Page 122 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

Sharks.

I’ve never seen one in real life, but the catalogue in my father’s study and the bones in the museum suggest I may not survive the encounter. I chew on my lip with the final option left.

I can bargain.

Maybe the small part of him that is fae will agree. I reach out for a piece of paper from the pile of books and fold it into a crane. This is my only hope. I twist in his arms to face him and present him with my tithe.

He is still watching my movement with that amused look on his face. “What is this? A paper duck?”

“It’s a peace dove,” I answer quickly with the fae tradition. “I would like to make a bargain.”

A rogue smile tugs the corner of his mouth as he toys with my gift in his fingers. “What are your terms, little fawn?”

“Bring me back to Windhaven in exchange for whatever you wish.” It’s a dangerous deal, but I’m desperate.

“I can have anything?” he asks.

“Anything within reason,” I quickly add. “Don’t ask for something impossible.”

He waits a moment before replying. Thunder roars and rumbles several times when he finally says, “I want to be able to hold you anytime I want.”

I lurch to take back my peace treaty duck—crane from him.

He doesn’t let me peel it from his hand. “You get to do the same, of course.”

Since he’s holding my crane hostage, I listen to his proposal. “The bond will continue to annoy us until its demand is fulfilled. This is a great compromise.”

I pause at that statement.

I have to admit, I do like this clarity in my head. His terms work for me better than I thought.

But you have to be clear when making a deal with demons and fae. Svenn is worse than both, so I must be very careful with the fine line of this agreement. “Anytime seems unreasonable. What if I am in the middle of a council meeting or taking a bath?”

“Anytime, any place,” he insists.

I roll my eyes. “This is an awful contract.”

“I’ll throw in a perk for you, Nel,” he says before I can refuse. “You get to bite me whenever you want.”

His gravelly voice sends shivers skittering down my spine.

I frown at him suspiciously.

There’s something in this deal, something more I’m not grasping. “I may be struggling with the bond, but this agreement has no value to you. You’ve sealed yours.”

Something changes in his eyes. There is a long pause before he speaks. “You make it easier for me… to breathe. To be alive.”

The weight of his words hits me like a tidal wave. It penetrates every wall I’ve built around my heart.

I make it easier for him to breathe?

I inhale deeply to calm down my fluttering pulse.

“Just physical touch. Nothing sexual,” I negotiate carefully.

“If you say so,” he mutters.

“All right then.” I hold out my hand to shake his.

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