Page 73 of The Nightblood Prince

“Can you?” Louder this time. “Can you save her?”

“The first vampire didn’t tear open any of her major arteries, however the second one punctured her lungs with the blade. She’s also lost so much blood….”

“Save her! I don’t care what it takes; you have to save her!”

“My prince, it’s a miracle that she’s still alive. I…”

“If you can’t, then I’ll have you buried with her! She is my bride; do you hear me? If you, a doctor, can’t save the crown prince’s bride, then what use do I have for you?”

Silence.

Siwang…

“You really shouldn’t be here.” I heard a new voice through the waters.

“I’ll be fine.” A second voice, familiar this time. I couldn’t remember where I knew it from.

“Your Highness—”

“Shh.I don’t have long. Go and keep watch for me.”

“But—”

“Go.”

The rustle of clothes.

Fire…

Soft laughter. Closer this time. “You should stop getting injured around me, you know that? I hate it when I see you in pain.”

Siwang…

“I also find it exceptionally rude that you’re calling the name of another man, while I’m risking my life sneaking into enemy territory to save you,again.”

They are not invincible….

I felt something warm touch my lips. A liquid sweet as honey, mixed with the sharp, bitter tones of rice wine.

My mind flashed back to snowy mountains and cave walls painted gold by flickering firelight.

“Lan Yexue.”My eyes fluttered open.

“I’ve missed you, too. Drink up, don’t die on me now.”

Dusk parted to reveal the sharp planes of the prince regent’s face, mere inches from mine. So close my heart leaped in my chest, skipping a beat upon the sight of those familiar dark eyes drinking me in the same way they did a year ago in that amber-lit cave.

Except this time, the curiosity was replaced by a sliver of wonder. Hislips twitched at the corners, a phantom smile as he moved closer and closer, until his lips were mere inches from mine. “You rememberme.”

My eyes darted around the room, quickly taking in my surroundings, searching for something to defend myself with. A splash of red caught my eye in the background.

Rong’s colors.

This was our tent. He really was breaching enemy territory.

“Are you here to kill me?” I choked.

Yexue’s blood had pulled me back from the brink of death, but a dark spear of pain stabbed me each time I drew breath.

---