The Toad Prince

Chapter Three

Sorin looked around the hazy forest that surrounded them. “Come, bubblegum witch, we shouldn’t linger.”

Nadaria furrowed her brow, glancing around. It did feel like the trees were watching them. Magic was heavy in the air, and she sniffed. It smelled strange. There was the definite scent of dark magic, acidic and sour, but there was a scent of iron, too. Like blood.

“What’s out here?” she asked.

He was at the gate, unlocking several padlocks. “I will explain it all. It’s easier to show.”

She frowned. “Look, Mister Secrets, I’m getting tired of this shadowy vampire act.”

“Too bad it’s not an act. I am a shadowy vampire.”

“Yeah, you’re shady, that’s for sure,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

He chuckled and finally freed the gate. It creaked in protest and drifted open. Nadaria put her hand on his arm and tried to flash them to the door, but it didn’t work. She glanced over at him with raised brows.

“You didn’t mention there was an anti-magic ward in place.”

“Didn’t I?”

She glared at him and dug her heels in when he tried to take her arm and walk forward. Sorin’s shady factor just quadrupled.

“You really expect me to go in there? And not use magic? How can I shove an ice shard up your ass if you try to eat me?”

He chuckled again, and it was so deep and smoky and sexy. Goddess, help her.

“You seem like an inventive woman.”

Despite herself, the corner of her lips lifted. “I promise I am.”

“I will not eat you. I need you.”

She looked at Roux, who was poking his head out of her collar. “What do you think?”

He kissed her cheek, and she sighed.

She lifted her finger and poked it into Sorin’s chest. “Okay, vampire. But I promise I don’t need magic to stake you. I’ll figure it out.”

He held up his hands. “I believe you.”

She nodded and offered him her elbow. He chuckled and took it, walking her down the driveway. Nadaria noticed he checked his watch often.

“What’s with the timekeeping? You turn into a killer pumpkin at midnight or what?”

He smirked, glancing over at her. “Something like that.”

They walked in silence for several moments, until Sorin asked, “So are we going to talk about this?” He lifted his sleeve, revealing the True One tattoo.

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t know what I want to do about it right now.”

“I’m sorry. I can already tell you deserve better than me,” he muttered, looking out over the deserted grounds.

Nadaria could tell they were once beautiful. She saw a broken fountain, overgrown with rose vines, and hedges that were probably once clipped to perfection. Everything was so quiet. There weren’t the animal sounds one would expect, and not even the bugs sang their songs here.

“What makes you say that?”

“You have kind eyes.” She felt her cheeks heat, and looked sideways at him as he added, “You’re helping a shady, desperate vampire when you don’t have to.”

Sorin looked over at her and smiled. But she’d seen people like him before, where the smile never reached their woeful eyes. He was incredibly sad. Nadaria sensed that something weighed heavily on this man’s broken heart. For a moment, she was captivated by him. He was so handsome, and her first impressions of him were that he was kind, and a little funny. A kind vampire. What a contradiction.

“Who are you?” she asked. Her curiosity was eating her up, and she wanted answers.

“I am Lord Sorin Silviu. This is my estate. Once one of the finest in Romania. Now it is forgotten and hidden away in a forest no one dares enter.”

They ascended steps to the castle, and the doors opened before they reached them. A wiry man stood on the other side. His hair was salt and pepper, thinning and combed over to hide it.

“My lord,” he said as he inclined his head, and his deep baritone voice surprised Nadaria. It just didn’t fit him.

“Aurelian.”

He was a vampire too, and Nadaria wanted to slap herself. She really was a fool.

Sorin glanced over and caught her look. He smiled at his well-mannered butler. “Don’t bite this one, Aurelian, or she’ll shove an ice shard up your ass.”

The butler’s eyes widened, and he sputtered, “I-I beg your pardon, my lord?”

Sorin laughed, and Aurelian composed himself. “Yes. Well. I will have a bedchamber prepared. And a meal, I suppose.”

“I won’t be here that long,” Nadaria said, and the butler slid curious eyes to Sorin.

“We have a couple hours until it’s time,” Sorin said, leading her inside. “We will have dinner, yeah?”

“Okay,” she said, looking back over her shoulder as Aurelian shut the door.

The magic in the manor was even heavier than outside, permeating her skin and coursing through her veins. It was dark and evil, making the gooseflesh on her skin raise.

“My Lord!” a cheery voice called. Nadaria looked up the stairs to find a portly woman in a pressed white dress coming down to greet them. “Can I get you anything?”

“Just tea Nicoleta, in the dining room, please.”

Nicoleta smiled, and Nadaria noted that she also had fangs.

“Oh, she’s just lovely,” Nicoleta cooed, touching Nadaria’s arm.

Sorin gave the maid a look, and she nodded and scurried away.

Nadaria swallowed, and was pretty sure she was about to be more than just a guest for dinner. Would they serve her with a nice potato mash?

The castle lit the way as they walked. Any torches they came close to flared to life, and the decor was rich and red. Plush seating, fancy paintings, and delicate vases peppered the areas they strolled by.

Nadaria thought she might appreciate it if her nerves would settle. This was all mysterious, and she could practically hear her mother in her head telling her how stupid she was for putting herself in this situation.

Despite all of that, she wanted to lay her head against Sorin’s shoulder. It was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever experienced. She was unnerved, and also very comfortable in his presence. Stupid True One bond.

He led her to an expansive dining room. A giant table sat empty, and an enormous stone fireplace lit upon their entry. Sorin sat at the head of the table, and she took the spot next to him.

Nicoleta bustled into the room, rolling a tinkling tea cart, and served them. It proved to be odd and uncomfortable for Nadaria. She didn’t like being catered to by servants.

“Okay, dearie, do you take sugar or cream?”

“Um. Just sugar please.”

Nicoleta nodded and placed a small golden sugar cup with a cute little spoon on the table.

When the maid finished pouring the cups, she stood and stared at Nadaria for several seconds until Sorin sighed, “Thank you, Nicoleta.”

The words drove her into motion, and she hurried out of the room.

Nadaria looked at him, and opened her mouth to ask what in the flaming river if hell was going on here, but he interrupted her.

“Tell me about yourself, bubblegum witch.”

“Your maid is odd,” she said instead.

“Forgive her. We don’t have a lot of visitors.”

“What is happening in this creepy castle, Drac?”

“Must you call me that?”

“Why not?“

His face pinched. “Because he is a prick.”

She had been staring at her tea, trying to detect any poisons, and her gaze whipped to him. “Shut up. You know Dracula?”

“Yes. I’ve met him once, and it was too many times. Like I said, he’s a prick.”

“Yeah,” she muttered. “I imagine he really sucks.”

She pursed her lips to keep herself from laughing at her own joke. Sorin closed his eyes and sighed as a slow smile spread across his face.

“That is terrible. What do they say? So much cheese.”

“Oh, please. Puns are fun.”

“Now you have to tell me about yourself for making me suffer through such a schmaltzy joke.”

“Why do you want to know?”

Sorin shrugged, sipping his tea. “I’m curious. I’ve never been someone’s True One before.”

“We aren’t talking about that,” she reminded him, and he chuckled.

Nadaria sighed and went down the speed dating route. “I don’t know. I’m a water witch, but ice is my forte. I like pink, and finding people their happily ever after. My hobbies include snowboarding, competitive snow sculpting, and volunteering at the reptile house in the human realm.” Roux poked his head out and kissed her cheek. “This is Roux, my familiar and best friend. If you ever feel like he’s judging you, it’s because he definitely is.”

Sorin glanced at the little snake and felt he was looking into his soul. Yes, he was definitely being judged.

“So you believe in happily ever after?” Sorin asked, looking up to meet her gaze.

“Of course I do. I specialize in it. It’s real, and someday I’ll find mine. What, Dra—Sorin, you don’t?”

“I think happily ever after sucks.”

Nadaria frowned, wrinkling her nose at him. Well, if being a vampire was strike one, that was a solid strike two.

“Sorry you’re so jaded,” she said, crossing her arms.

He shrugged, running his finger absentmindedly over the delicate handle of his teacup. “I suppose I am. You might be too if you were me.”

“I’ll never be jaded. Love defeats everything else. That’s my motto.”

Sorin smiled, but like the other times, his eyes were so sad. “I wish that was true, bubblegum witch, but I think you are just too young to know that darkness always finds a way in.”