Page 8 of Henrikk’s Game

Foliage rustled.

“I didn’t think it would be this easy to corner you,” Henrikk mused, and Asher knew he was rounding the large tree.

Asher stood, the sound of his movement masked by Henrikk’s.

When the king appeared and gazed down at the spot where he’d been sitting, Asher was gone.

“Scamper away, little mouse. But I will find you.”

Not if I find you first, Asher thought, appearing around the other side of the tree behind Henrikk, the hand-axe raised high poised to strike.

Henrikk glanced back just as Asher swung, and he caught a brief glimpse of the king’s bright blue eyes, a flicker of surprise gracing them a moment before the axe hit.

Thunk.

Chapter 4

TORMENTED

Henrikk

Henrikk barely had time to register Asher standing behind him with his arms raised before an axeblade embedded into the tree trunk merely inches from his face.

Henrikk jerked his head back, momentarily squinting his eyes as chips of splintered wood popped against his face.

Few people could surprise him.

He’d underestimated the general.

“That was just a warning,” Asher growled, his large fist still holding the axe handle.

That was his mistake.

“Indeed,” Henrikk said, stepping into his space and snatching the front of his knitted jumper with one hand. Before Asher could relax, Henrikk leant in, pressing his lips to the general’s in a kiss. Asher’s body tensed as thouAgh struck by lightning, and Henrikk’s lips curled against his mouth.

It all happened so quickly. Asher never saw the knife that he slipped from his holster. Not until he’d sunk it through the scuff of Asher’s knitted jumper, pinning him to the tree.

Henrikk pulled away, smiling triumphantly as he carefully patted his lips with a handkerchief. “That was too easy.”

Asher did not react the way he expected him to. The vampire paled like he’d had icy cold water poured over him, and he stared at Henrikk with alarmed eyes. He was still gripping the axe’s handle tightly, his knuckles white.

He hadn’t even realised he was pinned to the tree.

“What…was that?” Asher breathed.

“A distraction,” Henrikk said, glancing at the knife embedded in the tree, stretching the fabric of Asher’s jumper. “Obviously.”

To Henrikk’s disappointment, Asher hardly glanced at the knife, his gaze flickering back to meet his, then dropping down to his mouth.

It made Henrikk self-conscious, and he did not like the feeling.

“You kissed me,” Asher said, looking so bewildered that Henrikk had the strange urge to do it again.

No.

“If it didn’t mean anything…” Asher began, then trailed off, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why? Did I ruin your first kiss?” he asked sweetly.