Page 108 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

Bubble rises to the surface from my startled breath.

Svenn is staring at me with the wrath of an underworld god. My heart thunders in my chest over the fury in his face. But it quickly ebbs into relief because he’s here.

Angry, but here.

I show him the handle in my hand and point to the seadragon in the cage.

Help me,I plead silently.

Understanding enters his violent, dark eyes.

Svenn treads towards the trap in an effortless motion. Kiiska is terrified of him, but instead of thrashing madly the way she did with me earlier, she just cowers to the back of the cage. That is the normal reaction to a Strigon.

Svenn is here to help,I tell her.

I see the fierce gleam in her eyes as she prepares to fight for her life. I smile a little to myself. Kiiska is a survivor. Just like little me in Astefar.

The Gamghat prism bars bend like celery underneath Svenn’s brute strength. I still for a moment, mesmerized by the sight and the relief flowing in my chest. The little sea dragon wriggles her way out of the opening and swims away at the first chance.

I am so in awe I forgot that I need air to survive. My lungs feel like they’re about to explode. I propel myself upwards in a dash.

Wait—no, no this is too fast. I need to adjust my ascend carefully after the deep dive.

Something wraps around my waist, pulling me to a stop. Perhaps a sea monster has decided to enchant me. But I am not staring at a kelpie or a mermaid.

It’s my husband.

Dark and menacing, Svenn is death incarnate himself. Instead of killing me, he shoves his mouth to mine, breathing me air and life. The burning sensation in my chest recedes.

I blink and exhale slowly.

Svenn’s eyes soften as they lock on mine. He’s buying time so my body can adjust to the new pressure. I’m grateful that he pulled me to this safe stop. I don’t want to explode like that deepsea starfish Kahedin brought to the surface.

Thank you,I try to tell him with my blinks.

His mouth closes on mine again, passing me air. I don’t know how this is even possible. Perhaps it’s the ability of that poor siren that was sacrificed to the Rhunhraefn to make the Strigons.

I could drown, but all I can think of right now is I want another kiss. More kisses. Endless kisses. For a moment it feels like there are just the two of us, existing in the world.

A strange peaceful calm settles as we sway in the current. I like the way I fit in his arms, like belong here, even in the strangest of places.

He gives me another mouthful of air before we surface. Svenn tows me towards the rocks against the relentless tide. His hair is slick back from the dive but he doesn’t seem the least bit exhausted from the effort.

He pushes me to climb on the rocky cliff. “Quickly, the mother is coming.”

Panic swells in my chest and I clamber the ridge faster to get to the top.

Sure enough, a long serpentine shadow sweeps through the ocean towards us at a terrifying speed. My heart lurches to my throat the moment the beast leaps out of the water.

Heavens help us.

The adult seadragon is a thing of nightmares, a creature that haunts the darkest depths of the ocean and only emerges to the surface to hunt and feast. It is ten times the size of the calf we rescued, with sapphire scales gleaming like diamonds in the sunlight. A single swipe of that powerful body can destroy dozens of ships.

“Daughter of Völundr!”

Her vicious snarl shatters the realm as she shoots straight towards us. She rages with maws open, displaying her rows of sharp teeth.

My heart stutters erratically and nearly stops.