Defect of Servitude [Book #1]

"If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough."
- Oprah Winfrey

Nineteen servile in total found their freedom. Five handlers joined our ranks, thankful to be able to leave that part of their lives behind after taking the job only to make it easier for the servants they were assigned. I couldn't help the dread that pursued me. I had hoped to feel more relief from my revenge but only felt anxious. The jittery nerves of knowing something was coming for us. I didn't know when or how hard it would hit.

Queen Helen was forced to come out of her mourning to play politics with the council after they discovered the wreckage. She feigned innocence, claiming she had no idea who would be behind such destruction. Helen was sure they didn't believe her, but the council could do nothing to condone her without evidence. I could tell she was pleased with the outcome, her tears drying in public and her distanced eyes returning to her people.

Word had arrived that Lord Denallsh was livid. His celebrations quickly turned into wrath and vengeance. The device Commander Cold kept on his person spoke of retribution in the worst way. No specific details were dared shared with the people of the Cathcart manor for fear of the spies he rightfully suspected were in his ranks. Only the vast promise could mean the victory he craved.

I had a night free of guard duties and no way to spend it. Many of the manor was bustling with the new allies and finding places to fit in the people choosing to stay with us, which meant a lot of work for those closest to me. I settled for relaxing in the dining room, a hot chocolate steaming from a large mug in my hands. Even with the warm weather, I found the comfort of the sweet heat to be the only thing that settled my mind.

Night had fallen fast, and my lack of sleep prevented me from getting a full day's rest. I realized I had been sitting in the same chair for hours, long enough to watch the watercolor mixing hues of dusk transcend to the starry-spotted darkness. As I stared out of the windows, I noticed a streak of purple slip into the room.

"Maddie! I've missed you!" Becca's large frame jogged up to my table, pulling me from my thoughts. The grin on my face was automatic.

"Becca! I'm thrilled you're here." I said as she bent to give me a back-crushing hug. "Would you like to join me?"

"Of course. I'm starving. The gardens are always so busy this time of year. Not to mention all these new people, the farm hands have requested my help tending to the crops." Becca dropped into the chair opposite me, her body sagging in exhaustion.

I slid my plate in front of her, uneaten delicacies tempting her to take a bite. "Help yourself. It may be a little cold. I've been here a while."

"Having a night off?" She asked, her fingers picking up a piece of food from the plate and shoving it in her mouth.

I nodded. "Everyone has been really busy lately, which is understandable. I thought sitting still for once would be a good idea."

"Sounds like a plan to me, " she said, with food still in her mouth, but she talked through it. Did I tell you that Evan and I are engaged?"

The blush on Becca's face said it all. She had told me how long she'd wanted him, but she had been too worried to let him know, fearing what it could do to their friendship. Her happiness could not be contained, and she let her words rush out quickly.

"It happened the night of the ball. We danced so much, but my feet got tired, and he took me outside on the balcony. He asked me if I wanted to be his forever! It was wonderful." She dropped her voice to a lighter tone, keeping it hushed. "I took him back to my room right after. He's so generous in bed. I came three times!"

"Becca! That's just a little too much information!" I proclaimed, faking shock and innocence. "I bet you gave as good as you got, though."

"You know I did!" We both laughed loudly, turning a few heads in the room. She shrugged her shoulders, and I gave a polite apologetic wave.

"With that news, did I tell you that the prince and I are kind of official?" I replied.

"What!? Oh my goodness, how could you keep this from me?" Becca threw the food she held back on the plate and leaned forward excitedly. "Spill."

"Honestly, it's basically the same story as yours." I let the heat flow across my cheeks, not intending to hide in shame. "Only he took me to his room."

"Holy. Shit." Becca's eyes bulged. I was almost worried her voice would carry too far, but she reigned it in. "Are you telling me you boned the Prince of Supernaturals?"

"Why do you have to put it that way?" I shook my head.

"This is intense gossip." She stated that she was picking her food back up.

I rolled my eyes at her and laughed again. Her presence was lightening my mood in a way that I desperately needed. We sat in silence for a little while, and she continued to eat her fill of the food I offered. My gaze lingered back to the windows, watching the twinkling glitter in the night sky. I was lost in its tranquility. I didn't hear the person come up beside us until Becca greeted them.

"Hello, Prince Jaxon. Nice to see you." The grin spread across her mouth was all-knowing and scarce in modesty, directed at me though she was looking at him.

"Good evening, Becca. I hope you've been well." Jaxon looked absolutely striking, his hair disheveled in a way to suggest he had been doing a lot of thinking. He reached his hand toward me, an open invitation. "Would you mind if I stole Maddie away? I feel guilty for the lack of attention I've been giving her."

"By all means," Becca replied, snapping a not-so-subtle wink in my direction.

I blushed and stuck my tongue out at her behind Jaxon's back. Before he could witness my childish behavior, I grasped his hand and stood while saying goodbye. "Thanks for the company, Becca! I'll see you later."

The prince guided me through the doors leading outside, and the air was refreshing after being inside for the entire night. The gardens released a tantalizing aroma of spring blooms that I deeply inhaled before turning my attention to the man beside me. Being alone in his presence after admitting my true feelings for him had my heart doing cartwheels.

"Where are we going?" I asked, a bit timid.

"I was thinking about the lake again. It's secluded, and the water has thawed." He replied, his body growing as close to mine as he could manage without hindering our walking ability.

The journey to the forest-surrounded body of water was quiet but held no awkwardness. As we reached the lake's edge, I noticed several candles in jars lit to surround the trees in a flickering haze. My breath caught in my throat at the beauty combined with the vast night sky spread above us. I wanted to comment on how amazing it all was, but when I turned to open my mouth, I saw that Jaxon was slowly unbuttoning his shirt. The surrounding area was no longer the most beautiful thing I was to witness tonight.

He kept his gaze held on mine, unwavering in its intensity. His voice was husky, more profound than its usual bass. "It might be too cold for you, but swimming would be nice. Why don't you sit and dip your feet in at the edge?"

I couldn't react as his shirt fell, and his hands quickly worked on his trousers. Before I really registered it, Jaxon was standing in only his boxer briefs, hugging his hips and his manhood in ways that sent instant heat between my legs.

I was frozen, not moving an inch as he pushed closer. His skin smelled like a hint of the forest surrounding us and his ever-present delicious pheromones. He took my head in both hands and connected our lips with such passion that I felt my knees weaken. If he wasn't holding me, I would have collapsed on the grass beneath me.

The next thing I knew, his kiss ended too fast, and the sound of a body hitting the water with a splash echoed in the air before I was covered in water. It wasn't freezing, but it wasn't comfortable as it drenched my leggings. Jaxon's head broke the lake's surface, a giant grin mischievously stretching across his face.

"Jaxon Demetrius Rothschild!" I called his full name while gasping in shock at the chill that wove through my clothes. "I can't believe you just did that!"

"Really? I thought you needed a quick cool-off after my excellent kiss." He laughed loudly, pulling at my heart. "Won't you join me down here?"

"You weren't wrong. That's too cold for me to get in with you, but I'll put my foot in and watch you do what you do best." I removed my shoes and socks, which were less dry than before, and sat at the edge of the water, testing it with the tip of my toe.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" He asked, swimming up to where I was sitting and crossing his arms over the edge to hold himself up.

"Show off." I giggled and splashed his face with a slight kick of my foot.

Jaxon did just that, lifting his body up to my height and gracing my lips with another soul-searing kiss before speeding across the entire width of the lake in less than a minute. He shouted from across the water, "Impressed?"

I was. Watching him glide through the water back to me as if he was born to live in it was magical. He would have made a fantastic merman if he weren't a vampire. I whispered, "Thoroughly."

Jaxon slid his body between my legs, catching me off guard and sending another wave of heat to my core. Crimson filled his irises, lust radiating from the look he held on me. He gently worked his hand up my leg, sending shivers that had nothing to do with the chill of the water dripping from him up my spine. My heart raced, and that seemed to increase his desire.

His hand found the warmest spot on my body, caressing it with experienced strokes. My breath hitched in my throat, the pressure releasing waves of pleasure throughout my body. The prince placed kisses along the inside of my thigh and asked, "Still impressed?"

"You have no idea," I answered back, my words hitching with the heavy heaves of my chest. He placed a tender kiss against where his hand was exploring but pulled back unexpectedly again. He was swirling me through a twister of need. I was about to complain about his absence, but he spoke first.

"Madelyn..." All the joking left his face, and his signature look of seriousness replaced it. "You mean the world to me. I'm thankful you've given me the chance, and I will do everything I can to keep you happy."

"Just stay near me. That's all I need." I admitted sheepishly, the heat of the previous moment still lingering in my body.

"I would do it out of my own selfishness, to be honest. I want nothing more than to stay with you." He pulled himself out of the water and sat beside me, his eyes blazing with admiration.

"Jaxon, I realized something a month ago, but it never seemed right to just blurt it out and say," I said, fiddling with my fingers. I was nervous to let the words be spoken out loud, but I had to. It was challenging to keep them to myself any longer. His fingers brushed my chin, pulling my face to meet his gaze. With a steadying breath to fake confidence, I proclaimed, "I love you."

He pulled me to him, capturing my mouth with vigor. I happily accepted, moving with him and pouring all my feelings for him into that one embrace. When we parted, he left another quick kiss on my lips and held a smile as wide as I had ever seen.

"I love you." He whispered back, leaning his forehead against mine.

We continued in a cycle of affection, lust, and him showing off his ability to swim until my stomach let out a demanding roar. His laughter was infectious as he pulled his clothes back on. I admit, I was sad to see him get dressed, but he promised it was only so he would be decent as he grabbed food for us.

"I'll be right back." He bent down to leave me with another kiss, my lips swollen from all of his attention, but I had no qualms against it.

"I'll be waiting," I said as he slowly backed away, not wanting to leave as much as I wanted him to stay. He finally turned and ran.

Jaxon was only a blur, then a dot in the distance. I found myself smiling with genuine happiness at the thought of him returning to me. Even in the bleak moments of war between two powerful vampire bloodlines, I had found and reciprocated love.

I kicked my feet in the cool water, replaying the last few moments. His voice was utterly confident as he confessed his true feelings for me. The kiss we shared burned me to my soul in the best way possible. His fingers caressed my most intimate parts. I shivered in pleasure again. The liquid sloshed against my skin, making me feel the most serene I had ever been. I was in bliss. The crunching of grass behind me was unexpected.

"That was quick!" I exclaimed while turning. Only it wasn't Jaxon who was behind me.

Annie approached me, her fiery hair bright despite the lack of light. My whispers started to hum lowly, not entirely speaking to me, but something was off. Her face was devoid of emotions, her stance too jerky to be natural. My body tensed.

"Hello, Annie. What are you doing out here?" I questioned while trying to keep my voice steady.

"I was looking for you." Her reply was flat, just as emotionless as her expression.

"Oh?" I lifted my feet from the water and stood, not wanting to be more vulnerable than necessary. My whispers grew louder, and I heard another set of footsteps coming from the other direction in the forest.

Harley stepped out of the tree line- a second body followed, hidden by his silhouette. My entire being prickled in anticipation.

"Madelyn Vagen, we meet again." The voice spoke from behind Harley, but I instantly knew who it belonged to. Harley dashed to Annie's side, leaving the man fully exposed.

Lord Denallsh.

How do you feel about that cliffhanger? This chapter was painful for me to write honestly, with what's about to come. I hope that you will continue to join me on this journey as we grow so close to the end. Do you think things will work in the favor, or will the enemy win? Find out the next chapter!

Only 4 more chapters left!

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