The Toad Prince

Chapter Nineteen

Nadaria sat up with a long gasp, having suffered the same dream as the lily. Her chest heaved, and her eyes darted around the room.

“Sorin?” she asked, patting the bed next to her.

He had been there when she fell asleep, but he was gone. She glanced at the balcony. The rain was heavy against the glass now, and, as far as she could tell, no one stood on the other side. But she wasn’t alone, she could feel it.

“Sorin?” she called, louder this time.

Nadaria hoped he was in the bathroom, but drew another sharp breath when there was a distinct shuffling behind the closet doors.

Roux hissed, and she threw the covers off, grabbing the heavy candlestick next to her, preparing to clock whoever or whatever came out.

The door swung open, and Sorin leaned out, still half asleep, and slurred, “Wh-what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

She stared at him with a knit brow. “Um… why are you in the closet?”

He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room to make sure she was safe. “No reason.”

She rolled her lips in to stop the smile trying to crack her face. “Sorin, do you sleep in your closet?”

“Are you going to laugh at me if I say yes?”

“Of course not! I’m going to laugh next to you. Over here.”

“It’s a vampire thing, okay? The bed is… so open.”

She snickered, still trying to suppress the raucous giggle that was fighting its way up her chest.

“Do you want me to come lay with you?” he asked, starting to get up.

“No! No, I’m good,” she said, putting the candlestick down.

Her heart was still racing from the nightmare, thudding against her chest bone, so she scurried across the room and crawled over him. It was spacious enough, and he had blankets and pillows.

He shook his head and chuckled, then closed the door. Nadaria cuddled into him, and he pulled the blanket over them.

“You’re right, this is so cozy,” she said, smiling up at him.

He sighed, rubbing his hand down his face to hide his humiliation. “Did you have a night terror?”

“Yes. It’s trying to tell me something.”

“What is it?”

She didn’t want to worry him, but they didn’t have time for her to be deceptive, even if it was to spare him.

“I’m a pink lily, surrounded by a dozen toads. I like one.” She cleared her throat, feeling her cheeks heat. “I want to go to him. But one toad is ink black, and it glares at me with animosity. Severed fingers float to the surface of the pond we’re in, and the black toad attacks me. Then I wake up.”

“That is unsettling,” he said, squeezing her closer to him.

“Yeah. The toads are pretty self explanatory, but the fingers are what I don’t understand.”

“I won’t let anyone harm you.”

She ran her hand up and down his arm that was wrapped protectively around her waist, and whispered, “I’ll be fine.”

Sorin didn’t think he would find sleep again. He was trying to avoid a panic attack, still holding her and staring at the wall of his closet. She was fitful, mumbling in her sleep, and he wondered several times if he should wake her. His heart wouldn’t cease its racket, thundering until the blood rushed in his ears. What had he done?

He cared for this woman. And he’d only known her for less than a week. He was such an i***t.

He’d allowed himself to care again, and now he was invested. If she was harmed, or, Gods, he could hardly consider it, killed, he would be lost. He barely survived the darkness of his life already, and if someone stole her from him, he was sure he would go insane. And it wasn’t even just him. She was so special, and the world deserved to have her in it.

Sorin must have finally drifted off, because when he woke, she was gone. He cursed his vampire nature, which made him sleep so deeply. It was a miracle he had heard her call his name the night before.

Nadaria slid through the hallway, stalking Aurelian like she planned to do all day. So far, he only checked the house over and talked to most of the staff. Normal butler things. Everyone seemed to like him, and so far, nothing appeared unusual.

He made his way to the massive library, and entered, disappearing behind the heavy door. She narrowed her eyes and cracked the door. He was nowhere to be seen in the front sitting area, and she slipped inside as quietly as she could.

The room was silent. She stood stationary for close to a minute, listening, and trying to figure out where Aurelian disappeared to. Slowly, she made her way in, peeking down the first aisle.

The shelves of books loomed in front of her, and it only just occurred to her that, if Aurelian was the black toad, she’d just secluded herself in here with him. Nadaria knew she shouldn’t be so reckless, but she didn’t usually have to worry. With her magic, she wouldn’t be afraid of one vampire.

But, of course, she didn’t have her magic.

Each aisle she passed was empty until she reached the last one. She peeked around it, expecting to see Aurelian.

Empty.

Her brow furrowed, and she felt a swish of fabric behind her. Too close behind her for comfort. Sucking in a sharp breath, she turned with her fist flying, planning on landing the first blow.

Sorin caught her fist, wide-eyed. “What are you doing?”

“Me?” she squeaked, heart hammering. “What the heck are you doing, sneaking up on me like that?”

“Sorry. I didn’t know I was sneaking.”

Their heads both turned when they heard the door click shut, as if someone had just left the room.

“Great,” she said. “I lost him.”

“Were you following Aurelian?”

“Well, yeah. He’s my number one suspect.”

“I am telling you, he wasn’t on your balcony. He is my oldest and best confidant. We should look at Mihal. Or Ana. They might want to hurt you, if only to hurt me.” She pursed her lips, considering his words, and he sighed. “You should have me with you from now on. Alone, without your magic, it’s dangerous for you.”

Nadaria knew he was right, but she hated it. Witches were solitary. She worked alone, and she liked it that way. Besides, Sorin made it hard to focus on anything but, well, Sorin.

“I can handle it.”

“You don’t even have your candlestick,” he said, smirking.

“Yeah, I guess I should carry a weapon.”

“It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

“I know, but…” She blushed, sighing long and loud.

“But what?”

“You’re distracting, okay? With your… face, and your tight… fitted pants. How am I supposed to solve anything with you around?”

His eyebrows lifted, and, smug, open-mouthed smile lit his face.

“Shut up.”

“I said nothing.”

“Oh, yes, you did. Your face is dripping with a thousand arrogant words right now.”

He sidled up to her, grabbing her waist. “So, what should I do, huh? Wear a bag over my head? A potato sack for clothes? Would that make me less distracting?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I think that would be more distracting. And not very covert. I’m trying to do some reconnaissance here.”

“Well, you’re doing a terrible job. Aurelian definitely knew you were here.”

“What makes you say that?”

“He rolled his eyes at me and sighed with exasperation when I came in.”

“What? Where was he?”

“Right up front, in the sitting area. You do know vampires can hear and smell very well, right? And, I’m telling you, you’re the first fresh blood we’ve smelled in a while. Everyone in the castle probably knows where you are all the time.”

She sighed, setting her jaw while he chuckled. They definitely had the upper hand. Without her magic, she was only a little less feeble than a human.

“Well, that sucks.”

“Sorry.”

Later that evening, Aurelian was conspicuously missing from the dance lessons in the dining room. His absence sparked more annoyance in her, and she tried to focus on Mihal and Ana and Darius, who made their distaste for Sorin obvious. They all seemed to like her, and didn’t project ill intentions that she could sense.

Afterwards, she’d wandered her way to Sorin’s room again, with the record player. They listened to Cry To Me, and played the same dangerous game of almost s*x as they had the night before. It was a really fun game.

Now, a couple of hours later, he slept as soundly as a hibernating bear in his cave, or closet, and she stood at the balcony doors, petting Roux’s head, and overlooking the dark grounds below. Sleep did not call to her, her busy mind was too aware that if she didn’t start to make some progress, everyone was going to end up toads in a few weeks. Or dead.

Nadaria’s heart jumped when a tall figure strode across the bridge, and she smiled.

“Got you now, you sneaky snake,” she whispered, snatching her pink cloak that Nicoleta had so kindly mended for her.

Her hand was on the doorknob when she stopped and scurried back, diving across for her candlestick.

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Sorry for the late update, guys! I had to do real life stuff today! Yuck! :D