Claimed by the vampire prince

Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Azul burst through the double doors, the hinges groaning in protest as they slammed against the walls. His boots struck the floor with thunderous urgency as he stormed into Jayran’s chambers, barely sparing a glance at the opulent surroundings. His eyes locked immediately on the scene before him. Jayran was seated languidly on a plush dark velvet divan, entirely unfazed by the intrusion.

A woman was sprawled across his lap, her head tilted back in limp surrender, her body caught in the vice-like grip of his arm. Jayran’s face was buried in the crook of her neck, lips parted around the twin punctures his fangs had carved into her skin. He drank with an almost obscene focus, eyes fluttered shut, the sound of her slowing breath the only indication of how much she was losing. His other hand was splayed possessively along her ribs, pinning her against him, fingers digging in just enough to keep her from struggling, although she didn’t seem capable of much resistance at that very moment.

Azul’s jaw clenched as he took in the sight, the air thick with the scent of blood and the heavy stillness of indulgence. Jayran didn’t even look up.

A minute later, Jayran’s grip around the woman loosen, lightly shoving her off his lap. The woman rose to her feet but stumbled when she tried to take a step. A small rivulet of blood still trickled from the tiny puncture marks on the side of her neck. Her eyes were dazed.

" Do you need help, darling?" Jayran asked, his eyes still on the woman. He smiled, fangs glinting in the flickering candle light. Drops of blood dotted the top of his shirt and collar.

" You have no self control." Azul grimaced in disgust. He cast a glance at the woman, his gaze lingering as he tried to place her. There was a flicker of recognition or something like it, tugging at the edge of his memory. She was human, that much was obvious. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back like soft silk, framing a face that was striking in its beauty and light eyes. But as he studied her more closely, he realized she was a stranger. Azul never forgot a face and hers was not one he had seen before.

Still, there was something about her that made him pause. Not because he knew her, but because parts of her appearance reminded him of someone else.

" The day you learn how to knock is the day I devote my life to serving in a temple." Jayran groused when the woman he had just fed from exited the room, the doors clicking shut behind her.

Azul scoffed. " Without women and wine, you wouldn’t last a day." He tilted his head in the direction of the closed door. " Where did you even find her?"

Jayran waved his hand flippantly. " You and your questions, brother." He dropped his head down on the soft pillows beside him. "I’m tired."

" Hairan is awake." Azul said.

" And he can go right back to sleep for all I care." Jayran retorted, causing Azul’s lips to twitch.

" Don’t let mother catch you saying that." Azul chided and Jayran grunted in response.

There was a momentary lull in their conversation before Azul spoke once more.

" Her silence now feels more calculated than reassuring."

Jayran didn’t even have to ask who. " You think she’s planning something, don’t you?"

" When is she ever not scheming?" Azul quipped.

Jayran chuckled. " I want no part of it."

" I’m sure she’ll become even worse once Hairan becomes king." Azul said offhandedly, not noticing the way Jayran froze at his words.

" Why do you say that?" Jayran asked, feigning nonchalance.

" Because she will scour the whole of Lamora for a bride for Hairan and she’ll be insufferable while doing it. She won’t stop until she finds someone she deems suitable."

" No. Not that," Jayran turned to face his twin. They were so identical, it felt like he was looking at his own reflection. " Why do you assume Hairan is going to be King someday? Father hasn’t chosen his heir."

In Lamora, the title of crown prince wasn’t automatically granted to the king’s legitimate first born son. It was something that was earned and in the end it was the current king that got to choose who became his successor. It was a decision that could be influenced by a lot of factors.

A decision their father was yet to make.

Azul pursed his lips. " It will hardly matter, not if our mother gets her way. Hairan will sit on Marzen’s throne and he will rule as the next king." A tense second passed. " Do you not want our brother to become king?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

" No." The single word was delivered with so much confidence and certainty. Jayran stared his brother straight in the eye. " I don’t think Hairan should be King. I don’t think he has what it takes to rule."

Azul let out a deep sigh. " I won’t argue with you."

Jayran sat up straight. " But you disagree with me. You don’t even like Hairan and yet you want him to rule as your king."

" I’m choosing to be practical and Hairan is the practical choice."

" Practical," Jayran scoffed. " Hairan will run this kingdom to the ground and we both know it."

" Since when have you ever cared for anything else but yourself?"

Jayran didn’t let his brother’s words bother him. They were true after all. He rose to his feet, standing toe to toe with Azul.

" Very well. Let’s resolve this the way it’s always been done."

Azul snorted. " I refuse to risk our kingdom’s future on a mere wager."

" Whoever wins gets to claim half of everything the loser owns." Jayran said and Azul snapped his mouth shut.

Jayran couldn’t hold back his grin. He knew his brother too well. Azul would never be able to resist a wager.

" Are you certain you want to go through with this, brother?" Azul stepped closer. " You know I don’t play fair."

Azul was going to do whatever it took to see Hairan ascend the throne. If there was one thing Azul hated more than being challenged, it was losing.

" Neither do I."