[ Heyyy~ thanks for 2k, guys :D y'all are amazing :,) Up there in the little thingy-ma-jiggy is a piece of music I wrote and played for this book. It's called 'Forever and Ever' which is the name of a chapter I have planned. Pretty sure that's chapter 23 :) So ye, don't listen to it if you don't want to but it's there if you're interested. Also I'm sorry if the sound quality is bad! There's only so much a girl earning £6 a week can get her hands on when it comes to recording software (an iPhone and Garage Band did the trick) and the audio was recorded in my living room. Not exactly a 'recording studio' environment but eh, it did what I wanted it to xD Thanks again for reading my terrible book and I hope you enjoy what I've got in store for y'all~ :D ]

Upon waking up, [Y/n] picked her clothes from the wardrobe carefully. She came across a turtleneck jumper - emerald green and made of cashmere - so she was quick to take off her pyjama top and slip that on. Though she hoped it wasn't the case, she figured the boys already knew. Even so, if they didn't she wasn't planning on telling them. She worried it would be a bad example. The plate of fudge had moved position from the night before - it now sat atop her dressing table, desperately awaiting being eaten. She walked over to it and wondered whether Nyais had been the one to move it as he left.

She didn't remember anything after Nyais left to go to the bathroom and fetch things to clean her neck. She presumed that was because she passed out, but she had no idea. If she had passed out, why was she in her pyjamas? Had Nyais changed her? The idea brought heat to her cheeks but she quickly pushed the thoughts away, slipping on a pair of jeans and walking over to her en-suite bathroom to freshen herself up.

The bathroom was small yet pretty. Pine wood and cream walls gave a perfect contrast of light and dark, plus the warm lights overhead cosied and humbled the room. [Y/n] walked over to the ceramic sink, allowing the cold water tap to run for a moment before cupping her hands under the tap and washing her face. Well, perhaps more so 'soaking' her face. The cold water inflicted a nervous jolt in the female that caused her to wake up completely. [Y/n] shut off the water and dried her face off with the towel.

After doing everything else she needed to do, [Y/n] exited the bathroom and walked over to the fudge. She broke off a piece and placed it on her tongue, her eyes widening slightly at how perfect it was. Everything had been done exactly and accurately; it was perhaps the most authentic tasting fudge she had ever tried. Perhaps this was because the boys didn't have tastes or personal preferences clouding their judgement when measuring out the ingredients, [Y/n] thought.

Subconsciously the girl broke off another piece, then another, before suddenly half the fudge had gone and [Y/n] had to force herself to leave the plate alone.

"Why'd you stop?" a calm voice came from her doorway. A certain blonde boy stood in the doorframe, tilting his head. For once Seishin didn't wear an expression of contempt or disdain, but instead mere curiosity. [Y/n] gave him a slightly nervous smile.

"How long have you been there?" she asked.

"Since you came out of the bathroom," he shrugged, before his gaze hardened slightly. "You seemed to be enjoying the fudge. Why did you stop?" he asked again, clearly not satisfied with [Y/n]'s evasion techniques.

"I am; it's really good," [Y/n] said softly, "but fudge is very rich in flavour. If I eat too much I'll feel sick," she explained. Seishin frowned.

"Do you feel sick now?" he asked curiously. [Y/n] shook her head. Seishin's brows furrowed. "Then have some more." [Y/n] opened her mouth to object but he cut her off with a simple shake of his head. "Don't argue with me, [Y/n]. Just eat some more."

"Hey," [Y/n] said sternly, "don't talk to me that way. Who's the adult here?" she questioned rhetorically. Seishin didn't seem to pay any attention.

"Eat some more fudge," he repeated as though clarifying his command would make her pay more attention. [Y/n] sighed at his perseverance. "Eat," he reiterated. Mainly to shut him up, [Y/n] broke off another piece of fudge and put it in her mouth, looking at him and raising an eyebrow as though asking 'happy now?'. Seishin grinned at this. "So you do know how to listen."

"Apparently you don't," [Y/n] huffed, which earned a laugh from Seishin.

"I'm your superior. Not only do I control the circumstances for your employment in the first place, but I'm also part of the reason you're still alive. If I wanted to, I could easily—"

"Kill me. Yeah, yeah, I know," [Y/n] huffed, rolling her eyes. "Thanks for the reminder." Seishin shrugged once again and stepped into her room, walking over to her wardrobe and placing his hand on the door, pulling it open. [Y/n] tilted her head. "You don't let me in your room but you think it's okay to go through my wardrobe?" she asked as he stepped inside.

"You'd let anyone else," Seishin responded, looking at her clothes. "Why should I be any different?" [Y/n] didn't know how far she agreed with his statement; she'd probably be fine with Draka, Laion and maybe Mitzu, but Aytsa, Kori and Seishin were a little more surreptitious than [Y/n] would like.

"I don't know about that, Seishin. I'm not too fond of the idea of anyone rummaging through my belongings. So, maybe stop?" she sighed, walking over to him.

"Why do you like Nyais so much?" Seishin asked. He turned around to face her, his usual derision absent once more, replaced with a look she'd affiliate more with Kori than Seishin; total emptiness. When [Y/n] didn't answer, Seishin took a step forwards. "Is it because he has more knowledge than us? Do you want me to be smarter, is that it?" he continued.

"Hey, whoa, chill out for a second," [Y/n] laughed nervously. "Seishin, you're literally a genius; I'd probably be scared if you got any smarter than you are now." In truth, [Y/n] was already scared of Seishin's intelligence. It was a constant reminder that the boys were something else entirely.

"Why did you let him bite you?" Seishin asked quietly, his voice lowered so no one else heard. "Why would you want him to bite you? He tried to kill you and you just gave him another easier way of doing so." [Y/n] gazed at the floor.

"So you saw?" she asked quietly, suddenly feeling reduced to the position of a child caught doing something wrong. Seishin neither nodded nor shook his head; he simply stared at her in wait for her answer. She sighed. "I don't really know... I think I was tired and confused," she looked away. "I trusted him, I suppose. And I was right to. I'm fine now, aren't I?"

Seishin hummed in response, stepping out of the dimly lit wardrobe and shutting the door behind him before walking over to the door of her room. "I won't tell anyone about what you did last night if you finish that fudge today," he said simply, leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. Moments like that confused [Y/n] - Seishin was a child, that was obvious by his appearance, but it was so easy to forget though his mannerisms and the way he spoke. Then he'd do something like try and blackmail [Y/n] into eating fudge, reminding her of his obvious immaturity.

[Y/n] couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she subconsciously tore off a bit more fudge.

* * *

A loud click sound resonated throughout the building and [Y/n] instantly recognised it as the lock of the entrance door. She stood up and opened her door, peering outside. Poised to knock on the door (and pleasantly surprised when he realised he didn't have to) stood Nyais, as [Y/n] had expected. Behind him, however, stood someone slightly unfamiliar. Had Nyais not shown her the visions and had he not been wearing the same royal attire, [Y/n] might've slipped up in failing to recognise the king.

"Your Highness," [Y/n] curtsied formally. It was harder to do gracefully without a skirt, she noticed. She looked over to Nyais who gave her a nod of approval. The silver haired male's red eyes pierced [Y/n], practically staring past her flesh and into her very being.

"She has good manners," he hummed approvingly, looking past her. "May I enter your room, malady?" he asked. [Y/n] nodded quickly, clearly nervous and unsure how to behave. The king seemed to pick up on this as he let a small laugh escape him. He stepped past [Y/n] and walked into her room before grabbing her wrist and pulling her in with him. This startled [Y/n] but she didn't say anything nor make any move to object. She understood fully that this was a pivotal moment for deciding whether she lived or died. She couldn't mess this up.

The king let go of [Y/n] and began to circle her like a vulture assessing a carcass. [Y/n] began to feel dizzy trying to watch him so she looked over at Nyais who seemed slightly unnerved. He didn't say or do anything, however. [Y/n] nearly yelped when she felt a small tug on her hair. The king was holding a lock of it, his eyes narrowed in mild interest.

"Human hair isn't as soft as ours," he mused, looking over at Nyais, "am I right?" Nyais nodded. "But hers feels exactly the same as mine," he laughed, tucking a strand behind her ear. It was obvious that Nyais was burning with envy as he bit his lip and looked away. "You're probably the prettiest human I've seen here, [Y/n]," he chuckled, "you certainly look like you belong with us." [Y/n] blushed slightly and looked down. "No, no, don't look down princess," he chuckled, tilting up her chin so she looked at him. "I want to see your eyes."

With that, he slowly moved towards her. The flashing red lights and blaring sirens in her head were at full force but she had to keep herself composed and not run away with her tail between her legs. She needed to be courageous. This was for the best - she wanted to live. She reminded herself this over and over again as he pulled down the neckline of the top she wore. She grimaced slightly at this. It was different when Nyais had done it; when she had consented - now it felt obscene and dangerous and, frankly, [Y/n] didn't feel safe in the slightest.

"I hope you don't mind, [Y/n]. I'll try not to take too much," the king said softly. Though his words were meant to be reassuring, the sudden searing pain she felt as his teeth met her nape caused her to flinch and tense up, only making the burning sensation intensify. She looked over at Nyais desperately as though begging for him to say something that would make it go away. He simply looked down and pretended he hadn't noticed, obviously not willing to go against the wishes of the king - his friend. Even still, [Y/n] could see the way his knuckles went white as his fists clenched together. It looked as though the experience was almost as painful for him as it was for her.

Why it hurt so much was beyond [Y/n]'s understanding. With Nyais it had felt good - enjoyable even - but this was a totally different sensation. [Y/n] wanted so desperately to let out a wail. Somehow she managed to keep it within her.

Eventually, he pulled away. [Y/n] felt dizzy and slightly sick. Though she tried to keep herself on her feet and fully upright, she stumbled backwards into the wall, a nauseating wave of vertigo washing over her. Nyais quickly rushed to her side and held her up whilst the king wiped a little blood from his lip.

"Divine," he mused, watching [Y/n] like a hawk, "absolutely divine." [Y/n] couldn't find the energy to muster a response. "Say, young one," he began, walking over to [Y/n] and Nyais, "around about how long does it take for you to replenish your blood?"

"14 hours," Nyais responded for her as he knew she couldn't. He was lying - it was much quicker than that - but the effects of blood loss resumed for at least 12 hours after being bitten and a couple hours more would be needed to get the hang of normality again. The king nodded, his gaze resting on [Y/n].

"I shall draft up a contract for you both to review. You can decide whether you like it or not. If not, the original plan will proceed," he explained, a smile playing on his lips. Nyais nodded, holding [Y/n] up as she struggled to keep herself awake. With that, the king walked away shutting [Y/n]'s door behind him. She soon heard the unlock, open, close and lock sequence of the entrance door as he left.

[Y/n] barely noticed Nyais picking her up and carrying her over to the bed. She only really realised what he'd done after he did it as she sunk into the soft mattress. She let out a quiet "thank you," snuggling into the duvet in search for warmth and comfort.

"I would've stopped him had I been in the place to do so," Nyais said quietly, "but it was your best chance. Olli doesn't really care for... personality," he sighed, "he prefers things far more tangible. But... you're going to live," he smiled softly, "he's going to let you live, [Y/n]. Isn't that amazing? I'm so proud of you."

[Y/n] would've given a response had she not been on the periphery of sleep. The feeling of Nyais' hand combing through her hair - the soft, soothing, rhythmic strokes lulling her into a sense of security - finally sent her into slumber.

ooooof this is a really short chapter— sozaloz but school's just started up and writing this (y'know, sleep deprived and homework piled brain) was like tryna hug the aunt you haven't seen in 5 years and don't even like that much. whELp, I hope it was okay. Next chapter: Day 12 and an Accidental Incident