Bound to the vampire I must kill-Chapter 26: Hot and cold

Chapter 26

Rhydian

"You can come out now." My voice echoed in the silence, sharp and commanding. I didn’t need to turn around to know Edmund was lurking in the shadows, watching every move. His boots clicked softly as he stepped forward, a sly grin tugging at his lips.

"Are you sure that woman’s a witch? I don’t remember witches being that strong," Edmund remarked, sliding his sword back into its sheath with a casual grace that grated on my nerves. He had clearly been ready to intervene if things spiraled out of control.

"She’s definitely stronger than I expected. All that remains is to convince her," I replied, dusting off my clothes.

"You heard her. She said she’d rather die than help you. How’s the plan going? Are you even trying to win her over, or are you just making things worse by pissing her off?"

Ed’s words made me stop in my tracks. He was right. I had completely forgotten. But just thinking about it exhausted me. How was I going to pretend to love her when I didn’t even know what real love felt like? And how the hell was I supposed to make her love me in return? That woman hated my guts—I could feel her hatred from miles away.

"I’m not going on with that. I’ll find another way to convince her," I said sternly, brushing him off.

"Wait, Rhy, listen... nothing else will work. You need to understand women. Someone as stubborn as she is would never agree with your terms unless she feels something for you."

"I could just threaten her," I shrugged, even though I knew how pathetic that sounded.

"Are you insane? That’ll only make her hate you more! You need to put your pride aside and treat her nicely. I bet you don’t even know how to be nice."

"Of course I don’t. Same goes for her... The person she should be hating is my father, not me. What the hell did I ever do wrong other than being born a vampire?" Frustration flared in my chest, hot and overwhelming. I was annoyed—at myself, at her. It wasn’t her fault she hated me, and it wasn’t my fault I was born into this cursed clan.

Yes, you heard that right. I hate my identity. I hate that his bloodline runs in my veins. My father was a monster. He tried to raise me to become one, and he succeeded. Now I don’t even know what a simple emotion like love feels like.

Just then, a guard rushed over, his steps urgent. "Your Majesty, there’s something wrong with the queen. She suddenly collapsed. Her body temperature is so high that no one can even touch her—she’s burning hot."

The words slammed into me like a punch to the gut. My heart stopped. She’s what?

Without a second thought, I bolted, the world around me fading into a blur. I reached her chambers in mere seconds, but the moment I stepped inside, a wave of searing heat hit me like a wall.

It felt as if the room was on fire, yet there were no flames. Maids stood at the edge of the room, their faces twisted in fear. None of them dared get close, and I couldn’t blame them. The heat was unbearable..

What was happening to her? And why was I so panicked? My pulse raced. My breathing quickened. My heart pounded, this feeling reminded me of only one other time—the day my mother was kidnapped.

"Leave. Everyone," I barked. The maids hesitated for a second too long. "Now!"

As the door slammed shut behind them, I rushed to her side.

"Seraphina," I called, my voice trembling slightly. "Can you hear me?"

She didn’t respond. Her skin glistened with sweat, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.I reached to touch her wrist but instantly recoiled as my hand burned. What the hell?

"Damn it," I growled. My panic surged. I couldn’t lose her. Not like this.

Ignoring the pain, I scooped her into my arms. The burning heat tore through me, Pain shot through my body, searing and relentless. It wasn’t burning or melting my skin, but it felt as if it were.

I clenched my teeth, ignoring the agony, and carried her to the bathroom. The pool was already filled with water. Without hesitation, I stepped in with her. Slowly, I lowered her into the water, bit by bit, until she was completely submerged, including her head.

Seconds passed. Bubbles rose to the surface—a sign she was breathing. Relief crashed into me.

I pulled her out of the water and cradled her against my chest, holding her tightly. My arms trembled. This panic... it was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.

Why? Why was I so afraid of losing her?

"Cold... I’m cold," she muttered weakly, her voice barely audible. Her body temperature had shifted—she was now icy to the touch.

Without a moment’s delay, I carried her back to the bed and gently laid her down. But now... I needed to change her clothes. My stomach twisted. This wasn’t right. I wasn’t a man who followed rules, but at that moment, I wanted to respect her privacy. She was my wife, but if she were conscious, she would never let me do it.

The maids. They could help.

I rushed to the door and grabbed Irene’s wrist. "Quickly, change her into something warm. Call me once you’re done."

I stood outside, pacing, my feet tapping nervously on the floor. My chest was tight, my mind racing. These emotions were unfamiliar—and I hated them. I hated how vulnerable they made me feel.

"Your Majesty, it’s done," Irene said, stepping out moments later. She was shivering like she had just stepped out of a blizzard.

I rushed back inside. The room had turned freezing cold. What in the world was this illness?

I hurried to her side and wrapped a blanket around her, then pulled her into my arms again. My bones ached from the cold, but I didn’t care. If she was feeling this pain, I was going to bear it with her. My blood could heal, but it couldn’t stop cold or heat. This was something different—something beyond my control.

"This is the best I can do," I whispered. "But everything will be fine. I promise." I held her tightly as she trembled violently in my arms.

"Mother... I’m... I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice barely a breath.

I pulled back just enough to look at her face. Tears streamed down her closed eyes. It stunned me. I never thought I’d see her cry.

I reached out, my fingers gently brushing her tears away. Then, almost without realizing it, I cupped her face, my thumb softly tracing her cheek. My heart skipped a beat, pounding fast and hard.

This feeling... it was completely different from the panic I had felt earlier.

For the first time in my life, I felt something else entirely.

What was this feeling?