The Princess and The Criminal [ CAITVI ]

17 | Caught Off Guard

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Vi's POV
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I stretched out on the couch, my arm throbbing from the gash Caitlyn had bandaged earlier. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle—nothing new—but it still burned, the kind of burn that made you want to grit your teeth and get it over with.

The cracked ceiling above me didn't give much to look at, but I stared at it anyway, listening to the muffled sound of water running in the bathroom. Caitlyn's soft footsteps echoed faintly against the walls, a small reminder that she was still here.

The place smelled of smoke and blood, and the musty dampness of the house didn't help. I let out a breath, sitting up with a grunt. The couch creaked under me as I swung my legs to the floor.

Damn, it was freezing in here. Should've grabbed a blanket or something, but it was too late now. I was already moving toward the kitchen.

I creaked open a rusty cabinet—a bottle of something strong that had been sitting untouched for too long. I grabbed it, the glass cool and familiar in my hand.

I didn't need a glass. Didn't need anything fancy. I unscrewed the cap and took a swig straight from the bottle.

The burn hit my throat like a punch. The warmth spread through me, and I let out a small breath. There was something comforting about the biting sting.

The sound of running water cut off abruptly, leaving an unnatural silence in its wake. I paused mid-swig, listening for a moment before my gaze fell on the sack of supplies we'd hauled in earlier. I set the bottle aside, reaching down to grab it.

Inside was a little something I'd snagged from a vendor's stall—a spur-of-the-moment thing I hadn't thought much about at the time.

A grin tugged at my lips as I hefted the sack over my shoulder and made my way to the bathroom door, my boots thudding softly against the floorboards.

"Hey, princess," I called, knocking lightly against the wood. "Got a surprise for you."

No response. Just silence.

I frowned, leaning in closer as I raised a brow. Maybe she hadn't heard me.

Before I could call again, the door creaked open, and I froze in my tracks. Caitlyn stood there, her skin immediately flushing with a mix of the damp heat and—if I wasn't mistaken—embarrassment.

The towel wrapped around her was barely doing its job, clinging precariously to her chest and leaving most of her legs exposed. Droplets of water slid down her neck, catching the light as they traced their way across her collarbone and over the curve of her shoulders. Her hair, wet and dark, clung in loose strands, dripping steadily onto the hardwood floor.

Damn it.

"Whoops," I muttered under my breath. My gaze stayed glued to her, completely ignoring my brain's half-hearted attempt to look away. Yeah, my body wasn't getting the memo.

Her wide blue eyes darted to mine, her expression a mix of shock and mortification. For a split second, neither of us moved. Then, realization hit her like a freight train. Her cheeks flushed crimson as she scrambled to clutch the towel tighter against her chest, her fingers fumbling with the fabric like it might magically cover more of her.

"Vi!" she stammered, her voice sharper than usual but cracking at the edges. "What—what the hell are you doing?"

I coughed, holding up the sack of supplies like a makeshift shield. "Uh... this?" I offered, my usual bravado slipping as I waved it vaguely between us.