The Toad Prince

Chapter Two

Sorin stared at the witch, chuckling. He had been around long enough to know what this silly tattoo meant. But why he, of all people, would be the True One of this bubblegum princess he was looking at, he didn’t know. Maybe it was a sign he’d made the right choice in tracking her down.

She was pink personified, with pink hair and a pink dress and pink socks. Sorin was more of a black robes guy, but he thought the bright color accentuated how lovely she was. Her dark skin was flawless, and she had wide, kind brown eyes. Her lips were plump and perfect for kissing, and her neck was smooth and perfect for biting.

After several moments where he was sure she was going to cry or run away, she steeled her jaw and approached him.

“Hello,” he said, because she said nothing. She just stared at him, obviously horrified. “Does this belong to you?” he joked, holding up his wrist.

The tattoo had finished forming, and he saw it was in the shape of a toad and a water lily. Shocker.

“It seems it does,” she muttered, looking at her own identical mark. Then she turned to the bartender and said, “I need two shots of vodka.” After a moment, she called, “You know what? Make it three.”

“Buying me a drink?” he asked, arching a brow.

She looked at him and laughed dryly. The bartender put three shot glasses in front of her, and Sorin watched her take one after the other until all three were gone. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes, letting the alcohol settle.

“What’s your name?” she asked, taking the seat next to him.

“Sorin. And you are Nadaria, yeah?”

“Yeah. You called me here.” Her brow furrowed, and she looked down at the tattoo. “Did you know this would happen?”

Sorin shook his head. “I promise I’m as stunned as you. I just want your help. Your reputation as a curse-breaker is known all around the world, you know.” He looked her up and down. “I will admit I expected someone older. And not so pink.”

“What kind of curse?”

“An old one. Powerful.”

Nadaria regarded him. She was trying to play it cool, but her heart felt like a fish out of water, flopping around in her chest like it was searching for air. She couldn’t damn fate for giving her someone unattractive, at least. He was handsome, especially for a bloodsucker.

He had prominent dark brows and dark hair that looked like he pushed it straight back out of his eyes as a nervous habit. His eyes were a dark amber red color. So he was old. The older the vampire, the less red they had in their irises. Baby vamps had blood-red eyes to match their intense blood lust.

His accent was not from the United States. Eastern European, but she couldn’t know exactly where for sure. How vampire of him. That’s how she knew he was the one who called her here. A coincidence? She thought not. The Goddess of Witches was obviously pushing her to this man, and she was torn between wanting to listen and wanting to vomit.

“Well, I’ll need more information than that if I’m going to help you, Sorin.”

“I will tell you.” He checked his watch. “But we need to get back to my home before I do.”

“Your home? Why?”

Nadaria narrowed her eyes at him. True One or not, he stole the life force of others to survive and she wasn’t willing to go anywhere alone with him. Vampires often lived in groups, hordes, and she wasn’t about to be everybody’s main course.

“That’s just where we need to be for you to understand the curse.”

“And where do you call home, Sorin?”

He grinned at her. “Guess bubblegum witch.”

She rolled her eyes and gave him a sardonic smile. “Let’s see, Drac, how about Transylvania?”

His grin didn’t falter, and he lifted his brows twice. She opened and closed her mouth twice before any sound came out. “You’re joking, right?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s a little outside my coverage area, I’m afraid.”

“Well, that won’t do. I need you. I’ll pay any amount of money.”

“Why me?“

She tilted her head when his expression turned suddenly serious. “You’re my last hope. Trust me, many others have tried. Plus, this must be fate, right?” He held up his tattooed wrist again.

Nadaria pursed her lips. “How do I know you’re not going to eat me? And then pass me around to your bloodsucking buddies, vampire?”

“I give you my word. I won’t bite you unless you ask me to, True One.” He said it like it was a joke, and she couldn’t blame him. This was ridiculous.

Nadaria glared at him. She’d waited a hundred and thirty-seven years and fate gave her a vampire. Her heart pinched a little. All she’d ever done was help people. Didn’t she deserve something a little better than this?

“Sorry if your word means little to me,” she mumbled, moving to stand.

Was she really going to walk out of here? Let the month go by so the bond expired, and pass up her opportunity to have her True One? She didn’t know how she could ever accept him for what he was, though. He was a monster.

But Sorin grabbed her arm, and she looked into his desperate gaze. “Please. Please, I beg of you. You are my only hope. I will not harm you. I am old enough. I have complete control of my thirst.”

It was the same desperation she’d heard from him on the phone, and she swallowed. Why did she have to be so nice? Why did he have to be so hot?

“Okay, but if you’ve had others try, I don’t know what I can do differently. And if you even try to harm me, I will shove an ice shard up your ass. Got it?”

Roux poked his head out and flicked his tongue to emphasize the point. Sorin laughed and nodded, standing with her. Damn him, he was sexy tall and all broad shouldered, too. She had to look up at him.

“You can flash us there, yeah, bubblegum witch?”

“Yeah, give me your hand and think about where we need to be.”

He took her hand, and it felt like an electric current ran through her. She looked up at him wide eyed and saw the surprise in his features.

“That was lovely,” he muttered, and she thought she saw a flash of desire in his eyes.

It didn’t surprise her to see it there. She kind of wanted to push him back on the bar and climb on top of him. Maybe that vodka hadn’t been the best idea.

She must have looked like she wanted to, because he smirked. “You act like I’m the one who’s going to attack you, yet you look at me like that?”

“Shut up,” she whispered, and felt heat rise to her cheeks.

Stupid True One bond. Nadaria wasn’t very experienced in the romance department, despite her life’s work of bringing other people their happily ever afters.

He closed his eyes, and she did, too. Channeling his energy, she initiated the flash. When she felt the magic work and then pass, she opened her eyes.

“You’re kidding me, right?”

He chuckled again. “Nope. Home sweet home.”

Nadaria stared at the castle. It was straight out of a Dracula movie with high gothic arches, stained glass windows, and gargoyles. They were standing at the iron gate that guarded a lengthy driveway, and she could feel the area was heavily warded by magic.

“Keeping people out?” she asked. “Not a social bat or what, Drac?”

"I didn't make it this way. It's part of the curse."