chapter eleven

Caspian's Voretti's pov

The next morning, I sat quietly beside the flickering fire, my eyes occasionally glancing over at Nikolas, still asleep. The events of the past day had clearly taken a toll on him, and he seemed to be resting heavily. I could see the tension in his body even as he slept, his breathing shallow, his face still marked by fear and confusion.

Lara, ever the perceptive one, broke the silence as she watched him. Her gaze flicked between me and my mate, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "You love him so much, don't you?" she said, her voice soft but carrying that teasing edge she couldn't quite mask.

I didn't respond immediately, just watching Nikolas, wondering how much he hated me at this moment, how much he feared me. "He's going to be tough work, you know," Lara added, leaning back slightly. "He's going to fight you all the way."

I sighed, rubbing my hand over my face. "I know." I didn't need her to remind me of that Nikolas had already shown me that much.

As if on cue, the soft groaning from Nikolas stirred the air, drawing both of our attentions. Lara's eyes lit up, a playful grin appearing on her face. "Our princess is up," she teased, looking at me with a raised brow.

I shot her a half-hearted glare, but the soft chuckle that escaped me betrayed my amusement. I watched as Nikolas shifted, his eyes fluttering open, clearly struggling to adjust to the light filtering in through the cave entrance. He groaned again, the sound carrying a mix of annoyance and discomfort.

Lara, in her usual way, didn't let up. "Good morning, princess," she said with mock sweetness. "Did you sleep well?"

Nikolas shot her a glare, a weak attempt at defiance, but there was something in his gaze that softened when he saw me. Still, he said nothing at first, just rubbed at his face with the back of his hand and sat up slowly. He looked over at me, a frown forming as he noticed the way I was looking at him.

"Not so loud," he muttered hoarsely, clearly not fully recovered from his ordeal. His voice was rough, cracked from both fear and strain. He didn't seem to be able to meet my eyes for long, his gaze darting away each time.

I shifted uncomfortably, wishing I could make him feel safer, wishing I could undo the damage I'd caused. But I knew it would take time.

"You okay?" I asked softly, my voice filled with concern. I didn't want to push him, not yet.

Nikolas met my gaze then, his eyes wide with uncertainty and that same defensive edge. "I'm fine," he said quickly, his tone dismissive, but I could hear the underlying tremor of fear that he was trying to mask.

I didn't believe him, but I didn't push. He wasn't ready to talk yet, and I knew better than to try to force him. Instead, I just sat beside him, letting the silence stretch between us.

Lara, who seemed to sense the change in the atmosphere, shifted her focus to the surroundings, perhaps giving us a bit of space. But her teasing smile didn't fade.

"You know, you're going to have a lot of work ahead of you with him," she said, her voice quieter now, but there was still that teasing undercurrent. "But I think you can handle it."

I didn't answer. She was right, though. Nikolas was going to be a challenge. He wasn't going to give in easily. But I wasn't going to give up on him, either.

Nikolas seemed to calm down as the minutes passed, the panic slowly receding from his features as he adjusted to his surroundings. He seemed less tense than before, though still cautious, his eyes darting around every now and then, as though looking for something to escape to.

The quiet between us stretched on, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything that was left unsaid. But, for now, I was content to let him rest, knowing that at least for today, he wasn't fighting me quite so fiercely.

The day had barely begun, and already, the world felt like it was shifting beneath our feet. I just hoped Nikolas would eventually see that I wasn't his enemy. I wasn't the one who had hurt him. I was the one who was trying to save him.

I moved quickly to the small stash of fruit we had gathered, pulling out some fresh ones and walking back toward Nikolas, who was still seated, his gaze distant, eyes flicking to the cave entrance as if expecting something or someone. I reached down, offering him a handful of berries and fruits I had prepared earlier.

"Eat this for strength," I said gently, placing the food in front of him.

Nikolas eyed the fruit suspiciously, his lips twisting into a tight grimace. "Yeah, so you can poison me," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

I couldn't help but smile despite the tension. "Of course not," I replied, then popped a fruit into my own mouth, chewing slowly for emphasis. "See? It's fine."

He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly unconvinced but too tired and wary to argue. Slowly, he reached out and grabbed the fruit, cautiously taking a bite. After a few moments, he ate more, the hunger and exhaustion finally catching up to him. I let him be for now, my thoughts drifting to other matters.

As we settled into the quiet of the cave, I felt a sudden pull a tug at the back of my mind that had been absent for days. The mindlink I had been missing Ronan. He was here.

I stood up quickly, the urgency of his presence pushing me into motion. "Come on, Nikolas," I said, my tone firm but gentle. I helped him to his feet, still not letting him go. He looked up at me, his face still haunted by fear and doubt, but there was something in his eyes an acceptance, even if just a tiny spark.

I led him through the back of the cave, where the opening was hidden from view. We stepped through, and there, standing just beyond the entrance, was Ronan. His eyes met mine, and a subtle but knowing expression flickered across his face. He raised an eyebrow in silent question, but I just nodded.

"Quickly," I urged, pulling Nikolas along with me as I moved toward the vehicle.

Ronan's vehicle was parked just outside, hidden among the thick trees. It was a rugged, dark vehicle, perfect for moving through rough terrain. My sister, Lara, was already in the front seat, her eyes glancing between me and the rest of the group. I moved to the back seat, pulling Nikolas along with me, and closed the door softly behind us.

Ronan started the engine and immediately pressed the gas pedal, the vehicle lurching forward with speed. Nikolas, still holding his injured arm close to his chest, looked around nervously, his gaze darting between the forest and the vehicle's windows. His discomfort was palpable, and I could sense the rising panic in him.

"Does it still hurt?" I asked, glancing at him, my voice soft but concerned.

He didn't respond at first, his body tense, his eyes unfocused as if trying to escape into the landscape outside. He just ignored me, the pain in his face masked by an unreadable expression. I didn't press further, but I could feel the discomfort emanating from him like a heavy fog.

Ronan kept driving, taking sharp corners and navigating deep into the forest. The roads became less defined, and the air grew thicker with the scent of pine and damp earth. Nikolas kept looking around, clearly scared, his breathing shallow. He pressed his hand tighter to his chest, his gaze still flickering between me and the outside world.

I reached across the seat, resting a hand gently on his shoulder. "Hey," I said softly, my voice reassuring. "It's OK. We won't hurt you."

Nikolas tensed under my touch but didn't pull away. For a brief moment, I felt his muscles relax, but it was fleeting, and the tension returned. He just nodded faintly, as if trying to convince himself that he was going to be safe.

Ronan didn't say anything, his focus entirely on the road as we moved deeper into the forest, farther from the caves and farther from any place Nikolas knew. The world outside was a blur of green, the only sound the steady hum of the engine and the occasional shift of the vehicle on the rough terrain.