Page 12 of Princess Broken

He bends to look directly into my eyes. “We have no current plans to hurt you.” His gray eyes flicker in the darkness, their scrutiny incredibly intense but beautiful, and for a moment I’m lost, drawn into them with the sensation I’m falling down through that trap door again.

Restoring my senses, I bend my knees toward my chest and kick forward, aiming for his crotch, but he catches my feet and laughs as he holds them aloft.

“Can’t get much momentum for kicking from that position.”

“Thanks for the tip.” I glare at him.

A grin spreads on his face, and his hand slides over my ankle.

My gut contracts.

Then his expression shifts and he drops my legs like I’m on fire.

Another vampire steps into view and removes his cap. This one has hair so blond it’s almost white. It’s cut short on the sides but thick on top, swept back from his forehead. His skin is pale, out of place on a man otherwise rugged and tough. He seems carved out of marble.

His eyes flash multiple hues of blues so bright they’re almost unreal. Vampires’ appearances are always like their human ones but better. Even as a man, this vampire must have been devastatingly handsome. All three of them must have been, if I’m being honest with myself. But I don’t want to see my captors as attractive.

“No point in fighting,” the blond vampire says. “We’re not going to hurt you, princess. Goes against our code.”

Realizing I’m still struggling, I stop. I’m wasting energy. Even if I got free from my captor, I’m outnumbered four to one, and outweighed by a factor of ten, based on their heights and massive muscles.

“I’m Flame.” The blond vampire’s eyes widen and flash as he speaks, almost like saying his name excites him. Raising his right hand, his fingers curl, and then he flicks them open. A literal flame rises from his fingertips.

Fear traces through me—can this vampire set himself on fire?—but then I see he’s holding a match between his index and middle fingers.

How did he light it? Where did it come from?

His gaze snaps toward the flame, obvious desire in his eyes. He tosses the match into the darkness and it burns out before hitting the floor of whatever tunnel-like space we’re inside.

“This ugly one’s Blade.” Flame nods toward the objectively beautiful Black man with the gray eyes. “And the one whose arms are so gently holding you—” he grins “—belong to Crusher.”

The man behind me grunts. His hold lessens slightly, enough so my bones are no longer in danger of snapping, but not enough to let me move. I stay alert for a chance to escape.

“And the shy one behind us—” his head gestures down the tunnel “—is Phil.”

Phil? Seriously? These vampires are named Crusher, Blade, Flame—and Phil?

“I’m not fucking shy.” A deep voice booms from behind me, and the fourth vampire steps into view. He’s the tallest, by far the broadest, and most definitely does not look like a Phil.

Removing his cap, he reveals a head topped with flaming red curls that surround a square face dotted with freckles. Removing his sunglasses, he slides the arm into the collar of his t-shirt, and tucks the rim of his cap into the back of his jeans.

He nods sharply toward me. “Pleased to be of service, ma’am.”

“Kidnapping is a service?” I snap. “Not to the one being kidnapped, it isn’t.”

Phil lifts his gaze from the floor to meet mine. His eyes are golden, as gold as the amber room in the home in St. Petersburg where I lived as a child. I suck in a sharp breath as the beauty of his eyes’ melds with memories I’d long ago buried. But my memories vanish as I realize his eyes are sparking with humor. Is he laughing at me? At my predicament?

He chuckles. “Lady’s got a point.” Stepping back, he folds his arms over his massive chest. “So, what’s your plan?” he asks, looking above my head.

“Don’t have one.” Crusher lives up to his name as his arms tighten around me again.

“Why did you take her then?” Phil asks. “Why did I block the exit?”

Crusher’s chest shifts behind me. “Like Flame said. The code.”

Phil’s eyes narrow, but he nods.

“What code?” I ask. I am not going to be a pawn in their nefarious kidnapping mission. And who has a code for kidnapping?

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