Page 97 of The Witch in the Dead of Night

I hoped it was just as effective against vampires. Flexing my fingers, I set about making up the campsite. With a flick of my wrist, our bedrolls flattened themselves and stones clicked into place in the center of the small clearing where we stood, creating space for a fire. I squeezed my eyes shut, my magic pulsating at my fingertips. I opened one eye as I heard the clattering of wood. A rickety fence slowly materialized around the horses, forming a makeshift pen. They snorted, their eyes wide with worry. The structure leaned a little to the left, but it held when Enhart hopped over it after relieving the horses of their saddles. He pushed his sleeves over his elbows, leaving streaks of mud on his skin. He grimaced at the sight.

I repressed the wry comment at the tip of my tongue. A vampire who wasn’t sparklingly clean was a rare sight. Especially a vampire prince.

“You’re missing something,” he said without looking up.

I frowned. “I am?”

He extended a long finger toward the logs that were now stacked in the center of the clearing. “Go on. You need the practice.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Fine.” A single spark shot from my finger, hitting the wood with a hiss. Flames blazed to life.

“Is that all?”

“Hardly. Practice phasing inside the ward. The limited space will improve your dexterity.”

I groaned. He would make an excellent general. “For how long?”

“Until it’s pretty, of course.”

I bit back a retort. I opened a portal and stepped through to the furthest edge of the ward. The prince crossed his arms, watching me silently. I repeated the action, this time arriving beside the campfire. Back and forth I darted through the portals until I no longer slipped when I came out the other end. By the time I stopped, the fire had been reduced to cinders, the clouds above my head glowing orange with the setting sun. Arlys snored as her head slumped between her long legs. I planted my hands on my hips, my chest heaving.

My brows pulled together as I realized the prince was nowhere to be found. I glanced toward the trees, but there was no sign of him.

“Godsdamnit, where is he?” I mumbled. After the events of this morning, I wasn’t happy to find myself suddenly alone. Even if he trusted my ward.

I pictured his face, calling upon trace magic to lead me to him. A trail of golden footsteps appeared on the ground, heading east. Tucking my arms into my pockets, I set out into the woods, my boots pinching at my blistered heels as I walked.

I followed the trail for some time toward the sound of a babbling river, the noise growing in a steady crescendo with each step. The fine mist that had settled over the forest floor snapped at my ankles like a dog as an owl swooped below the tree line, headed for its nest. Although I was prepared to unleash my magic at the first sign of trouble, I had to admit that it was peaceful in these woods. When the trail finally ended, I stopped short.

The prince stood waist-deep in the river, facing the opposite bank. His clothes were strewn haphazardly across a nearby rock. He scrubbed a cloth across the nape of his neck, droplets dribbling over his skin. He straightened, smoothing back his soaked tresses with one hand. I drew my bottom lip between my teeth, unable to look away. The muscles of his back were more defined than I would have expected. My eyes traced the taut line of his spine to the twin dimples just above his hips.

“You were supposed to be practicing.”

Heat seared my cheeks as the prince turned, his lips pulled into a grin.

“I, er …” I stammered, apparently unable to form words. “You disappeared.”

“You were keeping yourself busy enough.”

I stared into his eyes, not daring to let my gaze drop below his chin. “What are you doing out here?”

“Bathing, obviously,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I was filthy.”

“In the river?”

He glanced around pointedly. “Do you see a washroom anywhere, Miss Erramun?”

“Er, no.”

My breath hitched in my throat as he approached agonizingly slowly. I should leave. Immediately.

“There are some who consider it rude to stare,” he mused aloud.

I swallowed.

“I don’t mind it though.”

I spun, stalking off in the direction of the camp. My flush spread to my chest like a bad sunburn. Within seconds, Enhart appeared at my side with his breeches on, pulling his shirt over his head. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of gold as he tucked a viper-shaped pendant into the folds of his shirt. A serpent with emerald eyes curled around a dagger.