6. CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SIX
T he sky was draped in a cloak of twilight as the first pinpricks of starlight dared to pierce through the darkening expanse. Clutching Casimir’s arm for support, Rowan swayed with pain and fatigue, matching the rhythm of the horse’s canter. The combination of stress and travel was making it impossible for her to hide her illness.
“Rowan.” Casimir’s voice cut through the silence, edged with concern. “You’ve grown paler than the moon. You need to eat and rest.”
She managed a weak whisper. “I agree. Sadly, I finished off the last of the supplies yesterday.”
He gave her a resigned shrug, pulling on the reins to halt their progress. “I sometimes forget how often humans need to eat.” He dismounted with a graceful fluidity, shifting his gaze back to her, his piercing eyes glowing in the moonlight. “I’m sorry for neglecting your needs.”
“No need to apologize. You’re not my keeper. But I would appreciate it if we could find somewhere to eat and rest.”
A corner of his mouth twitched upward. “Anything the lady desires,” he said, before disappearing into the forest.
As darkness closed around her, Rowan held on to the horn of the saddle, her arms trembling. A few minutes later, Casimir returned, holding out a limp squirrel.
“This is all I could find.”
Rowan recoiled, her stomach threatening to revolt at the sight .
Regret filled Casimir’s voice. “We should take a break and get you a decent meal as soon as we can. There doesn’t seem to be much wildlife in this part of the forest.”
“It’s not your fault.” A sigh escaped her lips as she massaged her temples, feeling the onset of a headache. “I should be accustomed to hunger by now, but your generosity in providing for me since we met has made it hard to ignore it as easily as before. I’d rather not stop and give my stomach any more attention.” She shot him a wry grin. “Let’s just keep moving.”
After traveling for another hour, a sign for a rest stop appeared.
“We can restock our supplies up ahead,” Casimir said. “But these remote waypoints are often filled with vampires, so we should expect to run into more of my kind shortly.”
Rowan drew in a sharp breath. “Is it safe for me to accompany you? I’m mortal, after all . . .”
“You’ll be fine as long as you stay close to my side. Only fledgling vampires who struggle to control their urges would dare to attempt anything in my presence.”
“All right. I’m far too tired and hungry to be picky.”
After a few more miles, they stumbled upon a clearing in the thick foliage, where a small tavern stood. The building was rundown and abandoned-looking, with peeling paint and broken windows. The entrance was marked by a cracked and faded sign swinging on rusty chains, proclaiming the name The Wandering Wisp .
Casimir pushed open the heavy tavern door, wincing at the loud creaking of its rusty hinges. The interior of the building was dimly lit by flickering candles and an oil lamp that hung precariously from a beam. A noxious mix of sour ale and unwashed bodies assaulted Rowan’s senses, making her stomach lurch.
“Stay close,” Casimir said, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back—a protective gesture that gave her comfort despite the danger she sensed lurking in the shadows.
Rowan’s eyes slowly adjusted to the lighting, and she scanned her surroundings. Rough-looking men were scattered around the room, sitting at mismatched wooden tables. They had a predatory air about them, their gleaming eyes following her every move. She felt like a trapped animal under their stares.
“What a charming establishment,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
Casimir remained watchful and alert. “They’re certainly steering into a rustic aesthetic. ”
It wasn’t long before a group of rugged vampires strode toward them. They moved with a grace that contradicted their wild appearance: leather and torn fabric clinging to their muscular frames, tattoos covering their skin like war paint.
One was taller and broader than the rest, his long black hair tied back in a messy braid. His pale face was scarred, giving him a menacing, feral look.
“What have we here? You look delicious, poppet.” His fangs glinted as he spoke, his eyes fixated on Rowan with unbridled hunger.
“Back off.” Casimir’s voice came out as a low snarl, seeming to crackle through the air. He moved in front of Rowan, his body a barrier between her and the vampire.
“Is he your keeper, sweetheart?” another vampire said, his face covered in metal piercings. “Or maybe he’s just keeping you warm for later?”
“Neither,” Rowan said, her voice steady even as her pulse raced. “I belong to no one.”
The same vampire slowly circled them, licking his lips in anticipation. “Feisty. I like that.”
“Enough!” Casimir’s command reverberated through the tavern, silencing the murmurs and scraping of chairs. The atmosphere was charged, like a bowstring ready to snap. Rowan’s stomach plummeted as she sensed the inevitability of violence.
“Let’s remember our manners.” Casimir’s tone held a distinctly dangerous edge. “Or are we no better than animals?”
“Speak for yourself,” the first vampire said, but he kept a wary distance now, an acknowledgment of the formidable power radiating from Casimir.
“Let’s get what we came for and leave,” Rowan whispered.
“You read my mind.” Casimir’s attention never wavered from the circling predators. “Stay behind me and stay close.”
Her voice trembled as she replied, “You’ll get no objections from me.”
The guarded look of concern on Casimir’s face only added to her growing apprehension. Her heart hammered against her ribcage like a frightened bird as she pressed closer to his back, seeking a semblance of safety in his shadow.
A voice slithered into her ear, the words dripping with lechery. “Why waste your delectable blood on someone who doesn’t appreciate it? Have you ever experienced the pleasure of being fucked and sucked at the same time, darling? I can promise you an unforgettable time.”
Before she could recoil, the vampire’s arm wrapped around her waist from behind. Ice flooded through her veins as he pressed her body against his, his nose tracing along the curve of her neck. She fought against the unyielding grip that held her in place, stretching her arms toward Casimir as a group of vampires muscled their way between them, preventing him from reaching her.
In one swift motion, Rowan’s assailant spun her around while he simultaneously crouched down, pressing his face to her groin, inhaling deeply through the thin fabric of her dress.
“Get off me!” she spat, disgust fueling her defiance as she slammed her fists down on his head as hard as she could. His grip on her loosened momentarily.
Casimir simmered with rage as he attempted to break through the throng of vampires blocking his way. “Touch her again, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”
He swiftly took out one of the attackers with a silver blade directly into their chest—the vampire burst into a cloud of dust. Unfortunately, there were still several others blocking his way.
“Your pet has claws,” Rowan’s assailant said, undeterred.
“And I'm not afraid to use them,” she shot back.
Casimir let out a fierce cry and charged the vampires as they surrounded him. His eyes blazed with fury as he lunged, his silver blade slashing and stabbing through the air. The vampires countered, their daggers and swords glinting in the dim light.
The tavern erupted into chaos. Tables overturned and glasses shattered. Casimir’s powerful body twisted and turned, his movements fluid, striking with a precision that was nothing short of masterful. He moved like a force of nature, his fists and sword taking down opponents, his legs sweeping vampires off their feet. Even amid the mayhem, his gaze never strayed far from Rowan.
Her attacker enjoyed watching the violence for a few seconds before pushing her toward it with a cruel laugh. A low grunt escaped her lips as she collided with another vampire, who promptly shoved her away. She stumbled back, her balance faltering, but managed to stay on her feet.
Casimir glanced over just in time to see a vampire trying to hoist Rowan over his shoulder as she kicked and screamed.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “I warned you.”
In the split second it took for him to cross the space between them, he had twisted around and plunged his blade deep into Rowan’s assailant’s heart.
She gasped as the vampire exploded into ash right before her eyes .
Casimir lunged at several more attackers, using his supernatural speed and strength to clear a path for them. “Stay close to the wall,” he told Rowan, impaling two vampires simultaneously. As they turned to dust, two more emerged to take their place.
Rowan complied, her back pressed against the crumbling plaster, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the brutal way Casimir fought.
“Is that all you’ve got?” he taunted the vampires, drawing them away from her. His once-pristine white tunic was now stained with dark red patches. As he fought, his silver blade glinted in the flickering candlelight. His features were set in determination as he dodged and parried their attacks, his dark hair falling into his face.
Out of the corner of her eye, Rowan spotted movement and turned just as a vampire lunged at her, fangs bared. Instinctively, she ducked and pushed off the wall, dodging the attack. She searched desperately for a weapon—anything. Her fingers automatically closed around the rough texture of a broken chair leg.
Rowan raised her makeshift stake with a steady hand, challenging the beast in front of her. He circled her, baring his sharp teeth in a sneer. Despite his predatory movements, she stood her ground, unflinching.
Casimir’s eyes met hers across the room, a silent exchange of mutual respect and determination. He fought to clear a path toward her, his silver blade moving faster than her eyes could track.
“Get to the door!” he yelled over the cacophony of snarls and grunts.
Rowan made a break for it. As she neared the exit, she glanced back to see Casimir surrounded by a circle of vampires, his motions a blur of lethal precision.
The vampire stalking Rowan seized the opportunity to pounce, a triumphant snarl baring his glistening fangs. She twisted and thrust the chair leg forward with all her might.
A gasp escaped the vampire’s lips as the stake penetrated his heart. The creature’s eyes widened in disbelief before they turned lifeless. Seconds later, he collapsed into ash at her feet.
“Go!” Casimir shouted, and she ran.
Outside, the cool night air stung her exposed skin as she stumbled in the dark, her breathing frantic. She clutched the chair leg to her chest like a lifeline, her senses on high alert for any sign of pursuit. The sounds of the battle inside spilled out into the night.
Hide yourself.
Rowan jumped as Casimir’s voice echoed inside her mind. But she quickly gathered herself and ducked behind a pile of refuse, peering through the gaps .
In a blur of fists, fangs, and blades, Casimir and his pursuers exploded through the tavern door as it splintered off its hinges. Casimir made a calculated lunge, his sword slicing through the air with deadly grace. Each movement was precise, each attack strategic. He decapitated one vampire in a fluid motion, its body disintegrating into dust before it hit the ground. With a sharp pivot, he drove the silver blade in his other hand into another’s heart, leaving nothing but ash swirling in his place.
Casimir was a force to be reckoned with, his wounds healing almost instantly—yet even he could be overwhelmed. The relentless attacks and blood loss were taking their toll, evident in his slowed movements and the visible worry lines bracketing his clenched mouth.
“Damn it,” Rowan whispered, feeling helpless as she watched from her hiding place.
Casimir stumbled, a deep gash appearing across his chest as he was blindsided by an attacker. His face contorted in pain and rage, his eyes briefly finding Rowan’s before he was dragged back into the fray.
At the sight, a surge of raw emotion consumed her, filling her body with an almost overwhelming sense of power. Her very being seemed to crackle with energy as she sprang to her feet, driven by a fierce and unwavering clarity.
She needed to save Casimir.
“Stop!”
Rowan’s voice thundered through the frenzy, resonating with a potent authority, unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. It was as if she were possessed by a primal, commanding presence that brooked no opposition. Her pale hair stood on end, crackling with electricity and radiating energy. Her entire body seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, emanating from her very core.
To her shock, the vampires froze mid-attack, their movements halting like time itself had obeyed her.
Her brows drew together in confusion. It was as if the very air had thickened, the world holding its breath at her command.
Casimir immediately seized the temporary reprieve. He moved with renewed urgency to dispatch the immobilized vampires, his wounds healing almost instantly. His eyes kept darting back to hers, wide with astonishment.
Rowan could feel exertion taking its toll. Her body shook with effort. Several of the vampires struggled against the unseen force holding them back, their movements sluggish and labored as if they were moving through thick syrup .
“Hold on!” Casimir called out.
“Trying.” She gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead as she struggled to maintain the unnatural stasis.
The tension in the air was palpable, and for a moment, it felt like anything was possible. But Rowan knew this fragile control wouldn’t last; it was only a matter of time before her limited energy gave out.
With a final rally, Casimir took down the last of the vampires, the sound of their bodies turning to ash punctuating the end of the fight. The unnatural stillness broke as Rowan’s power faltered, her knees buckling beneath her.
“Rowan.” Casimir raced to her side, catching her before she hit the ground. “Are you all right?”
She was shuddering from exhaustion and pain shooting through her body. Her eyes threatened to flutter closed as she struggled to catch her breath. Casimir’s mouth pulled down in a frown, worry lines creasing his brow. His eyes darted up and down her body, searching for any sign of injury.
He gently cupped her cheek with his hand as he leaned in closer to examine her. His narrowed eyes flicked between her face and body as he waited for her to respond. Rowan’s breath came out in rasping gasps, and she leaned heavily against him, trembling from relief as well as fatigue.
“Didn’t know I could do that,” she said with a weak chuckle.
“Neither did I.” Casimir studied her face intently. “Whatever you did, it saved us from certain death. But we need to leave before any more vampires arrive. We’re not safe here.”