Page 121 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

A vicious fox toying with a pitiful rabbit.

With a single hand, he pulls the heavy long table closer. My eyes widen at the casual use of strength.

“Eat.”

This time I do because I’m hungry and the food tastes really good. I think these cubed marinated potatoes will be my new favorite dish. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I hum my appreciation for them and feel Svenn’s muscles tensing beneath me. I decide it’s best to munch quietly like a wary mouse.

To be honest, I haven’t had a proper dinner in a while. The council proceedings and paperwork consume most of my time. I could hardly find the time to indulge myself in something like this.

We both say nothing for far too long. I hope our unspoken truce lasts and he doesn’t try anything weird.

Svenn pours hot cocoa into my cup without a word. I drink deeply from the chalice, letting the delicious fluid warm me frominside out. There is a hint of the decadent fae cinnamon in the drink. Even the cloves and black pepper in the food are fae grown. The items were in abundance back when Völundr was still trading with Avalon. But these days you would have to travel all the way to Talondria to get them. Did he really fly there in this turbulent weather?

I gather the courage to look at the man behind me. He has his eyes closed, his jaw propped over a fist. I notice the hint of night dew on the shoulder of his tunic and his wet ruffled hair.

My heart catches and melts in my chest. I turn away. This man tore his soul into pieces and died today. Still, he travelled through the violent tempest to find food.

For me…

I glance back at Svenn, only to find him staring back at me. That look is enough to bring a healthy dose of fear to my heart.

I feel like I need to do something to save myself. I lance a potato cube with my fork and deliver it close to his mouth. He lowers his head to take my peace offering, his jaw moving slowly to grind the morsel of food. My heart stutters at the simple act. There’s just something so sensual in the way he licks his lips.

“You’re staring, Nel,” he whispers darkly.

“It’s just the bond,” I lie.

“Right…” There is a wistful note in his voice.

“This sweet and sour sauce is tasty,” I compliment.

He briefly glances at my plate. “The spice is from Isolde’s Cottage and the fresh vegetables are from Grimlocke. They’re little shops in Talondria, Avalon.”

I knew it,I smile in my heart.

Svenn sees the hidden smile anyway. “I’ll take you there someday. Tomorrow, if you want.”

Yes, please! I’ve always wanted to go.

My heart lights up like fireworks at the promise and I almost nod. I keep a list of the places I wish to travel to on the continent. Then I remember he trapped me here and I’m sullen again.

I bite my tongue instead of saying what I really want and turn my back on him.

“Someday it is,” he mutters when I don’t reply.

I look at the pile of books and maps on the table. All of them are books that I adore, journals, and maps. Svenn has truly well prepared to become my benevolent jailor.

But I’m not going to stay in his beautiful prison. If I stab his thigh with the fork, topple the candlestick on the table, burn the castle—

“You’re thinking of running away.” His voice cuts through my thoughts.

“No bird wants to live in a cage, Svenn.”

“There is nowhere for you to go,” he says simply.

“I can swim.”

“There are sharks in these waters.”

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