Bound by Blood & Moonlight

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Kian

I wanted to consume every part of her. Her scent surrounded me, intoxicating, so familiar yet laced with something uniquely her own and it was mine. She was mine. The words she'd just spoken about the missing Weres gnawed at my mind, but pride mixed with my possessiveness, knowing how hard it must have been for her to reveal her father's secrets. To go against everything she'd known, everything that had shaped her.

My lips found hers again and again, unable to break free from the pull between us. I slid my hand to the back of her neck, needing to feel her closer, needing her warmth to anchor me. But just as I tightened my grip, she pulled back abruptly, her eyes wide, as if realising something she couldn't accept. Like this whatever this was between us was a mistake.

Reluctantly, I let her go, breathing hard as the rush of the moment left an ache in its wake. I could still feel the warmth of her skin on my fingertips, but her expression had shifted.

"I... We..." Scarlet's voice was unsteady, and I could see the disbelief in her eyes as she brought her fingers to her lips, as if to confirm what had just happened. Part of me worried I'd crossed a line, but another part found it almost amusing. For a vamp who kept her emotions locked up like steel, here she was, visibly shaken.

"Don't tell me you've never been kissed before?" I raised a brow, unable to hide my smirk.

Her eyes flashed, a defensive edge sharpening her gaze. "No. I have been kissed before and more!" She spun around, cheeks flushed, already regretting her reaction.

"And more?" I stepped toward her, feeling a flare of jealousy rise up. "What exactly do you mean by that, wife?" The word hung between us, and I watched her tense, refusing to meet my gaze as she continued walking away. Damn it. This was straying wildly off course. Moments ago, we were in the middle of a heated conversation about the missing Weres, and here I was, thrown off balance like some lovesick fool.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady myself. "We're leaving for the Faes at dawn. I'll see you then."

But as she turned away, I knew I'd be up all night thinking about this.

Dawn arrived and I was out preparing the carriage that will bring us to the Faes.

I fastened the last strap on my saddle, feeling the quiet weight of dawn pressing in around me. The cool air was heavy with the stillness before sunrise, and I let myself sink into the routine motions of preparing for our journey to the Fae territory. Maybe the familiarity of packing, of planning, could keep my mind off what had happened last night of the way she'd looked at me, shaken and... vulnerable.

Footsteps sounded softly behind me, and I turned, not expecting what I saw.

Scarlet stood there, her figure framed by the early morning light, dressed nothing like the princess of the Vamps. She wore knee-high leather boots and fitted pants that hugged her frame, and a simple tunic tied at the waist. Her hair was swept back, exposing her face with a fierce, quiet elegance I hadn't seen before. She looked more like one of my warriors than the queen-in-waiting of the Vampires.

And yet, her expression was distant, her eyes downcast as if she were shielding herself. She didn't look at me, not really. But I knew felt, even that last night was playing through her mind as heavily as it was in mine. The memory of her touch, her hesitation, and the way she'd reacted all hung between us, unspoken but undeniable.

The silence stretched, but I wanted to break it. Instead, I kept my voice steady, lowering it just enough so only she could hear, "Ready for the journey?"

She nodded, her gaze briefly flicking up to meet mine before drifting away. There was something still guarded in her eyes, something that said she wasn't ready to talk about what lingered between us, even though it was as real as the ground beneath our feet.

As I watched her, I felt a surge of something close to pride. This was the Scarlet only I seemed to see the woman capable of more than anyone else knew, with strength buried beneath years of restraint. And whether or not she ever wanted to admit it, I'd be there.

We crossed the borders of the Were lands and began our journey south toward the Fae territory. The first half of the trip was steeped in silence, with Scarlet keeping to herself, her gaze fixed on the changing landscape around us. Yet as we drew closer to the Fae borders, I noticed her eyes brighten slightly, her posture shifting with quiet awe as the scenery transformed from rugged forest to lush, sprawling greenery.

"It's different, isn't it?" I asked, breaking the silence, glancing at her. "If I'm not mistaken, you've never been out this way?"

She turned to me, her lips curving into a small, bittersweet smile. "All my life, I've been confined within the walls of the castle. Father never allowed me to go anywhere, not even to the market. As I grew older, the castle became more like a cage. I used to sneak out sometimes, just to breathe... I'd always dreamed of seeing the world beyond."

Her voice was soft, laced with something deeper, and though I sensed there was more she wasn't saying, I held back, letting the quiet comfort linger between us. For once, it felt like we were sharing something beyond duty or alliance.

As we passed the final markers of the Fae border, an ethereal mist rolled across the path, hinting at the magic that saturated the southern lands. Towering trees with silver leaves loomed above us, and the air was thick with the scent of blooming nightshade and the faint hum of enchanted life.

Ahead, a figure stood waiting, poised and serene. Robyn. Her green, flowing cloak blended with the forest as if she were part of it, her eyes sharp and watchful as they landed on us. A flicker of recognition softened her expression as she nodded, welcoming us into Fae territory.

"Kian, oh, and Scarlet..." Robyn greeted, her voice carrying an airy resonance. "I trust your journey was... enlightening?" Her gaze lingered on us, as if reading more than we could hide.

Scarlet straightened beside me. She stepped up toward Robyn, unfazed, "More than I anticipated, Robyn."

Robyn's lips curved in a knowing smirk of hers. "Good. We have much to discuss, and not a moment to waste." She gestured for us to follow, leading us deeper into the heart of the Fae lands.