"If you keep slumping like that, you'll fall and break your neck before we reach the next village."
His voice pulling her from the haze of exhaustion. Every muscle in her body ached, the strain of the journey settling deep into her bones. The restraints on her wrists had loosened slightly, but the dull sting remained, a reminder of her status
She had been woken up even before first light, she saw the vampire soldiers travelling ahead as the ran at inhumane speeds leaving the human soldiers who started escorting them from the village...and they had started riding right after
She barely had the strength to lift her head. The cool natural light of the morning cast a pale glow on his sharp features, illuminating the sharp angles of his jaw and the faint gleam of his fangs when he spoke. But there was no concern in his expression—just mild irritation, as if her discomfort was nothing more than an inconvenience.
She swallowed hard, voice hoarse. "Then untie me."
Nothing.
No reaction.
The only answer was the rhythmic sound of hooves against the dirt road.
After some moments, he raised a hand, gesturing to one of the soldiers. A human soldier rode up beside them, his presence a stark contrast to the inhuman speed the vampire soldiers had displayed earlier in the morning. She had almost missed it—how effortlessly they disappeared beyond the horizon, moving with unnatural grace.
The soldier hopped down, loosened the bindings without a word, and mounted his horse once more. She pushed herself upright, rolling her sore shoulders as the horse moved beneath her.
"Don't try anything stupid."
His voice rang out again, even-toned but firm.
Her gaze flickered toward him, sharp with irritation. 'What's with him and that sentence?'
The horses neighed, their pace quickening. She gritted her teeth and urged hers forward, ignoring the dull ache that pulsed through her body. The momentary relief of being untied did little to ease the reality of her situation.
---
The hours passed in a blur. The villages they passed grew larger, more structured—evidence of a kingdom that had long since adjusted to vampire rule. Here, the presence of his kind was undeniable. Unlike the fearful whispers of the southern territories, these people revered him. Subtle bows greeted him as they passed, but he paid them no mind, moving through the streets without slowing.
She was beginning to understand.
The farther north they traveled, the deeper she was being pulled into his world.
When night fell, there were no villages in sight—only the dense, endless stretch of the forest. The scent of damp earth filled the air, mingling with the distant calls of unseen creatures.
"We'll take camp here. We ride at first light."
The order was simple, final. He dismounted in one smooth motion, eyes flickering briefly across the soldiers' weary expressions. Even they, strong as they were, needed rest after covering half the kingdom in a single day.
She barely had the strength to keep herself upright. At some point, when her vision blurred and her breath grew unsteady, she felt herself slipping—only to be caught.
A different soldier had taken hold of the reins beside her, guiding her onto his own horse. She was too drained to protest.
---
When they set camp, she remained on the outskirts, watching as the soldiers moved with practiced ease. She thought about helping, but hesitation held her back. What could she even offer? She had never built a campfire, never prepared a meal over an open flame.
So she stayed still. Observing.
One of the soldiers rubbed a cluster of dried leaves together, and in an instant, a flame sparked to life. The glow flickered against their faces as they all gathered around the fire, roasting the remains of a small antelope.
The scent of charred meat filled the air
She hesitated, then finally spoke. "What was your army doing in my kingdom? Were you part of the attack?"
Silence.
Then, after a pause, one of the soldiers spoke. "We would have" she bit her lip knowing he was right, they'd have gotten their retaliation for the attacked villages in the north "but it seems someone got there first." He tore a bite from the meat, chewing lazily. "Your kingdom has a lot of bad blood, aye?"
Her brows furrowed. "Then why did you help us fight them?"
The soldier chuckled under his breath. "They weren't any better than your people" She nodded recalling, the other kingdom had partnered with them in the whole vampire fiasco
"you should eat" he said before turning away
That was all he said.
She wanted to press further, but his tone made it clear—the conversation was over.
Still, she couldn't shake the weight of his words. She remembered her father's voice, the way he had spoken of his alliances, of past wars fought in blood and betrayal.
Taking a piece of meat, she bit into it. Bland, but edible. She couldn't afford to be hungry, not until their next camp
---
As the soldiers drifted into their own routines, she rose, searching for a place to rest. The temporary shelters were simple—makeshift tents formed from sticks and cloth. Walking towards the tents, she recalled she hadn't asked which one was hers, she picked the one furthest from the fire and the other tents...lying down on the cold floor, she loosened the outer part of her garment to serve as a blanket.
Exhaustion settled over her like a thick fog.
Her last thought before sleep claimed her was a simple one—where had he gone?
---
The Vampire-
He had left the moment they set camp, vanishing into the shadows of the forest.
It had been years since he last walked these lands himself. War rarely required his personal involvement anymore, but he had chosen to travel this way—to see what had changed.
He had watched the villages from the trees, his gaze scanning over homes, marketplaces, and the unmistakable signs of a kingdom that had long since adapted... living in familiarity with each other
Humans had once fought desperately against his kind. Now, they lived under vampire rule, bound by oaths they themselves had chosen to take
After a while, he turned back.
When he returned to the camp, the fires were still burning low, the scent of charred meat lingering in the air. The soldiers standing watch acknowledged him with quiet nods before shifting their gazes elsewhere.
He made his way to his tent always set farther from the rest, seeking nothing more than silence.
And yet—
He paused at the entrance.
A blonde mess lay sprawled across the floor, her breathing soft, even.
He sighed softly, recalling he had given no instruction about her. Had she decided to take shelter here on her own?
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. She didn't sleep like a noblewoman—no stiffness, no guarded posture. Instead, she had collapsed into rest without a second thought, exhaustion overriding instinct.
Careless.
His lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing.
Walking past her, he settled at the opposite end of the tent, closing his eyes.
The only sound in the space was her breathing
__
Morning soon came, and a sharp yell outside the tent startled her awake. Begrudgingly, she sat up, running her fingers through her hair to smooth it down. She grabbed the bowl of water she had gotten from one of the soldiers last night, as they travelled with water, she rinsed her mouth, and spat it out.
Outside, the soldiers were preparing to leave. She spotted him easily—standing beneath a tree, arms crossed, watching the camp with an unreadable expression.
Summoning courage, she walked toward him, keeping her steps steady. When she got close enough, his gaze flicked to her, piercing through her as if seeing right past her flesh and into the depths of her thoughts.
She clenched her fists, forcing herself to hold his gaze. Now or never.
"Since you let the women go, why did you capture me?"
The question had been gnawing at her since the castle. He hadn't taken spoils of war, she wasn't exactly being treated as a slave, and with her father and Cedric dead, there was no political advantage in keeping her.
He didn't hesitate. "Bothersome royals go snooping around for revenge."
Then he turned away, as if that was all there was to it.
She stared at his back, her pulse pounding.
He didn't need to say more
Most royals would be out for blood by now, clinging to the ruins of their family, death of the king, vowing vengeance. But her? The throne had never truly belonged to her, and the kingdom had never felt like home. The women she cared about were safe—if he was telling the truth. And the men? She had seen them, when they left the castle...her friends were from other kingdoms ..and the villagers were safe
There wouldn't really be any motive for revenge, He wasn't even the one who attacked
The neigh of a horse snapped her from her thoughts
.
Without another word, she rushed to mount it.
The wind howled as they rode deeper into the north, shadows stretching long across the road