Vampire Girl 3: Silver Flame by Karpov Kinrade Read Free Book Online Page B

him, and he looks away and frowns. I'll have to ask him about that later.
    "Hello, Sly," Fen says.
    The mysterious man's face curls into a smile. "Hello, Prince of War. You've changed some since we last met, haven't you?" His eyes turn to me before Fen can reply, and his face lights up. "And who do we have here? The epitome of loveliness and innocence, but so much more lurks beneath, does it not? The Midnight Star, returned to her people at last. So the rumors were true." He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it gently. Fen tenses beside me, but I ignore him, my eyes glued to this strange man.
    "I'm Arianna Spero. It's nice to meet you." I'm pleased to note my voice is firm, and not as wavering as I feel under the dark gaze of Sly. "But it's not very nice to use this forceful magic on your guests, is it? That's hardly a proper welcome."
    From the corner of my eye I see Fen grin at my cheekiness. But he still looks worried. I know I'm probably playing with fire, but it's getting harder to breathe and the magic he's placed on us is making my bones hurt.
    "Forgive me, but one can never be too careful with powerful magic wielders. I assume I have your word that neither of you will use your gifts to harm any of my guests while here?" Sly is still holding my hand. His words are light, but his gaze is heavy.
    "You have my word," I say.
    "And mine," Fen says. He looks at me. "The penalty for breaking this rule is death," he informs me.
    "Oh. Okay then."
    Baron growls, but sits between us calmly.
    Sly smiles down at the wolf and pulls from somewhere unknown in his silky black robes a raw steak. "Here you go, boy. Enjoy a treat."
    He drops the meat at Baron's feet. The wolf sniffs it once, looks up at Fen, then back down, and devours the steak greedily.
    Sly looks at me for another moment longer, then uses his index finger to draw a symbol into the air. All at once the tension I felt within me subsides, and I can breathe deeply again. I see Fen suck in oxygen and relax a fraction as well.
    "Thank you for removing the spell," I say.
    "Anything for a beautiful lady such as yourself," he says, his black eyes holding my gaze with a level of intimacy that is beginning to make me uncomfortable. I get the impression this man can have anyone he wants, whenever he wants.
    Fen drapes a protective arm around me, and I roll my eyes, but I don't pull away.
    Sly looks at us both and smiles. "There must be some terrific story in this. I will insist on hearing all about it. But first, let us fix this state you're in." He wrinkles his nose delicately in distaste at our appearance. Probably at our smell, too. The waterfall helped slough off some of the dungeon grime, but not all.
    Sly pulls a black wand made of bone and crystal out of his robes and studies us a moment. He then snaps his fingers and grins. "I have it now. Stand still, you three. This will only sting a moment."
    Before I can object, he waves the wand over us and mutters an incantation of some kind in a dark language dripping with magic. My body burns, and Fen stiffens next to me but doesn't move.
    I bite my tongue to keep from crying out as the magic digs into me. There is smoke, light, pain, and then it all disappears, and the three of us are no longer dripping wet. We are dry, but not just dry, we are all wearing new clothes, and my body is fresh and clean—even my teeth. I look down at my dress in admiration. It's long and dark with feathers cresting my shoulders and chest and a silver crystal pendant hanging at my throat. On my head sits a crown of crystal and silver. Fen is dressed in black leggings and tunic, a fur cloak emblazoned with a silver wolf hanging from his shoulders. Dean is draped in black silk, his chest mostly exposed, of course.
    Sly claps his hands. "Much better. You are all dressed properly for your stations. Now come, join me for a drink. Tell me what you want, and I'll tell you what it will cost."
    Sly leads us through the large room, greeting each