Xander's POV:

She didn't speak to me for the rest of the night, or for what's already passed of this morning.

Not that I could blame her. In fact, this wasn't the first time this has happened.

Every once in a while she just needs a break, and she doesn't need to voice it for me to figure it out.

I could just sense it in the way that she'd solely keep to one side of the room, avoiding any kind of eye contact.

It was different than when she'd avoid me just out of anger or annoyance.

If that were the case, you'd be able to see her thoughts in her eyes.

I'd be able to smell the frustration on her.

This was different.

With this, there was no readable emotion that I could discern from her, just a far-away look in her eyes.

I tried my best to hold back that thing in my brain that made me want to understand everything.

I knew she didn't appreciate it when I delved further into her than what she was willing to show with the senses that she didn't have.

With all that she needed a break from, there was no doubt in my mind that I was included.

And even though our current living situation didn't allow me to fully give that to her, I tried my best to make it work.

I'd have her meals brought up here and set them on the coffee table for her to grab whenever she was ready

With the work that I still needed to get done, it kept me from procrastinating... Or at least kept me from moving from this chair more often than I should.

I'd keep out of her space, and stayed out of her way whenever she needed to momentarily come into mine.

It was a process we'd fine-tuned throughout the months she's had to deal with me.

She usually came out of it within a day or two, although with the blood moon approaching within the week, I hoped she'd be out of it sooner rather than later.

I blew out a quiet sigh, forcing myself to focus back on the file that I had barely touched in the past two hours.

Just two days ago I was doing so much better at keeping my focus on what I needed to do, but that all fled, my thoughts being overtaken so much easier now with all of the current events.

What I did to Khloe, why Nico wasn't even acknowledging it, and how Doe ended up taking a part of the blame.

How all of this ended up being so much more of a mess than I had intended.

My elbows found the top of the tables before my face planted itself within my hands, that thought alone infuriating the already existing sting in my chest.

Part of me just wished that this guilt would eat me alive at this point, or rather that Nico would come and finish me off himself.

Instead of getting at it through Doe.

I turned my head just a bit, straining my eyes to try to sneak a glimpse of her without her noticing.

She sat still at the window sill, her eyes still holding that far away look.

It was hard to see with her head lolled to the side away from me to view the outdoors, knees bent with one crossed over the other, and her hands intertwined at her stomach.

Even so, I could still see the darkened skin from the bruise on her jaw, more visible now than the one on her neck.

The sting jumped to my throat this time.

God, Nico why'd you have to do that?

I had confidence in the fact that he wouldn't have done anything to her.

Had I have known... Maybe I wouldn't have been so quick to help her get to his room in the first place.

Although... Maybe that wasn't for me to dictate.

She made it clear, that despite the outcome, that was her decision to make.

That was what she wanted.

I turned my head back, closing my eyes to better focus on my hearing.

This was as far as I'd go as far as checking in on her when we were like this.

Just... making sure that she was okay. Physically at least.

My karma came quickly though, with my advanced hearing activated, the sound of the phone ringing suddenly blaring into my ear at an agonizing volume.

I quickly flinched away, my ability to hear anything momentarily being replaced with that high-pitched ringing.

Confusion as to who it was and why they were calling didn't even get to settle in before I recognized the numbers that showed at the top of the machine.

The numbers that usually caused excitement this time only caused panic.

I knew it would only be a matter of days before she would. I should have seen this coming.

Still, even if Doe is healthy enough to get fed from, I didn't want her to have to go through that so soon after what's already happened.

And I needed her at her best for the bloodmoon.

Although... Maybe this time she isn't calling in regards to Doe.

Maybe this time she was calling for me. Just me.

As much as I wanted to rejoice at that thought, I didn't get my hopes up.

I picked up the phone.

"Hey, Layla!" My voice feigned excitement on a whim.

A quick gasp came from the other side of the room.

I spun my chair just enough to see her facing me in my periphery.

"Alex my dear," Her tone echoed mine, causing my heart to skip a beat and a soft smile to reach my face, "I was just walking about and thought that I might stop by for a bit. Are you home?"

"Indeed I am," I responded, "Come on by."

"Excellent!" she chimed, "I'll be there in a few minutes."

The click on the other hand sounded before I could say anything else.

I felt my face blanch nearly the second after, a heavy feeling weighing down my gut.

My smile slowly fell as I put the phone back, my brain quickly trying to come up with a game plan.

When I finally turned to look at Doe, the look she was giving me nearly broke something inside of me.

Disbelief and betrayal.

Except instead of anger, there was a sadness behind it

Which I wanted to clear up as fast as possible.

"Do me a favor," I began, earning a single raised brow from her, "Go in there and pretend to be asleep until she's gone," I pointed at the cage.

Her gaze hardened, looking at me like what I had said was ridiculous.

"Are you serious? She'll obviously know that I'm faking it," She countered.

She won't.

Not unless she's consumed fresh blood any time recently, which I doubt is the case.

"Just trust me. Please," I begged.

I've spent a lot of time trying to get Layla to be mine over these past few years.

And although I haven't gotten exactly what I wanted from her yet, I've got something else instead.

Information.

Information that I doubted anyone outside her immediate family knew.

Layla liked to talk and often needed to rant and I liked to listen.

She also knew that I could be trusted to keep my mouth shut.

Which is why I knew that because of her... unfortunate family downfall due to her mother, her and her brother's vampiric biology wasn't what it should be.

Their royal blood got messed up because of their incident, and instead works against them.

I didn't know much about what effect it had on her older brother, I've only heard that his is much worse than what she deals with.

One of which being that her advanced senses didn't work properly unless she has the rush of fresh blood in her system.

And that she could only use her heightened speed and strength for a few seconds at a time

Which was one of the reasons she went through pets so fast.

And was also the reason that I needed Doe to trust me on this.

She still didn't look convinced, and Layla could be here any second.

"Doe I promised you that I'd buy you more time and I meant that, so please just..." I didn't finish, just gestured back over to the cage.

Her brows pressed together as her eyes switched between mine, trying to read something in them I guess.

I had no idea what it was, but apparently, she got her answer because she finally moved with a begrudged, "Fine,"

I relaxed at her cooperation, standing from my chair as she made her way over and crawled in.

Something told me Layla wouldn't be knocking.

Only a moment later after Doe got situated, I was proven right, the lock turning on its own.

She sauntered in a second later, her usual smile on her face.

"Oh, Alex, it seems like it's been forever," She said.

My heart raced as she held out her hand, happily taking it in mine and placing a soft kiss on her knuckles.

Her skin chilled compared to mine.

Which as a royal, shouldn't be the case.

"It does indeed," I started as she brought her hand back, "These past couple of days have definitely dragged."

I relished in the fact that her eyes held that gold instead of red.

We were in the clear.

"Have they? Why is that?"

My brows rose at her question.

I guess I wasn't expecting her to ask.

"Oh uh, you know..." shit, "Your d- I mean Lord Bronwyn has really just been putting Nico and me to work for this blood collection. You know, same old same old."

I tried not to notice her immediate look of worry once I said Nico's name.

Nothing good ever comes when I do.

"Ah, right. Well, it should be over soon and I'm sure it's nothing that you can't handle, But speaking of Nico."

I tried to mask the sudden lump in my throat.

Right...

"Did you happen to take care of that thing I asked you to do?" She asked with the tilt of her head, "With his pet I mean,"

I swear I looked past her just in time to see Doe open her eyes for a split second.

"I-" I want prepared to answer.

I should have known that she was going to bring this up, but it just seemed so soon.

She couldn't have really expected me to pull that off that quick.

Well... I did but...

"No," I ended up saying apologetically, "I couldn't manage to get her separated from him in a way that would allow me to."

I didn't want whatever reward that claiming that action would give me.

Not after all that happened.

Her features hardened, which almost immediately left me scrambling for some sort of way to fix it.

But her next question ruined it even more.

"Right," She gave a disappointed sigh," Well then what about our pet? Has it been long enough to Nico's liking? I'm starting to begin to crave her."

My stomach twisted at the cynical tone at which she said that last part, Doe's racing heartbeat confirming that we felt the same way.

"I'm afraid not," I lied again, pointing over to where she was to try to prove my point "He checked in with her yesterday and said it was just better to wait until the bloodmoon before trying anything."

She looked over at Doe for a moment.

A long moment.

Or maybe it just seemed that way to me.

"I see," She eventually settled, "And I don't suppose you're going to let me have her this bloodmoon either?"

Her annoyance was becoming more and more evident.

"I'm afraid not," I answered, trying to calm all of us down with the tone of my voice.

If I let her have Doe on a bloodmoon, there was no doubt in my mind that I would never see her again.

With Layla's already existing ailment, the bloodmoon also affected her much worse than normal.

"Are you sure? I think with you getting her sick and all, on top of you not completing the task I gave you, it's the least you could do." Her voice had lost the ring she usually had with it, her words coming out dry.

Almost threateningly.

It made Doe's fear spike enough to where I could smell it in the air.

I think she believed that I was going to give in.

That I was really going to let Layla take her.

God, Xander think. Think!

I didn't want to disappoint her, and I didn't want her to think that I was unreliable.

"I would. I absolutely would, but Nico wished to have one last check-in with her that next morning, and I'm sure the last thing we want is for him to notice the difference in our bite marks." I said.

She paused, eyes squinted in thought.

Please tell me that was convincing enough...

Nearly everything was once I brought Nico into it.

A backup that I've been using a whole lot more recently.

"I suppose you may have a point," She surrendered with a sigh, "I guess I'll have to find another AB positive pet before then, although none of them are going to be as good."

She turned towards Doe again, who despite how hard her heart was beating, was holding deathly still.

Or maybe it was my own heart.

I didn't particularly like lying.

Especially to Layla.

"I can go pet shopping with you if you'd like," I offered, "I can help you chose one that's close."

Choose which young girl will get sent right to a death sentence...

"No, that's okay," She declined, "Thank you for the offer though. I should get going anyways."

That lump in my throat grew.

"Oh, leaving already?" I asked with a nervous laugh to try to hide the sudden ache. Out of some sort of desperation to get her to stay.

Stay and talk about something that isn't pet-related in any way.

Just once.

Just this once!

"I'm afraid so. I only wanted to stop by for a little bit. My family is waiting for me for lunch, you know how it is. But I'm sure I'll see you soon!"

That chime in her voice finally returned in her last sentence before she heading over towards the door.

"Yeah... see you." I managed to get out.

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving me staring at that wooden door I'd become so accustomed to seeing after she left.

I few seconds of silence passed before forcing myself to swallow that feeling in my throat and compose myself.

The sound of shuffling blankets caused a good distraction as Doe cautiously let herself out, her eyes also trained on the door for some kind of sign that she'd be coming back.

I doubted she would be, and my brain fought over whether or not I wanted her to.

"You... you were serious." She spoke quietly, the surprise and relief in her voice also showing on her face.

I'll take that look any day over the one she gave me earlier.

"Yeah," I cleared my throat after that single word sounded more like a croak.

That feeling in me wasn't getting any better despite my best efforts.

In fact it was quickly traveling and shifting into an ache in my head.

"Your safety is guaranteed for the next few days," I paused, unsure if I was even processing the next words that left my mouth, "I'll try to figure something else out after that."

She gave me an odd look, but I didn't try to identify it, instead, I turned over towards my bed before any of the awful feelings in my body got worse.

I needed to lay down.