Page 42 of Dragon Slayer

“Mate,” Romulus said, and then turned to Father, grinning. “But not wife? Does the princess know she bore you only one son, or have you compelled her to think that the other two are hers as well?”

Growling filled the room.

Father looked as if he’d been struck.

Val felt as if he had been.

Only the family knew the real nature of the prince and princess’s relationship. Only the wolves, undyingly loyal, knew that Eira was mother to Vlad and Val.

“What, you thought I wouldn’t be able to tell? You’ve been away from our kind for too long, brother. There are four vampires under this roof, and one half-breed.”

“Perceptive as always,” Father said.

“It would seem so. I’ve also noticed that your youngest son is a dream-walker.”

Dracul frowned. “How could you possibly know that?”

“Because he’s standing right over there.” He nodded toward Val’s hiding place, and all eyes swept his direction.

Oh no.

“Valerian,” Mother gasped.

Father charged toward him in three long strides, expression thunderous. “Radu, what are you–”

A flash, a sense of falling, and Val opened his eyes to his bedchamber, Vlad propped on one arm and leaning over him, watching his face.

“Well?” he said immediately.

Val tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry. His heart beat wildly against his ribs, and his palms prickled with fear sweat. “I got caught.”

Vlad sighed. “Stupid.”

“Uncle Romulus is…” He’d been smiling, and laughing, but.. “He’s wrong.”

Vlad’s dark brows knitted together. “What do you mean ‘wrong’? What did he say?”

“No, he just…” Val frowned to himself, frustrated with his inability to communicate. His uncle hadn’t done anything, or even really said anything, but he’d sensed a threat. Too obscure for his four-year-old mind to grasp properly, or to classify.

The quick rap of footfalls echoed out in the hallway, and Vlad’s eyes went comically wide. “Mother,” he whispered, and flopped down beside Val, closing his eyes and feigning sleep.

Val closed his eyes, too, and hoped he wasn’t in too much trouble.

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