Chapter 130: Chapter 130
The witches and wizards gathered behind her as the noises came closer. The possibility of regaining their freedom was stronger than ever before—Elena’s undying confidence in her clan had a positive impact on the group. They would use this opportunity and fight for their freedom even if it meant teaming up with a vampire clan. This was their only chance to get out of their prison and live.
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Elena’s pulse raced as the magic of her soulmate bond tingled on her skin. An inhuman force crashed into the door to the underground prison, again and again. The door rattled under the assault from the other side. Someone desperately attempted to open it, one of Elena’s clan members. She sensed their familiar auras behind the thick metal.
“Don’t worry, this is my clan. They won’t hurt you,” she reassured her worried companions and sent them a faint smile as they waited for the door to give in. Elena anticipated the moment it would happen since she was eager to reunite with her soulmate. She wanted to see Ryder; she wanted to wrap him in her arms and be close to him. They had never been separated for so many days in a row, and she didn’t want to repeat this experience. The pain of separation was simply too great. They were soulmates for a reason; they belonged together. Besides, he had to be starving; there was no time to waste. The thought was followed by an ice-cold realization—Ryder was right in the center of danger and most likely too weak to defend himself. Elena’s heart hammered in her chest. She wished she could tear the door down herself.
“Stay away from the door,” Chump’s muffled voice warned from the other side. “It’ll give in soon.”
Heeding his warning, they took a few steps back, tensely staring at the only barrier that stood between them and freedom. There was a loud bang, and the door shook. I held on for another moment, but then it was torn from its hinges and gave in to Chump’s violent assault. When it landed on the ground, it had many dents caused by the vampire’s brute force. Elena’s eyes widened and met Chump’s ruby gaze. The change in his expression was instantaneous. The moment he saw her alive and well, relief washed over him.
“Chump, you made it. Where’s Ryder?” she asked since she didn’t spot him at first. Chump and Avocado blocked the view, and the stairway was too dark to see much. Since they didn’t perceive any danger, they moved aside and let her soulmate pass. Ryder rushed past Chump, his frantic gaze finding Elena.
A hoarse cry of her name left his throat, and he ran toward her. She was stunned when she saw him. He looked ill. His skin tone was sickly and his eyes bloodshot, underlined with shadows. The deep scarlet hue of his irises demonstrated his dreadful thirst. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how painful it had to be. She opened her arms for him, and they collided, embracing each other as tightly as they could.
A shiver racked his body when he felt her warmth and heard the beautiful melody of her heart. It was beating very fast as her fear mixed with excitement. The sound had a cathartic effect on him since it was the ultimate proof that she was still alive. He had reached her in time—although it had been a struggle to find her, he had succeeded.
“You’re alive.” He inhaled her sweet scent and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. Ryder had been in a constant state of panic during the past days. It had worn him down, but now that she was safe, the crushing feeling of loss didn’t torment him anymore. As long as she was in his arms, nobody would take her away—over his dead body. His will to protect her was so strong that even his burning thirst was secondary to it.
Elena noticed the trembling breaths he took and stroked his back with calming motions. “I knew you would make it, Ryder,” she whispered and kissed his cheek, “And now hurry, you must be starving.” She loosened her embrace and pulled at her shirt to reveal her neck to him, where the fading marks of Jacob’s fangs were still visible—she had forgotten about them since they didn’t hurt anymore.
“What did they do to you?” Ryder snarled, the sudden surge of rage startling her. “Who bit you?”
“It was Jacob,” she replied, a scowl forming on her face. “He was angry at me because I injured him before he abducted me. Apparently, his ego is quite fragile…”
“You hurt him? Good, he deserves that and so much worse.” He shook his head, vowing to take revenge on the vampire.
Ryder’s left hand wandered to her chin and gently tilted it back. Red irises focused on her jugular, darkening as his thirst became too strong. He licked his lips, fangs elongating as he drew in a quivering breath. He couldn’t deny himself her blood any longer—his body needed it to survive. Searching for the most convenient spot to bite into, his lips brushed over her skin. He was too weak and too thirsty to take things slow. Usually, he would give her time to prepare and be gentle, but not today.
His fangs abruptly pierced her skin, prompting her to gasp. The noise caused him to stiffen slightly, but he couldn’t stop himself when the delicious taste of her blood invaded his mouth. Greedily gulping it down, his lips latched onto her skin, not wasting a drop. Elena relaxed in his embrace when numbness set in and she didn’t feel his fangs anymore, only the sensation of his lips on her skin, and the support his arms provided her.
She closed her eyes and let him take as much as he desired. The draining sensation accompanying the bite was stronger than she was used to, weakening her knees and making her dizzy. Her hands held on to his black leather jacket, but her grip soon slackened. She gradually lost control of her body, feeling no fear because she trusted him. He knew when it was time to stop; he knew when the loss of blood would become too dangerous for her.