A section of chapter 3 of Enthralled that reads:
As his eyes drifted over towards an item on the bookcase in the corner, Silco sighed. His shoulders fell as his gaze came upon it, but he didn’t dare behold it. Didn’t have the heart to take in the details, even if he knew them off by heart.
“Viktor has been chasing that boat since he was a child. Somehow I knew that one day it would lead him into the river.”
Vander snuffed the pipe and set it aside, standing. Staring at Silco’s back as he faced away from him towards the corner shelf by the door. It had been a long time since the Hound of the Undercity had heard true despair in his voice.
“Then let him tread water a little.” Vander said, sighing to himself. Accepting the things that he could no longer change was harder than endeavoring towards the things that he still could. “He’s never been afraid to get his feet wet. He knows when to turn around. How to tell when the water’s too deep.”
Silco crossed his arms, peering over his shoulder. “There’s standing in knee deep water, and then there’s letting him be washed out to sea to see if he can swim.”
"Letting the baby touch the stove is one thing, but you draw the line at letting him crawl in it?” Vander placed a firm, reassuring hand on Silco’s shoulder, gripping him tightly. Feigning amusement despite the grim subject matter. Silco had never been one for laughs. “The Silco I used to know wasn’t so soft.”
A later, shorter section of the same chapter of Enthralled that reads:
Vander scoffed, shooting Silco an amused but still subtle look of warning. “I take it our blood sucking benefactors weren’t feeling generous?”
“That’s putting it charitably.” Viktor half muttered under his breath. He shook his head. For a split second, he considered mentioning the intense bloodlust that he’d been subjected to, and the manner in which the nobles had desired to end him. He thought about mentioning the revelation that their new serum had proven to be ruthlessly effective towards their elite shared enemy. He did not.
“Nothing came of the visit, then?” Silco added. He sounded almost relieved. “Or does your safe return indicate that your inadvisable meeting with the vampires went swimmingly, and that a peace treaty is already in the works?”
Viktor seemed somewhat alarmed by the assertion, almost as if something critical had slipped his mind and he’d suddenly recalled it. His face flushed.
Here's a little tidbit of chapter 3 of my vampire Jayce #vampirejayvikweek fic Enthralled for you. I'm hoping I can finish it by this weekend, but only time will tell. I have another project deadline looming, and it takes priority, but hopefully I can at least have this done by the end of January 🖤❤️