Page 46 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

Vlad kept the darkness pulled up around him, knowing it not only shielded him from the view of the others, but it blocked their ability to sense him. He moved quickly toward the circle of vampires just as the tall one was thrust back. The man clutched his stomach and fell to the ground, right past Vlad.

There, standing tall, her long hair blowing in the night breeze, was the face of an angel—of a woman Vlad never thought he’d see again.

Ponytail Girl.

Before he could so much as blink, she was going at another vampire as she yanked something from her boot. Silver flashed in the moonlight as she spun and delivered a wicked punch to the throat of the vampire. She then stabbed him in the chest. One second, he was there, and the next he was gone.

Poof.

As if he never existed.

“That was for calling me sweetheart!” she shouted, her attention moving to the next vampire.

“Slayer,” hissed one of the men.

“Kill her!” yelled the tall vampire as he pushed to his feet.

Vlad and his demon came to a perfect understanding. No one was to touch Ponytail Girl. Any who tried would meet their death at his hands.

He moved with preternatural speed, heading off the tall vampire. He seized the man by the throat, lifted him off his feet with one hand, and proceeded to throw him across the cemetery. He landed on an old gravestone, breaking it in half.

Vlad twisted around and went at another vampire, darkness still cloaking him. This vampire was engaged in battle with Ponytail Girl. Vlad grabbed him from behind by his head, twisted fast and hard, ripping the vampire’s head off in one clean motion. The vampire burst into fine dust that blew away in the breeze.

Ponytail Girl stabbed another in the chest, dispatching him with ease. She spun around, and it took Vlad a second to realize she was coming at him with the dagger in hand, aiming for his chest. Her blue eyes were locked on him, focused, her intent clear. She planned to kill every vampire present, him included. He wasn’t sure how it was she saw through his cloak of darkness, but she had.

His demon laughed.She is magnificent!

Vlad caught her wrist and turned her around, closing his arms, locking her back to his front. Her backside was lined up perfectly with his groin.

He hardened instantly, surprise coursing through his veins. The last time he’d been aroused was four years ago. He’d assumed something was wrong with him. That his age had finally caught up with him, leaving him little to no desire for sex.

Evidently, he’d been wrong.

Very, very wrong.

“Ohmygod, perv! You’re getting off on this,” Ponytail Girl said, her husky voice causing Vlad’s body to throb with need. She wiggled to get free, leaving her butt rubbing against his erection.

She is going to kill us without needing to deliver a single blow if she keeps teasing us in such a manner, said his demon.

He let his darkness spell drop. His gaze darkened on the last of the vampires who had been surrounding her.

The remaining three vampires shared a look that said they had no interest in dying on this night before they turned and ran.

Vlad loosened his hold on Ponytail Girl, turning her to face him, knowing she was still armed but not caring. He did not want her to see what he was going to do to the others.

His gaze moved past her, to the fleeing vampires. He allowed his powers to rise, tapping into one facet that set him apart from other vampires. What gave him a dark edge. It wasn’t something he used often but when it did, it left an impression on any who witnessed. He didn’t want Ponytail Girl knowing the true extent of his rage and willingness to harm others.

He moved two fingers off Ponytail Girl’s hip, pointing them at the fleeing vampires a second before he sent the call out.

Almost instantly rats came rushing out of the woods, acting as one unit, going right for the vampires, racing up them, covering each in a mound of tails, claws, and teeth.

Vlad wrapped the darkness around Ponytail Girl and himself, making sure it blocked the screams of the others as the rats consumed them. A slight smile touching his lips at the knowledge they were suffering horrible ends.

I enjoy it greatly when you are the twisted one, said the demon.Now, disarm her and let her drink from us again. Then, encourage her to put her mouth lower. Much lower.

“Lumini?a mea,” he whispered, his focus returning to her. He trailed his hand up her back, savoring the feel of her.

She grabbed his arm and flipped him over her back like it was nothing.

---