Page 83 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

The men continued going at one another while everyone stood around, watching it happen.

Unable to take it anymore, I made another attempt to intervene. Temperance grabbed my arm at the last second, distracting me, and I twisted around to find Vlad there, his body a hairbreadth away from slamming into mine. The control he had was unbelievable.

“No more,” I said softly, pleading with my eyes. “Please.”

“He kissed you,” he said, not bothering with whispering.

Used-to-be-Henry laughed, sounding nothing like Henry when he did it. “Y’know the cave, just off campus, dark as pitch? I told Henry to take ’er there. Same place he used to try chainin’ me up. Ask her what happened there.”

As his words registered in my brain, followed closely by what they meant, I spun around and glared at him. He filched, and I watched as his body contorted again, this time returning him to a form I knew well—Henry.

Vlad tried to get around me to go at him again.

I spun and slid my arms around his waist, putting my lips to his ear. “Enough.”

“When he ceases to breathe, then it will be enough,” said Vlad, venom dripping from his every word.

“Careful, Henry, this one has a thing for impaling,” said Dave with an eye roll.

Vlad snarled.

Henry looked confused and rubbed the back of his neck. “W-what did he do? What did Hyde do? Did he hurt anyone?”

I stared down at him. “You took me to a cave you used to chain yourself in? That’s how you knew about it? That is what the chains were for?”

He paled and pushed to his feet.

“What are you?” I asked.

“A dead man walking,” said Vlad.

“Look who is talking,” interjected Dave.

Vlad glared at him. “Careful, Jersey Devil, I am not a man to be toyed with.”

I twisted to face him fully. I’d deal with Henry later. I cupped Vlad’s face.

He tried to continue glaring at Dave, but I forced his attention on me.

After a minute or so, he exhaled slowly, seeming to calm somewhat. Then he tensed. “You are looking at me like I am in trouble.”

Temperance eased closer, and I grabbed her, pulling her in for a hug. It left her sandwiched between Vlad and me.

Another thought occurred to me. Vlad had started everything off with Henry by yelling about me—his wife. “Hey, what do you mean by wife?”

Temperance gasped. “Mom? Wife? You’re married? Since when?”

I shook my head. “Never.”

Bram lifted his hand this time as if waiting for me to call on him. “If I may.”

“Oh, please do,” I said, and Vlad cringed.

“I believe he claimed you, Mina. In our eyes, that makes you his wife.”

I touched my neck where Vlad had bitten me years ago. My attention was locked on him, and he had the good sense to look ashamed. “Dracula, I think we’re overdue for a long talk.”

“Lumini?a mea, the look in your eyes says you are rethinking allowing Van Helsing to stake me.” He winked. “Remember, I have been searching high and low for you for years.”

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