"With respect, you could have rescued me a bit sooner. You know, before those witches brought out the wooden stakes and silver chains." Astaroth mumbled under his breath.

The young vampire craned his head back to look you over from where he'd been slung in your arms. The castle he was imprisoned in was quickly shrinking under the treetop behind your squadron silently charging through the dark woodlands.

You weren't certain if any human on earth truly favored vampires but Astaroth...had his uses. Despite being a vampire, the nuisance himself had been a Saint in his human days leaving the church no choice but to take the creature under their protection. His blood was stronger than holy water, after all.

Idolized as he was for such a scandal, Astaroth had been a pain in your side from day one. Your job was to keep him in one piece, not pamper him, but that hadn't stopped one or two attempts of bribery on his end.

A tap on your shoulder and Astaraoth puffed out a breath of boredom. "Are you even listening? This is an appropriate time to apologize."