Page 19 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

He wondered if this was what people felt when they spoke of being elated. Hearing her forms words rather than snarls and hisses was everything to him. “You met her. She has red hair. I would say she has a temper, but next to you she is starting to look like a sweet kitten.”

Some of the black in her eyes began to recede.

Vlad remained perfectly still. “Lumini?a mea?”

More of the black faded away, leaving bits of bright blue showing. “W-who?”

He licked his lips. “You.”

“Me?” she asked, pointing to herself with the slice of partially eaten pizza.

He inclined his head. “I do not know your name. It is why I call youlumini?a mea.”

“I have…a name,” she said, lifting her chin.

“Yes. I’m sure you do.” He resisted the urge to grin from ear to ear. They were having a conversation—sort of. “What is your name?”

Her expression fell. Gone was the hatred and wildness. Vulnerability replaced it. “I… I don’t remember.”

Vlad set the tray on the floor and stood to his full height, stepping closer toward her. He didn’t want to frighten her or set her off again, but he did want to provide comfort. “Lumini?a mea.”

She dropped the pizza slice and touched her upper chest—the spot she’d been stabbed. There was a puckered scar there, the only thing marring her perfection. To him it was a sign of how strong she was. Of what she’d survived. And a sign of what had brought them together.

“You are safe,” he stressed, raising his arms out some, trying to show he wasn’t a threat to her. “Your name will return to you in time. Until then, you can remain my little light. Yes?”

She blinked and a lone tear slid down her cheek. She launched herself at him, not to attack or go for his jugular as she had numerous times before. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he found himself lifting her, her legs going around his waist. She clung to him and broke down in tears.

He held her with one hand and used his other to sooth the back of her head gently. “Lumini?a mea, all is well now. You and your sister are safe.”

She tensed against him. “Sister?”

“Yes. She is here. Down the hall.”

She put her forehead to the crook of his neck. She kissed softly there and then trailed a line of small kisses up toward his ear.

He tensed. “Lumini?a mea,you have been through much. You are feeling vulnerable.”

She put her lips near his ear and blew softly.

Vlad shuddered as need slammed through him. He shook his head. “Lumini?a mea, this is not right. I am far too old for you.”

Her hand found the scar on her chest again. “Birthday.”

“What?” he asked, wondering how far gone her mind was.

“It was my… our birthday,” she whispered. “I wanted to look for something… No. Someone. I made her come too.”

He said nothing for a minute as he thought harder on what she was saying. “Lumini?a mea?”

“I remember that much,” she said, her voice soft yet husky. “Why can I remember that but nothing else?”

He held her tighter, rocking her body with his. He kissed the top of her head. “Do not push too hard to remember. It will come. Do not force it.”

She nodded against him, her lips finding his shoulder. She kissed his neck next and then his jawline. Her lips were nearly to his when Radmila’s voice cut through the moment.

“Master?”

Vlad set Ponytail Girl on her feet and backed away from her, thankful for the intrusion. He wasn’t sure he’d have stopped things had they progressed. “Yes?”

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