Page 14 of The Nightbound Soldier

Nottuza (pretty sure that’s his name from the wrong Br’ar song he fed me) flicks his gaze over my head and takes a step toward me.

“This is not a good time to play with skeleton dolls,” he says, voice deep and raspy. “These dolls will bite if I release them.”

“Put them back where they belong, or I will.”

“They belong with me.”

“They belong in the prison,” I hiss. “And you, as a visitor to this court, belong upstairs in the chambers we assigned for the Unseelie king’s guests.” Pretending to be a silly female, I wipe the dust off his chest. “Nothing can clean this. We’ll burn it and get you new clothes. Return the prisoners and join me upstairs. I’ll forget I ever saw this.”

“Yes, you will.”

What’s he mean by that? “Come. My brothers would love to meet you.”

“I bet they would,” he says, gaze focusing on something behind me.

I sense the males moving toward me now. All I have to do is walk them into their cells and then take my guards outside and away from this powerful vampire.

“Stop,” he commands me, and my magic falters.

Oh no, you don’t.

I ball my hands into fists. “I won’t let you walk out of our court with prisoners.”

“And yet I will.”

Two notturnos walk past us and into their cells, locking the iron gates behind them.

I smile sweetly.

He smiles too, showing me long, sharp, thick fangs. “Will you keep me as your prisoner too?”

“Get over yourself.”

“I know you were looking for me last night.”

“Only because I knew you were up to no good.”

He smiles wider. “Your friend should’ve told you to stay away.”

“You shouldn’t have invaded Evie’s mind like that.”

“You shouldn’t have imprisoned my lords.”

“You mean your warlords?” Three males walk past us, heading for their cells. The guards are moaning now, slowly coming to. I’m pulling them toward me while Nottuza holds their minds captive. They’re struggling. The battle between our two magics causes pain, but I can’t let them go.

The vampire’s eyes narrow as he watches my magic working on the prisoners.

“Release my males, and I will release your guards.”

I double up on my magic. Had I known I would use this much tonight, I wouldn’t have purged. “Surrender the prisoners, and we can negotiate. I’m nicer than either of my brothers and will make you a good deal. Ask anyone.”

“I’m interested in dealing with you, but surrendering isn’t possible. You want my lords? Take them.”

Loud snarls rip through the air from behind me, and I turn to see horrifying creatures only partially covered with flesh rushing toward me. Nottuza moves out of the way, and I sprint as fast as my feet will carry me back toward the safety of the closed cell.

Not fast enough.

One of them grabs my hair. I scream, and I’m released, and in the blink of an eye, Nottuza pins me against the wall of the safe cell. His cold body is as hard as the wall against my back. And I mean hard in all the ways, some that matter more than others.

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