STORY 2: REWARDING MY SAVIOR

VASHA

This place is hell.

I cling to the cold iron bars of the slaver’s cage, my heart pounding as I watch the chaos happening around me. The night market in the underbelly of Nyxris reeks of fear and blood, a sickening combination that makes my stomach churn with nausea.

I have been here for days. So many days that I have lost count. The market prospers at night so now, the human slavers are tending to their vampire customers seeking to buy fresh humans.

None of the customers have taken interest in me yet, but I feel I won't be so lucky soon enough if my savior doesn't come to take me out of here.

“Hey!” One of the slavers shouts at me. “You better not have any stupid ideas of running away like you did before. If you try to escape again, I won't mind cutting off your—”

A sickening squelch cuts off the rest of his sentence and I suddenly gasp at the sight of the arrow head jutting out of his throat, his blood already dripping to the floor.

What the hell just happened?

“Hello my love.”

That voice.

The murdered slaver falls to the ground and right then, I see him standing over the slaver's corpse.

Lord Draven. One of the high Lords of Nyxris and my secret lover for months now.

He is finally here for me.

Before I speak, one of the other slavers lunges at Draven but he quickly grabs the man by the throat and slams him into the ground with a sickening ‘crack’ sound telling me he just broke the man's neck.

“She belongs to me,” he growls to the rest of the slavers and within minutes, both the slavers and the buyers are fleeing for their lives.

“You are here,” I sigh, dying to get out of this miserable cage so I can touch him.

“I am so sorry for being late,” he apologizes and rips the cage door off its hinges with his raw strength.

Now free, I run into his arms and he hugs me tight, his body feeling like a cold winter dawn warming my overheated skin.

“You came,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest while inhaling his intoxicating scent of dark spice and wine.

“Always,” his arms tighten around me possessively for a brief moment before he sighs. “Let's go.”

I nod and next, he lifts me in his arms effortlessly and carries me into his carriage. We ride away from the filth, my trembling body cradled in his arms as we head towards his private mansion located at one of the high mountains above the city.

By the time we reach the mansion, I am no longer trembling.

Instead, I am filled with gratitude and the desire to thank him for saving me.

The night wind whips around us as we step out of the carriage. Seconds later, we enter the house and I notice that all the servants are already retired for the night.

Perfect. This is my chance to thank him in the most beautiful way he will never forget.

“Let me get you cleaned up,” he takes my hand and together, we climb the stairs leading to his bedroom.

When we arrive, he opens the door and ushers me inside.

I step in first and he follows suit, locking the door behind me. Next, he turns and faces me, his amber eyes raking over my torn dress and bruised skin.

“They had the fucking guts to touch what’s mine,” he growls. “I should have burned the entire market.”

“You saved me. That's what matters,” I step closer to him, gently placing my hands on his chest. His heart doesn’t beat like mine, but I have never cared about that because the feelings between us are way more alive and stronger than our differences.

He sighs, softly cupping my face in his hands. “I am happy you are okay now. I made dinner for you, so after you are done freshening up, you will eat and rest.”

“But I—”

“No buts,” he shushes me with one finger on my lips and next, he slowly undresses me and I let him.

Afterwards, he carries me to the bathroom and dips me into the bathtub filled with warm water and lavender oil.

“Now close your eyes and let me take care of you,” he commands and I obey, closing my eyes and leaning back against his chest as he washes my body, his fingers slithering the soapy foam and washcloth over my neck and breasts.

I gasp when he slightly grazes my nipples. He lets out a low chuckle and teases my nipples again before he continues down my stomach, his fingers dangerously inching towards my pussy but suddenly, he reverses them, now heading upwards to my neck and hair.

I love it whenever he bathes me. He knows how to make me feel so relaxed just from his touch alone and I have never felt like this with anyone else. The world seems to fade away as he continues washing me, his movements carefully making sure that every inch of my skin is clean and smelling nice.

When he is finally done, he wraps me in a thick velvet robe and gently dries my hair with a towel, the soft care in his movements making my chest ache.

“There,” he murmurs after setting the towel aside. “Much better.”

He smiles and the sight of that smile instantly makes my heart melt. No one has ever treated me with such tenderness before. No one has ever cared for me the way he does.

Even though our relationship is a secret one hidden from the dangerous politics of the kingdom, we still love and care about each other so much.

“Time to eat,” he teases and takes my hand, leading me out of the bathroom and into the adjoining sitting area connected to his chambers. A small table has already been prepared beside the fireplace, the scent of fresh bread and chicken filling my senses.

I stare at the food in surprise. “You made all this for me?”

“Well,” His shoulders rise in a small shrug. "I wasn't sure how long it would take me to find you, so I wanted something ready when I brought you home.”

Home.

The word settles warmly inside my chest. He pulls out a chair for me and I sit down while he sits down on another chair nearby, his gaze watching me as I start eating.

The food is delicious.

Every bite I take seems to be erasing pieces of the nightmares I suffered and endured in that hellhole.

Here, I am safe. I am no longer trapped inside that cage.

For the next several minutes, I just enjoy the food, also enjoying how he is staring at me like I am his most favorite painting in the world.

By the time I finish eating, all the tension in my body has disappeared.

“Thanks so much,” I say to him after wiping my mouth.

“Good girl,” he smirks and sets the empty dishes aside. “Now, you need to rest.”

Without further words, he rises from his chair, clearly intending to leave me alone for the night.

My heart immediately sinks.

"Draven?”

He pauses and glances back at me. I quickly reach for his hand, my fingers wrapping around his wrist to stop him from taking any other step away from me.

His gaze lowers to my fingers wrapped around his wrist. “Vasha, you should sleep.”

“I know.”

His gaze lifts up to meet mine. “Then what is it?”

“I don't want you to leave,” I slowly rise from my chair and close the distance between us, the embers in the fireplace crackling softly behind me. “After everything that has happened, I don't want you far from me. You fought for me. You brought me here. You took care of me.”

“You know I will do it all again if I have to.”

“I know you will, and for that, I don't want tonight to end with you simply walking away.”