Page 6 of Midwinter Night's Prince

"How have I been? I've been on the run for six months because of you, asshole!"Well, she did get to scream something after all.

His teeth flashed, showing bright fangs. "Lively as always, I see."

She was going to murder him someday. Just as she contemplated how, Seth produced a dagger. Blair wasn't a weapons specialist, though she knew her way around a blade, but she could tell at a glance this thing was a beauty. Marked with intricate symbols on the hilt, the silver blade seemed sharp, and yet the weapon looked ancient. Blair could just tell it was imbued with old magic.

"So, this is how it ends?"Her voice had dropped to a whisper.

In her nightmares, Blair imagined Seth grasping her throat, or with his fangs against the curve of her neck, but she'd never imagined him holding a knife against her. It was almost too civilized for this creature—this incomprehensibly powerful beast.

Seth winced. "Hopefully not. I intend to go in a much more spectacular fashion. My demise requires songs, fanfare, and the tears of a thousand souls." Before she had a chance to retort, he twirled the dagger between his fingers with a practiced ease. "I like to play with blades. I'm sometimes careless. You'll take this weapon from me, and then, I suggest you plant it in my flank. Preferably avoiding vital organs, if you please."

What game was he playing? "A blade isn't going to do anything to you."

"This one will, for a time."

She didn't get it—didn't gethim. And why would she? She was just one of his pawns.Seth Stormhale didn't explain himself to pawns.

God, shehatedhim so much.

The blade turned around his hand gracefully and with speed, but Blair recognized the pattern after mere seconds. She moved to take it, grasping its hilt just as it hung in the air for a split second.

He let her, she realized that. Had Seth Stormhale wanted to harm her, she would already be ashes on the pavement before she could blink.

With no small degree of satisfaction, Blair pushed against his chest with one hand, and held the blade to his throat, leaning in close.

She could feel the magic of the weapon speak to her, empowering her beyond measure.

She'd never been Seth's equal. No one was. But with this blade between them, it felt like he didn't hold all the power for once. She'd be damned if she let this opportunity pass."Tell me your game.” Blair inched closer yet. “What the hell are you planning?"

He chuckled, looking positively delighted with this turn of events. She'd surprised him.

"This isn't how it works, witch." Seth spoke low, softly."If you want answers, you'll have to let me in."

Damn him.

She could hear footsteps coming.

Too fast. Too purposeful.

Vampires.

She'd wasted precious time.

Blair drew back the blade, aimed precisely, and plunged it right into his chest. And damn if it didn't feel awesome.

Seth grunted, lips curling over his fangs. Then he smiled. "Still here, witch? Are you concerned for my wellbeing?"

Right. "Maybe I'm just enjoying the show."

It wasn't blood running along his chest, marring his shirt. Not really.

The seven vampires initially made by Ariadne had blue blood. Their descendants' blood was black as night. The one exception Blair had known about was Chloe Eirikrson, whose blood was purple. The running theory was that Jack's father had changed something in her when he shared the nanotechnology in his cells to help her along during her change.

Seth was bleeding liquid gold.

What the hell was he?

"You might want to scamper—lest you'd rather feed a couple of eager foot soldiers."

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