Page 33 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

“I want to show you something.” I rise from my seat and rush to the table. “Come look.”

I open the heavy tome I’ve been carrying all day. “This is the Book of Bindings taken from the Arawynn temple. I wanted to check for our bond, but I found something else.”

“Blaire made an Arawynn contract with Vayne Aeldrath Malgorth. The orcs are worshippers of the seventy-seven gods, just like us. Every single orc has the Mother as their Prime God. They have a custom of honoring a new bride for the first one hundred days of marriage. Not even the bandits would dare disrespect this tradition.”

I am safe.

Trust me, Rhianelle.

I look at the letter again.

I can almost see my friend winking and grinning while writing that. I’ve always loved her confident smile. “I trust her. Blaire always has a plan.”

I just need to make sure the council of Aldarelfs and the Aeonians will not ruin it first.

Svenn narrows his eyes. “Is our name in there?”

My breath stills in my lungs at the question.

I count and skim the lines to show him our Arawynn agreement. His face is unreadable as he traces my name with his long fingers.

He is so close I can feel his breath over the back of my neck. His peaceful scent of warm ocean breeze rolls over me. It is mixed with leather and steel after our training. I lean in closer to inhale it deep into my lungs.

My hand accidentally brushes his and a jolt of lightning spark through my senses. I miss the way those arms held me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. I miss our wedding night. I miss being held, but most of all, I miss being wanted by him.

I look up to him to find him staring at me with a heated gaze. No, he’s not looking at me…

He’s staring at my neck.

That’s right…

We made another personal deal. Unbounded by any bond but our words. I’ll be his personal donor, and in exchange he’ll spare the innocents. He’s finally claiming it today.

This is it.

Without words, I slide my hair to the side, revealing my neck. He leans down and my body straightens with anticipation. His lips settle over my feverish skin, drawing a soft gasp from my throat. I hadn’t realized my neck has so many sensitive nerve endings. My body is prickling with awareness, focussing on that burning at that spot where he kissed me.

He inhales deeply, then releases it slowly. Goosebumps erupt on my skin at the feel of his breath running down my back. It’s taking a while…

Instead of sinking his teeth into me, Svenn just lingers there.

“Wait… you’re not going to bite?” I ask nervously.

“Do you want me to?” he asks with a raised brow.

Embarrassment heats my face. “Don’t you need to feed?”

“Not really.”

I clench my fist with determination. I have to confront him about this sooner or later.

“There have been multiple death in Windhaven,” I say, unable to meet his eyes. “I need to know if you’re responsible—”

“I didn’t do it,” he says, his jaw tightening.

Strangely enough… I believe him.

“We had a deal. I’ll only take from you,” he adds.