A Duel with the Vampire Lord (Married to Magic #3)

by Elise Kova

I might be the forge maiden, but I am no delicate flower. I am as cold as silver. As strong as iron. I will bend for destiny, but not for any man.

Fear marries desperation to breed poor decisions, Mother always says. We must protect the silver, for it is our only defense against the vampires. A defense that grows more finite by the day.

“What are you?” he rasps. What am I? A strange question coming from a beast like him. I smile wildly. “I am your death.”

“What am I going to do with you?” “Love me forever?” My mouth moves on its own. “Careful, or I just might.”

“My power is intoxicating, isn’t it?” he whispers. “Do you want more? Break the curse on my people, dear hunter, and I can keep you drunk on my power until your body can no longer handle me.”

“How do we free ourselves from this torment?” “I don’t know if I want to be free.” His gaze drops farther, to my neck. “You might be torture and temptation incarnate. But you are strength and power. You are damnation and salvation trapped in curves that should be forbidden.”

“And I feel for you.” He pulls me a bit closer, his hands still around mine. “I ache for you. I burn for you. I want you.”

“I am stealing you away, of course.” He has a grin that promises all those aforementioned, forbidden dreams.