Chapter 53: Chapter 53

When Elena raised her arm to cup his hand, she noticed that her wrist had been neatly wrapped with a bandage. The area where she had been bitten stung. A dull ache served as a reminder of how close she had been to losing him. It was unsettling… She had already lost her parents, and she didn’t want to let go of him, either. He was her anchor; the person she trusted the most in this world, the one who kept her grounded. She treasured him.

Her fingertips danced over his cool hand, caressing it. The feather-like touch awoke him from his slumber, and when his senses returned to him, the first thing he noticed was her enticing smell all around him. The vivacious rhythm of her heartbeats was music to his ears.

“Elena?” he uttered, prompting her to glance at his face.

“Ryder,” she whispered. The melancholia swimming in her green orbs was overwhelmingly potent. “Please don’t leave me.”

And though she did not verbalize it, her fear of losing him was audible in her trembling voice. A pang went through his heart. He couldn’t imagine how much the death of her loved ones had hurt her, and he wanted to be the very last to force her through such pain a second time.

“I’m not going anywhere, buttercup. I want to be with you,” he answered. His voice softened, becoming silky and warm. “You’re the reason I’m still here. I really thought I would die and never see you again. How did you find me?”

“I used my magic to track you down,” she explained, causing him to smile. “Are you feeling better than before?” she wondered, studying his pale face. Her hand cupped his cheek, gently brushing a few strands of hair away.

To her relief, he nodded. “Yes, my wounds have healed after I drank your blood. I was tired because of the poison, but I feel much better now. I hope you’re okay, too. I took too much blood this time.”

“It’s fine, Ryder. I will recover,” she assured and moved a tad closer to him, nestling up to his body and holding on to his shirt.

“We should have breakfast soon. You must be hungry after all that,” he said. His hand stroked her back. He nuzzled his face in her hair, breathing in her enchanting scent. A hint of red appeared in his irises. “Let’s get up, petal.”

She pouted at him, stubbornly holding on to his shirt. “But it’s cozy here.”

“We’ll cuddle more later,” he remarked with a smug smirk. “You can’t get enough of me, huh?”

“I’m glad I got you back, that’s all,” she sulked. “And now you want to leave?”

“You need sustenance. It’s important,” he countered, and suddenly, his tone sounded sharper. The strict expression he wore matched it perfectly. “No excuses.”

He pried her hands away from his shirt and left the bed, opening the curtains. Sunlight flooded his bedroom, blinding her with its intensity. It seemed like it was already noon—had she been so exhausted that she had slept for an entire day? It was no wonder after using so much of her magic and donating her blood to him, but it shocked her regardless.

Elena sighed and gave up on staying in bed for a while. It was high time she got up. Maneuvering herself to the edge of the bed proved to be difficult since she was dizzy. The simplest motions cost a lot of energy. She curled her lips in distaste and pushed herself up, standing on her legs. Her head felt strange, like it was wrapped in cotton—and her vision blurred for seconds while she took the first step. Great, why did she feel so weak? Returning to her own bedroom seemed like an impossible feat.

She didn’t hear him approaching, so she was stunned when Ryder appeared next to her. He knitted his brows as he watched her. Guilt swam in his blue eyes, dulling them. “Let me help you, buttercup,” he murmured and offered her his arm. She hooked hers around it.

“Thank you.”

With his support, she made it into her own room, where she chose a cozy outfit she would change into. When she walked in the direction of the bathroom, he was reluctant to leave her alone.

“I’ll just take a quick shower,” she reassured him.

“Call me if you need anything. And don’t slip on the tiles,” he replied, genuinely worried. She nodded and closed the bathroom door.

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The food Kelsey had prepared for her tasted heavenly. He and Thorny were by far the most skilled chefs she knew. Ryder sat opposite her at the table and studied her in silence while she stuffed rice and other side dishes in her mouth, filling her empty stomach. She was already regaining some of her strength.

Kelsey leaned against the kitchen counter with folded arms and watched as she ate. The worried crease in his eyebrows had disappeared, though his eyes betrayed that something was bothering him still. It was the same in Ryder’s case. He looked restless and upset. Something heavy and dangerous had manifested in his aura. Occasionally, his fingers drummed on the table surface. Elena was unaware of the vengeful thoughts swirling through his mind.

When she had finished her food, she got up to collect the empty dishes, but Kelsey intercepted and told her to sit back down. He put the used plates in the sink and began cleaning them. Ryder joined him at the kitchen counter, whispering something in his ear. Elena couldn’t hear his words, but she saw the sinister expression that crossed Kelsey’s face. It didn’t suit the kind vampire at all.

“How are you now, Elena?” Ryder’s silky voice interrupted her train of thought. He returned to her and studied her attentively.

“Everything’s fine, no need to be worried. Why do you ask?”

He exchanged a glance with Kelsey. “I have to take care of something, and I want you to stay with Kelsey for the time being. If you feel faint or nauseous, tell him.” Due to his stern voice, his words sounded like an order, coming out harsher than intended. Elena frowned and reached out her hand, catching his wrist.

“Where are you going?” she asked. Wide eyes stared at him. The hint of fear he found within them made his heart ache, but he couldn’t give in now. What he needed to do couldn’t be postponed.

“Into town,” he answered evasively. “I will be back before you know it.”

Elena did not like what she saw in his eyes. It gave life to a new wave of unease. “Ryder…”

A low sigh left his throat as he gently pried her hand away from his wrist. He held it and squeezed it a little. Then he guided it to his lips and left a kiss on it. “See you later, buttercup.”