Page 29 of The Vampire's Mercy
The scarlet veins spread across his shoulders, the jewel appearing brighter than before. Pulsing, pulsing, pulsing. Mesmerizing, my stakeblade manifesting in my hand from its own hunger to break it.
Curiosity piqued harder this time. Now this was the yummiest thing of all.
“Is this what you want?” he said.
I licked my lips. “Hell yeah.”
“If you want it, come and stake it,” he said.
I blinked, breaking my ravenous stare at the source of vampire life. “What?”
He looked down at himself, tracing a finger beneath the jewel. “Are you going to resist a chance to kill me?”
My teeth began grinding. This fucker was teasing me.
No. Shit.
“Are you for real?” I retorted.
No answer.
“Have you hit your head? Why would you offer up the Heart of All to me?”
Still no answer.
Hmmm. “What? Has this crop top made you see the light?”
“And what light would that be, elf?”
“That your scumbag ways need to be purged from this world,” I threw out.
Nothing, not even a twitch.
My muscles quivered with anger. “Prick.”
His eyes flared, his lips spreading with amusement. “Don’t you see how pathetic you are?”
I balled my hands so hard my knuckles ached, my fingernails biting in my palms. “King Prick.”
He took a full minute to speak, the silence heavy with irritation. “I haven’t survived this world without keen insight.”
I took a bite of the carrot he dangled. “Meaning what? You can sense executioners?”
“A royal perk,” he said.
“Shit…”
“It takes me a moment to unravel the lie, but I always find the secret within.” He licked his luscious lips. “You shine, though.” His head tilted to the side. “Why are you so shiny, elf?”
My insides twinged, rage and fear colliding. “Fuck you.”
He sensed me. He saw me? Dammit.
“Your kind hide so well,” he added. “If you’re wondering why I’m not out there hunting you across the realm.” Something passed over his face. Confusion, maybe? “I… I have other things to be concerned with.”
Yeah, great. Like getting his memory back or whatever. I didn’t give a fuck.
When would the fighting start?
