Page 49 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

The fire creature sacrificed to make me is one of the most defiant beasts to control. A noble creature and a descendant of the seraphim, the Cyntefin. I have heard of one exception where it granted one of Vlad’s descendants whom it found worthy to wield its ability. But the beast had never allowed any of the Strigons to manifest his power.

‘Dark servants of the Rhunhraefn,’the creature called us.‘I shall never bow before you or the witch.’

But for Rhianelle, he would lend me this.

I listen to their dark whispering at night. Every single damned beast in me wholeheartedly accepts her.

They want her.

The chill in the air pricks against my skin. I can only imagine what it’s doing to Rhianelle by the chattering of her teeth. I move towards the entrance and settle next to her.

I had every intention of leaving her today, yet I can help myself when I grapple her slender waist, pulling her closer to me. Her eyes widen as I do.

“You’re cold,” I say.

Rhianelle sucks in a breath, tensing in my arms. “I’m not.”

“Your teeth say otherwise,” I say.

“I’m fine, really.” She traps her lower lips with her teeth. Now I’m tempted to warm up her lips too.

“Well, I’m cold,” I lie. “I need this.”

The last part is not a lie.

Rhianelle may not care about her own wellbeing, but when it comes to others, she’s incredibly concerned. After a while, she snuggles closer, soaking up on my warmth.

She takes my hand into hers. “Are you still cold?”

Like the trickster in fables, I nod.

She cups my hand into hers and blows a warm breath over my skin. I will the bond not to put any perverse thoughts over her innocent act.

“Better?” She tilts up her head and asks.

I nod.

Why is this silly fawn looking at me with such trusting eyes? I’m the last person she should feel safe around.

“Svenn?”

Not my fucking name but… “Yes?”

“Thank you for the training,” she mutters, her voice dropping low like an intimate whisper. “But I want you to know… you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”

Her voice is barely audible through the thunderstorm. “It’s not part of the Arawynn bond bargain.”

I will raise heaven and hell for you with or without the silly elven agreement,I almost say, but the words die in my throat.

“Training you takes us closer to reach my main purpose. Removing the Fae King’s head from his body,” I say, touching the tattoo on my inner wrist. “I will trade anything for my freedom from the Rhunhraefn.”

Her hand reaches for my face. There is a certain fondness in her eyes as she strokes my face with her delicate fingers. I lean into her touch, relishing in the warmness and comfort she brings.

“I know nothing is promised in life, but I will do everything I can to end your curse,” she says.

“I’ll hold on to that promise,” I manage to draw out.

A dark satisfaction fills me when she leans back on me, sharing her warmth. Since I am already going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly. I lower my head to the nook of her shoulder, inhaling her sweet scent deep into my lungs. Nel’s breathing shallows at the gesture.