Page 3 of Midwinter Night's Prince

One family had stood above all others and ruled—the Eirikrsons. But like every other dynasty, they fell centuries ago.

Around the world, vampirekind had founded several kingdoms, all ruled by elected monarchs who governed for a hundred years at a time—the true kings and queens of night. The European election was due in a few months.

Aveka didn't haveanytitle, as far as the vampires were concerned.She hadn't been elected by the conclave, and while she was Eirikr Primerius's only child, he'd fathered her before being turned into a vampire, which meant that technically, she wasn't even an Eirikrson princess.

Aveka also had a mother, nigh on as notable as her illustrious father. Tatiana Vespian had been a powerful witch in the old days, and her clan was legendary. They were one of the thirteen primal witch clans. But Aveka wasn't the heir of that line. The Vespian Witch Queen title belonged to a pretty redhead closely protected within the borders of Oldcrest.

Aveka was queen of nothing.

That could change, however. With the right tools, and the right people behind her, she could claim what she wanted—a place on Night Hill, inside the Skyhall manor, with vampirekind at her feet.

She was so very close to her goal, no doubt she could almost taste it.She had an army, the support of many among the ancients who were terrified of the Eirikrsons, and she had spells that could bring those who fought against her to her side—such as the one she’d used on Seth.

The only thing she truly needed washim.

Aveka's expression contorted into a bitter sneer he well knew before she spat her answer. "The girl."

There was no need for him to ask which girl she referred to. There was only one girl who mattered in the entire world at the moment, both to him and to Aveka.

"What girl?" he asked nonetheless, zipping up his dark jeans.

By the gods, he needed a fucking shower to scrub Aveka's floral miasma off his skin.

Aveka's jaw ticked. "How many girls have you tied your soul to recently?"

Seth shot Aveka a delighted smirk.

He wasn't the first fucker she'd captured in her web, bending them to her will until they were nothing but puppets. The process was old witchcraft, long since forbidden. No one taught that craft, because it was highly illegal. Over the years, huntsmen had disposed of many witches who dared twist the will of others for their own gains. Seth was, however, the first to have outwitted her.

Seth despised admitting it, but his escape had been sheer, dumb luck.

When the spell had worked its way through him, he'd thought of the havoc Aveka would have him cause to Oldcrest. His lightning could penetrate the defensive walls. Aveka would make him destroy everything in his path—including his sister.

Catharina was the only person who mattered to him in Oldcrest, but to his surprise, he also spared a thought for Blair. The young woman was so full of life and joy. She smiled and laughed openly—at least, when he wasn't in the immediate vicinity. Most mortals didn't register as individuals to Seth. They lived for a hot second and died without accomplishing much. But Blair? She'd stood out from the first moment he'd felt her soul, before he'd even caught a glimpse of her.

She felt strong. Not in a way he fully understood, but Seth never dismissed what his instincts told him. One thing was certain: he didn't want her to come to harm. She was a puzzle he hadn't yet put together, and Seth was quite fond of puzzles.

In a split second, he remembered he and Blair were linked. She'd been ballsy or foolish enough to enter his mind once, and he'd returned the favor. Then, he knew what he had to do, risky as it could be—for him.

For her.

He weighed potential dangers against the certainty of doom Aveka's control meant, and opted for the unknown.

The spell Aveka had started on him forced him to obey her will. Sending the core of his soul to Blair had allowed him to evade true subjugation. She couldn't take his mind, because it wasn't currently residing inside his body.

"Blair, then. Apologies," Seth said, unapologetic as ever. "You seem preoccupied with a number of girls in my acquaintance. Chloe, Greer, Claudia—to name a few."

Claudia was a new addition to the list of women Aveka wished to control or eliminate.

When weeks turned to months without any of Aveka's hunters catching Blair, she turned her efforts to Seth's youngest sister, hoping to control him through her. Not a terrible plan, but Claudia was impossible to get to.

In his absence, Claudia ruled the Stormhale clan. The duty might have gone to Catharina, the second-born, had she been in Italy, but she was in Scotland. Despite her young age, Claudia was more than competent to lead their clan.

She was protected by a number of devoted slayers, including Cendric, the most redoubtable of Seth's guards. And if Aveka's goons should get through all of their defenses, they'd have to deal with Claudia herself.

Seth grinned. Good luck to them.

Wisely, Aveka never attempted to ordered Seth to hunt his sister. She might have suspected that no good would come of bringing them together. Besides, he'd gladly take a long walk off a short pier rather than hurting a hair on Claudia's hair.

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