Hunting The Vampire Prince

By Nikki Grey

It's my job to kill the vampire prince. But he saves me instead.

My parents' jewelry store has gone bankrupt.
Now we have to pay an enormous debt, or our whole family will be killed.
My friend shows me how to be a bounty hunter – an easy way for someone like me who's skilled at fighting to earn money.

When I take on the bounty on the fourth vampire prince of Romania I'm led to believe he's an evil man who murdered his brother and is plotting against the king.
But what if he's actually a good person?
What should I do about the attraction I feel towards him?
I've never been intimate with a man.

How am I supposed to kill the handsome gentleman who saves me from certain death?

Hunting The Vampire Prince is a standalone Paranormal Romance with a HEA and NO cheating!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nikki Grey
• Release date: Nov 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223734147

Book preview

Chapter One

Nicoleta

I bet there was a special place in hell for bounty hunters like me who came to a birthday party to assassinate the birthday boy. Especially if he was a vampire prince, celebrating the 215th year since he had been turned. Should this day even be called a birthday? Wasn’t the 15th of May actually the day Luca Herescu, the fourth vampire prince of Romania, died and became undead? Birthday parties were for being happy that someone was alive.

I put aside the glass of wine I had finished drinking and made my way to stand at the edge of the dance floor. What did I know? Luca was a noble, and rich people could do anything they wished with their time and money. They could even throw masquerade balls where everyone’s faces were half hidden behind elaborate masks with feathers and jewels, just like I was doing right now along with everyone around me.

The lights of the ballroom glittered above my head, illuminating the couples swaying to slow and sensual music. Several men and women, dressed in elegant suits and beautiful gowns, conversed by the drink table. Behind them, through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the moon shone brightly in a sky full of stars. The scene almost belonged in a fairy-tale, if I ignored the fact that most of the people gathered here were vampires, and that the wine glasses they held were full of human blood.

It was easy to forget that I was in this ballroom for a reason. My goal was to find Luca in this colorful crowd and use a willow stake to end his undead life. The deadly weapon felt heavy against my thigh, and every small movement made me remember it was attached to my garter.

Getting into the ballroom was the easy part. My bounty hunting contact and friend, Odeta, had fabricated a fake identity for me. I couldn’t pass as a vampire – the supernaturals had a sixth sense that told them whether someone belonged to their group or not – so I was here as a rich merchant’s daughter. With everyone believing I was more than a simple commoner, I was able to enter the world of noble vampires as one of the few humans who they allowed to walk freely amongst them.

The hard part was finding my target in the elegant gathering. The masquerade had a rule: until the clock struck midnight, the identities of everyone, including the birthday boy, were to be kept secret. I fiddled with the skirt of my red dress. My thoughts went to the picture of Luca I had memorized. He was a tall man with an athletic build, medium-length black hair that curled slightly at the ends, and eyes grey like a stormy sky. He was undeniably handsome, and the only thing I thought he lacked was a smile. But I knew better than to be attracted to my target, especially when Odeta told me what kind of person he really was.

Luca was an evil man who had murdered his brother Mihail and plotted against the King of Romania. This violent act was why the bounty had been placed on his head. I shouldn’t have any qualms about liberating his soul from his undead body. Yet I wasn’t after him only for the money, even though I desperately needed it. Luca’s death would also bring peace to the Kingdom.

I took a deep breath, steeling my resolve. I wouldn’t back down. Surveying the room carefully, I cursed under my breath. Vampires were often tall and athletic, and black hair was the most common color in the hall. Multiple men could fit my description of the target. I was sure I would recognize Luca if I saw his face, but the elaborate masks the men wore made doing so impossible right now.

I would have to wait until midnight. The small watch I wore on my wrist told me I had another hour before the time to take off the masks came. What should I do while I waited? I wasn’t exactly in the mood to relax.

My lady. I heard a deep man’s voice behind me. It was low and gravely yet very pleasant at the same time.

I turned around, my heartbeat loud in my ears. How could I be so deep in thought as to let someone approach me from behind without noticing? The man must have been a vampire. The three months I’d spent going after different targets clearly hadn’t taught me enough yet. I was still spooked by how silently the supernaturals moved.

I looked the vampire up and down. He was strongly built, his muscles seeming almost out of place under his civilized outfit. He wore a well-ironed dark navy suit and a white dress shirt with a neatly knotted necktie on. His hair was black and slicked back, and his eyes and nose were covered by a navy mask. Feathers popped out of it to the left and right, and small diamonds dotted the area around his eyes: quite a way to announce how rich he was.

He fitted the image I had of my target, but without seeing his face it was impossible to determine for sure whether he was Luca or not. I couldn’t just jump on any vampire of similar appearance and stake them. I had to be completely sure I had the right person.

As I gave the stranger a good once-over, the vampire returned the gesture. His gaze moved down and up my body, stopping first on my hips, then my waist, then the low neckline of my dress, and finally on the golden velvet mask I wore. Unlike the elaborate piece covering half of his face, I had chosen a simple yet elegant mask. I was hoping it would complement my red hair, which was pulled back on my head in an elegant chignon.

A soft smile graced the vampire’s lips. He seemed to like what he saw. And I couldn’t help but mirror his satisfaction: he was undeniably handsome to me as well. I blushed at the realization that I was attracted to a man I knew nothing about. I didn’t usually find it easy to admit I liked a stranger’s looks. I wasn’t experienced in love at all, and I’d never been one to try a one-night stand. Something about having sex with strangers had never appealed to me. Yet, I felt an undeniable pull toward the vampire. If he hadn’t resembled the description of my target, I would have walked away immediately just to protect myself from the attraction I felt. But I couldn’t leave without determining for sure whether or not he was Luca.

The stranger’s smile only grew brighter, his fangs flashing. If his silent movement before hadn’t confirmed him as a vampire, this gesture absolutely did.

That’s a beautiful color you have on your cheeks, my lady. Red truly suits you. The compliment the man gave me only made me blush harder.

At the same time, anger welled up inside my chest. I didn’t want to feel attracted to him. However, there was a benefit to keeping him talking. Maybe I could find out whether he was my target before midnight.

Thank you, my lord. I took the long skirt of my red dress in my hands, and gave a small curtsy, mindful of the old-fashioned manners the vampire lords liked. You look very handsome yourself.

I’m glad you think so. I would be happy to know your name, but the rules of the ball prohibit us from introducing ourselves before midnight. The vampire extended his hand to me. However, nothing prevents me from asking you to dance.

I stared at his hand. Dread crept up my spine. I wasn’t good at dancing. I had practiced a bit before the ball, but my focus had been on honing my fighting skills. I would only embarrass the vampire lord and myself if I danced with him.

I glanced back at the man who still had his hand extended to me. He kept up his smile, and I couldn’t tell whether my hesitation annoyed him.

I let out a small sigh. I’m not very good at dancing. I settled on telling the truth. If I did dance with the vampire, he would find out how terrible I was the minute I stepped on his feet.

That’s okay. I happen to be excellent at leading. The lord chuckled. The laughter took me by surprise. Was he amused by my response?

Would he walk away if I refused? I supposed I could ask him a few questions while we danced. If the vampire wanted to be stomped on, I would oblige. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I placed my hand in his gently.

Consider me warned. The vampire nodded and led me to the dance floor.

A song was just starting when we stepped in close together. The lord placed his hand on the small of my back, but it didn’t feel too intrusive. We started dancing. I remembered most of the beginning steps, but I quickly realized I didn’t have to do anything but follow the man’s lead. He hadn’t exaggerated when he’d told me he was excellent at leading.

Are you enjoying the dance, my lady? He asked me when I relaxed into his embrace.

I am. You were right. You are a good dancer.

Thank you for your kind words.

The vampire twirled me around, so I focused on not missing my steps.

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you at a ball. The lord kept his soft smile on his lips.

Balls aren’t quite my scene. I gave an honest answer. The key to lying was giving as much truth as I possibly could and weaving the untruths in between. I’m the daughter of a merchant who recently became wealthy enough for our family to enter higher society.

I see. Then I’m glad you chose tonight to appear before me. The lord’s hand slid slightly lower on my back. Even though I was embarrassed by how intimate the touch felt, I got the feeling that the shift allowed him to guide me better through the dance. I didn’t shake off his hand or tell him to remove it.

Where did you get the idea that my goal tonight was to appear before you in particular? I added some of my usual bite to my words before I remembered to hold back. I didn’t know if it was better to play a meek lady or just be myself.

The vampire flashed his fangs again as he gave me another one of his bright smiles. They were quite charming, I had to admit. So, he preferred a lady with a little fire in her words after all. It’s just a feeling I have about you.

I wasn’t sure how to react to that response. Did he feel as drawn to me as I was to him?

This is my first ball, and so far, it has been a pleasant experience, I said when the silence grew too long.

I hope I had a part in making it one.

Oh, the lord was such a flirt. I had to laugh. He stared at me with that soft smile of his. I wished I could see his eyes to decipher what he was thinking. But the mask was in the way.

The dance ended, and the vampire lord bowed to me while I curtsied. Only then did I realize I hadn’t gotten any useful information out of him. Should I continue trying to talk to him? A part of me really wanted to spend more time with this mysterious man. It was the same part that was growing more and more horrified by the prospect of having to kill him.

But the vampire lord couldn’t be Luca. He was kind and gentlemanly towards me, all smiles and compliments. I knew from the file I had received from Odeta that my target was a cold, ruthless man: a murderer, and a schemer. That description didn’t match the impression I had of the vampire that stood in front of me.

Should we go to the terrace and get some fresh air? The lord extended his hand to me again.

No, this vampire couldn’t be the fourth prince. He was just a good man who wanted to spend some time with a lady at a ball. How could I suspect him of being an evil tyrant?

But if he was indeed just a charming innocent bystander, then I shouldn’t spend more time with him. I was on a mission, and right now my goal was to locate my target.

Before my body caught up to my thoughts though, I had already put my hand in the vampire lord’s. I walked behind him to the doors leading out to the terrace. Surely the moment we all took off our masks, I would be able to find Luca. I still had more than half an hour before midnight. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake in enjoying my time at the ball.

I pushed the guilt aside as I stood next to the vampire lord. Beyond the terrace was a well-lit garden. Beautifully trimmed hedges and flowers made patterns that would be gorgeous to look at during the day. The stars and moon shone brightly above our heads, accenting the hard planes of the vampire’s body. I stared at his chest as it came closer into my view. I raised my hand to touch it. The lord put one hand on each side of me, boxing me against the railing.

I blushed a deep red. What’s the meaning of this?

The vampire lord lowered his head to me, but I still had to look slightly up at him. He was a very tall man. I couldn’t quite see his eyes because of the mask, and it annoyed me that I couldn't read him.

I wanted to do this back in the ballroom. I was hoping the lady wanted the same. The vampire’s chest felt hard and cold to the touch. Was I expecting his heart to beat faster? He had no heart though, he was undead.

To do what? My voice sounded high and slightly panicked.

Nothing too scandalous. Just a kiss.

He wanted to kiss me?! My mouth fell open. I stared at the man’s lips. They still formed a gentle smile. But his intentions seemed to be anything but innocent.

I opened my mouth to protest but no words came out. I didn’t know what to say. In truth I wanted this man to kiss me. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. But why did I long to be closer to him? I wasn’t someone who looked for adventures. Anything we did tonight could only be limited to this ball. The real me was a commoner, and this man was a vampire lord. We couldn’t be together.

Still, a part of me wanted more with this man. The longing I felt was dangerous. This man was a distraction. I was here on a mission, and it wasn’t to seduce someone whose name I didn’t even know.

The vampire lord waited patiently for my answer. I steeled my resolve to tell him no, but then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. We weren’t alone on the terrace. Wait! There’s someone here.

The man let me go, and I stepped to the side to better see who the unexpected newcomers were. Five men came our way, dressed from head to toe in black. Their faces were completely covered by masks, but not ones that belonged in a masquerade ball. They held wooden stakes in their hands. Assassins. And so many of them!

They