Bound to the vampire I must kill-Chapter 27: I’m glad you’re safe

Chapter 27

Seraphina

I felt weak and exhausted, but I struggled to open my eyes, and... I felt something else—strong, muscular arms wrapped carefully around me. His familiar scent invaded my nostrils, warm and woodsy. This had to be Rhydian. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

My first instinct was to push him away, but... something in me hesitated. His arms felt so warm, so safe. Not that I’d ever admit that out loud.

My first thought was how did he get here?

My second thought, Wait—why does this feel... nice?

No. Nope. Absolutely not. And what in the world happened to me yesterday?

I tried to gently wiggle free, but his arms held me in a firm, unyielding grip. Was he asleep?

"Rhydian..." I whispered, attempting to pry his arm off me. Still no response. Is he dead? No, vampires don’t die in their sleep... right? I tried one last time, but his arms didn’t budge.

Okay, that’s it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I balled my fist and delivered a swift punch to his stomach.

He groaned and immediately let go, curling slightly from the impact.

I shot up, sitting as far away from him as possible, glaring at him like he’d committed a crime. "Who gave you permission to hug me so close?"

Rhydian looked up at me, blinking innocently, clearly surprised by my sudden punch. But after sometime, he said nothing, just sighed and turned onto his back, staring at the ceiling, a lazy smile curling on his lips. Did he just... ignore me?!

My brows furrowed in annoyance, and I leaned closer. "I asked you a question! Can’t you—"

Before I could finish, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me into his arms, locking me in a firm embrace.

"I’m glad you’re safe. You scared the hell out of me, Sera," he said softly, his voice so gentle it sent shivers down my spine.

My heart stopped for a second... then kicked into high gear, racing hard. He was worried about me? The way he called me Sera felt oddly intimate, and worst of all—I liked it. A lot.

And why wouldn’t my heart stop racing? I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t scared, and I sure as hell wasn’t panicked. What else could possibly explain this sudden thudding in my chest?

Before I could even process what to say, a knock on the door startled me. I bolted upright, nearly tripping over myself as I pulled away from him, my face heating up. What just happened?

"Come in," Rhydian ordered casually, acting like nothing just happened.

The door opened, and Irene rushed inside, her eyes lighting up the second she saw me.

"Your Highness, you’re awake!" she cried, hurrying to my side and completely ignoring Rhydian.

"I was so worried! I thought... I thought..." Her voice cracked, and before I knew it, she was sobbing.

Her sudden outburst caught me off guard. We’d only known each other for a few days, but she already cared this much? I pulled her into a hug, gently stroking her hair.

"I’m fine," I said softly, trying to calm her down. "See? I’m alive and well. No need to cry."

I glanced up, expecting to find Rhydian standing there, but he was gone. When did he leave?

For some reason, an unexpected emptiness settled in my chest. It was nothing, definitely nothing. Why would I be disappointed he wasn’t there, it wasn’t like I missed him right?

"Your Highness," Irene sniffled, wiping her tears, "everyone was so worried about you last night. Even His Majesty. He stayed by your side the whole time, taking care of you."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. My mind flashed back to how he’d held me just moments ago, how his arms had felt so secure, like I belonged there.

My heart betrayed me again, thudding way too fast. No. Not possible. I shook my head. There’s no way I’m feeling this way about him. Absolutely no way.

"Irene, tell me everything, everything that happened yesterday."

Irene hesitated, biting her lip like she was unsure how much to say. My patience was hanging by a thread. What happened yesterday?

Finally, she took a deep breath.

"It all happened so suddenly, Your Highness. You collapsed in the middle of the day, burning up with a fever so intense no one could get near you. His Majesty was the only one brave enough to touch you despite the pain it caused him. He carried you to the water himself... stayed with you the entire time. He wouldn’t let anyone else help—not even me."

My heart twisted uncomfortably. He did what?

Irene’s words hung in the air, pressing down on me. My chest tightened, my pulse quickening with every syllable.

"He never left your side," she continued, her voice soft but steady. "Not once. When your fever turned to chills, he wrapped you in his arms to keep you warm, even though the cold was strong enough to make the air freeze. He held you, whispering to you the whole time, promising you’d be okay."

I blinked, struggling to process everything she said. Rhydian? The same cold, arrogant vampire king who rarely showed even a hint of emotion?

Each word made my breath hitch just a little more, an unfamiliar warmth spreading through my chest—an unsettling mixture of gratitude and confusion.

Why would he do that? Why go to such lengths for me?

"You should’ve seen him," Irene added, her eyes lighting up with a small smile. "He looked terrified, like his world would shatter if anything happened to you. He wasn’t the strong, commanding king everyone knows... he was just a man, desperate to protect you."

Terrified. For me.

My heart betrayed me, quickening its pace, my thoughts swirling in chaos. Gratitude flickered, but something else—something far more dangerous—made my chest tighten.

No. This doesn’t make sense. I clenched my hands into fists, trying to steady my breathing. Why do I feel... warm? Why does my heart race at the thought of him holding me? He’s supposed to be my enemy, not... this.

Instinctively, my hand brushed my wrist, the place where Rhydian had grabbed me earlier. I remembered the way his arms wrapped around me—firm yet careful, like I was something fragile.

For a fleeting second, I missed the warmth of his touch.

Get a grip, Seraphina!

"Irene, were leaving today...to heal your mother." I said sternly, ignoring everything she just narrated. One thing I needed right now was space, away from him. Maybe that’ll help me come back to my senses. And also, I needed to meet the witch doctor, she was the only person that would have answers on what happened to me yesterday.