Runs Cold

_Hazel_

"Your Highness, please! You must control yourself. If you bite me, it'll unleash chaos," I plead, wrestling against the prince with my fingers tangled in his snow-white hair as I try to pry him away. The full moon has driven him into a wild frenzy, igniting his primal desires. I can sense that it's taking every ounce of his willpower not to sink his fangs into my neck. As a powerful witch and his trusted right-hand aide, I could easily cast a spell to repel him, but casting on royals without permission is strictly forbidden.

He growls against my neck, his face buried in my skin as he savors my scent. One wrong move and this could spiral into a disaster. "Damn it, think, Hazel," I mutter to myself, scanning the room for anything I can use. I need to calm him down, and fast. He wraps his arms around my waist, drawing me closer and trapping me in his embrace. "Knock me out," he gasps, his breath ragged. I hesitate, protesting, "Your Highness, I couldn't possibly--"

His grip tightens, sending a shiver down my spine. The sense of danger hangs heavy in the air. "It's the only way to stop me in this state," he insists, his voice vibrating against my neck, his lips tantalizingly close to my vein. I have no choice; it's the only option left. With a swift motion, my hand emits a blue glow as I cast a sleep enchantment. He collapses to his knees, and I catch him before he falls completely. I exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding. That could have ended much worse.

Normally, he has impeccable control over his desires... I wonder what pushed him over the edge? Perhaps it was the full moon, heightening his urges to an unbearable extent. Thankfully, it was just me around; otherwise, one of the servants could have been seriously harmed.

_Prince Kai_ The Following Morning

I awaken with a start, sitting up in my room. Everything appears normal, and I call out to my servants stationed outside. They enter and bow before me, and I motion for them to stand. "Send for Hazel," I instruct one of them, who promptly exits. Running my hand through my hair, I mutter to myself, "I behaved rashly."

As my servants continue their morning routine and dress me, I'm handed a loose white button shirt and a suit jacket in the royal colors of silver and royal blue. They remove my current shirt, revealing an old scar that stretches across my chest and trails down to my waist. Hazel enters the room, her gaze briefly meeting my exposed chest before she averts her eyes in a flustered apology. "Sorry, Your Highness, I didn't realize you were not fully dressed," she stammers. Chuckling, I tease, "Am I repulsive? Is that why you look away?" She shakes her head in protest, her green eyes meeting mine briefly before she looks away again. "Relax, I'm just joking," I assure her, putting on the shirt. Once the servants leave, I speak more freely with Hazel. "Did I harm you last night?" I ask, concerned.

She shakes her head, "No, of course not, your highness." Frowning disapprovingly, I remind her, "I told you to call me Kai; we are friends. There is no need for such formality." She becomes flustered and rubs the back of her head, agreeing to use my name. I motion for her to come closer, examining her neck for any signs of injury. Finding none, I sigh in relief.

"I'm sorry. I should be able to control my urges completely," I apologize, my eyes glowing crimson momentarily. "If word spreads that I can't, it could jeopardize the royal family's reputation." Hazel nods in understanding, assuring me that no one will know about our incident. I become serious, telling her, "If I ever endanger you again, don't hesitate to subdue me."She looks nervous but agrees, and I lift her hand to my lips, lightly kissing it. She quickly pulls back, blushing slightly, and I laugh softly at her shyness. But then a realization hits me. "Wait, I nearly marked you last night. We could've been... mated," I say, concern evident in my voice. Hazel frowns, saying, "I know, that would've been awful--" I feel a pang in my chest at her choice of words. "Awful?" I repeat, surprised. "If we became mates, the king and queen would be furious, and your fiancé would want my head on a platter," she explained.

"Yes, my fiancé..." I trail off. I'm engaged to a princess from another vampire colony, a marriage of convenience for political reasons. I would object, but my parents insist for the sake of the war effort. "Right, the war," I groan mentally, momentarily lost in thought about my responsibilities."Prince?" Hazel's voice snaps me back to the present, and I refocus on the task at hand.

_Hazel_

His contemplative gaze pierced the air momentarily, his mind clearly preoccupied. I decided to pull him from his thoughts. "Prince?" I whispered, capturing his attention as his furrowed brows relaxed.

"Is the King still in the Throne Room?" he asked abruptly, his focus returning to our conversation. I nodded silently. "However, I believe he's departing for the front lines soon—" Before I could finish, he swiftly picked up his suit jacket and strode out, with me trailing closely.

"I must catch him before he departs," he muttered urgently as we traversed the opulent halls adorned with grand silver and blue banners. Ancient statues watched our passing, their silent guardianship palpable until we reached the Throne Room entrance.

Prince Kai pushed the massive doors open, revealing that the King and Queen were engrossed in discussion. They paused, their eyes turning towards us. The King, clad in imposing war attire with a gleaming silver sword at his side, resembled an older, more formidable version of Kai.

"What prompts this impolite interruption?" the King's voice thundered, his eyes flashing a dangerous red as they settled on Prince Kai. Kai bowed respectfully, and I followed suit.

"Forgive our sudden intrusion, Mother and Father," Kai began, his tone respectful yet tinged with urgency. His father waved a dismissive hand. Kai met his father's gaze. "Allow me to take your place on the front lines, Father. There's no need for you to—"

"No," the King interjected firmly. "You must await Princess Allison's arrival and the impending wedding. Our alliance with them is crucial for victory in this war." Frustration etched across Kai's features, his anger barely restrained.

"We need your leadership more than alliances, Father," Kai asserted. The King stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Kai's shoulder. "Without allies, we risk losing the kingdom we seek to protect. But for now, my duty lies with aiding my people; the wolves are relentless at our defense lines. I shall return in time for your wedding, my son." With that, the King left the Throne Room, the heavy doors closing behind him. The Queen approached Kai, planting a comforting kiss on his cheek before following her husband's departure. "Let's go to the training room now," Kai growled, his anger evident.