cover my boobs up with my arms, and his chuckle sounds through my head, sending fire straight to the apex of my thighs. My uncle shakes Sebastian’s hand, thanking him for finding me, and I’m once again lost in my thoughts. Can I trust anything the dark Prince tells me? Ethan has been friendly, but I’ll be cautious. This new game I’ve found myself a part of seems to be more complicated than I anticipated.Uncle Jo doesn't press me for conversation as we return to the palace. Beyond grateful for that. When he’s not angry, I need to ask him more questions about the court and the politics of this new place, but first comes sleep because in the morning begins my new life as the society’sChosen Poser. The last thing I want to happen is for me to disappoint anyone, and right now, I’m not ready for this new life.
Chapter 10
