Chapter 115
CAMILLA’S P.O.V
They started in his direction but I raised up a hand to stop them. “No, leave him, he isn’t a threat to me.”
“That might be true but I can still bite them as much as any other person,” he waved his hand in the direction of the guards. “The way I see it, if you give out any more blood tonight, you’ll pass out. That would be the perfect opportunity for me to take you.”
“What do you want, Alastair?”
“From you? Absolutely nothing. I am just curious.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Why did they choose you?” he asked and my brows furrowed. “I have heard stories about you, Camilla. I know how you came back from near death twice, I know now that you have two powers instead of one. Why are you special enough for them to bend the laws of nature for but she wasn’t.”
He was talking about his lover. My heart ached for him and I gestured for the guards to step aside and they did.
“I am sorry about what happened to her.”
“Do not speak of her,” he growled and for a second, I thought he would attack me but he didn’t. He remained rooted by his spot next to the tree.
“I’m sorry,” my dizziness was getting worse but I managed to stay upright. I knew one of the guards would have mind linked Ryker already, it was just a matter of time until he appeared. “To answer your question, I don’t know why they chose me. I don’t know how they think or why they would prioritize one life over another. It isn’t what I would have wanted but they want to keep the balance of the world.”
“It doesn’t matter now, does it? She is dead and you are alive with healing blood running through your veins. If I bit you now, you would simply heal again,” he pushed off the tree and took a few steps forward. The guards held out their swords to try to keep him away and he shook his head. “Do they know that I am fast enough to kill you and run away before they even take a step?”
“They know, so do I, which brings me to the question, why aren’t you doing anything?”
“Are you asking me to kill you?”
“No, I’m just curious.”
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“Killing you would serve no purpose, they would simply give your healing blood to someone else,” the corner of his lips quirked up. “You will serve much bigger purposes for me.”
I heard some rustling behind me and I immediately knew that it was Ryker. I hoped to delay him a little more but he already heard it and I could already see him poised to
run.
“We will meet again, Camilla, I hope you stay alive until then because I have so much in store for you.”
“I’m sorry
about what my father did to you as well,” I blurted out and his eyes darkened with anger. “I just found out recently. You don’t have to get revenge on me for that. I had nothing to do with it, none of these people did. You are punishing innocents.”
“Live for as long as I have, Camilla, then you will be equipped enough to give me advice.” He winked and then he disappeared through the threes.
The weakness came immediately and I wanted to crumble to the ground but I managed to hold myself upright. I was the Queen, the guards didn’t need to see me fall. As soon as I saw Ryker walk into the clearing where we were, it was as if all the energy had been drained out of me. Once he was within reach, I threw my arms around him and I sagged against him. He cursed and held me impossible tighter. His hands ran down my back affectionately before coming up to my face to frame them.
“Are you hurt?” he asked and I shook my head. “What did he want?”
“He just talked, he wanted me too tired to run so that he could talk. He really is the first vampire but I don’t think he is as angry with my father as we initially thought. His
anger
is about the first woman he loved. He thinks the g ods have favored me over her by bringing me back to life twice when they wouldn’t bring her back once.”
He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “Come, we need to get you to safety. The guards will finish up here.”
We took a step forward and my legs buckled. “I don’t think I can walk right now. I gave out too much blood, I feel dizzy and sick.”
He debated it for a second before putting his hands underneath my knees and picking me up bridal style. I tried to protest but he ignored me and carried me all the way to where the horses sat waiting patiently. I noticed a few guards staring at us but none of them said a single word. A few of them cracked smiles and I couldn’t help but bury my face into Ryker’s shoulder to avoid their gazes.
Once we were by the horses he gently deposited me on top of the horse. “Can you ride on your own or do you need me to ride with you?”
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Chapter 115
“I am tired, Ryker, not dying, I can do this, I promise. you didn’t need to carry me. I just needed a few seconds to get myself together again.”
He rolled his eyes and ignored my last statement. “Are you sure? I can always ride with you and the guards will bring my horse back.”
“I am more than sure, don’t worry, I will be fine.”
He didn’t look like he believed me but he let me be. It was a real has sle to get back to the palace. Each movement of the horse had my head spinning at an alarmingly fast rate and I thought I was going to throw up. I had never been so relieved when the horse stopped but I couldn’t even get off it immediately because I felt like I was going to throw up or pass out or both. Thankfully, Ryker had already called on my bluff and he knew exactly what was wrong with me. He helped me off the horse and I allowed the fresh breeze to hit my face and calm me down.
“Are you guys alright?” Christine asked once we were in front of the palace and I nodded. “Audrey wanted to stay up and wait for you but I thought it would be a great idea if she just went to bed early. I wasn’t sure when you would be back.”
“Thank you for everything, Christine, you have been a great help but right now, I just want to get to my room before I pass out.”
Her brows furrowed. “Are you alright? Do you need the physician?”
“No, leave him with his son. It is just blood loss, I will be fine by tomorrow.”
She nodded in understanding and stood by my side. She didn’t make it too obvious that she was helping but she did what she could. I smiled softly at her at least until I noticed Alara standing off to a corner. She looked worried and confused.
I turned to Ryker. “Can you please talk to her? She must be worried since she heard the bell and it might have triggered something from her attack. I just want her to know that everything is fine.”
“Are you sure Christine shouldn’t do that? She is better with people than I am,” he began but I shook my head.
“You were the one who offered for her to stay. I think it would mean more if you spoke to her instead.”
He sighed and nodded then gently took a step away from me. “I’ll be with you soon.”
Christine bore my full weight as Ryker went to speak to Alara. She helped me into the room and out of my heavy dress. I thanked her but I couldn’t wait to get into bed. I planned to wait for Rykér, I hoped he would be back soon but I could barely stay up. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep. I didn’t even hear the door open or him come in.
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I woke up to a hand caressing my back and I wanted nothing more than to lie in bed all day and never leave. Ryker’s hand was rough but capable of immense softness and care as he gently ran his fingers down my spine. I turned to face him and found him sitting on the edge of the bed with a small smile on his face. He was dressed for the day and it took me a second to realize that the light that was filling the room was too bright for very early in the morning.
I sat up immediately, “What time is it?”
“Calm down, it is around noon but it doesn’t matter,” he held out his hands in a sort of patronizing way as if he knew I was one wrong move away from freaking out. “I cleared out your schedule for the morning, you needed to rest.”
“Are you kidding?” I ran my hand down my face. “I’m sure the elders would want to speak to me about everything. I know the news of my powers would have spread by now. Why would you let me sleep in?”
“You lost a lot of blood yesterday, you needed to rest and I have handled the elders for today, you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Okay,” I said after a beat and he seemed to relax considerably. “if you’ve handled them why are you here? Is something else happening?”
“I needed your take on something. Christine told me that Audrey would need to be moved into an actual school. She has done all the lessons she can and our daughter is brilliant. She can’t do more from home. It was amazing to hear but I was worried because of-”
“Everything that’s happening,” I finished for him and he nodded. “Do you should send her?”
think we
“It would be good for her education and she will be able to make friends. Christine told me about the school she went to and said it would be good for her. The security is top notch and we can have guards pick her up and take her every day.”
I bit my bottom lip as I thought about it. “She will be safe?”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that she is.”
“Fine then, let her go.”
