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I let out a low chuckle. “Nice try, fae chick. Next, you’ll singe off the big bad vampire’s eyebrows. He might want to keep them for his date tonight, so he can get laid.”

Professor Longweed and the class gasped at my slight. This bunch weren’t good sports.

“That’s it, little Bob!” Louis announced. “I’m done protecting you.”

He dropped me to the ground and secured me in front of him, using me as target practice for the students and a shield for him. “It’s open season. Let’s see what you got for little Bob. Do not disappoint me.”

The students cheered, flinging their magic—fire, wind, and spells, mostly—at me all at once. The collective magic passed through me without leaving a ding. A couple of them tried earth magic on me, but their thorned vines withered before reaching me.

“Wow, look how powerful you little shits are,” I offered while trying my best to remain passive instead of absorbing their magic. “I’m impressed.”

A low profile was the best way to live another day. No one needed to know that I could take their magic into me, cook it my way, then throw it right back at the original users, letting them have a good taste of their own medicine.

If they knew what I could do and word got out, Ruin would know exactly where to find me. Also, if I used too much of my ability, I’d leave a blazing magical bonfire for my father’s agents to trace me.

Silence shocked the class until Louis broke it with his dry chuckle. “Aren’t you full of surprises, little Bob?”

The students threw their hands up and shot their offensive magic at me once again. The spells fell off me like dust motes, but some went astray and hit Louis.

He raised his shield and snarled. “Cease fire, little shits!”

The assault on me stopped. The class glared at me, then stared at their hands in confusion, then glared at me again.

“It can’t be,” Professor Longweed gasped, staring at me as if she’d just discovered a rare bug. “I thought Echo, the null, was a myth, and here he is! The servant boy is a null who can neutralize and cancel magic. I’d love to study him!”

Like that was going to happen.

“Not going to happen. He’s my servant, mine!” The vampire prince spun me and gave me a long onceover. “We had fun, little Bob. Now let’s return to my house.”

“I’m not going anywhere except the place I want to go,” I said and rammed my fist toward his eye.

The vampire ducked at incredible speed, and I took the chance to burst into a run. I raced out of Pathfinder and laughed a little when I believed that I’d ditched the vampire prince.

The witch who’d pointed me toward the classrooms was no longer on the bench.

I didn’t stop but sprang across the courtyard just as students started streaming toward Jubilee Haven. I needed more food, but I wouldn’t risk being caught by the vampire prince again.

Stars filled the night sky, more vivid and brilliant than in the mortal realm.

I zoomed through the woods between buildings. Crystal witch-lights hung on the redwoods and white pine trees. I would return and get a couple of crystals for myself. But right now, I needed to put more distance between me and that vampire.

Then I’d need a new plan to find shelter and secure food for the night.

I looked over my shoulder to see if the vampire was still trailing me. Convinced that I’d lost him, I let out a gleeful chuckle, only to find my body slamming into a hard obstacle.

A clean male scent mixed with pine and winter rain hit my nostrils, powerful and intoxicating, before I jerked away from a broad chest of hard muscles.

“Watch yourself!” I growled, massaging my tender cheek.

“There she is,” the male purred.

I narrowed my eyes and lifted my gaze from a powerful frame to a striking face that only existed in a dark fantasy until this second.

His face lit up. His lips tugged up, so carnal that it would stop an old lady’s heartbeat. Younger women didn’t stand a chance at resisting their wicked temptation. Yes, this male was temptation and sin incarnate.

Suddenly, I was not immune either. As if I had been struck by dark lightning, lust like I’d never felt before swirled to life and coursed through my heated bloodstream.

His expression changed; it was no longer amused but stunned, as if the sky had poured out a meteor shower and trapped him in the midst of its flame, smoke, and destruction. Heat rose in his storm-blue eyes that were no longer like the cold winter sun.