Vengeance (The Prince's Games Book 1) by Rebecca Grey (electric book reader TXT) 📕

"Marcello's in the medical tent with Juilliard. If your qualm is with your kind then by all means, don't let me stand in the way." I edge toward my tent.

"What does he see in you, little Human? Why does he keep you around?" Jefferson stands at a good six foot eight which makes someone my height, not even a hair over five foot three, already feel somewhat inferior.

"Maybe he isn't a monster like you are."

Maybe I'm the monster for acting like Marcello is.

Jefferson smiles, but only in a polite and trained way, the humor doesn't reach his bright blue eyes. "Doubtful."

He steps a little closer, washing me over with a new wave of the earthy scent that my nose had gotten used to. His hair still manages to look silky, even with the mud that clumps inside of it. "You have to be talented. I'll give you that if you've survived this long. Or..." He taps a finger to his chin. "Or he's helping keep you alive because he needs you for something else. What does he know that I do not?"

My heels hit the bottom of our tent, leaving no more room to back up. Jefferson uses that, placing himself so near to me that I can feel the angry heat rippling off of him. His brows pinch for the slightest second, his body tilting into mine. The sharp intake of his breath sets off something nervous inside of me.

"Why do you smell so delicious?" His polite smile turns dark. And that... that does reach his mischievous eyes. I hold my breath, not stupid enough to make a move quite yet.

Jefferson's hand wraps around my ponytail, playful at first, a distracting movement while he runs his nose along the tendon in my neck, then he grabs the hair in his fist and yanks. My head cocks off to the side. His chest rises with a slow inhale, brushing against the peaks of my breasts. The shiver that follows makes me feel dirty in a new sort of way. This... whatever this is... I'm fraternizing with the enemy.

"Are you taking on Vampire habits now? Are you about to sink your teeth into me?" I whisper. "Don't you have better things to be doing?"

"Judging by the scarring on your neck, I think it's safe to say that you enjoy being bitten. I might not suck your blood, Human, but I still recognize the nature of my beast."

"It would do you well to let go of me now."

Jefferson laughs lightly. His fingers loosening in my hair. He steps away, back in the direction of the med tent. "I'm just curious what's got you so hot and bothered. Don't tell you're attracted to a Hybrid. That doesn’t sound like your kind of thing." He crinkles his nose. "Aren't you the girl who flips off the king and despises everything around you?"

"You don't know anything about me. Don't pretend like you do." My feet stay planted exactly where I am, my body feeling the need to turn and bolt.

"I don't have to know you when you are always showing all of your cards."

My eyes follow the trail of his tongue as he runs it over his teeth. "Humans are pathetic. Only good for fucking and throwing away." And how many Humans has he met?

The tent at my back rustles. Gray hair and green skin poke through as the flaps open. Hedda glares at Jefferson. "Get out of here. Quit trying to intimidate the girl, she'll eat you for breakfast!" Hedda's deep voice sounds more like a bark.

Jefferson wiggles his brows chuckling, but he takes another step back. His eyes dance between me and the Orc before he spins on his heels and stomps off toward Marcello and Juilliard. What a happy surprise they will be getting.

As soon as Jefferson is out of my line of sight, the breath that had caught in my throat finally releases. My shoulders fall away from my ears. But the burning need, the fire that Marcello had lit... Jefferson and his cruel ways had only managed to fan. I need to dunk myself right into a bucket of cold water and pronto.

"Did you get your stitches looked at?" Hedda asks.

The stitches. Right. The pain, a throbbing never-ending ache has almost left my mind. The hurt has just become a part of me.

"No, Juilliard commanded that I leave."

"That doesn't sound like him." She steps out of the tent fully. The garb she wears for the events stripped down to an under shirt and a small pair of shorts that clings to her large thigh muscles. "Juilliard might not be your best friend, but he wouldn't let you walk away while still injured."

Gingerly, I touch the bandage and the wrapping around my sides. I wince as pain spikes from the smallest touch.

"Yeah... Well, I said something mean to Marcello."

"You always say something mean to Marcello. Then he usually says something witty right back." She points out. Her face scrunching with confusion.

"No. Saints, Hedda don't look at me like that." I wave a hand in front of my face. "No, I said something that actually offended Marcello. I crossed a line this time."

"Oh," she tries to smooth her features, "Juilliard loves Marcello more than he loves himself. That was a mistake. Very well, come in here and I can take a look."

"Do you have any medical experience? With Humans?"

"None at all." She shakes her head, smiling widely from ear to ear. "But I'm happy to learn."

***

The discomfort of my ribs is only part of what keeps me awake tonight. Hedda's rabid snoring is the least of my worries. Firelight from the pit between our three tents glows against the purple fabric casting shadows. Two figures sit around the fire, talking and laughing like old friends. My eyes trace