Rogues forest

Chapter 5

Seraphina kissed him hard, her tongue slowly invading his mouth. It was unfamiliar territory—she had never kissed a man like this before. Except once, but that didn't count. If seduction was the way to get him to lower his guard, then she would do whatever it took. If he desired her body, she would use that to her advantage.

At first, Rhydian stiffened, caught off guard by her sudden boldness. But then something shifted. His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he kissed her back with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. One of his hands tangled in her hair, holding her in place as his tongue dominated hers, kissing her deeply, possessively.

She wasn't expecting him to be this good.

Heat pooled in her stomach as his lips moved over hers, sucking, teasing, claiming. His taste was intoxicating—dark, rich, and strangely addictive. Her body responded in ways she hadn't anticipated. Her heart raced, her skin tingled, and for a fleeting second, she forgot who she was, what she had come here to do.

Then she felt something—hard, pressing against her stomach.

Her breath hitched, realization crashing over her. Panic surged. No way. This was getting out of hand.

Before it could escalate further, she quickly pushed against his chest, breaking the kiss. She gasped for air, her lips tingling from the lingering sensation of his mouth on hers.

Rhydian's smirk was lazy, satisfied. His crimson eyes burned with amusement as he watched her, his gaze heavy-lidded with desire.

She swallowed hard, gripping the fabric of her gown to steady herself. He was utterly breathtaking—far from the terrifying monster the rumors had painted him to be. No unnaturally long canines, no ghastly pale skin, no sinister, rumbling voice. Instead, he was devastatingly handsome, and the way he looked at her made her stomach twist in ways she wasn't prepared for.

She hated it.

"What's wrong?" His voice was smooth, taunting. "Are you afraid?"

Her pulse stuttered. So that's what this was—a game to him. He was testing her.

"No," she forced out, her voice shakier than she intended.

He chuckled, a deep, velvety sound that sent an unwelcome thrill down her spine. "Then why did you pull away? Don't you want to please your husband?"

She stiffened as he tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. The smirk on his lips was infuriating.

"We're not yet married," she shot back, defiance lacing her tone.

Rhydian's smirk widened. "You're my bride, Purple. Married or not, everyone knows you belong to me."

Her breath caught at the nickname. Purple. He had called her that so casually, as if claiming a part of her. And the worst part? She liked the way it sounded on his lips.

No. She needed to stay focused. He was her target, not her lover.

She cleared her throat. "The food is getting cold," she pointed out, using it as an excuse to create distance.

Rhydian's gaze flickered toward the table. For a moment, he hesitated, then released her.

Seraphina let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

The tension between them lingered as they sat down for dinner. She kept her head low, pretending to be entirely focused on her food. But she could feel his gaze on her, watching, studying. It was infuriating.

She had been watched before, but never like this. Never with such intent.

She ignored him as best as she could, finishing her meal quickly. As soon as she was done, she stood and turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?" His voice was calm, yet firm.

"Just a brief walk," she replied smoothly, not bothering to turn back.

Rhydian rose from his seat, closing the distance between them in a few strides. He reached out, catching a strand of her hair between his fingers, twirling it lazily.

"Be careful," he murmured, his voice low. "There are a lot of rogues out there who would love a taste of your blood."

Then, without another word, he turned and left.

Seraphina exhaled. Why did he act like he cared? He was a vampire just like them. He probably wanted her blood just as much.

Shaking the thought away, she pulled her cloak over her head and closed her eyes. She whispered an incantation under her breath, and in the next instant, the air around her shifted.

When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the palace.

The cool breeze caressed Seraphina's skin the moment she materialized outside. The fresh air was a relief after the suffocating heat of the palace. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself, the scent of damp earth filling her lungs as she stepped forward into the darkened forest.

Finally, some space. Some freedom. Away from him.

Her boots crunched against fallen leaves as she walked, her fingers instinctively brushing against the tree trunks she passed. The moment her touch met the rough bark of a broken branch, a soft, warm glow emanated from her fingertips, and the branch mended itself. A small act of kindness.

Trees and plants had life too. She had always felt a strange connection to them, sadness creeping in whenever she found them injured.

She ventured deeper, scanning her surroundings with a sharp gaze. Then she stopped, her eyes narrowing.

Claw marks. Deep, jagged slashes across the bark of a thick tree. The kind only a vampire could leave behind.

Her lips curled into a smirk. Perfect.

She knelt, brushing her fingers over the marks, feeling the rough edges of the fresh wounds. There had been a fight here, not long ago. That meant rogues were close.

It was time to do what she had come out for.

Seraphina pulled out her dagger, the silver glinting in the moonlight. She could easily use magic to wipe them out, but that would be reckless. Their corpses would be inspected, and the moment they realized a witch was behind it, she would be the first suspect.

No, she had to be smart.

She pressed the blade against her palm and made a precise cut. Warm blood pooled before dripping onto the ground. The scent would draw them in, just as she intended.

She straightened, her grip on the dagger tightening.

Leaves rustled. Branches snapped.

A dark grin spread across her lips.

They were coming.

Her heart raced—not with fear, but with anticipation.

She was in for a killing spree. And she was going to love every second of it.