Page 31 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

Congratulations, fucker. You’re now on the same shit list as Red and Shade.

The lord’s tawny eyes finally meet mine, fear and wariness glimmering in them. “Everyone in the keep is well aware of your presence, but I can’t have you venturing my city just yet.”

I give him a curt nod. One of his guards nearly sinks to his knees at the movement.

His discomfort with my presence visibly grows, but he continues, “The wood behind this castle has some game animals and smaller prey if you need to… hunt.”

I know… I caught a little fawn today.

He takes his leave swiftly after relaying that message. Rhianelle watches silently as the lord and his guards saunter down the hall.

A mischievous grin spreads across her lips. She takes another peek in her makeshift sack, staring at the content with starry-wide eyes as if they’re gold bars instead of mangoes.

“All mine now.” She struts down the hallway with a merry hum, guiding me toward the kitchen.

Her pulse flutters with excitement and my gaze spontaneously drops to the base of her neck. It takes all of my self-control not to lean in and inhale that sweet scent again. How delicious would it be to run my tongue over her skin, to taste her and hear the sweet moan from her throat.

Calm down,I warn my heart and my cock. Neither one of those fuckers listens when it comes to her.

I’ve met countless of women in my existence, but she is the first to have me feeling unsettled, to have me doubting my moves. I am even aware of the way I’m breathing around her.

Now that we’re among other people, Rhianelle corrects her gait and pretends to walk normally again. Something cracks in my chest at the sight of it. I realize the truth right then.

I care for the girl. More than I like to admit.

If the command doesn’t come, then perhaps it’s time I offer it to her.

Chapter 5 Rhianelle

I’ve always been good at hiding.

No one could ever find me.

Not my family.

Not my knights.

Not the villagers who want to kill me.

Not the monsters that dwell in the swamps and shadows.

Not even the gods and the Un.

I am silent.

I could have just stayed hidden in the forest and the vampire would never catch me. But something tugged in my chest as I was watching Svenn frantically searching for me earlier.

Nel, please come back. I need you.

The fear and pain in his face does unpleasant things to my heart.

You trust too easily,Blaire once said after our food stash got raided by an army of squirrels.

I settle in front of the dresser and lift the blue crystal bottle of salve from its resting place. A mesmerizing scent of lotus petals fills the air the instant I twist the cap. There’s a small note of wild orchids in the fragrance too, cleverly woven with fae magic.

I rub them over my ankle to soothe the ache there. I use them sparingly because this is the last bottle. Fae items are not exactly restricted in Aelfheim but they are scarce. Rainer would usually order this for me, but I doubt he remembers. I don’t think my uncle even knows what day it is these days.

Is he aware that his Grimsbanes are using Asterdust?