Chapter 237

Ethan's POV

The moment I stepped into the territory surrounding the White Cave, I immediately hissed at the bone-chilling cold that seemed to penetrate straight through my clothes and into my very soul. The temperature here was unnatural, maintained by ancient magic that had nothing to do with weather patterns or seasonal changes. Maybe I should have stayed back and trusted Heaven's words about letting Sebastian handle this situation.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Sebastian....I knew he was capable and had good intentions. But I just didn't like it when he did everything for me, especially when it came to protecting the people I cared about. I hated the idea of him giving Malia the mindset that he could protect her better than I could, when protecting her was supposed to be my responsibility as her mate.

I managed to walk past the initial borders of the cave system, navigating through several smaller caverns that led deeper into the crystalline maze. The walls around me glowed with that same ethereal light I remembered from my previous visit, but now it felt more ominous than beautiful, like the glow of something that was waiting to strike.

That's when they appeared.

They came one after the other from their hiding places among the crystal formations, emerging from shadows and crevices that I hadn't even noticed. There were at least five of them, all with that otherworldly beauty that marked them as supernatural beings, their eyes glowing with power and their movements fluid in ways that defied normal physics.

"A mere human is not allowed to cross these borders," one of them said, his voice carrying the kind of authority that suggested he was used to being obeyed without question.

"I don't have time for your nonsense," I said firmly, my breath creating clouds in the frigid air. "I want to see your Queen. I have business with her that can't wait."

What followed was a whoosh of their combined powers, crystal ice formations flying toward me with deadly precision. The projectiles moved so fast that I barely had time to register what was happening before they struck, stabbing into my thighs, arms, and legs with the force of thrown daggers.

For the first time in my existence, I saw my own blood drip without immediately healing. The wounds stayed open, bleeding freely, the pain sharp and constant in a way that I hadn't experienced since I was human centuries ago. The sight of my own vulnerability was almost as shocking as the physical pain itself.

"Do you fuckers know what you're doing?" I glared at them, my voice filled with rage and disbelief. "Do you have any idea who you're messing with?"

They nodded with casual indifference, clearly unimpressed by my threats or my royal status.

"We know exactly who you are," the one with silver hair said, her voice carrying a musical quality that somehow made her words more menacing. "You're the Vampire King. Or maybe Ex-Vampire King would be more accurate now. But the rules here are simple, and no one....absolutely no one....dares to trespass on our territory without permission."

I looked around at the situation I found myself in. These people were using supernatural powers that I couldn't match, throwing ice and crystal formations with deadly accuracy while I had nothing but a sword and whatever human strength remained in my body. They were five against one, and the floor beneath us was covered with snow that made footing treacherous and unpredictable.

But I had spent centuries learning how to fight, how to think strategically even in impossible situations. And right now, the only thing that mattered was getting to Malia before whatever ritual they were performing went wrong.

Without saying a word, I began walking closer to them, my hands raised in what appeared to be a gesture of surrender.

"Drop your sword," one of them commanded, his voice filled with the satisfaction of someone who believed they had won.

I let the weapon fall from my hands, watching as it landed in the snow with a soft thud that seemed to echo in the crystalline chamber.

They gathered around me, clearly happy to take me as a prisoner, their guard dropping slightly as they assumed I had given up the fight. That's when I made my move.

I grabbed my sword from the snow in one fluid motion, using the momentum to create a wide, sweeping arc that sent a spray of snow flying directly into their eyes with tremendous force. The crystalline particles mixed with the snow created a blinding, stinging cloud that made them scream and claw at their faces as they tried to clear their vision.

Instead of pressing the attack, I ran.

I sprinted deeper into the cave system, my wounded legs protesting with every step but carrying me forward through sheer determination. Behind me, I could hear them shouting in anger and frustration, their voices echoing off the crystal walls as they tried to organize a pursuit.

"Find him!" one of them yelled. "Don't let the powerless king reach the inner chambers!"

"He's bleeding," another voice added. "Follow the blood trail!"

I knew they were right....the wounds in my legs were leaving a clear path for them to follow, drops of red standing out starkly against the pristine white snow. But I also knew that I had bought myself precious time, and in a situation like this, time was the most valuable commodity I could have.

The cave system was a maze of passages and chambers, some leading deeper into the mountain while others curved back toward the entrance. I had been here before, but that was years ago, and my memory of the layout was hazy at best. All I could do was follow the passages that seemed to lead toward the source of the magical energy I could feel pulsing through the walls.

As I ran, I could hear them behind me, their footsteps echoing through the tunnels as they gave chase. They were faster than me, their supernatural abilities giving them advantages I couldn't match, but they were also being cautious, probably expecting me to set another trap or ambush.

"Malia," I whispered under my breath, using her name like a prayer or a talisman. "Hold on. I'm coming."

The wounds in my legs were slowing me down, and I could feel my strength beginning to fade from blood loss. But I pushed forward anyway, driven by the knowledge that somewhere in this crystalline labyrinth, the woman I loved was facing choices that could destroy everything we had built together.

I wasn't going to let that happen. Not while I still had breath in my body and fight left in my heart.

Even without my powers, even bleeding and outnumbered, I was still a king. And kings didn't abandon the people they were sworn to protect.