To Have: Vampire Assassin League #19 Read Online Free PDF Page B

‘shit-hitting-the fan’ scenario.”
    “Pardon?” he replied.
    “Hard to be mad when facing this view. Know what I mean?”
    “No.”
    “Okay. I’ll just move on. So, tell me. Are you really a prince?”
    “Yes. I am Prince Daron. Youngest son of Dar-phernais the Great. King of kings. From the Achaemenid dynasty. Through the grace of the god,
Ahura-Mazda
.”
    “Right,” she replied. “Well. In that case, I was runner-up to Miss Raritan Canal Days. Twice.”
    He studied her for a moment. “Do you mock me?”
    “Nah. I think you’re a bit full of yourself, but hey. What do I know? I studied music. I play the flute. It’s easily portable, doesn’t scare the neighbors when you practice, and impresses judges.”
    “What?”
    “Exactly. Now that you’re completely at sea with me, want to start again?”
    “Start what?”
    “Introductions. My name is Evelyn Warner. I’m known as Evie. And I’m new around here. Uh...wherever here is.”
    She took a quick look to both sides before looking back up at him. She didn’t know the power of her gaze! He almost didn’t hear the last portion of her words over a distinct buzzing noise.
    “This is Ecbatana Palace. Actually, this is a recreation. It was my favorite.”
    She blinked several times. She had lush brown lashes. Beautiful, deep, sea-green eyes. He was caught again. His thoughts stalled.
    “This Ecbatana thing. Can I hear that again? It was your favorite...
palace
?” she asked.
    Daron shut his eyes, and reopened them to the view of the top of her head. It felt safer. “Yes. My mother was Elamite royalty. I had this palace recreated from memory. Very little remains of the original. That is true of most Persian palaces once the Macedonian, Iskander, overran the empire. “
    “Um. I hear you speaking English, but this is worse than High School.”
    “High School?”
    “Well, I’d say college, except I signed up for those courses, so I knew what we were talking about beforehand.”
    “I do not understand.”
    “Bingo! So. Can you just answer the question?”
    “What question?”
    “Look. A woman named Tamell told me I had to get bathed and prepared and dressed like this in order to be presented to a prince.”
    “Oh. Yes. Those were my orders.”
    “You know...you started out as a perfect ten, Daron. Great name, by-the-way. But I’m warning you. I’m going to start deducting here.”
    “Deducting?”
    “Yeah. For things like giving orders and then actually expecting them to be followed.”
    “My orders...bothered you?”
    “If you’re asking about my spa day, then no. Solid ten for that. But, if you’re asking about being an arrogant despotic potentate that thinks he can
give
orders rather than ask for things, then yes. That will definitely get you a full point deduction.”
    “Arrogant despotic...potentate?”
    He’d been wrong. She didn’t hold keys to paradise. She was wielding words of puzzlement and realms of uncertainty. He wrinkled his forehead.
    “You’re serious aren’t you?” she asked.
    “I am...not certain.”
    She laughed and bells went off inside him. Or something as loud and joyous-sounding. He barely caught a surge of elation that would have shot him toward the ceiling. He clamped onto every portion of his frame he controlled, but that just emphasized the most noticeable one. He should have worn thicker trousers. And another robe.
    She didn’t seem to notice. She sobered but her eyes had a glint atop them from her merriment. He glanced there and instantly moved his gaze. Looking into her eyes was hypnotic. It scrambled his wits. She was too lovely. Too wondrous. Being near her gave him sensations he’d never experienced. Or if he had, they’d been forgotten.
    “Okay. I’m going to add half a point back in for looking really cute while confused. I’m asking about the prince stuff. You really are one? You’re not joking?”
    “I told you. I am Prince Daron. Youngest son of Dar-phernais the Great—”
    “That