Cassie gently collected the food and water from his hands.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He nodded in response and walked away, leaving her alone to eat.
She sat down in the tent and devoured the food like a starving lion. It was grilled fish, and it tasted surprisingly delicious.
When she finished eating, she drank the water he had given her and let out a satisfied sigh, her stomach now full.
Carefully, she set the plate aside, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention. As she sat, waiting for the food to settle, a crashing sound erupted outside, followed by a loud scream from the other man the one with the rough voice.
Fear crept into her chest. What was happening?
Curiosity won over her hesitation, and she decided to peek outside. As she stuck her head out, her eyes widened in horror.
A bear.
The massive beast stood a few feet away, its dark eyes scanning the surroundings until it locked onto her. Her breath caught as it roared and charged in her direction.
Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might stop. Frozen in fear, she could do nothing but watch as the bear hurtled toward her.
Before it could reach the tent, the bear's body suddenly collapsed, sliced into pieces. Blood splattered everywhere, some of it spraying onto her face and clothes.
Cassie screamed, stumbling backward into the tent, her hands trembling as she tried to wipe the blood from her face. The metallic smell overwhelmed her, and she retched violently, emptying what little food she had eaten.
"Are you okay?"
That soothing voice again.
She turned her head to see him walking toward her. His calm, steady presence seemed to cut through her panic.
He knelt beside her, gently raising her head to meet his gaze. Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto his, and for a brief moment, the world felt still. Her heart thudded rapidly, this time for an entirely different reason.
"Are you okay?" he asked again, his voice soft yet firm.
His question jolted her back to reality.
"N-no," she stammered, tears streaming down her face.
"Come, let's wash your face," he said, helping her to her feet.
He guided her to a nearby stream, where she rinsed the blood from her face and body. The cold water soaked her clothes, leaving them clinging uncomfortably to her skin, but at least she was clean again.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice shaky but firm. This time, she needed answers.
He smiled, his dimples appearing as his calm expression softened.
"I'm entitled to help you," he said simply, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Her brows furrowed as she pressed further. "Who are you? And how did you find me?"
"Stop asking so many questions," the rough voice of the other man interrupted sharply, his tone grating on her nerves.
Cassie almost rolled her eyes but held back, determined not to let his attitude deter her.
"I need answers," she said firmly, her voice rising.
The man with the soothing voice walked over to his companion and whispered something to him. Whatever he said seemed to settle the other man, who turned and walked away with a huff.
Returning to her, the soothing-voiced man's calm expression remained intact.
"What's your name?" he asked, his tone now tinged with genuine curiosity.
Cassie crossed her arms over her chest, studying him for a moment before replying.
"Cassie."
Hearing her name, the man with the soothing voice smiled as he repeated it " Cassie ," Cassie looked at him, momentarily distracted by how her name seemed to sound sweeter when he said it.
"What's your name?" she asked, her curiosity overriding her unease.
"Kael," he replied with a soft smile and stepped closer.
Cassie's breath hitched as he leaned in, their bodies almost touching.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her heart pounding in a mix of fear and confusion.
Before Kael could answer, the sharp voice of the other man interrupted.
"Cassie!"
She turned to see him glaring at her. His commanding tone sliced through the air.
"Cassie, sleep! You're so tired," he said, stretching his hand toward her.
Her legs wobbled beneath her as an inexplicable heaviness overtook her body. She stumbled, but Kael caught her before she could hit the ground.
Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy. She tried to fight the overwhelming urge to sleep but failed. As her vision dimmed, she managed to whisper, "Kael..."
And then, darkness consumed her.
Kael gazed down at her sleeping form, a calm yet authoritative smile playing on his lips.
"Let's go, Kaidon," he said, his voice sharp and commanding.
Kaiden nodded, signaling into the air. Within moments, about twenty men emerged from the shadows of the trees, moving silently. They gathered the camp's valuables, mounted their horses, and began the journey back to their kingdom. Kael carried Cassie in his arms, his hold firm yet protective.
...
When Cassie awoke, the soft embrace of a luxurious bed greeted her. The mattress beneath her was unlike anything she'd ever felt—plush and inviting. She blinked, her gaze sweeping across the room. It was adorned with fresh flowers, their fragrance calming, and every corner was meticulously designed with elegance and beauty.
"Am I dead?" she muttered to herself.
For a brief moment, she smiled. If this was the afterlife, it didn't seem too bad.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Before she could respond, the door opened to reveal a woman in her fifties, dressed in regal attire that screamed royalty. Her warm smile was welcoming, but Cassie's gaze froze on the emblem embroidered on the woman's clothing.
"Isn't this the vampire kingdom's logo?" Cassie thought, her mind racing.
"Good morning, madam. How are you feeling?" the woman asked, her tone calm and friendly.
Cassie stared, unable to process what was happening. Madam? Was this woman referring to her?
Why would someone who looked old enough to be her father's age address her so formally?
"It's okay to be surprised," the woman continued with a smile. "I'll bring you something to wash your mouth and some breakfast."
Without waiting for a response, the woman left the room, locking the door behind her.
Cassie's thoughts spiraled.
"What's going on?" she muttered, rubbing her temples.
Was this a dream? She pinched herself hard, flinching at the sting. It wasn't a dream. It was real.
Her gaze wandered to the ornate room again. Despite the overwhelming beauty, dread settled in her chest.
"If I'm in the vampire kingdom, shouldn't I be tortured for my father's sins?" she thought.
Instead, she was being treated like royalty. Why?
Leaning back against the headboard, Cassie sighed, her thoughts heavy with questions and uncertainties about the life awaiting her here.
Her musings were interrupted by a soft click. The door unlocked, and the older woman entered, carrying a tray with a toothbrush and paste. Another, younger woman followed, holding a second tray laden with food.
The younger woman placed the tray on a distant table, then turned to Cassie and bowed.
Cassie's eyes widened in shock.
"Why would she bow to me? I'm not royalty," she thought, her confusion deepening.
"Here it is," the older woman said, handing her the tray with the toothbrush and paste.
Cassie's eyes widened further as she stared at the items. Only the Royals had access to such luxuries. Back home, they used sticks from certain trees to clean their teeth.
She hesitated, overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of it all.