This, again?
“I told you, I’m duty-bound to protect you.”
He spun around, his eyes flashing. “Yes, and how strange is that? I’m capable of taking care of myself, but the queen insists that I need bodyguards, even now. Luna loves me, and I love her, but I can’t stay there any longer. Ineedto do this.”
Vivienne could tell that he felt passionately about this. She still didn’t quite understand something, though.
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re sneaking off,” she said. “Why not talk to the queen?”
Queen Luna seemed far more reasonable than her husband, all things considered.
“I’ve tried,” he replied.
She thought she knew the answer to her next question, but she still asked, “And…”
“They won’t let me go.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I left Luna a note explaining everything.”
Vivienne’s hand flew over her heart, and her feet faltered as she gaped at the prince.
Was he serious?
“A note?” An incredulous laugh burst out of her before she could stop it. “You left the Sunwalking Vampire Queen anoteexplaining why you’ve essentially run away?”
Isvana help her, this night was getting worse with each passing minute.
If Vivienne hadn’t been trapped in the middle of what was rapidly becoming an awful situation, she would’ve found the entire thing incredibly amusing. The halfling prince had left the two most powerful vampires in the world a note, and he seemed to think it was an acceptable course of action.
Good gods, this was turning out to be an unmitigated disaster.
“Yes, I did.” His voice was calm as if he didn’t see the absolute ridiculousness of his actions. “I told her I’d be back.” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s not every day an opportunity like this arises.”
A reminder that Vivienne was still in the dark about what the prince was planning on doing.
She narrowed her eyes. “An opportunity like what, exactly? What did the messenger give you?”
“It’s a long story, but I have a plan.” He started walking again.
Vivienne’s stomach sank. “Is it the kind of story that will have me wishing I was anywhere else?”
He winced as she caught up with him. “Probably.”
That was the theme of Vivienne’s night, so she shouldn’t have been surprised.
“Great.” She glanced at the sky and frowned. They’d have tocontinue this conversation later. “By any chance, does your plan include a way to get me out of here so I don’t die the moment the sun rises?”
Burning alive wasn’t on her agenda for the evening.
“Actually, it does.” Marius placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled.
A moment later, a horse whinnied. Hooves clopped, and a black carriage rolled down the road. Led by two chestnut thoroughbreds, the vehicle looked out of place in the woods.
A Death Elf who appeared to be in his mid-twenties sat in the driver’s seat. Blond hair was knotted at the base of his neck, showing off his pointed ears and the red Maturation tattoos crawling up his neck.
The carriage slowed, then stopped.
“You cut it close, Mar.” The driver spoke with familiarity, dipping his chin. “I almost left.”
“I ran into a… complication,” the prince said.
