ADRIAN POV
She was so panicked, so desperate, that I had no choice—I had to render her unconscious. It was the only way to keep her safe.
I carried her through the night to the heart of the forest, the place I always returned to when the weight of eternity pressed down on me. Cradled in my arms—one hand beneath her legs, the other supporting her back—she felt unbearably fragile.
In the sanctuary of the cave, I laid her gently onto the couch. I lingered a moment, unwilling to leave her side, then forced myself away. They were waiting for me.
EIRA POV
Oh God.
My neck throbbed with pain.
Where am I? No—no, no!
I've been kidnapped. If my parents find out, they'll drag me back home.
Focus, Eira! Who brought me here? Am I in danger? Questions stormed through my head, but strangely, an unnatural calm began to settle over me.
The room was nothing like I expected. Its walls were stone, carved with intricate, elegant designs that drew my eyes despite my fear. A couch cradled me, a bed stood in the corner, and a polished table gleamed before me. Minimal, yes, but purposeful. Mysterious. Almost… inviting.
What was wrong with me? How could I find this place beautiful? Stop it! You're losing your mind.
I forced myself up, searching for an exit, until finally—I found it. The door was open. Thank God! How careless could a kidnapper be?
But when I stepped outside, my breath caught.
A jungle. A cave. Yet not like any cave I'd seen before. It was breathtaking, alive with light and carved stone, more like a sanctuary than a prison. Still, the forest beyond was dense and dark, the kind of darkness that devoured courage.
No. I couldn't face it. Not yet.
I rushed back inside, trembling, and curled onto the bed. I'd wait until sunrise before trying to flee. Slowly, exhaustion overcame fear, and I drifted into uneasy sleep.
ADRIAN POV
The meeting dragged on endlessly, but my mind was elsewhere—burning with rage. Whoever had dared touch her, whoever had dared take her—I would tear them apart.
Our focus should have been Andy. A vampire missing, not human, not easy to hide. And yet Mike had no leads. Nothing.
But Eira… I couldn't ignore her.
I had to reach her before dawn. She feared the darkness too deeply to run at night, but I couldn't risk her waiting alone. Not with what roamed the forest.
EIRA POV
I woke with a start, panic crushing my chest.
Oh God—how could I have slept? What if the kidnapper was back?
I leapt to my feet, driven by desperation. I didn't know where I was going, only that I had to run.
Branches tore at me as I stumbled through the wilderness, my heart hammering in my throat. At last, breathless, I collapsed onto a jagged rock. Every direction looked the same. My legs ached, trembling beneath me.
Water. My throat burned with thirst.
And then—howls. Low, menacing, echoing through the trees.
Terror froze me as yellow eyes emerged from the darkness. Wolves—massive, monstrous, circling me with predatory hunger.
"No…" My voice cracked. I tried to rise, but my ankle gave way, pain lancing through me. My body betrayed me, paralyzed by both agony and fear.
This was it. I was going to die.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the end.
And then—a hand. Strong, firm, gripping my shoulder.
My eyes flew open.
Adrian.
He was here.
Confusion tangled with relief. He stood between me and the wolves, his presence radiating calm even as his eyes blazed with fury. Slowly, impossibly, the wolves retreated, melting into the shadows.
When he turned to me, his face was carved in anger and something else—something dangerously close to concern.
"Why did you come out?" His voice was sharp, commanding.
"I was kidnapped!" I snapped back. "Wait—you knew? Was it you? Did you capture me again?"
"You fool!" His roar shook me. "They were about to kill you!"
Pain seared my ankle, pulling a cry from my lips. "Ouch! My leg—this is all your fault!"
His expression softened as his gaze dropped to my injury. He crouched beside me, helping me onto a rock, and handed me a bottle of water.
I snatched it from him, too parched to argue. The water soothed my throat, and for a fleeting second, I saw him smile. A small, human smile. It vanished just as quickly.
"We need to get out of here," he said, voice firm again.
I tried to rise, but my legs refused me.
"Don't move—you'll make it worse. Come here."
Before I could protest, his arm slid around my waist, pulling me against him. His breath brushed my cheek, his eyes locking onto mine. I didn't even realize he'd lifted me until my feet were off the ground.
"Put me down! I can walk!" I protested, pounding weakly against his chest.
"I know you can," he said, almost teasing.
"Then let me go!"
"You're stronger than you look," he muttered with a smirk. Infuriating.
The more I struggled, the tighter his grip became.
"Stop moving. Do you want to go home or not?" His voice was edged with exasperation.
I fell silent, glaring, then finally nodded.
He carried me effortlessly, eyes fixed ahead. I studied his face, looking for cracks in that iron mask. And then—I saw it. A flicker of loneliness in his gaze, raw and unguarded, before he turned away.
The sway of his steps lulled me, exhaustion creeping in once more.
And this time, I didn't fight it. I let sleep take me—in Adrian's arms.