Amelia Knight - Bound to the Vampire Prince (Released April 20th)

Chapter 59

Chapter 59

As I lay in my tent, I can hear the sound of my companions breathing deeply, their exhaustion finally catching up with them. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath and focusing on the task at hand. We need to get back to our kingdom, and we need to do it fast. The fate of our people rests on our success, and I will not let them down.

...

As we make our way through the dense forest, every step feels heavy and uncertain. The shadows loom large, and the rustling of leaves sets my nerves on edge. I can't shake off the feeling that we're being watched, that danger is lurking just around the corner. I turn to look behind us every few seconds, half-expecting to see Lucian's guards or his son James hot on our trail, their weapons at the ready.

"We have to keep moving," my father says firmly, his eyes scanning the trees. "We need to get as far away from the prison as possible, before they catch up to us."

I nod, my heart racing as we quicken our pace. Every sound, every movement makes me jumpy. We have to make it back to our own kingdom before Lucian's clan takes over. If they reach the Queen and defeat her, all hope is lost.

Suddenly, a loud snap echoes through the forest, and I spin around, my hand instinctively beginning to glow. But it's just Kiki, her foot caught on a branch. Relief washes over me as we help her up, but my heart is still pounding in my chest.

"Sorry," Kiki whispers, her eyes darting around nervously.

"It's okay," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "Let's keep moving."

We continue on, every step feeling like a race against time. The darkness closes in around us, and I can't shake off the feeling that danger is lurking just beyond the trees.

As we keep walking through the forest, I can't shake off the feeling that someone is following us. It's a prickling sensation at the back of my neck, and it makes me anxious. Suddenly, we hear voices up ahead, and I know it's the guards from the neighboring kingdom. They must be searching for us.

"We have to hide," my father whispers urgently, and I can see the worry etched on his face. "Quickly, over here!"

He leads us off the path and into a dense thicket of bushes. I follow him, my heart pounding in my chest. We huddle together, trying to make ourselves as small as possible, as the sound of footsteps draws closer.

I can feel the tension in the air, and my breathing quickens as the guards pass us by. We stay still, barely daring to breathe, until they are out of earshot. I exhale shakily, grateful that they didn't spot us.

But our relief is short-lived. James is also in the forest, searching for us. He knows what we're capable of, and he won't stop until he finds us. I glance at my father, and I can tell that he's thinking the same thing.

We move cautiously through the forest, our steps light and careful. We try to avoid making any noise or leaving any signs of our presence. It's a nerve-wracking experience, and every rustle of leaves or snapping of twigs makes my heart skip a beat. We move in silence, our eyes and ears peeled for any danger that might lie ahead.

As we make our way deeper into the forest, my mind can't help but drift to Kiki and her mysterious abilities. The way she's been able to manipulate nature and bend it to her will has left me awestruck. I take a few steps closer to her, determined to uncover the truth behind her powers.

"Kiki," I say, my voice low as I approach her. "Can you tell us more about your powers? How did you come to possess such incredible abilities?"

Kiki's eyes flicker towards me, and for a moment, she seems hesitant to answer. But then she takes a deep breath, steeling herself before finally speaking.

"I'm a fae," she says softly, as if unsure if we'll believe her. "I was born with these powers."

"A fae?" Alexander's voice cuts in, his brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought faeries were just myths."

"Very real, just like vampires and werewolfes," Kiki explains. "We're born with magical abilities, and we live in a realm separate from the human world."

I stare at Kiki in awe, fascinated by her otherworldly nature. But then a rustling in the bushes interrupts our conversation, and we all freeze.

Suddenly, a rustling sound from the nearby bushes interrupts our conversation, causing us to freeze in our tracks. My father's hand instinctively goes in front of me, waiting to see what will emerge from the foliage.

As if out of nowhere, a figure emerges from the bushes, and my heart skips a beat as I recognize him immediately. It's James, Lucian's son.

"What are you doing here?" I demand, my hand still ready to strike.

"I'm here to bring you back," James replies, a smug grin on his face. My stomach churns as I realize that he's not here to negotiate, but to take us back by force.

"My father wants you dead, but I think I can convince him to spare your lives if you come back peacefully." I glare at James, knowing that he's lying through his teeth. Lucian won't spare anyone who opposes him, especially not us.

As the tension in the air continues to rise, I can feel my anger building up inside of me. I won't let James or Lucian take us down without a fight. I stand my ground, ready to protect myself and those I care about, no matter what the cost.

"We're not going back," I say firmly.

James shrugs, unsheathing his own sword. "Suit yourself," he says, lunging towards us.

I can't help but think about Kiki's powers. With her fae abilities, she could help us defeat James and any other enemy that comes our way. But I can also see the fear in her eyes, and I know that revealing her true nature could make her a target.

James charges towards me, and I quickly realize that I can't defend myself without using my powers.