Chapter Eleven: The Hunt Begins

The echo of the war horn still hung in the air when Seraphina felt the first tremor of fear settle in her bones. Not fear for herself, but for what she had done—for what she had become. The flames had vanished, but the warmth still lingered beneath her skin, an ember waiting to reignite. The stone lay in ruins at her feet, its once-powerful sigils now reduced to meaningless cracks in the shattered surface.

Caius grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to reality. "We have to move. Now."

The urgency in his voice cut through the haze clouding her mind. She turned toward him, eyes still adjusting to the dim torchlight flickering beyond the trees. The guards were coming. She could already hear the distant clatter of hooves against the ground, the rhythmic pounding of boots as they marched toward them.

Seraphina tore her wrist from Caius's grasp, planting her feet firmly. "You don't understand. I can fight them."

His expression hardened. "That's the problem. Do you even know what you're capable of? What if you burn down half the forest before they even reach us?"

She hesitated. The memory of the black flames surged in her mind, the destruction they had caused, the way they had hungered for more. It had felt exhilarating, intoxicating even, but it had also been wild, uncontrollable.

Caius wasn't wrong.

"Then what do you suggest?" she asked, keeping her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

He pulled a dagger from his belt, flipping it in his hand. "We run. We hide. And if it comes to it, we fight on our terms, not theirs."

Seraphina hated the idea of running. Every instinct screamed at her to stand her ground, to face the ones who had tormented her, the ones who had whispered her name in fear long before she even knew who she was. But Caius was right—this wasn't the time for reckless defiance.

Not yet.

She nodded once. "Fine. Lead the way."

They darted through the ruins, slipping into the shadows just as the first torches appeared in the distance. The flames flickered against the darkness, casting long, menacing silhouettes that slithered through the trees. Seraphina could make out the armor-clad figures moving with precision, their formation tight, their weapons drawn.

The King's men.

Her father's men.

She pressed herself against the bark of a towering oak, her breath shallow. Caius crouched beside her, his gaze sharp as he scanned their surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and old stone, the silence broken only by the distant rustling of leaves and the murmurs of approaching soldiers.

One of them spoke, his voice gruff. "Spread out. She has to be here somewhere."

Another answered, his tone laced with a mix of fear and reverence. "Did you see what she did to the ruins? That power—"

"Enough," a third voice snapped. This one was colder, more authoritative. "The princess is to be captured, alive if possible. If she resists, do what must be done."

Seraphina clenched her fists, fury bubbling beneath her skin. Princess. It was the first time they had called her that since she had woken up in this world. The title felt foreign, a relic of a life she didn't fully remember.

She glanced at Caius. His jaw was tight, his muscles tense. He knew as well as she did that they wouldn't be taken alive without a fight. The guards moved closer. One step, then another.

And then—

A twig snapped beneath Caius's boot. The sound was deafening in the silence. The nearest soldier froze, his head whipping toward their hiding place. Seraphina barely had time to react before he lunged forward, sword glinting in the dim light.

Caius moved fast, his dagger flashing as he met the strike head-on, but the soldier was skilled. Their weapons clashed in a violent symphony of steel against steel, and the other guards turned at the noise, their attention locked onto them. Seraphina's pulse pounded in her ears. The flames inside her stirred, whispering for release.

Not yet.

She needed control.

Caius twisted, using his momentum to drive his knee into the soldier's gut before shoving him aside. "Run!" he barked.

But Seraphina wasn't running. Another soldier charged toward her, his blade aimed straight for her heart.

She didn't think. She didn't hesitate.

With a flick of her wrist, the air around her crackled. A pulse of dark energy erupted from her palm, slamming into the soldier's chest and sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the dirt before going still.

Silence fell over the clearing.

The remaining guards hesitated, their eyes darting between Seraphina and their fallen comrade. The fear in their expressions was unmistakable. She took a step forward, her power humming beneath her skin. "Tell my father," she said, her voice steady and cold, "that I'm done hiding."

Then, before they could react, she grabbed Caius's arm and ran. The forest swallowed them whole, but Seraphina knew this was only the beginning. They had seen her power. And now, the hunt had truly begun.

Seraphina's breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the dense forest, her grip tightening around Caius's arm. The underbrush clawed at her clothes, branches snapping against her skin like nature itself was trying to slow her down. The scent of damp earth filled her lungs, mixing with the acrid tang of smoke still lingering in the air.

Behind them, the guards were regrouping. She could hear them shouting orders, the clinking of metal as they readied their weapons. The hunt had begun in earnest now—this was no longer just a search. This was pursuit.

"We won't outrun them forever!" Caius hissed as he pulled her to the side, weaving between thick tree trunks. "You should've let me kill them."

Seraphina's heart pounded. "And what? Let them send more? No, I needed them to go back to my father—to let him know that I'm done being his pawn."

Caius cursed under his breath but didn't argue. They needed to move, and fast.

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

Seraphina's stomach twisted. That sound—it was a signal. Within seconds, the forest erupted with motion. Shadows flickered between the trees, armored figures moving swiftly through the dark, closing in from multiple directions. They were trying to corral her, to herd her like an animal toward a trap.

She slowed, scanning the surroundings. They had run blindly, desperate to escape, but now they were at a disadvantage. If they didn't change course, they would be backed into a corner.

Caius grabbed her hand, yanking her toward a small ravine ahead. "Jump!"

Seraphina barely had time to react before her feet left the ground.

The world tilted as she plummeted down the rocky slope, rolling through mud and leaves before landing with a jarring thud. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, but she forced herself up, ignoring the sting in her limbs. Caius was already on his feet, scanning the top of the ridge.

"They'll find another way down," he muttered. "We need to—"

A sudden sound made them both freeze.

A low growl.

Seraphina turned her head slowly, her pulse hammering in her throat.

Eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Not human.

A beast stepped forward from the shadows, its massive form blocking their path. Its fur was as black as the void, its eyes glowing like molten silver. Fangs gleamed beneath curled lips, saliva dripping onto the forest floor.

Seraphina recognized it instantly. A Shadow Hound. A creature of nightmare, bred for one purpose—hunting. And behind it, more figures emerged from the darkness. Not guards. Not soldiers.

Assassins.

Her father hadn't just sent his men. He had sent killers. The realization struck like ice through her veins. This wasn't a capture mission. It was an execution.

Caius's hand moved to his dagger. "Seraphina—" The Shadow Hound lunged.

Seraphina's power surged before she could think, a wave of dark energy rippling outward. The force struck the beast mid-leap, sending it crashing into the trees with a sickening crack. It yelped, but it wasn't dead. Not yet.

The assassins moved fast, closing in. They were dressed in black, their faces masked, their weapons gleaming with poison meant to paralyze. Seraphina's fingers curled into fists.

No more running. She had declared herself to the kingdom tonight. Now it was time to prove she was not to be hunted.

With a breath that burned like fire in her lungs, she stepped forward—toward the danger, toward the men who sought her death. The night itself seemed to shudder around her as her power rose, dark and untamed.

This was only the beginning.