The night air was crisp as Aurelia sat behind Lucien, her hands gripping the back of his cloak. The sound of their horse's hooves echoed through the forest, the rhythm steady and comforting despite the chaos of what they had just left behind. She could feel Lucien's body tense beneath her, the muscles in his back rigid with every step the horse took. She pressed herself closer to him, her breath shallow as she fought to calm the pounding of her heart. There was no turning back now. She had made her choice.
The palaces, the rules, the life she was supposed to live—none of it mattered anymore. What mattered now was the unknown path ahead, the one that led them out of the kingdom, away from her father's oppressive rule, and into the hands of Lucien's kingdom. The place where the necklace could heal them all. The place where, just maybe, she could find the freedom she had been longing for.
She could hear Lucien's steady breathing, the wind brushing through his dark hair, but his body was unwavering, and his focus never left the trail ahead. She hadn't expected him to be so calm. After all, they were running—not just from her father's wrath, but from a life that would never be hers to choose.
"Aurelia," Lucien spoke softly, his voice like a whisper against the wind. He didn't need to ask if she was alright. He knew the answer. She could feel it—the tension between them, the uncertainty that had settled deep within her.
"I'm here," she said, her voice barely above a breath.
He didn't respond immediately. The way he held himself was different—stronger, more resolute than she had ever seen him. The urgency in his movement was palpable as they moved deeper into the forest, and she felt every muscle in his back shift as the horse navigated the uneven terrain. His focus was razor-sharp, his eyes constantly darting between the darkened shadows of the trees.
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Aurelia's voice trembled slightly, but she couldn't hide the uncertainty that had begun to creep into her heart.
His voice was steady, as though he was trying to soothe her fears, but his eyes didn't leave the path. "There's no other way, Aurelia. If you stay in that palace, they'll take you from me. You'll never get the life you deserve. We leave tonight. We have no choice."
She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to trust him completely. She had no other choice but to trust him—trust him with her life, with her heart. The thought of the wedding, of being married off to a king who was nothing more than a stranger to her, was unbearable. And yet, now, she was here. Riding through the night, escaping with a vampire. A prince. Her protector.
"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her voice trembling, even though she was trying to stay composed. "I'm scared, Lucien."
Lucien's hand rested briefly over hers, where it gripped the back of his cloak. The touch was soft, yet reassuring. "I won't let anything happen to you. You're safe with me."
His words were a promise, one she clung to as the darkness of the forest swallowed them whole.
The sounds of their horses' hooves breaking through the leaves were the only sounds that filled the quiet night. Aurelia's heart, though, felt louder than ever—louder than the hooves, louder than the wind. She kept her gaze on Lucien's back, allowing the warmth of his body against hers to comfort her as they traveled further into the wilderness.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of rustling from the trees ahead. Aurelia stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. Lucien, too, stiffened beside her, his posture alert as his eyes darted toward the noise.
"Stay close," Lucien said, his voice low and calm, but she could hear the tension beneath it.
Without a word, Aurelia wrapped her arms tighter around his waist, the panic rising in her chest. She hadn't expected danger to find them so quickly. But as the sound of branches breaking and leaves rustling grew louder, she knew they had to be prepared.
Lucien gently nudged his horse forward, leading them into a clearing. Aurelia could feel his muscles coil beneath her as he slowed the horse, his eyes scanning the darkened surroundings. There was no sign of danger yet, but the air was thick with the promise of something ominous.
Then, from the shadows of the trees, they appeared—creatures, twisted and grotesque, moving quickly toward them with unnatural speed. Their eyes gleamed with a sickly yellow hue as they snarled, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. They were the creatures of nightmares—half-human, half-animal—and they were here for blood.
Lucien reacted instantly. He gripped his sword tightly, his movements fluid as he dismounted, pulling Aurelia with him in one swift motion. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice unwavering.
Aurelia's heart raced in her chest, but she couldn't move. She didn't want to. Lucien's presence beside her was a shield, and though she had no weapons of her own, she felt a strange sense of safety in the chaos that was unfolding around them.
The creatures charged forward, their claws scraping against the ground, their growls filling the air. Lucien, with the speed and precision of a predator, took on the first creature, his sword cutting through the air like a deadly extension of his body. Aurelia watched in awe as he moved, the glow of the moonlight reflecting off his sword, casting an eerie light on the bloodshed.
But there were too many of them.
She stepped back, her breath shallow, as Lucien continued to fight them off. His movements were graceful, almost inhuman, and every swing of his sword was followed by the thud of a creature hitting the ground. Yet, despite his skill, the creatures kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
Just when Aurelia thought they were outnumbered, there was a sudden shout from the trees. Out of nowhere, five more figures appeared, stepping into the clearing with fluid, confident movements. They were vampires—dark, tall, and imposing, dressed in leather armor and carrying weapons of their own.
One of them, a woman with silver hair and sharp, calculating eyes, moved forward, her gaze fixed on Lucien. "We've been tracking them," she said, her voice cool and authoritative. "Need some help?"
Lucien's relief was evident as he turned to her, his face softening. "Prudence," he greeted her, his tone tinged with respect.
Prudence gave a nod, and without another word, she swung her sword into the fray. The vampires with her—three men—followed suit. There was Rook, the tallest of them all, his eyes focused and intense. Kalen, with his lean build and easy grin, and two others Aurelia had not yet seen before, but they moved with the same precision as Lucien.
With their help, the creatures were quickly overpowered, their bodies littering the ground. Aurelia watched in stunned silence as Lucien and the others effortlessly cleared the area, each vampire working in perfect harmony with the others. It was a strange, unsettling sight—these creatures who were once feared now fighting alongside each other, united by their mission.
When the last creature fell, silence settled over the forest once more. Lucien wiped the blood from his blade, his gaze shifting back to Aurelia. "We're not safe yet," he murmured.
Prudence, her expression unreadable, turned to Lucien. "What now?"
Lucien took a deep breath, his posture changing as he focused on his next move. "We're heading to my kingdom," he said. "Aurelia is willing to help with the necklace. She'll return it to its rightful place."
The vampires exchanged wary glances, but there was no question in their eyes. They understood. They had been tracking this journey for days, and they knew what the necklace meant to their kingdom's survival.
Rook, always the bold one, smirked. "Sounds like a long journey, Lucien. But if it means getting that damn flower back, I'll go wherever you lead."
Aurelia shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flitting between the vampires. There was a tension in the air now, one she couldn't ignore. Rook was watching her more closely than before, his dark eyes lingering on her face in a way that made her skin prickle. Prudence, too, was observing her, but there was something in her eyes—something darker than just curiosity.
Lucien seemed to notice the subtle shift in the air as well. He stepped closer to Aurelia, his hand brushing against hers as he turned his attention to the group. "We ride together," he said, his voice strong and steady.
Without another word, the group mounted their horses. Lucien and Aurelia rode together on the same horse, and as they moved deeper into the night, Aurelia couldn't help but feel the weight of what was coming. This journey was far from over. And the deeper they traveled into the unknown, the more she realized that nothing would ever be the same again.
As they rode, Rook's eyes lingered on Aurelia a little longer than necessary, and Prudence's gaze remained cold, distant. But the moonlight shone bright, casting shadows of what was to come—and Aurelia had no idea just how tangled the threads of fate were about to become.