Blood Prince [Wolf Creek Pack 4] (4 page)

Whoa!
Devlin jumped to his feet and walked to the window to gaze out at nothing. Where in the hell did that thought come from? Why did he suddenly feel obsessed over someone he just met? A man that could never be his?

He really needed to get a grip before he did something really stupid, like beg the prince to fuck him into the wall and never let him go. And he was very close to doing just that. It hovered on the tip of his tongue.

Deciding distance would be the best thing for him at the moment, Devlin turned to Zacarius to tell him he needed to head back to his room when he caught a look of distress cross the man’s face.

“Zacarius?”

The distress on Zacarius’s face turned to one of pain as the prince wrapped his arms around his stomach and groaned. Devlin hurried to his side, kneeling down on the floor by his feet. He reached up and pushed the long black hair back from his pale face. He now seemed pastier than usual.

“Zacarius? What is it?” Devlin asked, real concern starting to fill him. “Should I get Alfred?”

Devlin stood to his feet before he even finished speaking, intent on getting help for the prince, but Zacarius grabbed his arm, pulling him back. Devlin knelt back down, unsure of what to do.

“No,” Zacarius whispered. “Don’t let—no one can know something is wrong.”

“What is wrong?” Devlin asked. “Was it—is it because you drank my blood? Did I do this?”

Zacarius shook his head. “No, I think…I think I’ve been poisoned.”

Devlin’s heart thundered in his chest. The feelings of confusion and uncertainty of a few moments before were replaced with pure rage and a need to find whoever poisoned Zacarius and rip them into tiny little pieces.

A small groan brought Devlin’s attention back to Zacarius. His anger drained away as he realized he needed to care for Zacarius first. He could find the culprit later and then rip him into tiny pieces.

“What can I do, Zac?” Devlin whispered softly.

Zacarius cupped his cheek, smiling for a small moment. “I like it when you call me Zac, my darling. No one else does.”

“Then I shall refer to you as Zac from here on out.” Anything to keep that pain-filled look off Zacarius’s face.

“I need to lie down, I think.”

Without a word, Devlin stood up and lifted smaller man into his arms then carried him through to the bedroom. He laid him carefully down on the bed and sat down beside him. Zacarius rolled to his side, curling into the fetal position.

Devlin’s concern turned to worry and quickly approached out right terror as Zacarius’s body seemed to go through a series of small convulsions. In between fits, Zacarius panted rapidly, sweat dripping down his face.

Devlin quickly helped the prince shed his clothing then tucked him under the covers. He went to the bathroom and wet several washcloths. Coming back into the bedroom, he laid one on Zacarius’s forehead and wiped his burning body down with the other.

A sudden knocking at the suite door made Devlin swing around and growl. He started to get up and answer the door when Zacarius grabbed his arm again. His amethyst eyes looked desperate.

“No one can know,” Zacarius whispered desperately.

Devlin nodded. He understood. Zacarius was vulnerable right now. Vulnerability could be exploited by anyone, including whoever poisoned him. Devlin needed to make sure no one knew of his condition except him. He could care for Zacarius.

“Okay, honey, I want you to just lay here in bed. I’ll take care of everything.”

Zacarius gave him a weak nod.

“If anyone comes in here, just let them think we’re having hot monkey sex.”

Zacarius chuckled faintly then rolled over groaning as he grabbed his stomach again. Devlin smoothed his hair back from his face again. He waited until the spasms passed then got to his feet.

Zacarius had a confused but interested gaze as Devlin stripped his shirt over his head and unbuttoned the top button of his jeans. He reached up and messed his hair then winked at Zacarius before heading to the door.

Devlin wasn’t surprised to find Alfred standing on the other side of the door. The manservant had just been too upset over the little intimate dinner for two to stay away for long.

“Can I help you?” Devlin asked.

“Where is Prince Zacarius?”

“Sleeping.”

“I must speak with the prince,” Alfred asserted, standing at his full height.

“I told you, he’s sleeping.”

“I don’t believe you,” Alfred snarled. “What have you done to my prince?”

Devlin stood back, opening the door wider. “Go check if you don’t believe me.”

Alfred swept past Devlin, stepping slightly sideways so that their bodies wouldn’t touch. Devlin chuckled and followed behind him. Zacarius lay in the bed, the covers pulled up to his chest, one leg bent at the knee and hung out from beneath the blanket.

“Your highness,” Alfred said.

Devlin rolled his eyes and walked right past the manservant to the edge of the bed. He stretched out on the bed and reached over to shake Zacarius’s arm a little. Devlin knew he was awake, just pretending.

“Honey, wake up,” Devlin said, playing along. “Alfred’s afraid I tore you limb from limb.”

Zacarius groaned and waved at Alfred, dismissing him. “Go away, Alfred. I’m sleeping.”

Alfred bristled but turned to leave. Devlin got up to follow but Zacarius’s words stopped him.

“Come back to bed, my darling. I’m not done with you yet.”

Alfred turned back, his jaw dropping open. Devlin winked at him and proceeded to drop his pants then climb under the covers with Zacarius. He pulled Zacarius into his arms and snuggled him close to his chest.

“I do not wish to be disturbed for any reason, Alfred.”

“Yes, your highness, as you command.”

Devlin waited until he heard the front door close before he jumped out of bed and ran to lock it. As a second thought, he went into his quarters and locked that door. He gathered up his personal belongings and moved them into Zacarius’s quarters before locking the door between the two suites. He wasn’t taking any chances.

Back in the bedroom, Devlin debated between climbing back in bed with Zacarius and sleeping in one of the chairs by the fireplace. Zacarius solved that dilemma by flipping back the covers and giving Devlin a pleading look.

“Please?”

Devlin wasn’t going to make the man ask twice. He crossed the room and climbed under the covers, tucking them around both of them before pulling Zacarius close to his chest again. He liked it last time too much to not want to do it this time.

Zacarius seemed to doze on and off, his sleep fitful. When he was awake, he shook from chills if not convulsions. Each time, Devlin held him until his body stilled then wiped him down with a cool cloth.

Finally, as dawn approached, Zacarius fell into a deep and hopefully healing sleep. Devlin stayed awake, keeping vigil over the man he was quickly becoming obsessed with. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to Zacarius until he figured out why he felt so infatuated.

A soft knock at the door drew Devlin’s attention. He glanced down to see a serene look on Zacarius’s face. Devlin brushed the hair back and caressed Zacarius’s cheek before leaning down and planting a small kiss on the prince’s forehead.

“Someone’s at the door, honey,” Devlin whispered against his skin. “I’ll be right back.”

Devlin climbed from under the covers and scooted to the edge of the bed. He grabbed his jeans and pulled them up his legs, standing to zip them up before walking to the door in the main room.

He took a deep sniff, recognizing Alfred’s scent before opening the door. “Yes?”

“Is he still sleeping?” Alfred asked, clearly offended that Devlin answered the door once again.

Devlin smirked. “He was a little exhausted by the time we were done.”

“It’s imperative that I speak with him.”

“I’ll see if he’s awake.” Devlin replied. “Wait here.”

Alfred looked like he wanted to argue, but Devlin ignored him and walked back into the bedroom. Knowing that Alfred would most likely be listening, Devlin lowered his voice as he spoke to Zacarius.

“Zac, honey,” he said, giving Zacarius a little shake. “Alfred is here. He says he needs to talk to you, that it’s very important.”

Zacarius wasn’t responsive at first. Devlin wondered how he would talk his way out of this one when Zacarius groaned then opened his eyes. The paleness of Zacarius’s skin concerned Devlin a great deal. He knew it wasn’t normal.

“Hey, honey,” Devlin whispered. “Alfred needs to talk to you.”

Zacarius shook his head. “Not like this. He’ll know.”

“What do you need, honey?” Devlin asked. He knew by the way Zacarius licked his lips exactly what the vampire prince needed. He could feel his response to that need in the sudden hardening of his cock and the overwhelming desire to bare his neck to the man.

Devlin couldn’t suppress his growl. A blaze of lust burned through his body when Zacarius’s leg brushed his. He suddenly didn’t care that someone waited just feet away from them. He didn’t care that he was a shifter and Zacarius was a vampire.

He didn’t care about anything except feeling those luscious teeth sink into his flesh, preferably while he sank into Zacarius. He just didn’t know if his prince was up for the task at hand.

Devlin groaned.
His prince?
When did he start thinking of Zacarius Ivinovav as his prince? Zacarius moved against him again, his hard cock brushing against Devlin’s abdomen. Devlin knew he’d lost his mind, but he just didn’t care.

“Take it,” Devlin whispered as he tilted his head back and bared his neck to the vampire prince. “Take as much as you need.”

He expected Zacarius to just sink his teeth in and start drinking. He didn’t expect arms pulling at him until he settled in between Zacarius’s legs, their hard cocks rubbing against each other.

Zacarius pulled Devlin’s head down. He gazed into his eyes for a brief moment. “Take from me as I take from you,” he whispered before leaning in and licking the skin at Devlin’s throat.

Devlin quickly reached down and grasped both their cocks in his hand, stroking them. He could feel Zacarius’s breath fan out over his skin. A silky soft and rough tongue licked at him in a way that could only be described as erotic. Each swipe felt like a lick of flames across his skin.

Devlin stroked faster. He knew he would orgasm the moment Zacarius sank his teeth in and he wanted the prince as aroused as he felt when it happened. He didn’t want to be the only one to fall apart.

“Zac, honey,” Devlin whispered as he drew closer to the edge of orgasm. He shuddered as Zacarius’s teeth raked down his skin. Zacarius’s hands moved all over his body, caressing, stroking, digging into Devlin’s flesh.

“Now, my darling,” Zacarius whispered a split second before he sank his teeth into Devlin’s neck. Devlin roared, his hips bucked against Zacarius as he shoved their cocks through his hand.

Zacarius’s hands tightened on his shoulders, nails raking down along Devlin’s back. Devlin’s breath fell from his chest. His release pulled from him by the feel of the man sucking the very essence of life from him.

He felt Zacarius shudder against him, adding to the wetness splashing between them. Devlin leaned his head against the pillow as Zacarius withdrew is teeth and let his head drop back to rest next to his.

Devlin took a couple of deep breaths then raised his head to look down at Zacarius. He felt a little more satisfied by the color in Zacarius’s face. He still looked pale but not pasty white. Devlin would settle for that for now.

“Feel better, honey?”

Zacarius nodded. “I feel much better, my darling, thanks to you.” Zacarius wrapped an arm around Devlin’s head and pulled him down for a kiss that curled his toes. He had no idea the prince could kiss the way he did. He didn’t know anyone could kiss the way Zacarius did.

Devlin winced when one of Zacarius’s canines nicked his lip, but the byproduct felt amazing. Zacarius growled then curled into him, his body becoming one sensuous movement against him.

Devlin could feel his cock giving a desperate effort to fill again. He pulled his lips away from Zacarius’s and chuckled, looking down into the man’s violet colored eyes. “You’re going to kill me, you know that don’t you?”

Zacarius grinned. “Not possible, my darling,” he whispered. “I can’t live without you now.”

Devlin didn’t know if he liked how much those words filled him with joy. It made him feel very nervous and just a little bit afraid of the draw Zacarius began to have on him. The prince would own him if Devlin allowed it. He might anyway.

“Come on, honey,” Devlin said to change the subject. “Alfred is waiting for you.”

Zacarius frowned again. “Let him wait.”

Devlin chuckled. “I don’t think he’s going to, honey. I think he believes I’m holding you hostage or something.”

“As if,” Zacarius growled as he rolled over to the side of the bed and reached for his robe, which lay over a nearby chair. He pulled it over his shoulders then stood up and tied the sash around his waist.

He walked to the door, glancing over his shoulder to wink at Devlin. God, the man was sexy. “Going to join me, my darling? I’ll have Alfred bring you a nice big, juicy steak.”

Devlin jumped out of bed and pulled his jeans on before Zacarius even got through the door. Meat and a sexy man? Could anything be better? Devlin grabbed his shirt, pulling it on as he followed Zacarius out of the bedroom.

Alfred glared at him the moment he entered the room. Devlin stuck his tongue out at him. Alfred got a pinched look on his face then looked away, ignoring him. Devlin chuckled. He liked Alfred. He would to have lots of fun with the uptight, starchy man.

“What was so important that you needed to disturb me, Alfred?” Zacarius asked.

Devlin tried to look casual as he moved over to the dining table that still held their dinner from the night before and began to sniff at the food. He hoped he would be able to sniff out what exactly poisoned his prince.

Damn!
There were those words again. Devlin really needed to get control of himself. He liked Zacarius, maybe a little too much, but he needed to stop thinking of the prince as his. Zacarius would never be his, and Devlin needed to get used to that fact.