Defect of Servitude [Book #1]

"True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm and deep. It looks beyond mere externals, and is attracted by qualities alone. It is wise and discriminating, and its devotion is real and abiding."
- Ellen G. White

More days passed in a blur of routine, for which I was thankful. Commander Cole heard whispers of Denallsh planning his next attack, but there was yet to be a word on the full details. The guard and I dealt with another group of portal hoppers, and the process went smoothly. Since I was assigned to the role, the collection services had yet to execute a successful mission. I wondered how irritated the Academy was becoming, unable to keep their humans stocked. I reveled in the idea.

Becca had even planned a movie night for the girls I've been growing comfortable with. I witnessed her threatening Evan with crude promises to withhold certain parts of their relationship should he not make good on his mission to deliver us excellent junk food. Ultimately, Becca, Annie, Desiree, and I sat in Becca's room, set up with cozy blankets and pillows on the floor in front of a massive television. I didn't pay much attention to the movie, and I soaked up the intimacy between us and the friendship that was growing into a family.

My days had become wholly normal, at least as expected as it could be in a world of supernatural beings and a war brewing. I walked the last of my patrol with the Prince again. The tension between our closeness became a welcome feeling, so I stopped allowing space between us. We brushed against each other, and neither wanted to say a word about what that meant. Or so I thought.

Jaxon stopped walking suddenly, holding my arm to keep me in place. "Madelyn, I've been wondering, how would you like to spend an evening with me?"

"But I've been spending every evening with you?" I questioned, unsure what he meant. He let go of my arm and fiddled with his fingers, more nervous than I ever experienced from the Prince.

"I was thinking more like a date." My eyes went wide. He wanted to spend time with me in a more casual, romantic setting! "That is, of course, if you want to be alone with me?"

"Yes!" The word rushed out of my mouth in a hurry that left me feeling embarrassed. Jaxon, however, looked relieved and excited. I confidently continued my thought: "It would be nice to spend a night with you without trying to hit you."

His answering laugh eased any awkwardness between us. "Meet me at the greenhouse tomorrow after your rounds."

Jaxon left me with a wink and an empty feeling with him gone. However, I didn't linger on it. Instead, I thought of the next night and what it could lead to.

I rushed through the rest of my duties, not paying attention to anything other than the thoughts in my head. What should I wear? I didn't want it to be my usual guard uniform; he always saw me in that. My curiosity grew at my feelings and desire to make this unique and meaningful.

A small inkling of hysteria rose in my actions. My steps were slightly quicker, and my muscles were jittery with anticipation. When I found my way back into my room and was ready to shower, I wondered if this was how people with caffeine dependence felt after their fourth cup of coffee. I doubted I could sleep restfully, but I did my best.

I awoke to knocking at my door. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I opened the door to find Becca and Annie. They barely said hello while pushing past me into the room.

"Before you say anything, I want you to know we took care of everything. Annie will be taking over your guard duties for the night." Becca spoke as she walked through the room until she found herself in front of my closet. "I'm here to help you pick out your wardrobe."

Barely awake, I only blinked at her in response. Annie laughed as she made herself comfortable on the edge of my warm bed.

Becca didn't acknowledge my lack of participation. "I have Evan setting up the breakfast picnic in the greenhouse for you two. After that, you'll be on your own. Make it count."

"The Prince ran into Annie and me. He asked for our help to make this night special for you." She winked at me, whipped her purple hair behind her back, tied it into a tight ponytail, and opened the closet door.

I joined Annie on the bed, and she put her arm around me. For a tiny woman, she was spectacularly comfortable. The only sounds in the room were Becca muttering under her breath and clothing shuffling around.

Finally, I was starting to feel more awake, and Becca emerged victorious from her mission. She held up a long, dark green knitted sweater dress. "This is beautiful and warm, and it will go great with leggings, which you refuse to give up."

She leveled her disapproving glare at me, then smiled. "Plus, we all know how much you like green."

It was my turn to glare, but I couldn't dispute her comment.

"Remember to bring a coat. The greenhouse is warm, but I doubt the Prince will have you stay there the entire night," Annie added as she stood up and returned to the door. Now, Becca and I will leave you to get ready in peace, and we wish you a great time."

Becca looked as if she wanted to disagree with leaving but decided against it. She hugged me tightly and whispered, "You'll have to tell me everything as soon as possible. I'll be dying with anticipation."

We giggled together. My soul was happier than ever, and I was thrilled they stopped by. As soon as the door shut behind them, I tried to hold onto the joy and not give in to the nerves. I appreciated Becca's choice of clothes and slipped into them.

Making my way toward the greenhouse, my coat draped over my arm, the reality of what was happening hit me. I was about to go on an actual date. My last date ended up with me inebriated and kidnapped, which amped up my nerves. I continued to fret, working myself up to walk through the door that connected the manor and the greenhouse. I was sure that Jaxon could hear my heartbeat through the door and decided it had to be now or never. I opened the entrance after taking a steadying breath.

There stood Jaxon, fussing with the cloth over the table, trying to get it to lay perfectly flat. With his back turned in my direction, I only noticed that he was not in his usual Princely suit attire but more casual. He wore a sweater that was a light shade of brown and dark blue jeans that I was shocked to know he owned. A natural smile crept on my face as the cloth billowed back into a ruffle, and his shoulders tensed.

"You can't force things to be perfect all of the time, you know?" I spoke as I continued to walk closer to him. He spun around in surprise and even looked embarrassed before righting his features into the confident man I'd grown to know.

"As the future King, I must ensure all tablecloths work as intended." The upturn of his mouth showcased his pointed fangs, usually hidden from view. A fuzzy feeling in my stomach grew toward my pelvis. "Hello, Madelyn. I'm delighted that you made it."

All the worry and anticipation disappeared when he said my name. Wrapped in such familiarity and care that if he couldn't hear my heart before, he definitely could now. My voice was unsteady and rushed compared to his. "Hello, Jaxon. The table looks excellent, even if the cloth refuses to bend to your rule."

"Thank you. Becca and Evan put all of this together, I must admit." He pulled out the chair closest to me and gestured for me to sit. I did so, and with gentlemanly grace, Jaxon slid the chair under the table for me. I felt the blush rise on my cheeks, warming me more than the greenhouse humidity ever could.

I decided to start with the truth. "I'm a little nervous. I don't want you to think it's because I don't want to be here. This is... an experience I haven't had in quite some time."

"Would it make you feel more at ease to know I'm nervous, too?" Jaxon offered, and he was right; it did calm me a bit. "I've wanted to do this for a while, but it always seemed that the timing wouldn't align correctly."

"I still can't wrap my head around you spending so much time with me." I shrugged. My confidence was insufficient to grasp why the Prince of this beautiful manor would want to waste his effort with an ex-servile.

Jaxon's face fell into a frown. "Don't say things like that, Maddie. You are an extraordinary person. You've been through so much and haven't let that stop you. If anything, you let that power you to do more than you need to."

The praise I was being showered with made me feel shy, still unused to it. He continued without missing a beat or being aware of his compliments, causing me to want to shrink into a small hole. "You're also beautiful—more beautiful than any other person. Your strength radiates around you no matter where you are. I find that admirable."

He reached his long arm across the table to lift my chin. His eyes bore into mine, and the rush of his honesty flowed through me. We sat like that for a little while, his eyes slowly turning from their familiar shade of green to the red that indicated his feelings were rising inside him. My stomach broke the link between us, and he dropped his hand.

"Oops. I guess I'm pretty hungry." I mentioned with embarrassment.

"I'm glad! Evan prepared your breakfast favorites: French toast with sugar, bacon, and blueberry syrup." Jaxon listed the foods correctly, and my mouth started to water. He lifted a lid off a large silver platter in the middle of the dishes surrounding us. The smell hit me, and a rumble left my body even louder than the first.

"This is amazing! Thank you, Jaxon." I started filling my plate with as much food as possible. I used this time to ask questions I've been wondering since my adventure of stalking him in library books. "Can I ask why you waited until your late twenties before changing?"

"It's nothing profound." He started while also adding food to his plate. While he was answering, I popped bites into my mouth, savoring the sweet flavors. "I wanted my mind to be as mature as it could be. Vampires still age, but the process is longer than that of humans. It's so slow that it's uncommon for them to die of old age. I didn't think a future ruler should be stuck as an immature teenager."

"Are you excited to rule?" I asked. He took a bite, contemplating how to answer as he chewed.

"I am. I'm looking forward to continuing my mother's visions for what this world could be. We're still far too stuck in the past of violence and terror. We don't need to be. We've been discussing the idea of showing ourselves to the humans. They've become more tolerable as they advance with their technologies." As he spoke, Jaxon looked increasingly proud to be a part of the family that he was a part of. He showed how much he really did want to lead his people into a brighter future.

"You're inspiring," I said, conveying the awe he invoked. I felt that if he could have blushed, he would have. I took it further: "You're also heart-stoppingly handsome."

A chuckle left his mouth, slightly breathless. It was nice to know that I could have that effect on him. We finished our breakfast, asking each other whatever questions we had. It was amazing to let down my walls and let another being in.

"Are you full?" He questioned as I let my fork clink against the empty plate.

I patted my belly in contentment. "Absolutely. It was wonderful, but my stomach may not forgive me."

"Would you like to go for a walk? I'd like to show you my favorite spot on the grounds."

I agreed. I didn't want this moment to be over. I wanted to spend as much time as he allowed me. I would follow him all over the manor if that was what he had planned. With speed my eyes could barely follow, he was behind my chair and pulling it away from the table. He stood beside me with his hand out, waiting for me to take it.

I wasted no time. Grasping the Prince's hand and standing, I embraced the enthusiasm and allure he invoked inside of me. I cherished them until he stepped away, leading me to the door that separated the warmth inside the greenhouse from the cold of a fading winter. Jaxon helped me into my coat and waited for me to button it before stepping outside.

Winter was ending, but the night air still had a bite. Snow still covered the estate, though not nearly as much as when the height of the season was upon us. Its beauty never failed to leave me speechless.

The Prince led the way, his hand still firmly holding mine. "It's just past the edge of the orchard."

My excitement grew, and I wondered what could possibly captivate a vampire so much that he would call it his favorite. We walked in silence, but it was the most comfortable kind. Neither of us felt the need to fill it with idle chatter; instead, we relished the presence and warmth of being side by side.

As we got near the edge of the trees, Jaxon dropped my hand. I was about to protest its absence, but it didn't take long for me to realize what he was doing. His hands snaked around my head to cover my eyes from behind. I laughed.

I felt Jaxon's voice on my back, his breath on my ear from how close he was to me. My heart jumped into my throat. "It's not far now. I'd like to surprise you."

I would have never guessed that I would allow a vampire to lead me to somewhere secluded, willingly and eagerly. At that moment, it was all I wanted. We took slow steps, with him making sure I didn't trip. I relaxed into him, entrusting where he guided me.

After a few more paces, he stopped me. His deep bass vibrated against me again, sending more sparks toward my center. I wondered how long I could stand being this close to him without doing something inappropriate. Would he reject me?

Jaxon didn't give me time to think about it. "We're here. Ready?"

I nodded against his hands, and he dropped them. We stood in front of a large, ice-covered lake. A forest surrounded it, holding unknown creatures in its hidden darkness. The night sky above it was scattered with a galaxy of stars and the moon, brighter than I ever experienced, typically dulled by the lights of the manor. My eyes widened at the sight, and I loved the pure wildness of the area.

"I usually swim in the lake, but I figured that would be a little too cold for you right now." He laughed, and I once again cursed the defect gene for not giving me resistance to the winter. "Have you ever built a snowman?"

"Not since I was a small child," I answered, my eyebrow raised in confusion.

He grabbed a large handful of the powder and tightly pressed it into a ball. I watched his movements with curiosity. Jaxon started rolling the little ball around the ground, and I was delighted to see it grow. "I'll work on this. Would you mind making another one?"

"There's never been a story about a vampire who played in the snow," I giggled and repeated his actions. The snow started to stick to the little ball I made, and I shouted in delight. "Oh! It's working!"

His joy filled me with pride. I loved being the one to make him laugh.

Once he had finished two balls of snow, he stopped me. He placed the smaller one on top of the larger one and instructed me to put my tiny ball above it. I was still bewildered as Jaxon dug stones from the ground and placed them on the smallest ball in the shape of a face.

"Oh my goodness, you're acting like such a human!" I exclaimed as he shoved two long twigs into the sides to act as arms.

"Want to know something else that will make me seem merely human?" The Prince asked with his hands behind his back. I nodded in excitement. Which I quickly regretted.

I found myself covered in icy particles. I looked at him in shock.

"Snowball fight!" Jaxon yelled as he bent down to grab another handful of snow, but I didn't let him hit me this time. I mimicked him and grabbed my own ball. I quickly let them fly, trying my hardest to pay him back and then some.

My body betrayed me with shivers, but I refused to let it end until he was as covered as I was. He saw that I was growing cold and came closer to me. I narrowed my eyes and growled, "Unless you're coming to surrender, I won't admit defeat."

Jaxon held both hands up, showing they were empty of ammunition. "I will always surrender to you, Madelyn."

Those simple words heated me to my core. The closer he got, the more tension built in my body. He moved his hands to my back and pulled me into him. I couldn't stand it anymore. I crushed my lips to his and felt myself slowly burn in the best way possible.

Jaxon returned the kiss with as much need as I felt. I opened my mouth and invited him in. There was no hesitation as he wove his tongue across mine, deepening the connection in a way I never thought I would experience. My hands roamed his frame freely, touching every inch of him I could reach. I reached for his pants and was about to go farther, but he suddenly stopped me. The red in his eyes completely overtook his entire iris.

"Not now." He growled, having a hard time controlling his desire to continue.

We slowly calmed ourselves, standing in an embrace. Then, without warning, he hoisted me on his back and ran. Jaxon had us back to the ground walkways in seconds, and I enjoyed the speed. I still felt the lust and the need in my body to have him, but I knew he was right. It would have been too soon, too cold.

He released me from his back and helped my feet connect with the path. Jaxon granted me another kiss, refusing to let himself deepen it. I didn't want to go too far before he was ready, so I accepted the chaste embrace.

We were interrupted by catcalls and whistles. I looked to find Harley and Annie in positions almost as compromising as ours. I laughed, relishing the absolute happiness I had felt all night.

Jaxon rolled his eyes at them and brought me back inside the manor. He didn't leave my side until he walked me to my room.

"Goodnight, Madelyn. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did, " he whispered, leaning into my doorway and pressing himself against me. He then raised his arm above my head and kissed me again. This one was tender, and I returned it fervently, holding the feelings I wasn't ready to express out loud.

This one was a bit longer than usual, but I couldn't find a reason to end it without showing some real growth in their relationship. Do you think they'll continue to fall for each other, or will something happen to stall their progress? I was very happy to write this chapter, and I hope you were just as excited to read it!

If you enjoy this story, I would appreciate your continued support by following my TikTok (my journey in self-publishing and marketing this story). You can find me at tiktok.com/@chellelynnwriting

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