Chapter 78: The Hunters
Sera's POV
I woke up with a loud gasp, emptying every bit of air in my lungs as I started up from the floor. Adrian and Cassian sat up too beside me, with Cassian coughing slightly.
I was still trying to get a grab on my senses when I saw a huge ball of fire rushing towards me. I moved away to dodge it, but it was so scorching hot and huge that I couldn't completely avoid it, given the limited time and the speed at which the ball of fire came for me.
I was waiting to be burned to a crisp when I was lifted from the floor and into the air. I felt the warmth of Adrian's arms surround me. I turned around to find him smiling at me as he led me away to safety.
I wasn't really the apologetic type. I don't think I had ever even done that all my life. Even when I am at fault, I always choose the arrogant way out and yell myself out of any blame. But now, I knew I had wronged him and Cassian, especially him. I had started this mess and put them in unnecessary danger. He had consistently warned me, and I had been too foolish to see my mistakes.
“I leaned closer to his body. “I am sorry, Adrian.” I whispered. I tried not to look away, not to be shy, as I stared into the depth of his emerald eyes.
“You are forgiven, Seraphina. This isn't just your fault. It is my fault too. What's important now is that you choose us this time.” he said. As he spoke, he kept tracing me around, the world blurring around us as we sailed through space.
“I think you know the answer to that already, Adrian. I think I have realized vampires, witches, and other immortals are like humans too, with good and bad ones. Not all vampires are bad, as not all witches are good.”
“That's a great lesson you have learned, Seraphina.” He spoke like a proud teacher. His eyes said he was proud too. The emerald pair glowed in eyes like green crystals under the sun.
Hell! I was never the shy type. But staring into his face now, glimpsing the warm and proud smile that stained his face, I started to feel my cheeks heating up.
I turned away fast, hiding the pink on my cheeks from his eyes, just as he dropped me to the ground. I looked around, and we were no longer in Goddess Freya's castle. A wilderness of snow-covered ground spread around us in every direction. The sky was tinged grey, not as dark as night and also not as bright as day.
My eyes darted around as I spun around on the same spot. “Where are we, Adrian?”
He gave me another warm smile. “Just wait here, Seraphina. Roman or Sigurd and the others should come get you soon. This is a guarded path to both Cassian's and my own castles, and vampires from my castle and Cassian's are on guard here. They should be watching us right now. I didn't take you to the castle directly because the witch knows the castle. Cassian and I would handle the witch. Don't worry about us. If we worked together, we would be able to defeat her. And stay away from the fight. If the witch has you, then the fight is over before it even started. And tell Roman and the rest to stay away too. I don't want them in danger too…”
“What if—” He silenced me fast with a kiss, his lips pressing so hard on mine. For a moment I couldn't breathe. All I could do was taste his lips and feel their warmth and tenderness collapse on mine, tasting and licking mine hungrily.
He finally pulled away, and I was breathless, my chest heaving like a beating drum. “What was that for, Adrian?”
He smiled. “That I love you,”
“Come back safely…” I had barely finished the sentence when he vanished from my front like a wisp of air. Hell! I covered my face in my hands when I felt my cheeks burn again. Did I just sound like a worried wife? Hell no! I didn't just fucking do that? My cheeks burn again! Yet I raised my eyes, staring longingly into the space where he had just been a moment ago. I touched my lips, reminiscing about our kiss, feeling the tenderness of his lips on mine. Is this what love is—caring so much, missing him so much even when he was just here a moment ago, and worrying about what might happen to him that I feel like going after him if I could?
Suddenly, the hair on my arms and nape lifted, alert. I spun around, sensing a presence around me. “Roman!” I called out. Adrian had said he or Sigurd would come get me.
At first there was nothing but the world of snow stretching all around me. Then images of moving entities began to crawl out of the mountains of snow all around me. As they ran further on the snow towards me in all directions, I began to see the images clearer. It was people, and they held swords and various other weapons. Hunters! I screamed.