Bound to the vampire I must kill-Chapter 45: Shut down

Chapter 45

Seraphina’s eyes fluttered open as the dim light of the evening seeped through the curtains. Her body felt warm, cocooned in the lingering comfort of sleep, but something gnawed at her. Hunger. A quiet growl from her stomach reminded her just how much time had passed.

She stretched slightly, turning over—only to find the bed empty.

She blinked, a strange weight settling in her chest.

He was gone.

A flicker of disappointment passed through her before she could shove it away. Maybe she had expected him to still be here, lying beside her, watching her the way he always did when he thought she wasn’t looking. But there was nothing. Just the cool emptiness of the sheets where he should have been.

Sitting up slowly, she ran a hand through her hair, and then—

Everything from before the nap came rushing back—Rhydian standing before her, completely bare, the way he had looked at her like he was at his breaking point, the heat of his touch when he pulled her close. His words, rough and strained as he admitted how much he wanted her, still echoed in her mind. And yet, she had pulled away, leaving behind nothing but tense silence and his bitter laugh.

Her heart pounded as if her body remembered every second of it. She felt slight regret, but quickly shoved it aside.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Her breath caught as Rhydian stepped in. His presence filled the room instantly, but something about him felt... different.

She stiffened when he walked toward her, his movements careful, measured. There was no smirk, no teasing glint in his dark gaze. His face was unreadable.

She barely had time to process it before he leaned down—so close her breath hitched on instinct.

She didn’t know why she did it, but her eyes fluttered shut, expecting something....but, Nothing happened.

Instead, she felt the faintest brush of air as he moved past her.

Her eyes snapped open.

Rhydian reached behind her, grabbing something—a small dagger—before pulling back, completely unfazed.

He didn’t look at her.

Didn’t acknowledge the way she was staring at him, confused and unsettled.

Something was off.

She swallowed, pushing the feeling aside as she swung her legs over the bed. "We should get ready to leave."

His voice was calm, indifferent. "We leave at twilight."

And just like that, he turned away.

No lingering glance. No teasing remark.

Nothing.

Her stomach twisted.

She told herself she was imagining it, that maybe he was just focused on the journey ahead. But something nagged at her, clawing at the edges of her thoughts.

Still, she said nothing.

---

The carriage rattled along the uneven path, the dim light of dusk casting long shadows across the landscape. Inside, the silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Seraphina sat across from Rhydian, watching him.

Waiting.

And yet—not once did he meet her gaze.

Not once did he look at her.

She tested it at first, making small conversations, about the food they had eaten, the weather, the road, anything to get a reaction. He responded each time, his voice smooth and steady.

But his eyes never left the window.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

Her fingers curled against her lap, a slow burn rising in her chest.

At first, she brushed it off, convincing herself she was overthinking it. But the longer it went on, the more obvious it became.

He was avoiding her.

Not just physically.

His eyes. His touch. Even his presence—there was a deliberate distance now, one that hadn’t been there before.

And it was pissing her off.

Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her robe.

"Rhydian."

He hummed in response, still not looking at her.

Her patience snapped.

"Did I do something to make you mad?"

He finally glanced at her—but only for a brief second before quickly looking away again. "Like what?"

She huffed. "I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking."

Silence.

Then, he exhaled through his nose. "No."

She clenched her jaw.

That was it? Just no?

A rush of frustration coiled in her chest, mixing with something else she refused to acknowledge.

Before she could think it through, her body moved on its own.

She reached forward and cupped his face, forcing him to look at her.

The moment their eyes met, he tensed.

His breath hitched.

She felt it—the way his muscles locked up, the way his entire body reacted to her touch.

And for a split second, she saw it again.

That hunger.

But then—he shut it down.

Just like that.

His expression smoothed out, and with a controlled motion, he reached up and gently pulled her hand away.

"We’re almost there," he said, his voice calm. Steady.

Like nothing had just happened.

"Focus." he added.

Seraphina’s stomach twisted.

The way he dismissed it so easily. The way he avoided her.

It hurt.

She clenched her jaw and leaned back, her expression hardening. Fine. If that’s how he wanted to act, then so be it.

For the rest of the journey, she didn’t say another word.

Didn’t look at him.

Didn’t acknowledge him.

And the silence between them was deafening.

When the carriage finally rolled to a stop before the towering gates of the palace, Seraphina didn’t wait.

The door swung open, and she stepped out, her shoulders tense.

She didn’t glance at Rhydian.

Didn’t wait for him.

Didn’t care.

She walked straight ahead, each step heavier than the last.

A part of her wanted to turn back.

A part of her wanted to grab him, to shake him, to demand why?

But she didn’t.

Instead, she ignored the sharp sting in her chest and forced herself forward.

Because if he was going to pretend nothing had changed—

Then so would she. Or at least, that’s what she told herself. But could she really just pretend nothing had changed after this journey? She no longer saw Rhydian as an enemy or the heartless monster she once believed him to be. She had started to see him differently, to warm up to him in ways she never expected. But if he suddenly shut her out, could she truly do the same? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

She stormed into her room, still fuming—but then she hesitated. Why was she even angry? She was the one who had pulled away, the one who had refused to give in to him. Shouldn’t she be relieved that he wasn’t forcing her, that he was handling it calmly? So why did it feel like that calm was somehow worse?