Page 71 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

He planned to have a long discussion with the council on their rather laxed security of the property because the place was crawling with students.

Teya, dressed in a gown that was anything but casual, seemed to fit right in with the students.

The young men with her looked incredibly pleased to have her sandwiched between them. If they only knew what was dancing close to them.

Vlad wasn’t sure why Katarina had seemed so desperate to get him here, other than the party which Vlad planned to put an end to. As if waiting for his arrival, a body went flying off the side of the porch, followed closely by an ear-piercing battle cry.

Vlad launched into action, recognizing Radmila’s war cry anywhere. He was up and on the porch before any human could see him even move. He caught Radmila’s wrist just as she was about to behead a human male who didn’t look much older than twenty-one. “Radmila!”

She hissed at the boy.

He looked like he might wet himself. He held up his hands. “Listen, lady, I said I was sorry. I didn’t know she was only seventeen or I wouldn’t have offered her a beer.”

“You are lucky that isallyou offered her,” snarled Radmila trying to go at him again. “I can read your thoughts. I know you wanted to offer her far more than that.”

The young man gulped.

Vlad put himself in her path and glanced over his shoulder at the young man. Vlad drew upon his vampire powers and locked gazes with the human. “Leave here. Do not return on this night. Forget this happened.”

Radmila hissed. “No! Make him always remember my face for it will be the last he sees should he get near her again.”

The young man turned and walked by the onlookers as if in a trance. He made his way down the front porch steps to the walk path and then the sidewalk where he continued until out of sight.

Vlad drew Radmila’s attention to himself. “What is the meaning of this?”

“That…boydared to go near her,” said Radmila.

Hope surged in Vlad. “Mina?”

Radmila appeared confused. “What?”

“You found Mina?” he asked, leaving her standing there to hurry into the home. He’d gone into the old funeral home many times over the years, each time the house changed in ways that were unnatural. It was bespelled, that much he was sure of, but he had a feeling there was far more to it than that.

There was a DJ in the center of the living room, complete with strobe lights and massive speakers. The DJ was holding a pair of headphones to one ear while his other hand was in the air, moving along to the beat—if it could be called that. It sounded like loud noise to Vlad. There was nothing musical about it.

The home was packed with students. Most of them had red plastic cups in their hands and were dancing or swaying at the very least. Some were busy kissing, among other things. There was a beer pong table set up in the dining room. Years ago, Vladwould have joined in, amused by the students and their antics. He’d have drunk his fill of intoxicated coeds and gone home. Those days were long gone.

Radmila shot past him and went right for the beer pong set up.

Just beyond the table was a young woman who was standing on a dining chair, her back to Vlad as she shook her backside. She’d amassed an audience of male onlookers all whistling and encouraging her.

She turned, her long dark hair piled high on her head. She wore a T-shirt that said, “Vampire’s Suck” and had on very, very short shorts. Vlad’s demon shot to attention, disliking what it was seeing as much as Vlad. Normally, he cared not what a woman chose to do, or how much skin they wanted to show. In fact, before Mina he’d have been all for as much skin showing as possible but not now—not this young woman. This young woman he and his demon wanted to wrap in a blanket and kill any of any males caught looking at her.

Evidently, it bothered Radmila too because she grabbed one of the men by the throat and lifted him off his feet. “I will rip out your eyes if you do not avert them.”

Vlad liked her style and agreed with the punishment. Fit the crime nicely in his opinion.

Katarina hurried to Radmila, trying to calm her.

Vlad hoped Radmila carried out with her threat.

If she didn’t, he would.

“Tempi,” said another young woman, this one with long brown hair. She was in a black T-shirt and a pair of white shorts. She reached up and took the other girl’s hand, trying to coax her off the chair. “We should go. Something isn’t right. I can’t feel the pack connection. It’s like someone or something cut the cord to it.”

Pack?

She was a shifter?

---