Page 132 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

Torrents of guilt rush into my chest for waking her up. I hate to do this to her, but I’m selfish. I grip her closer to my chest before I push the door and stride outside into the open air. Her long eyelashes flutter against the wintry wind.

My eyes meet her sleepy, hooded ones. “Good morning, wife.”

“Hi,” she greets me with a small yawn. “Is it morning already?”

Something cold inside me thaws at the sound of her voice. I decide I want to listen to it for the rest of my existence. It’s almost as lovely as the soft smile she gives me.

“Are you taking me back to Windhaven?” she asks, her eyes bright and hopeful.

Whatever I say will not appease her, so I keep walking towards the rampart. Her shoulders deflate with disappointment and I hate myself for that. The crestfallen look does not last long when she decides to fight me to get on her feet.

“I can walk,” she protests, wriggling from my grasp.

“Stop it, little fawn,” I say in quiet command. “Wait.”

She ceases moving immediately. I smile inwardly at her obedience. I’m definitely keeping this good girl.

I take off my boots with a few simple moves and plant her feet into them before letting her go. Rhianelle is silent as I kneel down to tie the shoelaces for her.

She remains mute when I look up at her. Her inquisitive stare imploring me, watching every move. My throat goes dry when I see a glimpse of the spark in her eyes and the blush she’s fighting.

I raise a brow. “You like seeing me on my knees for you, wife?”

The girl doesn’t engage with my taunt and promptly runs towards the deck with the grace of a butterfly. She leans over the balustrade, placing her chin on her palm. There is an air of elegance about her despite being dressed in a heavy blanket and a pair of oversized boots. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I allow myself to appreciate the peaceful sight, even though I know she’s scheming to escape me. Her head sweeps the surrounding area below, calculating her plan.

Suddenly, having her so close to the edge is scaring the shit out of me. This is slightly careless of my little fawn having her back turned on me. I move slowly so I don’t startle her. A shiver visibly goes through her when she senses my presence. I put my hands on either side of the girl, effectively caging her.

“I’m not going to jump,” she mutters begrudgingly at the auxiliary security.

“It’ll be awhile before I believe that.” I lean closer. Her tender flesh erupts in goosebumps and shivers at the proximity.

She glares at me over her shoulder with a silent rage. I know the simmering look is meant to instill fear in my heart, but the message is intercepted by my cock instead.

I brush my lips to the top of her head. A gasp leaves her and she turns away from me, her anger momentarily stunted by the kiss. I don’t let the bond ruin my moment with Nel by planting lewd thoughts of fucking her from behind against the battlement.

That can wait.

“If you’re not taking me home, then what are we doing here?” she asks, still refusing to look at me.

“Can’t I enjoy the morning air with my wife?” I tease.

“I’m not really your…“ she trails.

I dare her to fucking finish that sentence. Something dark churns inside my chest, coaxing me to drag her back to the chair and use those shackles to make her understand that she is mine. I smother the impulse quickly. Thank fuck I have better control over my thoughts now. It’s a blessing Rhianelle has her back to me too. I don’t want her to see the leashed violence playing on my face right now.

I wait for the girl to kill me with her world-shattering words.‘I’m not really your wife.’

But she never does, and those words dissolve into the morning mist. She takes a deep breath, her fingers drawing invisible letters on the parapet. “I guess the view is… nice.”

I can’t resist placing my hand on top of hers. Surprisingly, she doesn’t pull away. Instead, Rhianelle huddles closer to me.

She continues throwing daggers at me to make sure I know she’s angry for keeping her here against her will.

If she wants to prove to me that she hates me, then she shouldn’t have glanced every now and then at my feet, looking so concerned for my well-being.

“I want to show you something,” I tell her, nudging her to gaze eastward. “Look over there.”

She lifts her head to look in the direction, the early morning breeze caressing her silver hair.