Bound to the vampire I must kill-Chapter 58: Training grounds

THIS Chapter IS DEDICATED TO @Rebelgang, Thanks dearest, for leaving a review.

Chapter 58

Seraphina slipped quietly out of her chambers.

There was no reason for it. No urgent matter to attend to. No official summons or secret task. She just... wanted to see him.

Since arriving at the palace, she’d never truly wandered its grand halls in the daytime without purpose. Every step she’d taken here had been calculated, cautious. But today, she didn’t care for caution.

She just...missed him. Partly because of what just went down with that crazy woman.

Her feet carried her toward his chambers before her mind could catch up. She hesitated once she arrived, eyes flicking to the two guards stationed outside the large, double doors. It was the first time she’d come here—his space. She had never dared before.

But now, she stood just a few feet away, heart thudding a little faster in her chest.

As she stepped forward, one of the guards raised a hand firmly. "Your Highness, we apologize, but His Majesty has given us strict orders—no one is to enter without his direct permission. No exceptions."

Seraphina blinked.

No exceptions?

A strange ache settled in her chest.

Of course she knew she wasn’t that important to him yet. They were still figuring each other out, slowly building a connection. But still... he didn’t even make an exception for her?

It stung more than she cared to admit.

Her voice came softer than usual. "Is he inside?"

The other guard answered, "No, Your Highness. He’s on the training grounds. Combat practice."

She nodded once and turned on her heel without another word, ignoring the small lump forming in her throat.

She knew exactly where to find him. But he quickened pace showed too much of how eager she was to see him.

---

The sound of clashing steel, laughter, and shouted encouragement reached her before she arrived at the training grounds. As she stepped through the stone archway, her breath hitched.

The scene before her was unlike anything she’d expected.

Sweat gleamed on bare torsos as men sparred and trained with raw intensity. Muscles flexed, blades clanged, the sun beat down on sculpted backs, and loud cheers echoed across the space as they fought. It was pure testosterone and chaos, and every single one of them was shirtless.

Her eyes widened. "What the..."

She swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of her own body, her own breathing.

But it wasn’t just the sight of them that made her pause—it was him.

Rhydian stood at the center of it all, commanding the space like a king born for war. His dark hair was damp with sweat, strands clinging to his forehead. His bare chest rose and fell with each breath, muscles coiled tight, battle-hardened and beautiful. He wasn’t sparring, not yet—just watching with his arms crossed, a lazy but dangerous smirk on his lips.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

No man in that pit came close to him. Not in form. Not in presence. Not in heat.

She wasn’t even embarrassed by the way her eyes drank him in. Broad chest. Toned abs. That arrogant tilt of his head that said he knew he looked good and didn’t give a damn who noticed.

Gods, he was too much.

The spar happening in the center drew her attention for a moment—Kael and Ezekiel, locked in a fast-paced, sweaty brawl. She remembered them from her early days in the palace, Rhydian had secretly assigned to keep tabs on her, but of course, she always knew they were following her. It was oddly amusing to see them now, all testosterone and reckless movement.

Kael had Ezekiel pinned, muscles flexing as he tried to force a surrender. But Ezekiel, as stubborn as ever, fought back like a madman.

The whole place vibrated with energy.

And Seraphina... smiled.

It was genuine. Bright. Free. The first time in days she let herself relax, just watching something so... normal.

So caught up was she, she didn’t hear the footsteps behind her.

Until it was too late.

Two arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

And before her brain even processed who it could be, her fighting instincts kicked in. Her body moved fast, fluid and vicious. She grabbed the arm, twisted with precision, and flipped the man over her shoulder.

He landed on the ground with a hard thud.

The cheering stopped. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

All eyes turned.

She straddled the man’s waist, arm pinning him down, only for her gaze to land on his face.

Her heart stopped. "Rhydian!?"

His chest rose with a grunt, but instead of being angry... he laughed.

A low, amused, husky laugh that sent heat straight between her legs.

"Well, fuck," he breathed, his voice rough from the fall. "Remind me never to sneak up on you again."

"Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!" she gasped, scrambling off him. "I didn’t know—"

He sat up slowly, eyes locked on hers. And then he smirked.

The kind of smirk that promised trouble.

"No, no... don’t apologize," he murmured as he stood. "That was incredibly hot."

She took a step back instinctively, cheeks flushed, trying to ignore the snickers and catcalls coming from the soldiers now.

"Get it, your majesty!"

"She flipped him so effortlessly!"

"Damn, Your Majesty, she’s got moves!"

But Rhydian didn’t care.

He took one step toward her, then another.

His gaze was dark, hungry, intense.

And without warning, he cupped her face in both hands and kissed her.

No hesitation. No teasing.

Just raw need.

His lips were soft but commanding, moving against hers with hunger that stole her breath. One hand slid to her waist, the other tangled in her hair. She gasped, and he deepened the kiss, tongue sweeping into her mouth like he’d been starving for her.

And God... she kissed him back.

Heat surged through her as her arms looped around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer. The taste of him, the way his body pressed to hers, it was too much, and not enough all at once.

The men lost their minds.

"Whoa!"

"That’s our king!"

"She’s got him on a leash now!"

But the teasing faded when the kiss didn’t end.

Rhydian backed her up slowly until her back hit a stone pillar. His hand on her hip gripped tighter, his thigh between hers, the kiss turning darker, deeper, almost possessive.

His breathing was ragged. Her lips swollen. Their bodies practically melting together.

"Alright, enough!" Edmund barked somewhere in the distance. "You all, clear out! Now!"

The men groaned but obeyed, laughter echoing as they left the couple alone.

Seraphina finally broke the kiss, panting softly, cheeks on fire.

"We’re outside," she whispered, trying not to look directly into his dark, lust-filled eyes.

Rhydian didn’t step back. He didn’t even blink. "And I’m hard as stone right now."

Her face went redder. "Y-you can’t say that!"

"Why not? You came here, flipped me to the ground, kissed me like you owned me, and now I’m wrecked."

"I just came to check on you because—" she paused, flustered.

"Because...?" he coaxed, voice low.

She bit her lip, defeated. "Because I missed you."

He groaned softly, his mouth brushing her jaw. "Fuck, Seraphina... that just made me harder."

"You’re shameless, you know that?" she whispered, trying not to smile, though her chest bubbled with excitement.

"You love it," he murmured back. "I’ve completely lost control around you. I can’t help it."

She took a deep breath and pulled away—just enough to stand upright again, but... Rhydian held her hand firmly and he tugged her close again, arms wrapping around her waist.

Then his voice dropped to a whisper against her skin.

"I’ve never told you this... but do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"

Seraphina’s heart skipped.

She wasn’t blushing anymore.

She was burning.