Page 63 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

Svenn gazes at me in contemplation.

He then shifts and leans his back against the headboard.

“Come. I’ll help you get rid of it,” he says, pulling a pillow to his lap. He taps on it in invitation.

I remember the grooves on either side of his hips, the trail of fine hair leading to—It’s covered with the pillow now but still… I swallow my dry throat.

“You want me to lay my head there?” I ask.

“It will be all right, Nel,” he assures me. His voice is warm and inviting, as smooth as the sounds the carnivores in Astefar used to lure their victims.

I shouldn’t do this.

I really shouldn’t.

Yet somehow, I find myself slowly crawling towards him, dropping my body in between his legs. I think we’re both surprised by how easy this is.

My self-preservation instinct is telling me that this is a terrible mistake. I have entered into a dangerous territory and caught the interest of this dangerous beast. Now I’m lying down in between his legs exposing my belly like a love-sick puppy. I pull the blanket over me to protect the tenderest part of my body.

I look up to find Svenn staring at me with an indulgent expression. I’ve never had someone who looks at me the way he does. He is entirely focussed on my eyes like the universe revolves around me now.

It’s terrifying. He doesn’t even blink.

I really haven’t learned my lesson from the bathroom earlier, because I stare right back.

But if this is a contest, then I intend to win.

And I know just how to do it.

I’ll win it the same way I surpassed the trial of Nimue of the lake back in Astefar. I kept complimenting her horns, her hair, her third eye, her long ears, until the shy goddess threw her hands to her face, embarrassed.

I’m going to try that with Svenn.

“What’s wrong, Nel?” His voice startles me, and I realize I’ve been staring at him without saying a single word.

“You’re nice to look at,” I barely breathe the answer.

An arrogant smirk makes its way to his lips. “Finally, some honesty.”

“You have beautiful eyes,” I begin my compliment.

“They’re just pitch black, Nel,” he dismisses.

“Sometimes they’re russet with flecks of gold,” I try.

His brows lift. “They do that in my hunger.”

All right… that’s not good.

“Your teeth are white and pretty.”

“You mean these?” His lips curl on one side and his tongue toys with his fangs.

I nod.

He sucks on a tooth, still gazing down on me. “You’re really are… odd.”

Svenn says that but I can tell my trick is working because I think he just blushed.