For a halfling, he was quick. She could still see him, but he’d almost reached the forest.
“Isvana help me,” she groaned.
Hoping she was making the right choice, Vivienne reached within herself and released her wings. They burst through the slats in her specially designed fighting leathers, settling on her back.
With a flap, she was in the air, flying towards the errant halfling prince.
A Night for Adventures
Marius’s heart pounded as he pumped his arms and legs, racing towards the trees. His destination came closer with every footfall; his breath came in short bursts, and his lungs expanded with each breath.
Thank all the gods, he’d trained nightly with the castle guards since his fifteenth birthday. Even in his finery, he moved with the swiftness of a well-trained soldier.
For years, Marius had dreamed of all the adventures he’d have and the places he’d go once his sister loosened her protective iron grip on him. Even his most vivid dreams couldn’t compare to this, though.
Freedom was sweet on his tongue, and his lips curved into a smile as the looming forest grew closer.
He’d actually done it.
He hadn’t been sure his plan would work, being as hastily cobbled together as it was. After all, he’d only had a day to prepare.
Yesterday, he woke before the sun set. The vampires had still been asleep, so he’d taken the opportunity to practice his Fortune Elfmagic and walk the silver planes. He hadn’t been there long before he stumbled upon a new path.
Some iterations of the future were firm and set in stone, but this one had been watery and fluid. Malleable.
Intrigued, he’d examined the path more closely.
Daegal Videntis, the High Lady of Death’s mate and the Fortune Elf who trained Marius in his magic had once explained that fluid paths were the most unstable. They were constantly in flux, and many things could cause them to change before the events they predicted actually took place.
The moment Marius ran the path through his hands, he knew this was his chance for freedom and adventure. The path showed him the messenger’s arrival, and he formed his entire plan around that moment.
Earlier, he snuck out of the ball during the High Ladies’ address to wait for Pierre. Intercepting the vampire had been a vital part of his plan because if the king and queen learned what the message contained, they’d never allow him to leave.
Marius wasn’t ignoring the problem at hand. He would just take care of the issue on his own.
He was so focused on the forest’s promise of safety that he didn’t hear the whisper of wind or the flapping of wings behind him. He didn’t hear anything at all until suddenly, a hand locked onto his arm.
“What in the name of all the gods are you doing?”
Marius tugged, trying to break the newcomer’s grip on his arm, but the fingers clamped around his limb dug in.
Their hold was strong. Vampiric, even.
He groaned.
One didn’t survive long in a land filled with creatures of the night without understanding exactly how deadly they could be. Of all the species who called this continent their home, vampires were the mostdangerous. Unlike the others who would eventually Fade, vampires were truly immortal.
Over time, they lost their connection to humanity. Their morals slowly faded, and most of them became cruel, dark, and evil.
Even the Carinoc dragons, who’d recently begun reintegrating into Ithenmyrian society after the death of the Crimson King and the restoration of the balance, weren’t as violent as vampire kind.
Hoping to avoid a broken wrist, since that would not be any help to him on his journey, Marius stopped struggling. Instead, he turned and glared at the vampire who held his arm in a death grip.
She was stunning, which wasn’t a surprise. All vampires possessed a supernatural, goddess-blessed beauty.
What was a surprise was the vampire’s anger.
Her jaw was clenched, and fire flashed through her black gaze. She was shorter than him, her head coming to his shoulders. Her skin was unnaturally pale. Straight red hair fell to her waist, and large bat wings were spread out behind her. A sword was strapped to her back, adding to her violent beauty.