Bound to the vampire I must kill-Chapter 64: poisoned

Chapter 64

The assassin’s blade hovered just inches from Seraphina’s throat, but just when she was about to strike, the door slammed open.

Steel clashed against steel in a sudden, violent blur. The assassin barely dodged in time, her blade meeting a broadsword that hissed through the air with deadly force.

It was non other than Edmund. He charged again, giving her no chance to breathe. The assassin twisted away with inhuman speed, her blade cutting across his arm, tearing through fabric and flesh. Blood spurted—but he didn’t stop.

Edmund snarled. "You dare touch the queen?"

He struck again, but she was too fast. With a mocking smirk and a final glance at Seraphina, the assassin spun away and launched herself through the shattered window, vanishing into the day.

He tried to pursue after her, but then...a thud sound made him turn abruptly, Seraphina had collapsed to the ground.

"Your Highness," Edmund gasped, spinning around to her. His chest heaved from exertion, but the fear in his eyes was sharper than any wound.

Seraphina’s body was trembling, soaked in sweat. Her eyes were barely open, her lips parted as though trying to form words that wouldn’t come. Her breath was shallow, her skin pale—too pale.

"No—no..." he muttered, quickly kneeling beside her. "Your Highness, can you hear me? Please answer me."

Her head lolled to the side. He pressed two fingers to her neck, his jaw tightening at the sluggish, faltering pulse he felt beneath her skin.

"She’s burning up..." he cursed under his breath. "Poison?"

His mind raced. Rhydian—where the hell was he? Why now, of all times, would he leave her?

Clenching his jaw, Edmund gently but swiftly scooped her into his arms. Her body was limp against his chest, and he could feel her heartbeat slowing.

"Stay with me, Your Highness. Just a little longer."

He sprinted through the corridors, shouting at every guard in sight. "Clear the path! Open the damned doors!"

The physicians’ chamber was a blur of startled faces and flustered attendants as Edmund barged in, nearly knocking the door off its hinges.

The royal physician stood, startled. "Sir Edmund? What—?"

"She’s been poisoned!" Edmund snapped. "Check her now!"

"But—Her Majesty is usually treated in her chambers, we can’t—"

"If she dies, His Majesty will have your head," Edmund growled, his eyes flashing with urgency. "I’ll take responsibility for bringing her here. Just save her."

The physician paled, rushing over. "Prepare the table! Bring the blackroot salve, and get me the venom-detection stones—move!"

Edmund gently laid Seraphina down on the examination table, her hand slipping from his grip as her body convulsed once.

Her breath hitched—then stopped for a terrifying second.

"Your Highness!" Edmund’s voice cracked. "Stay with me. You’re not allowed to leave now. Not like this."

The physician pressed his palms to her chest and began checking her vitals while another assistant peeled back her gown sleeve and placed a detection stone against her skin.

After a moment, the stone pulsed red.

"Goodness," the physician whispered. "This is no ordinary poison. This... this has no antidote."

Edmund clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. "There has to be a way."

"There might be..." the physician said slowly, his brow furrowing as he turned toward his cabinet. "But it’s dangerous. Experimental. And we’d need something—or someone—to stabilize her long enough for the body to resist on its own." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Edmund stared down at Seraphina’s pale, sweat-soaked face.

"Where the hell is Rhydian?"

---

One Hour Ago

Rhydian stood by the window of his chamber, fastening the cloak around his shoulders. A smile was curled on his lips, excitement bubbling. It felt like he couldn’t wait to see her again when it wasn’t even that long he left her chambers. He had proposed they go out to find her favorite fruit, but he was more excited because they were spending some time alone together and away from all the palace drama.

A knock came at the door.

"Your Majesty," a voice called. "The Duke requests an audience. He says it’s urgent."

Rhydian didn’t even turn around. "Tell him I’m busy. We’ll talk later."

A pause. Then the guard tried again, voice firmer this time. "He said it can’t wait and he needs to see you now."

That made Rhydian’s hand still for a moment. His jaw twitched, and with a reluctant sigh, he turned toward the door. "Fine," he muttered. "i’m on my way."

By the time he reached the palace hall, the Duke was already there, standing in the middle of the room, eyes bloodshot and face pale. As soon as he saw Rhydian, the man fell to his knees and broke into tears.

"They took her!" he cried out. "Those damned rogues—Karine’s been kidnapped! I—I didn’t know who else to turn to!"

Rhydian tensed but didn’t rush to him. His voice stayed calm. "I’ll have my men track them down."

"No, no!" the Duke crawled forward, grabbing at Rhydian’s hands. "Please... you don’t understand... this is all your fault!"

Rhydian’s brow lifted, slowly. "My fault?"

"If you hadn’t rejected her—refused to marry her—she wouldn’t have fallen into that depression, she wouldn’t have run away! She wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped!"

Rhydian stared down at him, then frowned deeply. "This is what happens when you raise your daughter wrong," he said coldly. "And don’t talk like you didn’t help her carry out her sick little plan against my wife."

The Duke bowed his head lower. "I know... I know... I regret it more than anything. But I’m begging you... please help me. I can’t trust anyone else. Her life is in danger, they want her blood because she is half human. You said she was like family once, didn’t you? I remember how close you two were as children..."

There was silence. Rhydian’s fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t want to waste another second, Seraphina was probably already waiting. But Karine... for all the damage she’d done... she was still family. In some twisted, distant way.

He exhaled sharply. "Fine."

The Duke gasped in relief, but Rhydian had already turned to leave. .

He made his way down the hall with Edmund by his side. "Send word to the queen. Tell her something urgent came up. I’ll be a little late." he ordered Edmund.

With that, he headed straight for the horse stables. He didn’t wait for anyone to accompany him. He didn’t need help. These were just rogues. Nothing he couldn’t handle himself.

---

Rhydian traced faint footprints through the woods, boot prints mashed into soft soil and broken branches. He moved fast, his senses sharp. It wasn’t long before the trail led him to a small, secluded cottage tucked away between trees.

He paused when he heard it.

Laughter.

Followed by a muffled cry of a woman.

His jaw clenched. That voice—it was Karine. And those bastards were laughing. His eyes darkened.

Were they...molesting her?

He didn’t hesitate.

The door flew off its hinges as he burst inside, and what he saw made the rage in his chest explode.

Karine was tied to a chair, her hair disheveled, clothes torn, face streaked with tears. The rogues were laughing—two of them had their hands on her, and one was holding a knife.

Rhydian didn’t speak. He didn’t give them a chance.

They didn’t even see him move.

By the time they realized death had arrived, it was already too late. One after the other, they fell—blades to throats, heads twisted, blood splashing across the floor. In seconds, the entire room was filled with silence.

One of them gasped on the floor, blood pooling beneath him. His eyes locked on Karine in a desperate panic.

"This... wasn’t the plan..." he croaked before going still.

Rhydian didn’t even register the words. His focus was already on the ropes.

He stepped toward Karine and began untying her, his hands moving fast. As soon as she was free, she collapsed into his arms and began sobbing into his chest, clutching him tightly like she never wanted to let go.

Rhydian frowned, He didn’t return the hug at first. There was a flicker of discomfort in his eyes, since after Seraphina, he didn’t like it when other women got too close, infact...he felt disgusted. Still, he let her cling, patting her back once. She was still the karine he once knew after all, someone he had cared for like his sister.

"You’re safe now," he muttered, though his tone was distant.

He didn’t want to linger. Time was slipping fast, and Seraphina was still waiting.

"Let’s go," he said, stepping back.

But just as he turned, Karine grabbed his arm.

"I—I can’t walk," she whispered. "My leg... please, Rhydian, can you carry me?"

He stopped.

Then slowly turned to look at her.

His eyes narrowed as they fell to her leg, there was no blood, no swelling, not even a limp when she shifted slightly just now.

"You can walk," he said, voice cold. "Just try to keep up."

And with that, he turned and strode out of the cottage.

Karine’s eyes narrowed at his back. Her fingers curled into fists.

How stubborn... she thought bitterly. Let’s see how you react when she’s dead by the time you return.

Still, she followed.

The horse was waiting outside. Rhydian held the reins and looked at her without emotion.

"Climb on."

"You should ride with me," Karine offered, attempting a weak smile.

"No," Rhydian said flatly. "Just hold on tight."

He walked beside the horse, his mind still on Seraphina, he didn’t know why but he was starting to feel uneasy, like something bad had happened.

They’d only gone a short distance when Karine finally broke the silence.

"...Do you hate me now?"

He didn’t answer.

"I’m sorry," she whispered. "For what I did to your wife. I... I was just jealous. I wasn’t thinking. I swear nothing like that will ever happen again. So can you... stop treating me so coldly?"