SPELLBOUND

Zolan was not surprised that there were already a few vampires hanging around outside – in fact, he somewhat expected it. She was not even bleeding anymore and yet her scent was like a spilled perfume.

Seeing that Leon was the one who blocked the vampires from barging into the library, Zolan looked at the man with curiosity. Everyone, most obvious being Levy and Reed, still had their eyes at varying stages of red. Thus, what could be expected of the common vampires who were also still deeply affected as though they were drugged with an extremely potent poison.

But as he turned to look at Leon, the half-blood did not seem to be affected by the scent like the rest of them were?

Zolan nodded at Samuel to keep their comrades in check until the scent was completely gone before he approached Leon.

"All of you, leave this place, now. It's an order from His Highness." Zolan said. The vampires hesitated but when the air was finally clear from that sweet but deadly scent, their eyes calmed down. And when they realized that they were before a half-blood, they flinched, and left the area without question.

Zolan sighed and faced Leon. "You didn't smell anything?" he asked.

"You referring to the princess' blood? Yes, I did." He answered.

"Then how is it that you are not affected by it like the rest of us are?" Zolan was truly curious about this.

Leon nodded. "I think that's the one thing that is left human in us. Our vampire half needs it, but our human half do not crave for it. To us, blood is just like water to humans. We only crave for it if we are thirsty enough."

"So… what you are saying is, the scent isn't tempting at all to you…"

"Yes." Leon responded with a casual shrug of his shoulder.

"I see. Then, His Highness is currently in need of your help. As you see, it is not ideal for us to approach the princess. And she seemed to have lost a lot of blood, so we desperately need to find someone or something to treat her, pronto."

Leon nodded but he was looking at Zolan as though he had something to say.

"What. Do you know a way to help the princess?"

Leon nodded again. In the past few days that this man stayed with them, Zolan was quite surprised with his attitude. He had expected this man to act like the almighty half-bloods the entire empire were glorifying but he was somehow yet to show any sign of arrogance. In fact, he seemed to genuinely feel as if he were inferior compared to them – Gavriel's men – to the point that he would not speak unless spoken to or asked a question or told to do something. Perhaps it was because this half-blood felt as if he was the newcomer to Zolan and the others, and he was kind of inferior to them in status.

"Tell me how. Do we need to fetch a human to –"

Leon only shook his head.

"Just say what's on your mind Leon," Zolan sighed. "Don't just nod and shake your head like that. Speak freely, please."

"I will need to see her first. I have experience because I live with humans back in the capital." That was the only explanation he gave for now.

"Alright then. Follow me."

Inside the secret door, Gavriel's body was slightly shaking as he held Evie in his arms. Apart from his worry and self-loathing, Evie's scent was permeating everywhere in that tightly closed place, and it was just so strong.

And his anger towards himself burned within him as he felt his craving for her kept intensifying by the second. The colour in his eyes kept shifting from red to blue and back again as his bloodlust and anger warred against each other like ice and fire within him until the door finally swung open silently.

Zolan stood by the door, covering his nose. "Your Highness, Leon is here to check on the Princess. He says he has the experience in dealing with this."

Leon immediately felt chills running up and down his spine at the sight of Gavriel's piercing blue eyes landing on him. He froze behind Zolan. What the hell was with the prince? What was with those blue fires burning in his eyes?! Leon remembered that Prince Gavriel was already so strong and scary when they were battling it out previously at the battle front and when he was still under Prince Caius. Was it even possible that he could be hiding more? The mere thought of it caused his heart to shudder with a fear he had never felt before as a powerful half-blood. Thinking that he had pledged to be loyal to this prince, his heart gave a small sigh of relief – somehow instinctively knowing that he had made the right choice in following this master.

Noticing Leon's shocked surprise, Zolan leaned in towards the half-blood, knowing that even the man was threatened by Gavriel's state right now. "Just go ahead, Leon. Don't worry, he is sane right now. I'll explain to you about his eyes later." Since Leon is now considered one of the warriors loyal to Gavriel, he would have to be briefed about His Highness' special circumstances.

With that, Leon finally entered and carefully reached out to touch Evie. "I'll just feel her pulse Your Highness." He said and when Gavriel nodded, he sighed in relief and lightly placed two fingers on Evie's wrist – knowing that any extra and unnecessary touch on this woman would have the prince slicing off his head without blinking an eye – and then went on to check on the wound that was on her neck.

"How's is she?"

Leon could hear the panic and worry in the prince's voice. "She'll be alright, Your Highness. Thankfully, she had not yet reached the critical limit. She would be able to replenish the lost blood within two to three days. But there is that immediate need to take care of her wound so it would heal fast, and the scent will stop leaking out."

A deep shaky sigh escaped Gavriel's lips as he heard Leon's diagnosis on Evie's condition. He looked at Leon with an unreadable gaze as the man stood and stepped out of the door.

As soon as Leon told Zolan the things he needed to help the princess, the men immediately moved.