Page 80 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

“Hey,” said Temperance with a wide smile. It faded as she looked at Vlad. “Sorry that I called you an asshole—more than once. And old. Sorry, I called you old.”

Jonathan laughed so hard he had to step away.

Bram even cracked a smile.

Vlad inclined his head. “Thank you. I am not sorry I told you to get off the chair. I am not sorry I wanted to pluck out the eyes of the males looking at you as you danced on it. I am not sorry I threw you over my shoulder and carried you from the party.”

I gasped. “Temperance! You were dancing on a chair at a party?”

She cringed. “Maybe.”

Vlad took my hand in his as he stared at our daughter. “Mina, she is beautiful and perfect. And if I catch men ogling her again, I will rip their heads off…slowly.”

Temperance laughed slightly, clearly unsure how to handle meeting her father.

I put my other hand out to her. “You can get closer. He won’t bite.”

Vlad eyed me in a way that said he would absolutely be biting me later.

“Gross, I can see you eye screwing my mom,” said Temperance, making a gagging noise.

I grunted. “Tempi.”

“What? He was totally thinking about doing you. Deny it,” she said. “I dare you.”

I shook my head. “I feel like fate gave me a version of myself so I’d see what everyone else had to deal with.”

Temperance smiled wide. “Cool.”

Bram chuckled. “I do not know if all the blame can fall upon you, Mina. I know her fatherwell. He has been known to raise a little hell himself.”

Vlad licked his lower lip and nodded. “That is true.”

Temperance’s eyes widened. “Can I make rats eat demons too?”

Vlad stiffened.

I stared at him. “What is she talking about?”

“Nothing,” he said fast—too fast.

Bram snorted.

“Can you make rats eat demons?” I asked.

Vlad shook his head but said, “Maybe.”

“Gross,” I responded.

“It was super gross, Mom,” said Temperance before touching Vlad’s arm. “Can you teach me how to do it?”

I groaned.

Vlad grinned, his hand finding hers. “Of course.”

I cleared my throat.

He stiffened again. “Um, I mean, no. Rats? What are rats?”

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