Page 23 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

Ponytail Girl’s attention went to Lucian. She looked him up and down slowly.

Vlad saw red.

“Look upon him not!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the cell’s stone walls.

Ponytail Girl didn’t so much as flinch. She stared up at him. “Did I see you naked?”

“What? No. You have not seen me naked,” he said.

Yet, added his demon.

“Can I?” she asked.

His anger died instantly. “You wish to see me naked?”

“He acts surprised, as if he is not known the world over for being a master of seduction,” said Radmila, sounding annoyed.

“Surprises me all the time thatanywoman would want to see him naked,” said Lucian. “Also surprises me just how many women have.”

Ponytail Girl’s gaze narrowed on Vlad. “Lots of women have seen you naked?”

Vlad had always prided himself on his prowess. He’d never shied away from the number of bed partners he’d had in his six hundred plus years. Right now, he was having a serious case of regret. “Um, well, I am very old. I have lived a long time.”

“You don’t look old,” she said, additional blue showing in her eyes. “I mean, thirty isn’tthatold.”

Lucian laughed.

Radmila was even suppressing a grin.

“You think I look old?” Vlad asked.

“You are old,” stated Lucian. “She is young. Very young. Eighteen? Maybe nineteen?”

Vlad grunted and kept his attention on Ponytail Girl.

She eyed him more. “How many women have seen you naked?”

Vlad stiffened.

Lucian tossed his head back and laughed. He pointed at Vlad. “The look on your face. You wish you were a virgin right now, don’t you?”

“Continue and I will permit Radmila to do as she pleases with you,” warned Vlad.

Radmila waved a hand in the air dismissively. “Actually, I am enjoying this. Continue.”

Lucian’s head cocked to the side again. He snarled.

Vlad heard it then—the white wolf howling in pain.

“Dragos!” shouted Lucian, rushing from the room.

Ponytail Girl hissed and jerked back, her eyes flooding with black. And just like that, Vlad had lost her to the darkness—again.

Chapter Eight

Lucian

Lucian watchedas the young wolf continued to pace the cell, shaking, snarling, salivating. She stayed low to the ground, panting hard, her sides working fast. Blood streaked her white fur where she’d slammed into the bars again and again, trying to escape.

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