Troubled (The Binding Chronicles #4)

2. A Night for Adventures

A Night for Adventures

M arius’s heart pounded as he pumped his arms and legs, racing towards the trees. His destination came closer with every footfall; his breath came in short bursts, and his lungs expanded with each breath.

Thank all the gods, he’d trained nightly with the castle guards since his fifteenth birthday. Even in his finery, he moved with the swiftness of a well-trained soldier.

For years, Marius had dreamed of all the adventures he’d have and the places he’d go once his sister loosened her protective iron grip on him. Even his most vivid dreams couldn’t compare to this, though.

Freedom was sweet on his tongue, and his lips curved into a smile as the looming forest grew closer.

He’d actually done it.

He hadn’t been sure his plan would work, being as hastily cobbled together as it was. After all, he’d only had a day to prepare.

Yesterday, he woke before the sun set. The vampires had still been asleep, so he’d taken the opportunity to practice his Fortune Elf magic and walk the silver planes. He hadn’t been there long before he stumbled upon a new path.

Some iterations of the future were firm and set in stone, but this one had been watery and fluid. Malleable.

Intrigued, he’d examined the path more closely.

Daegal Videntis, the High Lady of Death’s mate and the Fortune Elf who trained Marius in his magic had once explained that fluid paths were the most unstable. They were constantly in flux, and many things could cause them to change before the events they predicted actually took place.

The moment Marius ran the path through his hands, he knew this was his chance for freedom and adventure. The path showed him the messenger’s arrival, and he formed his entire plan around that moment.

Earlier, he snuck out of the ball during the High Ladies’ address to wait for Pierre. Intercepting the vampire had been a vital part of his plan because if the king and queen learned what the message contained, they’d never allow him to leave.

Marius wasn’t ignoring the problem at hand. He would just take care of the issue on his own.

He was so focused on the forest’s promise of safety that he didn’t hear the whisper of wind or the flapping of wings behind him. He didn’t hear anything at all until suddenly, a hand locked onto his arm.

“What in the name of all the gods are you doing?”

Marius tugged, trying to break the newcomer’s grip on his arm, but the fingers clamped around his limb dug in.

Their hold was strong. Vampiric, even.

He groaned.

One didn’t survive long in a land filled with creatures of the night without understanding exactly how deadly they could be. Of all the species who called this continent their home, vampires were the most dangerous. Unlike the others who would eventually Fade, vampires were truly immortal.

Over time, they lost their connection to humanity. Their morals slowly faded, and most of them became cruel, dark, and evil.

Even the Carinoc dragons, who’d recently begun reintegrating into Ithenmyrian society after the death of the Crimson King and the restoration of the balance, weren’t as violent as vampire kind.

Hoping to avoid a broken wrist, since that would not be any help to him on his journey, Marius stopped struggling. Instead, he turned and glared at the vampire who held his arm in a death grip.

She was stunning, which wasn’t a surprise. All vampires possessed a supernatural, goddess-blessed beauty.

What was a surprise was the vampire’s anger.

Her jaw was clenched, and fire flashed through her black gaze. She was shorter than him, her head coming to his shoulders. Her skin was unnaturally pale. Straight red hair fell to her waist, and large bat wings were spread out behind her. A sword was strapped to her back, adding to her violent beauty.

Marius didn’t immediately recognize the woman, but there were too many vampires in his sister’s court for him to know them all.

“Why do you care?” he answered her earlier question with one of his own.

The sooner he got out of here, the better. If dawn came and he was still in the forest, all would be lost.

The vampire raised a red brow, her grip on his arm as tight as ever. “It’s my job to care.”

Marius’s stomach dropped, and he inwardly cursed.

Sebastian had mentioned that he was planning to assign him a new bodyguard, but Marius hadn’t realized the swap had already occurred. This wasn’t the first time this had happened, since the king and queen liked to cycle through the guards watching over him. Something about keeping a fresh pair of eyes on him to keep him safe.

By the gods, why hadn’t Marius Seen this ?

That would’ve been extremely helpful.

Unfortunately, Fortune Elf magic was finicky for the strongest elves… and no one would describe Marius as strong. He’d been sick for the first half of his life. Even though he was better now, he’d only Matured and come into his full magic last year. He was still working on navigating the silver planes with the ease his mentor displayed.

“Ah.” He inhaled through his nose, his nostrils flaring.

This vampire’s presence would make things significantly more difficult. Maybe he could talk her into leaving?

“I don’t need a bodyguard right now,” he told her. “There’s no one in the forest but us.”

And hopefully, he’d be alone soon so he could continue his trek.

“Yes, I see that.” She bit her lip, staring up at him and decidedly not leaving. “But… what are you doing?”

Escaping.

Something told him she wouldn’t take too well to that answer, though.

Marius smiled, hoping the expression looked innocent. “Just taking a stroll.”

He stepped towards the trees. She moved with him, her hand still on his arm.

Gods help him. He arched a brow, looking pointedly at where she held him. “You can release me now.”

The vampire studied him for a long moment, her dark gaze far too perceptive, before she slowly removed her hand. She didn’t move, though, and something told him this was far from over .

“My arm thanks you.” Already, he could tell it would be covered in bruises tomorrow.

“You’re welcome.” The vampire made no effort to leave.

By the gods. Why did these kinds of things always happen to Marius?

“Well, have a good night.”

Please go away , he added silently.

He turned and walked into the forest, hoping his bodyguard would take the hint and return to the celebration.

Instead of turning back, which would’ve made his life infinitely easier, the vampire retracted her wings and followed him.

Damn it all.

Marius bit back a frown and glanced over his shoulder. The vampire was walking beside him, her arms hanging loosely at her sides.

“You know, you don’t have to come with me,” he said, frustration edging his voice. “I’m perfectly capable of taking a stroll on my own.”

“I’m certain that is the case.” She laced her hands behind her back. “But seeing as how I would prefer to keep my head attached to my shoulders, I’m going to stay here if you don’t mind.”

Marius did mind. Very much, in fact.

After walking the silver planes yesterday, he’d arranged for a carriage to pick him up on the other side of the forest. It would only remain there until dawn, though.

He’d Seen several escape routes, but only those with the carriage had him making it to freedom. If he missed this, he wasn’t sure when the next opportunity to prove himself capable would come up.

Marius needed this to work because he wasn’t sure he could return to Castle Sanguis. Life in the castle was so stifling, and he was desperate for adventure.

He quickly developed a new plan. He’d walk in circles if he had to until his new bodyguard got bored and left. Once she was gone, he’d run to make it to the carriage on time.

This plan was better than nothing.

Abandoning his argument and hoping she would get the hint sooner rather than later, Marius turned and strode through the woods once again.

An hour later, Marius’s new bodyguard was still by his side.

Had he angered the gods in a past life? Was that why he was now stuck with a silent, red-haired shadow?

He didn’t get it. None of his other guards ever followed him so closely. Most of them were content to hang back, their presence enough of a deterrent to stop anyone from approaching him.

Not this vampire, though. She seemed infuriatingly insistent upon doing her job. If he took one step, she did the same. If he leaped over a log, she followed. She was like glue, stuck to his side.

Honestly, it was ridiculous.

With every step he took and every minute that passed, frustration bubbled up inside him.

Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t even know this vampire’s name, and she was stalking him.

Balling his fists, Marius spun around. His nostrils flared and red-tinged his vision.

“You need to leave,” he growled.

The vampire stared at him, her black eyes infuriatingly calm.

“Oh?” She blinked, canting her head. “Why is that?”

Because he needed to leave.

“I don’t need a bodyguard,” he huffed.

Marius had been arguing with the queen about this for years. He was a grown man, for the gods’ sake. By the time she was his age, Luna had already gotten married, been Made into a vampire, and ruled by her husband’s side for a few years.

The vampire didn’t move. “Unfortunately, you’ll have to take that up with the king. I’m duty-bound to stay with you, and I can’t go back on my word.”

Of course, Marius would get stuck with the one vampire who apparently still believed in duty and honor.

His nails dug into his palms as he fought the urge to pull his hair from its roots. “What if I release you from your duty?”

“Only the king can do that,” was her calm response.

Sebastian wouldn’t do that. Not unless Luna asked him to, and she wouldn’t because she didn’t think Marius would be safe in this dangerous land. Hence, his conundrum.

“Please. Leave,” he ground out through clenched teeth.

“Why?”

“I’d like to be alone.” He spoke the truth. It was rare for him to be left on his own, even for short periods of time.

The aggravating woman stood her ground. “Like I said, I’m bound by my word to keep you safe. I can’t leave.”

“You mean you won’t leave.” He crossed his arms and glared at her.

“Correct.” She mimicked his position, and even though she was shorter than him, it felt like she was looking down on him. “I will remain by your side until you return to the ball.”

“I won’t be returning,” he blurted.

Damn.

He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but the words slipped out before he could stop them.

His cheeks burned. Luna had a habit of speaking her mind, and even though Marius prided himself on not being as outspoken as his sister, he apparently still had a way to go.

The vampire’s eyes widened, and panic flickered through them for the first time since she came upon him.

“Your Highness, you can’t leave.” There was a frantic edge to her voice.

“Oh, I assure you, I can.”

He was leaving, whether she liked it or not.

Giving up on his ridiculous plan, Marius resumed marching through the woods. Dawn was coming, and there was no time to waste.

That iron grip clamped down on his arm again, and she spun him around.

Damn vampires and their strength. Damn bodyguards. Damn it all.

“No, you can’t,” she insisted.

“I can,” he said through gritted teeth, trying to yank back his arm. “Release me.”

The vampire didn’t comply.

“I don’t understand. Why do you want to leave?”

Such a ridiculous question.

“Why?” A bitter laugh escaped him. Was it truly that surprising? “I’m a fully grown Mature halfling who is as trained as any of my sister’s soldiers. And yet, unlike them, I’ve never been allowed to experience life. Not really.”

Luna had kept him safe, and he’d grown up in Castle Sanguis, but he’d never truly lived .

“The queen?—”

“Doesn’t understand.” He was starting to think that no one understood where he was coming from. He glared at his bodyguard. “This isn’t a request. I won’t be returning to Castle Sanguis.”

Not if he had anything to say about it .

The vampire’s grip was unrelenting. “Where are you going?”

“There’s a… matter that requires my attention.”

Her jaw ticked, and her gaze dropped to his tunic pocket. She pulled her hand from him, flexing her fingers. “The message.”

A curse slipped from his lips.

How long had she been following him? He’d been so careful to avoid notice as he slipped out of the party. He slid his hand over his pocket, covering it protectively, before realizing that he was confirming everything.

Huffing, he recrossed his arms and glowered. His bodyguard’s presence was becoming more problematic with every passing second.

“You can’t stop me from leaving.”

The vampire had a sword, but he wasn’t defenseless. He had several daggers hidden on his person. He’d started carrying them as soon as he was old enough to understand the danger that existed within the walls of Castle Sanguis. No one with a drop of mortal blood walked around the castle unprotected.

Not only that, but Marius had spent the past decade training daily with blades. Even Luna, with all her over-protective tendencies (and she had many), understood that he needed to be able to defend himself. Whenever Phyrra, the king’s spymaster, made it back to Castle Sanguis, she also trained with Marius.

His bodyguard studied him for several long moments, her gaze as dark as the night sky, before she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t let you go.”

“You can’t?” He couldn’t keep the disbelief from his voice. Everything was unraveling before his eyes.

“No,” she said. “If you leave, the king will kill me.”

Even if Marius hadn’t known his brother-in-law’s reputation for ending lives, he would have believed the vampire simply based on the fear woven into her words.

“Then come with me.” The offer slipped out before he could stop it.

Internally, he wanted to curse. That was twice now that his mouth had gotten the better of him.

The vampire blinked, her red lashes fluttering. “What?”

“Come with me,” he repeated more forcefully.

Obviously, she wasn’t leaving, and he couldn’t stay here. Time was slipping away, and his window to leave was closing.

“I don’t think?—”

“That way, you can keep me safe.” The words tasted bitter, but at this point, he would endure almost anything to get them moving again. “Not to mention the added benefit that Sebastian can’t kill you if you’re doing your job. We’ll just tell them I forced you to come with me.”

She scowled, fire flashing in her eyes once again. “You are forcing me to come, Your Highness. I would much rather us turn around and go back right now.”

Marius uncrossed his arms and raked a hand through his hair.

“That won’t be happening. As I said, I need to leave.” He exhaled. “However, I will concede that perhaps I’m not putting you in the best spot. For that, I apologize.”

“Not the best spot?” Her dark gaze held his. “This is a terrible spot you’ve put me in.”

He could see that, and he truly did feel sorry about it. The timing was just awful. “Hence the apology.”

The vampire’s eyes widened. “I… Thank you, I suppose.”

Time was slipping away.

“You’re welcome…” He realized he still didn’t know her name. “What should I call you? ”

She sighed, and even though she clearly didn’t like his plan, he could sense that she was softening.

“My name is Vivienne,” she said.

He rolled her name over his tongue, enjoying the way it sounded. “I wish you weren’t tangled up in this, Vivienne. I’m sorry for dragging you along with me.”

Her presence was a complication he hadn’t foreseen. He hadn’t thought anyone would be guarding him tonight. It seemed pointless. After all, in addition to the vampire royals, the High Ladies of Life and Death and their mates were at the ball, along with several dragon shifters. No one would be stupid enough to cause trouble during such a momentous event.

Vivienne frowned, her ruby lips pursing as she studied him.

Marius glanced at the sky and winced. Dawn was almost here. “So, what do you say? Will you join me?”

She chewed on her bottom lip before nodding. “I supposed I don’t have a choice. Where are we going?”

Thank all the gods. Relief flooded him, and for the first time since his bodyguard interrupted his escape, he smiled. “We’re going north.”