Page 32 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

I love the smart Tluryan elves for inventing glorious architectures, elvenlights, and the amazing water system. But their brilliance was once used by the Aeonians to create this vile drug as a weapon to destroy Avalon.

In the end the Asterdust is about as useless as sand in defeating the fae, but it has detrimental effects to other species. It’s addictive and causes loss of inhibition in elves and orcs. The Asterdust has been banned in Aelfheim for years. I hope my uncle is not getting into any trouble.

Svenn strides into the room without his shirt again. There’s a certain savage beauty about him that makes my throat dry. My eyes trail over the slick muscles of his abdomen and the defined line that disappears beneath the leather breeches that hang low on his hips.

What am I doing?

Walls of bricks, not of straw.

I continue combing my hair and removing the jewelry and trinkets from my ears to get ready for bed.

“Little fawn.”

I whirl around at the strange nickname he gave me.

Svenn is perched on the table with his arms folded across his chest, his dark eyes are staring straight at me. I wonder if he knew how frightening he is. Even Lord Wesley, the flag bearer for my mother’s warband, was intimidated by his presence earlier.

“The nightmares… are they new?” he asks, his voice as dark as smoke.

I’ve had night terrors for a long time, but last night was the absolute worse.

I give a slow shake of my head. “No.”

Svenn search my eyes for more answers.

“Two days ago, the Aeonians decided that Blaire’s life is not worth the gold and silver. They didn’t bother paying her ransom,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “So, I’ve been on edge waiting for bad news, for something terrible…”

My lower lip trembles as I recall the dread I felt yesterday.

“Nel, you know I can destroy your enemies for you.” Svenn lets out a long exhale.

“I’m not going to use the Rhunhraefn on you,” I say softly.

He studies me with those dark eyes. “Consider it a favor.”

I blink.

The devil himself is offering to help me.

“Ask whatever you need and it shall be done.” His voice drops lower. More dangerous.

A ringing silence follows his words as I stare at him.

“How do you plan on saving Blaire?” I tread carefully.

“Give me an accurate description of this girl. I will kill everything else in that fortress.”

I keep my face neutral at the brutal promise, spoken with such casual grace. Sometimes I forget that I married a vicious Nightwalker. He’s not just any vampire, but a Strigon, the sire of his kind.

“There are other folks taken by the bandits, the faeries from Avalon, the orcs of Myrkheim, and the dwarves from Darvan,” I say calmly. “There are so many things at stake if we do this wrong.”

A wave of surprise flashes across his face at my rejection.

“You don’t have to worry. I won’t be screaming in my sleep tonight,” I assure him quickly. “We received a letter from Blaire this morning. She told us she is safe.”

Darkness seems to shift in his eyes for a moment as he stares at me. “Your friend could be forced to say that.”

I almost smile at that. No one can force Blaire to do anything she doesn’t want to do.

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