"What?"

"You don't really have anything to pack either so we're in luck! We'll leave in two hours, do whatever you wish to in that period of time. I'll meet you in the garden outside, alright?"

I blinked and numbly nodded, barely comprehending what just happened. "Alright."

"Great!" And with a twirl of her red gown, the ocher haired Fae Princess left me to my own antics in the hallways outside.

I was still in shock when I took one step and focused on simply walking very slowly till I reached the end of the hallway. I turned her words over in my head.

I was leaving Celera.

How was it even possible? But it wasn't even that long ago when I was still wanting to reach the safety of Adalda, when I was confined to Celera and now I was to go to Valeryn?

I realized how fast the past month and a half had passed by. Like they hadn't even existed. 

Thinking it over, I knew my chances of escape - even mere survival - were quite minuscule in Celera. In fact, over the course of time, I think escape wasn't even on my mind with all that was happening. Things were going too fast.

But Valeryn....

Valeryn was different. 

The Land of the Fae.

Even the journey would expose me to places I hadn't even dared think of. I wanted that though, honestly. To see far and high. But the circumstances wouldn't be favorable.

I gulped, a certain dizziness creeping over me.

Clutching my dagger, I thought of the queen spouting mysteries to me. Had she been the one to readily agree? I wouldn't be surprised. But spending more time with Princess Seraphima seemed almost dangerous. Because I wasn't viewing her as a danger and rather warming up to her.

That was bad.

As if it wasn't enough, Arion wasn't going anywhere either. And every time I saw that russet hair and those stormy grey eyes, I just felt like I would probably turn into a mute.

My fingers ghosted over the healed bite marks on my forearm that Alpha had given me before I saw a flash of golden eyes in the back of my mind. The mere reverie made a tremor course through me. Of fear or something else, I wasn't so sure.

Though the wound was healed - at an exceptionally fast pace thanks to Alpha - the scars remained. Four marks, two of which were clearly deeply embedded fangs, were visible and the skin was upraised and pink. If paid due attention any of the guys could spot it. I remembered clear as day how much the bite had hurt and how Alpha had soothed it all away.

My body had experienced pain enough and despite not having an easily noticible scar......I had my fair share of them. My back was nothing much compared to some others but it wasn't pretty.

I've started to realize that no matter the hardships I think I faced, I was still in a way sheltered. And if given the chance I would like to change things for the others in the brutal system of slavery.

I don't really now how Sera, Arion, Lucien or Damien even came to a decision of carting me off two kingdoms away in an important council meeting, don't even know why they even remembered me but what was done was done.

The weather in Celera was almost always cloudy and though my stay here had been mostly when the blankets and the heavy clothes weren't essential, the growing chill over the Palace and the dark clouds were not just a result of the approaching colder months.

There were something else out there.

I shivered slightly, breathing in deeply. 

I couldn't leave. There were questions I wanted to ask, things I wanted to accomplish. I had yet to see Britt and confront her regarding her being a witch and-

And in my hearts of hearts....

Two faces of amber eyes and electric blue orbs simply refused to leave me alone.

I bit my lip, looking down at the floor and putting one heavy step in front of the other.

And then suddenly, I felt a hardness pressing against my back and a rattling breath left my lungs, a different kind of cold encompassing me.

I knew who had me pressed against the wall; who's hands were pinning my wrists to the cold marble beside my head. The very touch had me reeling and I was, truth be told, afraid of looking into his eyes. He was breathing fast too.

"Cara."

And that was enough to make me lock eyes with Damien. I knew he wouldn't risk something like this if anyone could see, so that meant we were away from prying eyes.

His electric blue eyes were a cobalt right now, still the hints of the lightning that made him so special were creeping in as he searched my face for....

For I don't know what.

I remained mum, letting my eyes trail from his midnight black hair. It wasn't short, but neither was it long. Pushed back, his hair only reached the nape of his neck though.

I gulped. 

His brows were black, arched perfectly and I trailed my eyes lower to admire that jawline. My eyes dropped to his lips and I licked my own.

I really want to touch him right now.

Because who knows if I'll ever see him again. If I'll just die on the journey. Or anytime for that matter. My heart skipped a beat when his face drew closer.

"Cara." He repeated and the sound of my name on his lips made me feel strange. Like a dropping sensation in my belly I didn't entirely dislike.

"Prince."

His eyes flitted towards mine and as his nose ran along my cheek, I felt my breath hitch. He smirked slightly.

Inhaling deeply, I didn't even realize when he trailed down to settle his face into the crook of my neck, his hair brushing against my cheek and sending a tingle down my spine. "You smell wonderful." His voice sounded muffled and low.

His words seeped to the core of my soul when his lips brushed against my pulse, vibrating against my skin. I was almost afraid I would whimper.

I've realized how much power I totally have given them. My motto was to give them power enough to fool. Aside from Lucien and Damien, and even Arion, I've stayed true to it but when it comes to these three I think I've already given them some sort of power over me unknowingly.

I tried to savor the moment though. And I don't know how fucked up I am in the head for doing that. Yet something told me I wouldn't be this way with any other vampire and I knew it. 

Then why was Damien different?

This situation was slightly akin to the first time Damien drank form me. I flushed at the memory and heard a low chuckle coming from Damien.

His body pressed up against mine, making my heart gallop like horse hooves on a battlefield and I sucked in a sharp breath.

What in the name of the seven levels of hell is this feeling?

"Are you thinking of something inappropriate, Cara?" His blue eyes twinkled dangerously and I refused to look. My cheeks heated up.

With a voice stronger than anticipated despite his assumptions being correct, I responded curtly, "No, Your Highness."

And then his lips were kissing my neck, making me arch involuntarily and I gritted my teeth. "Say my name, Cara. Fuck the titles." His teeth grazed the exact same - completely healed and faded - spot where he had bitten me previously and it was just so sensitive that I moaned.

Oh gods. 

Who do I call upon? The gods or the demons? But someone needs to help me please!

I gulped. 

My breathing was uneven and Damien's other hand let go of my wrist to play with my fingers and it was such a casual gesture that for a moment I could forget that he was a Vampire Prince with the power of lightning and I a mere human slave.

"Damien..." His name was like a plea and a curse on my lips.

I wasn't even consciously saying it but the way he froze up against me before a growl ripped from him, had me shivering for unknown reasons. He bit me this time, not drawing blood but sucking on the tender skin that had me going crazy, crazy, so fucking crazy.

My tone was firmer, "Damien!" I don't know what I was asking of him though, but he groaned when I arched my back, the space between our bodies non-existent. 

"I don't want you to go."

His time stopping words were pants like he was going just as crazy as me. 

I looked at him, feeling the momentary haze of desire lifting, my own breaths heavy. He brought cold with his touch, the freezing kind but it seemed to signify him and it wasn't dreadful.

His eyes were crackling again and they were intense, unwavering and I tilted my head. He was cruel. And ruthless. But to me, he was like a beacon of light right now. What he had just said, was tantamount to a confession of a weakness. And I couldn't believe it.

Then he broke eye contact, trailing butterfly kisses over the skin of my neck and making me gasp softly. I could feel the jerk, smirking against my skin.

That's when a ball of dread grew in the pit of my stomach. 

This was goodbye, I realized.

And I didn't want it to be.

The second realization was even scarier that the first.

My stomach dropped, and I felt something.....

As if a tether to my very soul would be cut with the distance and yet I was powerless to do anything. I don't even know when this shift happened. Or why.

I took a risk then. I let my free hand tentatively touch the glistening midnight black hair atop his head. He stilled at the movement.

Lifting his face, he stared up at me and I held his captivating gaze, the sharp breath he released fueling my confidence. I let my hand slowly run through his hair. It was a good sensation and when I slightly tugged, Damien groaned as if that was enough to get him to fall on his knees.

The thought made my lips twitch.

His gaze pricked my skin with awareness and he let me tangle my hand in his hair like I had dreamed of doing countless times. When I finally looked back into his electric orbs, I was hit with a strong intensity.

As if he was trying to say something with his eyes alone.

So I understood his message and did what seemed the only thing I could. I arched my neck in silent invitation, fully permitting him.

We didn't exchange any more words but I gulped in a lungful of air when his fangs nicked at my skin -

And moaned when he sank them inside my delicate flesh, right into an artery. He did too and the sound against my hyper-aware skin made me feel like I was once more high on Faerie drugs.

It wasn't long this time, even though I felt heady with sensations but the feel of his hard body pressed up against mine, my hands gripping and tugging on his hair, small noises of pleasure leaving my mouth made me wish this moment lasted longer.

He licked again and then pressed his lips against the closing wounds and I shuddered in response.

Instead of feeling weaker, I felt the opposite. And one look at Damien showed me just how much powerful he felt after drinking from me. 

Was it different when he drank from me? 

That was a question I wouldn't ever know the answer to, I suppose.

His hand brushed my onyx black hair to fall over my neck and it fanned over my chest and I shivered at the touch, breathing shallow. 

When we stared each other down once more, I conveyed a goodbye through my eyes. His electric eyes that I was staring into perhaps for the last time only glimmered like the ocean with the winds raising waves for once. 

And then just like those winds, he was gone. 

The only traces of our meeting the cold seeping in, my neck tingling and the twisting of my heart in dread. 

•○•

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I smiled tightly at Keely.

"Be strong, Keely. You have it in you."

The meek brunette just nodded, shooting me a tentative smile. "Take care in Valeryn, I guess." Her eyes held slight sorrow and I suppose she would miss me. Better if she doesn't.

I squeezed her hand and slipped back into the shadows making my way outside. It was something I felt I had to do. Say farewell to her.

No more cleaning those walls - not windows. But the thought failed to bring up my spirits in the grand scheme of things.

I would have liked to see Britt but it was like she had vanished and I didn't have much time on my hands.

There was one more person left.

I scoffed when I entered the stables and saw Veta looking down at Theo who was sprawled on the hay strewn floor with a hoof on his chest. 

Theo groaned and muttered. "Heavy horse."

With some struggle, Theo stood back up and put her back into her stall before turning to look a me.

"So, I heard someone got lucky enough to leave?"

I smiled at the brown haired guy who was giving me a small smile. "Yes, Theo." I got close to Veta and slowly ran a hand through her soft grey mane, she only returned her affections by licking me.

I chuckled at the affection and realized I would actually miss her and even the other horses. Even Theo perhaps. Because he had given me company in his own way, he never seemed to fit in though. 

With his nature that was no more cold than you could say the Pira river flowed North. Or that the sun rose in the West. Theo, more often than not, reminded me of my one and only best friend - Micah. But despite that I knew not to trust anyone.

Man, I had started to just settle in.

"Well, the journey will be good. And you won't be as endangered there." He pointed out and handed me an apple that I fed Veta.

"I suppose. But for a human, there isn't really any place in Vammal that is safe anymore." Except perhaps Adalda. I didn't voice it out though.

He shrugged, "Can't argue, Cara. But at least the Fae won't be draining you of your blood any time they see you." He humored and I had to agree. It would be comparatively safer.

But I feel like me going to Valeryn was meant to happen as well.

Like some well played pawn.

I just threw his words back at him with a small smile, "Can't argue, Theo."

•○•

AN~

Heyyy! So, thank you for your continuing support and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Things got a wee-bit steamy haha. Do share your thoughts!

But wow, she's gonna leave. 

How about Damien's behavior by the way? Do you like him? Or is it Lucien you ship her with? Perhaps Arion who she will be with from now on? Or the mysterious werewolf Alpha?

Thoughts on Sera? 

So many new people have added my book to their libraries and so many have read! I'm so glad! I hope I keep writing stuff you all enjoy and you all simply keep reading!

Anyways, vote, comment and SHARE please! It always makes my day! :D Till next time then!

~Skyler