Page 58 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

I see the sparkle of relief in her eyes at the answer.

“Come look,” she whispers, gently opening her hands to show me two fireflies resting on her palm.

The bugs blink and signal each other in their courtship ritual. Rhianelle’s eyebrows dance upward in pure awe and astonishment.

“Did you know they flash each other to find their mate?” she says.

I simply shake my head, repressing the urge to make inappropriate comments. I fucking hate the way the bond lets my cock do the thinking most of the time.

The pair of glow bugs suddenly shoot to the sky, surprising us both.

Rhianelle tips back her head and giggles until she almost slips from the branch. I have never seen anything more beautiful. I slide my hand around her waist to keep her from falling.

She suddenly tilts her head to look at me. “Thank you, Svenn.”

My heart stills the moment my eyes meet hers.

That’s it for me.

One look and just like that my resolve to stay away is shattered. I thought I can let her go, I thought I can cut her away from my life for her own good.

Well, too bad, little fawn.

You’re mine now.

Chapter 8 Rhianelle

The stars have come out to play in the night sky by the time we return to Windhaven. Their bright sparkle and streak look as magical as the day feels to me. We have to return to the keep as soon as possible. The guards have begun locking the city gates as the night settles. No one will be able to go about freely after curfew.

I’ve always loved riding. But today feels even more special because it’s with him.

I take a step closer towards Svenn, my arm nearly brushing against his. The bond coaxes me to hold his hand. I tell it to stop asking me to do to stupid things.

Svenn delivers our Noctrals to the stable master, thanking the elderly male. I trail silently behind him as we head to our tower.

“What have you done to my wife?”That growl he made earlier in the forest was unlike anything I’ve ever heard before.

The silly thing in my chest skips a beat at the mere memory of it.

Nope.

I’m not going to let him charm his way into my heart again.

Walls of bricks, not of straw.

I nearly trip when Svenn suddenly halts in his tracks. He leans in close to my ear. “You go on ahead. I’ll be back soon,” he murmurs.

As a small prey in the forest of Astefar, I am attuned to the murderous intent of the predators around me. I felt the same bestial rage emanating from Svenn when he was staring at the retreating Grimsbane in the fae woods earlier.

He’s giving out the same energy right now. I watch the turbulent storm in his eyes, the intent behind them. He’s going to go after Carver.

I can’t let him do that.

“Svenn,” I call his name before he leaves.

His intense gaze slides to me and my heart nearly stops.

This is a long shot, but it’s worth a try.