Page 11 of House of Vampires and Flame

A few doors not too far away banged open one after another.

“Have you seen my servant boy?” the vampire prince demanded. “Short with blond curls. Everyone should recognize him with his two-toned freak eyes.”

I scramble to my feet, pressed myself against the wall, and pulled the door closer to me to better conceal myself.

“Prince Louis,” the fae teacher said in a revered gasp. “What an honor—”

Fuck, he was at the front of the class!

“I’m looking for my new servant boy, Professor Longweed,” the prince interrupted rudely. “He tried to run away. Anyone who hides him from me will suffer my wrath!”

Chairs scratched. I could feel the class turning to look at the back. My heart rammed into my chest.

“If we see him, we’ll report to Your Highness,” several students promised.

“Prince Louis,” America said in a honeyed voice. “I’d love to assist your search for your lost pet. And it’ll be my pleasure to seize and return him to you.”

“Quiet! I heard something!” the vampire prince called. “Huh, whose heart is beating so fast?”

He strolled toward the back of the classroom, whistling.

Shit! He could hear my rapid heartbeat above everyone else’s. He was gunning for me!

I slid out of the back door, ready to burst out of the classroom.

The vampire was there in a blur and kicked the door shut to cut off my escape route.

“There you are, little Bob!” He stepped into my path with a smug smile. “I’d have gotten to you earlier if that little witch hadn’t pointed me to the wrong building. When I came out of it to punish her, she’d already run away. It’d be a sad day if I let you get away, wouldn’t it?”

He grabbed the back collar of my servant uniform and yanked me toward him. I yelped and slapped his face with the remaining roll.

“Really, little Bob?” He sighed and swatted the roll away from his face.

He wrapped a strong arm around my waist, binding my arms to my sides and pinning me against him. His other hand seized my entire ear and dragged me to the center of the room by it. Obviously, my curly hair was too short, silky, and slick for him to grab.

I tried not to whimper at the pain while fighting to get him to release my ear. I had a low tolerance to pain, which made my days of torture at my father’s hand even more insufferable.

The entire class glared at me, stunned and disgusted, as they’d just discovered that a servant had dared to sneak into their class.

“That hurts!” I yelled.

“Serves you right!” said the vampire prince, but he let go of my ear.

Instead, he grabbed my chin and lifted it for everyone to take a good look at me, so they could shame me.

Every angry eye trained on my wildly curly golden hair and my dirty bare feet. I’d lost the oversized shoes on the run from this damned vampire prince.

I pouted, hating to be the center of attention, but Sy preened. For her, there was no such thing as bad publicity.

“What are you doing in my class, servant boy?” Professor Longweed scolded. “Answer to Prince Louis and me humbly!”

I struggled to break free of the vampire prince’s vise-grip. I tried to maneuver to bring my knee up to his nuts, but he expected it and pinned me against him. I lifted my foot to stomp on his, then I was suddenly lifted into the air as the vampire’s hand clutched my throat and squeezed.

I gagged, trying to pry his hand off my throat.

He chuckled. “Our little Bob is a wild cat, utterly disrespectful and untamed.”

“I’m not your fucking servant.” I managed to wheeze my words out. “I demand you release me immediately, or you’ll regret it!”

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