Page 17 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness

Vlad caught her and spun her around.

Ponytail Girl looked as rabid and as wild as she had days ago. Gone was any sort of reasoning he’d seen in her before.

“Katarina, go! Shut the cell door behind you!” he shouted.

Thankfully, she didn’t argue. She did as was asked of her, locking Vlad in with the young slayer.

Vlad released Ponytail Girl and met her gaze. “Your sister is safe. Lucian sees to her needs as we speak.”

She hissed and came at him fast, kicking him in the solar plex.

It hurt.

A lot.

He grunted and twisted partially, blocking her next attempt to strike him. He didn’t want to injure her and knew he could with little effort. She came at him again, her strikes precise—not like a newly turned, or partially turned, vampire. No. She fought like a seasoned warrior.

She is magnificent, his demon added, aroused by the scrimmage.

Vlad caught Ponytail Girl’s ankle a second before her foot would have connected with his head. He released his hold on her quickly. He didn’t want to harm her. His only goal was to wear her out and subdue her.

I have a few suggestions, his demon purred.

He rolled his eyes.

What? Do not pretend you are above such thoughts. I am part of you.

Ponytail Girl spun, snarling as her elbow caught his jaw, rattling his teeth.

See!his demon boasted.Magnificent! She will be fire to bed.

She went for Vlad’s throat with murder in her eyes.

He caught hold of her and twisted.

She fought him with everything she had, causing them to tumble to the hard floor.

Vlad turned enough to take the blow to his shoulder and hip, keeping her body protected with his. They were left laying on their sides on the cold stone. She struggled more before settling back against him.

He inhaled her scent, burying his face in her hair, holding her close.

She snarled softly, the fight nearly out of her.

He smiled against the back of her head. “Shh,lumini?a mea. You are safe. Your sister is safe as well. I swear it on my life—or rather my un-life.”

Her breathing slowed and the tension left her body. For a second, Vlad was certain she’d fallen asleep. When she began to caress his forearm softly, he froze, afraid of breaking the moment.

He kissed the back of her head again and loosened his hold on her somewhat.

She twisted around and nuzzled her face against his neck.

Vlad sensed her need as if it were his own. She had not fed and he wasn’t entirely sure what she required to survive. He wasn’t used to uncertainties. At his age, he’d seen and done everything. Nothing was new to him. Not until her. “Tell me what you need. I will make it so.”

She kissed his neck and pressed her tiny fangs to his skin. She sank her teeth in and Vlad closed his eyes, basking in the pleasure as it raced through him.

He laid there with her, holding her to him as she drank from him. “Good girl.”

Chapter Seven

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