Page 51 of The Vampire's Mercy

His lips twitched, his head cocking to the side. “Are you trying to flee?”

I straightened my spine, folding my arms defensively. “No.”

He smiled, changing his vibe from sorrowful to mocking glee.

“Let me guess,” he said, “you’ve never run from a fight?”

Oh goody. A guessing game. My favorite.

I snorted. “What a perceptive vampire king you are.”

He smiled, still not attacking me.

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Are we dancing?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “This is the second time you’ve asked me to dance.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“Do I?”

Why did he have to look so damn hot and speak with such toe-tingling sexiness?

“I really did let your friend go,” he said.

That slapped me out of any foolish thoughts. “What?”

“He’s back on the mainland.” He nodded behind me.

I sighed, pushing back against my anger. “Why are you telling me this?”

He regarded me for several beats. “So you know who the bigger monster is here.”

I snarled, swallowing a lump of anger. “Wow. Let me bust out a round of applause. The blood-drinking scumbag knows how to honor a deal? Think that gives you a free pass, eh? That I’ll be so thankful and shake your hand? Fuck you.”

That got no reaction from him.

My senses tingled, alerting me to multiple vampires coming up the causeway.

Great. He’d called in the cavalry. About time he did, really. He seemed to go about without guards a lot. Pretty dangerous for someone like him.

I spun, clocking four figures charging up the road. I summoned my stakeblade since at least these fuckers were susceptible to my weapon.

The king moved past me, pausing a few feet away, facing them. “Again, they come.”

I eyed the barrier to my left—a potential escape route. “What do you mean?”

He growled and tore forward in a blur to meet the vamps.

I went to join him until my brain slammed on the brakes.

Escape time.

I vaulted over the causeway barrier, landing in the salt marsh. The greenery greeted me merrily, offering energy. This whole area was riddled with quicksand, but I’d avoid sinking with my lightfeet.