I sighed as the cool water ran through my hair and down my back as Kadens fingers soothingly trailed over my skin, "tell me again why you insisted on helping me bathe?"

His lips brushed over the back of my neck, "you're the one who could barely even walk to the shower. You expected me to leave you on your own?"

I huffed, a blush making its way onto my face, "well the only reason I can barely walk is because someone put a hole on the wall with the bed using my friggin vagina."

His laughter echoed through the bathroom, "must you put it that way love?"

I made a poor mockery of his accent, "yes my dear I think I must in order to save any bit of honor I have left to my name."

"...you lost that the moment you got into a pool with me naked."

It was my turn to laugh, "and what does that say about you?"

"I am one lucky bastard."

"Damn straight. Remember that."

His promise that he would came in the form of a kiss.

~~

Garbed in a new swimsuit I trotted down the hallway, Kaden and Aldric had went off on some sort of brother business and I was told to sit my pretty butt at the pool in the west wing.

Apparently there are several pools in that palace.

Pools the king never uses.

But his pets do.

So when I walked into a room full of women, some wearing the worlds tiniest bikinis and some wearing nothing at all, I didn't even blink.

They on the other hand openly stared as I tossed my towel onto the first chair I found and strolled into the water. The whole place was rigged to look like a beach of some sort and I had to admit, it was pretty freaking cool.

Diving under the surface for a moment I braced myself for a day here, a day full of stares and probable whispers.

They had all gathered around the pool when I reemerged.

I noted that then Kings pets were all stunning and all wore matching collars. But every single one of the girls themselves were different. Swiping my blonde hair from my face I tried for a friendly smile, "hello?"

A few of them smiled offering a wave or a greeting of their own, others settled for just a smile. And not so surprisingly some just stared.

A short girl with small breasts and an easy smile waved at me, "are you the Lords pet?"

I nodded, slipping into my part as pet, "yes. I was told to spend the day here while Lord Dawson attended to some business." Slowly I stood and walked from the pool to greet the girl, I didn't like all of them looking down on me as we spoke. "My name is Calla."

She gave a little, happy, gasp and clasped her hands "wow! I've never met another pet that didnt belong to his highness...you are not what I expected."

I blinked, "did I disappoint?"

She shook her head, "no! You are just so...so elegant and pretty..."

I smiled again, "thank you. Thats very sweet of you to say..?"

She grinned, "Nina."

I nodded, "that is very sweet of you Nina."

She shrugged, "its not really a compliment. To be honest since you were his we all expected some two bit weirdo with stringy hair and a bad habit of tripping over herself. His highness did not care to share much about you only that you would be here. So imagine our surprise when you walked in here all graceful and flowy."

I frowned a bit, "his? By chance do you mean my master?"

I couldn't help the coldness that seeped into my eyes and tone.

She hesitated a moment, "..I mean no offense of course! Its just that your master he is...not warmly receipted here."

I knew that very well, everyone avoided Kaden like the plague, I couldn't even fathom what bullshit people fed these girls about Kaden. "I can assure you, Lord Dawson is a kind, wonderful man. Perhaps you will understand more if you get the chance to meet him."

A slow murmur went through the girls as Ninas lips parted in surprise, "oh..I forgot you are his only pet. He must spend a lot of time with you."

I nodded with a small smile.

She looked entranced by the thought, "how lovel-"

"Lily child!"

I turned to see prince Aldric in the doorway, prim and proper as always. The pets looked flustered by his presence preening themselves to make sure they were perfection. I on the other hand walked over to him, my hair still dripping, "your highness! What do I owe the surprise?"

He shot me a look that told me he was not in the mood for my games, "Calla. What the bloody hell did you do to your master."

Now I was genuinely confused, "what? I didn't do anything...is he okay?"

Aldric nodded, "just jumpier around father than usual, more hostile."

I blinked in utter shock, "y-you don't know?"

"Know what?"

"The king tried to buy me from lord Dawson."

Aldric went very very pale all the sudden, I didnt think it was possible for even a vampire to be so pale but he managed to do just that, "he what?"

I opened my mouth to repeat my statement when the prince shushed me. Rude much?

"And then what happened after father tried to buy you?"

"My lord refused and stormed from the throne room, taking me with him. He then proceeded to take me into town and buy me three kittens, would you like to see them? Their names are Honey, Waffles, and Chocolate."

"No I don't want to see the cats. Kaden and father are both spitting mad and-"

"ALDRIC!"

and there was Kaden.

He froze for a moment as he spotted me, "you look lovely pet." I nodded in thank you as he turned to his brother, "what the hell do you think your doing leaving me with that loon?!"

Aldric rubbed a hand over his face, "saying such things is high treason brother."

The two continued to bicker as I made my way past quite a few stunned pets and to the bar. Peering through my lashes as I dug through bottles I noticed Kadens professional appearance was in tact but he was very very close to losing his temper completely.

I found some scotch and poured to glasses, gliding back over to the brothers and placing one in each of their hands, "pardon my intrusion but the two of you looked like you could use a drink."

Aldric offered a ghost of a smile while Kaden visibly relaxed and patted me on the head, throwing his drink back easily.

Aldric rolled his eyes.

I smiled and took Kadens empty glass, winking at Nina who still stood in the crowed of shocked pets looking stupidly surprised. "My lord, your highness why don't the two of you have a seat? Are you hungry? Would you like anything else?"

Aldric shook his head, "shes charming as always Kaden."

Kaden gave an elegant shrug, siting in a plush lounge chair, "shes brave Aldric, and only charming when it saves her skin."

Oooh he really is in a firey mood, sexy. I laughed a bit, "well my lord I find it best to save my prettiest smiles for hard times so they look even better and work even more so."

Both men chuckled at that as I fluttered around them handing Kaden another glass and topping of Aldrics. The prince rubbed his temples and gestured at me, "Calla call for some blood to be brought here, I was in such a rush I skipped this morning. Brother would you like some."

Kaden waved him off, "I am fine." He paused gesturing the the mass of women, "..pet."

I looked up from the phone just as i finished dialing, "yes?"

"...who are all these women?"

"Your fathers pets m'lord."

His brows shot up, "then why the bloody hell does he need you?!"

I sighed placing Aldrics order and walked back over to Kaden, "he said he didn't have one like me yet lord Dawson."

"Doesn't matter he's probably got no time for all of them anyways."

I slowly sank into a chair.

His dual shaded eyes trailed over me, "did you get something for yourself?"

I shook my head.

He grunted, "you need to eat. If the food here does not fare well with you here we will find you something else."

Aldric shook his head, "brother, her eating habits are not the issue right now."

Kaden smiled easily, "you're right brother! Absolutely correct, pet be honest now. Do you like the king? What do you think of him? Would you like to be his pet?"

I smiled sweetly at the two men, "no, I think he's a dick, I would sooner drown myself by drinking my own blood than let him put a collar on me."

Aldric looked at me as I were insane, "Calla! That was high treason! In front of his pets no less!"

I blinked, "no. My master asked me to be honest, it would be treason to lie to him."

Kaden smirked, I kept smiling as if I cared, and Aldric looked ready to strangle us both.