The Heat

Illyria’s POV

Something cold touches my leg, making a sting grow within the broken flesh on my knee. I stir slightly, trying to get up. Only to find that my body is limp, and sore.

“Ughh.. mm what h-happened?” I turn my head to my left and open my eyes, blinking multiple times to eradicate the dryness.

I realize that I am laying on a large *unfamiliar* bed. As I look around I notice a window beside me filled with a beautiful dark blue sky, sparkling with many stars.

*’is… night coming already??” I ask myself, confused and remembering that the last thing I did was have tea with the emperor.

But… then I hurt my knee. *And, that strange man carried me into the castle.*

Oh no no no.. I internally panic, my breathing becoming deeper due to stress. ‘I *don’t remember* what happened after that!’ I think as my heart begins racing.

I quickly cover my face embarrassed at the memory of the man's large muscular body carrying me.

“Oda?” I look around slowly, feeling dizzy and nauseous as the pain grows in my knee and… my neck.

*’What if he drugged me?!*’ I assume, my breath becoming more erratic. *’or worse.. what if he bit me!!’*

When I look towards my knees, where the pain is radiating from, I see a large blurry figure shuffling around. My heart skips, and fear begins to cloud my judgment causing my head to spin.

I quickly rub my eyes, becoming more scared as my mind enters a frenzy. “W-whos there!” I shout, jumping up. The sting in my knee resonates worse, and the pain grows in my neck once more. I attempt to grab my knee, with a “tss!” Under my breath.

“Lay *down.*” a loud, deep, intimidating male voice demands immediately, pushing me back down onto the bed.

I reflexively grab my neck as an abrupt pain startles me, a thirst filled warmth grows in my healing bite marks. My mind feels… strange and *fuzzy.* My limbs seem to shake uncontrollably, making the tension in the pit of my stomach spread.

*’His voice felt so.. familiar.’* I think as I lay stiff in place, feeling frightened. Not knowing what is happening below me, makes my heart beat out of my chest like a gazelle running from a lion.

“Calm down.” The voice says again, softer this time as something is wrapped around my knee gently and the hemline of my dress is put back down. “I’m… sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

The man stands, I blink rapidly As I realize the man who was carrying me earlier is currently standing in front of me. Or rather.. standing over me. *’I have to get out of here!’* I panic, thinking to myself.

My arms shake as I hurriedly attempt to get up and hobble towards the door. But just as I get to my feet, my legs give out under me. I squeeze my eyes shut for a few seconds, waiting for a thud. But nothing.

I don’t hit the floor, or the bed behind me, instead his muscular arms wrap around my waist and pull me closer to his chest. My hands somehow find his pecks, and I shut my eyes tightly as the warmth that consumed my mind earlier takes over me once more.

“Take it easy… you really hurt yourself. Please. You have only rested for a few hours.” His voice grows softer and closer to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. He chuckles softly.

“I was hoping our first official meeting would be… more elegant.” He grins, his perfectly white teeth shining softly. My legs melt at his deep raspy voice, and my mind glazes over.

“O-o-our first m-m-meeting?..” I whisper curiously, not quite gathering what the prince was saying.

When I opened my eyes, our faces were inches apart. The heat brews and boils in my stomach, slowly crawling up to my face. His breath is warm, but his skin is *ice cold.*

Deep within his chest I could feel his heartbeat galloping with impeccable rhythm, the rise and fall of his chest slow.

I stayed still, my mind completely melted by his *fierce* blue eyes beaming into mine. His smile gently fading as he became lost in looking at me. The warmth from before has burned its way through my core, making my most private places ignite.

My neck throbs and my throat grows dry, but my eyes won’t break contact. By instinct I stand on my tiptoes, and I feel myself slowly lean closer to him.. yet he doesn’t move.

A look washes over his face, making him look somewhat pale. I glance at his slightly open mouth, noticing the points of his fangs just beneath his rosey lips.

*’What.. am I **doing??**’* I question myself, still moving closer to his now very wide blue eyes. *’This man is.. a **vampire**, a **monster**.’*

“What… w-what is your name?” I whisper, gently brushing his chest with my fingertips… my face now only a breath away from him.

“Prince Drystan… your highness.” He answers flatly, staring at me with a blushed and weak demeanor. He tries to back up, but my body follows his every move until he's pinned against a wall.

My heart races, and my instincts scream for him.

*He is a vampire,* yet I do not even care.

I don’t even know him.

All I know… Is I *want him.*

My fingers trace his collar bones, while my hands go to meet behind his neck. He stills, slowly looking down to my lips… then licking his own. His hands slowly find my lower back, pressing against my tight corset, while the other softly snakes its way into my pink curls.

“Prince… Drystan.” I whisper, not recognizing the foreign voice coming from my throat. It’s soft, warm, and sexy… nothing like my *normal self.*

His hands slowly hold my waist, as if to keep me in place. His eyes brimming with desire, longing, and… confusion? *’Does he not want me as well?’* I feel my expression falter slightly, as a pang grows in my chest.

*’I have never felt this way… nor have I ever wanted a man on a whim.’* I blush as I think to myself, watching his eyes trail my pink skin. *’My life isn’t as it once was… maybe I can allow myself this pleasure one time before I decide how to get away from here.’*

Something snaps in me, taking complete control of my movements.. and I don’t resist it.

I press my lips to his, a sweet taste floods my mouth as he hesitates to kiss me back. My heart calms, and I relax into kissing him slowly as his hot breath transfers over mine.

My stomach traps butterflies, as they dance to our gentle movements.

I nibble his bottom lip, causing his grip to slightly tighten around my waist and a soft moan to escape in his breath. Our mouths move in sync, chasing each other.. capturing each other.

My hands gradually make their way up his bare chest, around his neck, and into his hair. I trail the nape of his neck with my fingertips as his lips speed up, taking mine under each of his.

His tongue presses at my lips for entry, and I allow it. Releasing a gentle breath as his frenzied tongue tangles with mine, lapping up all my hunger.

He gently grabs my thighs, wrapping them around his waist, and quickly moving us back to the bed during our kiss.

The thirst in my throat grows more excited as his mouth moves away from my lips, and down my neck.

He trails my skin slowly, I close my eyes as I become lost in these *hot* sensations. “Mmmh…” I sigh as he grazes where my previous bite is placed, sending a hot shiver down my spine.

I suddenly realized… *I **want** him to bite me.*

I feel him grin into his kisses as he trails deeper… into my breasts.

His right hand softly brushes the inside my left leg, as he presses his hand against the dark lacey underwear Oda *insisted* I wear. His lips tease my cleavage simultaneously, causing me to moan lightly as I tilt my head back.

I open my previously closed eyes, to a very bright red light shining in the window. The surrounding dark blue sky blends into a purple color, and in the center a glowing red circle.

As I realize what it is, the words escape my lips. “The blood moon…” I whisper, becoming distracted from our hot, intense makeout session.

He looks up, slightly disappointed, and sighs. “It’s *three days early..*”

He abruptly stands, walking to the basin on the opposite side of the room and leaving me laying messily across the huge bed.

He bends down and splashes himself multiple times with water, and grabs a towel to dry his face.

As he pats himself dry I study his large, muscular, tanned backside. Feeling my heart jitter softly from his *attractive presence.*

“This explains your um… heat..” He blushes, covering his mouth with his back still turned to me. I become confused, gently tilting my head.

“Heat?… *What do you mean by that?*” I question him, not knowing how I should proceed. I stand slowly, feeling a bit refreshed compared to previously. My bare feet swiftly step towards him along the tile.



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Authors Note: *Hey there readers! I apologize for the delay in the new chapter. My family and I have all been very sick these past two weeks. On top of that I work and have had so much to prepare for the new school year. Please follow my Instagram, Facebook, and Discord for daily life/blog updates starting 08/10/21!! :D Thank You so much for your support, and please continue to enjoy the story.

-Vic*