Page 42 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

Dream Nel raises her head, demanding a kiss from him. He obliges and I feel the searing heat on my lips. She is bold because she knows he wants her. I was once like her on my wedding night. There is no abhorrent curse tattooed on my belly. I was just me back then, and Svenn wanted me.

He runs his hand on her back with soothing strokes, showering her with all his attention. I’m happy for her, but it hurts a little knowing I can never have that.

Because the truth remains that I’m a curse bearer and Svenn hates me.

This is the main reason why I don’t want to stay in my body during these weird dreams.

Because if Svenn looks at me directly with that tender look in his eyes, I’ll start dreaming we will be together in the real world too.

Chapter 6 Svenn

Imade a mistake. I should have ended this by staying away. But like a complete fucker I tempt with fate. Now I pay the price.

“Again, Svenn.” Rhianelle backs away after hitting me with the back of her sword.

Her steps are nimble and light. It’s like fighting with the wind.

A week has passed since we started this routine practice, but this fixation with Rhianelle has not faded. I’ve began to relish the time I spend with her, stolen moments between us whenever she’s not busy with her council. Our training usually would calm my darker urges for her, but not today…

I know for a fact that Nel touched herself in the bath this morning.

She does that sometimes, especially after she had one of her sweet dreams instead of nightmares. I keep wondering who the fuck she imagined herself with. One of her fucking knights? The dense smoky-haired assassin? The lord of the castle?

Rhianelle strikes me again, as silent and deadly as the night. I narrow my eyes to slits the moment she taps my chest with her hand. The subtle touch sends a throbbing need to my cock.

It completely messes me up.

“You’ve lost three rounds in a row,” she declares, wearing an adorable, triumphant grin on her face.

I’m barely keeping it together just looking at her. Rhianelle had to add her touch to my torment. This sweet creature is completely oblivious to my internal struggles.

“Should we go for another or do you need to rest?” she says, pulling her smooth, long silver hair into a bushy ponytail. It bounces around like a wicked taunt every time she moves to evade me. I imagine tugging it as I feel her come all over my cock. Just like that my body becomes paralyzed with lust.

She cranes her slender neck to read my next movement. I should be focussing on her openings, but instead my gaze trails from her mouth down to the hollow of her throat. I know her sneak attack is coming from the right. Her eyes are full of fire as she swings the blade. Instead of evading, I want to walk right in and burn in that flame.

Rhianelle pulls on my leather vest, tapping my flank with her sword.

“That’s my fourth win.” Her lips tug into a playful smile.

This is borderline cruel.

I can’t help but think that this is hell. A special one designed for me.

“Are you all right, Svenn? You seem distracted,” she muses.

“I guess I am.” Her scent floods my senses, filling me with need. The pull is so great that I have to physically take a step back from her.

“Did you stay up late reading again?” She gives me one of her innocent, blinding smile. The girl doesn’t know how she can make me feel a million different emotions just by doing that.

Her soft body gently grazes mine as she falls for the opening I left for her. I was supposed to pretend as a sluggish orc, but I jump at the opportunity to be close to her.

I dart to the side, snatch her wrist, and slam her against the tree. We are both breathless, the wind crushed from our lungs as I pin her there.

“That’s cheating.” She stares up at me, looking like the most edible fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

“Doesn’t matter.” The words come out in clipped grunts. “I have you now, little fawn.”

I make sure the words are whispered to her sensitive ear.