Page 29 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

I oblige to the request without question. A strange feeling twitches in my chest when she slips away from me to climb the trunk.

She passes her green cloak into my hand. “Hold this and spread it out.”

Once again, I carry out her strange bidding.

The girl climbs higher, disappearing into the green foliage. Leaves rustle and mangoes begin dropping into the cloth in my hand.

“I’ve been eyeing them for quite a while now. It’s such a waste to let them fall and rot.”

It’s the longest speech Rhianelle ever uttered to me all week. I’m starved for the sound of her voice, so I listen to every word. Even if it’s just about fucking fruits.

After the eighteenth mango plops into my catch, the girl materializes on one of the branches, ready to jump to the forest floor like a cat.

“Come down this way.” I hold out my hand to reach her.

Rhianelle looks almost grateful for my offer. I know her left leg hurts from time to time and she does her best not to strain it. She carefully steps on my chest, searching the contours of my body for purchase. My cock takes notice everywhere she touches.

Blood rushes to her cheeks when she accidentally grazes my bulge. “I didn’t mean to do that. Sorry.”

“It feels intentional,” I mutter as soon as she touches solid ground.

She looks like she wants to throw something at my head. The mango in her hand, most likely. But of course, sweet Rhianelle doesn’t do it. She simply glares, her bottom lip quivering.

“Let me get my book and we can go,” she mutters, taking the sack from my hands.

I watch her silently as she gathers the giant tome from the grass. “Rhianelle.”

“Hmm?”

“Is that all you need from me?” I ask again.

Come on, there has to be more.

The girl stares off into the far distant; her face contorting into something stern.

I hold my breath for that order.

That fucking demand to destroy cities into rubble, to burn fleets into ashes, to bring kingdoms to their knees, to annihilate every single one of her enemies.

Rhianelle turns to me, her eyes equally serious. “The apples aren’t ripe for plucking yet. But when the time comes, I will need help.”

I force myself to swallow my dry throat.

She could have commanded me to do whatever she wants with the Rhunhraefn. Centuries worth of training in the Orynmor cave, countless of trials surpassed in Perrynvale. Bas would laugh his ass off if he knew how I ended up becoming a glorified ladder for my wife.

We walk in silence, mostly because I’m still confused as fuck that she doesn’t possess an ounce of desire to use me.

“How would you like to divide the mangoes?” she asks, matching my stride.

“You can have them all,” I say easily.

“Really?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with delight.

I nod.

And I’m rewarded with her smile.

The girl has to jog three steps for every one of mine. I have half my mind to simply throw her back on my shoulders. Once again, I am possessed by a need to hold her and never let go. The urge to grab her into my arms is so strong I almost yield.