DREGOR IN DISTRESS: THE PROPHECY (THE SAGA OF BLOOD SCAR SERIES)

Chapter 6: "A Desperate Stand"

I jumped down from the horse, my movements swift and urgent. The horse whimpered, its eyes rolling in fear, but Kaden's firm hand steadied it. My own hand trembled with rage, my dining knife pointed squarely at Kaden's chest. His eyes, both curious and bored, locked onto mine, his expression a mask of indifference.

The forest around us was transforming, the darkness awakening like a living entity. Shadows stretched and twisted, the trees creaking ominously in the fading light of dawn. I knew I was trapped, that Kaden had orchestrated this entire scenario to end my life in this eerie, godforsaken place.

But I refused to back down. "If I'm going down, I'm taking you all with me," I thought, my determination burning brighter with every passing moment.

"Lazauraus was a monster," I spat, my voice steady. "I killed him. If you want to kill me, go ahead. But I won't make it easy for you."

Kaden's response was a dismissive snort. "I thought you'd be at least smart enough, considering how wise your parents are. You seem to be reckless and a fool."

His words struck a nerve, my mind racing with the implications. How did he know my parents? Was he involved in their murder? I pushed aside the questions, focusing on the present danger.

"You're a coward," I retorted, my knife hand steady.

Elara's presence was the only thing keeping me from fleeing into the woods, my instincts screaming at me to escape. But I stood my ground, ready to face whatever lay ahead, no matter how daunting the odds.

I glared at Kaden, my heart racing with anticipation, as he dismounted his horse and approached me with a predator's grace. His eyes gleamed in the dim light, seeming to draw energy from the forest's dark atmosphere. He moved with a slow, deliberate pace, his gaze fixed on me like a target.

"You really are a feisty little thing, aren't you?" he said, his voice low and husky.

My anger boiled over, and I lunged at him with my knife. But he dodged my attack with ease, his hand closing around my wrist like a vice. He twisted my arm, turning me around, and my hands were tied behind my back before I could even struggle.

He pushed me against the nearby tree, his body pinning mine, his weight crushing me. I tried to twist and turn, but his grip was unyielding. "You need proper practice, wolfy," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "I can kill you now, and no soul will know."

His words enraged me further, my helplessness fueling my fury. I hated how my body reacted to his proximity, my heart racing, my skin tingling. I was trapped, at his mercy, and it was a feeling I loathed.

"You brought us a guest, Kaden," a voice from behind, its voice low and melodious.

Slowly, Kaden's grip on me relaxed, and I turned to gaze in awe at the centaurs. Their bodies were half-man, half-horse, with sleek silver coats that seemed to shimmer in the fading light. Their hair was long and silver, cascading down their backs like rivers of moonlight. Their eyes, piercing and wise, seemed to hold a deep understanding of the world. They looked like they had been dipped in a silver pool, every inch of their bodies gleaming with a soft, ethereal light.

I remembered the stories my mother used to tell me about centaurs, how they were ancient creatures, messengers of the goddess Cynthe. I had always thought they were just myths, but now I was face to face with three of them.

"A damsel in distress, Vesper," another centaur added, its gaze fixed on me with a hint of curiosity.

I felt a surge of fear as Kaden mounted his horse and pulled me up behind him. The centaurs led the way, their movements graceful and fluid. Their silver bodies seemed to glow in the darkness, lighting our path through the forest.