Page 74 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

“Our moms won’t care how much we give them big, sad eyes,” Hannah said. “Yours will go through the roof. Plus?—”

“If you dare say Lucian will be upset, I’ll hurl. And if I puke it will be down the old dude’s back,” said Temperance with a snort. “It’s weird how much Lucian talks in your head and how he’s always around. Seriously, I’m with your dad on this. I mean, Lucian is hot, but still.”

At the mention of Lucian, Vlad drew to a fast stop. “Tell me of this Lucian. Now!”

“Kiss my ass,” said Temperance.

Knowing he’d get further with Hannah, Vlad focused on her. “Tell me of Lucian. Is he a shifter too?”

“Don’t talk, Hannah. This one has power tripper written all over him,” said Temperance. “Stand firm.”

Hannah looked torn as to what to do. She gave in and nodded at Vlad. “He is. But he’s not with the Harker pack. He’s a…”

“Lone wolf,” said Vlad, rage simmering below the surface.

She nodded again. “He’s not bad! And he’s not creepy. He’s my friend. He…protects me. He helped me understand my wolf.”

“Hannah, you suck at standing firm. Just because this over-grown ape sounds has the same accent as Lucian doesn’t mean he’s trustworthy.”

Vlad growled. It was his Lucian. He was sure of it now.

Katarina was suddenly next to him. Her eyes were wide. “Do you sense it?”

“Sense what?” he asked, his head throbbing from dealing with a teenage girl and from the burning desire to find Lucian and beat him within inches of his life for daring to steal Mina away from him all those years ago.

“Dark magik,” Katarina replied. “Danger. It feels like The Order, but worse. It’s like the night from eighteen years ago.”

The words had no sooner left her mouth than dread filled Vlad. Fear licked his insides, confusing him. He was never one to be afraid. Not for himself anyway. It hit him then—the young girl over his shoulder and her friend. He feared fortheirsafety.

“Ohmygod, what in the hell are those freaks wearing?” Temperance hit his back, not in a way to harm him but to get his attention. She pointed to the right.

He looked and saw it then.

Foot soldiers of The Order of the Dragon. They weren’t alone. They had demons with them. A lot of demons.

Vlad set Temperance on her feet and put his hands on her shoulders. He expected her to punch him in the face. Oddly, she reminded him a great deal of Mina. “I am going to lead them away,” he said. “Go with my people. They will keep you both safe.”

She opened her mouth.

“Temperance, do not argue on this,” he said, cutting her off. “Go with Katarina.”

She stilled, her brows meeting. “What about you?”

“What about me?” he asked, glancing toward the oncoming army of bad guys.

“We can’t just leave you,” she said, her voice sounding small. “I can sense the evil on what’s coming.”

He hid his smile at her concern for him. It made something tighten in his chest and his demon even took notice. “I will be fine. Go.”

She shook her head. “We can help. We can fight.”

“We can?” asked Hannah, her eyes wide. “I can’t connect with Lucian on our mental path. Whatever is happening… It’s blocking my connection to the pack and to him.”

Vlad looked to Katarina. “See them to safety. Kill any threat to them.”

“Of course,” she said.

Radmila appeared next to them. She hissed and extended her arms, staring down the army of Order foot soldiers and demons coming at them. She had no fear. She never did.

---