5. Bella

The cave surrounded me, its rough walls slick with moisture and glistening like the obsidian scales of a snake. As I cautiously stepped into the darkness, the damp floor squelched beneath my boots. Deep crevices branched off from the main chamber, whispering their secrets to the shadows that lurked within. The air was cool and heavy with an earthy scent, sending a chill down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth and comfort, though I knew there would be little to be found in this place.

After years of being numb from cold and starving, there were worse fates. I would survive this. I hoped.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber, and I blinked against the dim light. As the light of day began to crest far above me, a man appeared from the tunnel across from me. I scrambled to my feet, shivering as puffs of white air escaped my lips. He stared at me for a long moment, raging over my body before meeting my eyes.

He was beautiful in a classical sense. From what I could make out across the expanse, his features were symmetrical, and his body was honed with lean muscle that spoke of the hours of training he had to do to maintain it. When the sun hit his body, I could tell his hair was a dark shade of auburn, almost brown, until the light caught the soft strands. It shimmered in the same shades as the scales of the dragon that now haunted my waking dreams.

”Who are you and why am I here?” I demanded, stomping closer but careful not to topple over the ledge.

The man said nothing, grabbing a rope knotted at the end and looped for a foothold. He swung it toward me, grunting in disapproval when I failed to grab it. As it turned back, he leaned over, snatching it with a frown. ”Grab the rope,” he demanded in a deep, gruff voice, swinging my way harder.

I leaned dangerously over the ledge, snatching it up and considering my options: freeze on this ledge or go with the grumpy, attractive man.

The man”s scowl deepened. ”I”ll be asking the questions. Who are you, and why have you trespassed onto my lands?” His voice was deep and commanding, with a strange, foreign, almost ancient-sounding lilt to his words.

I seriously considered staying as I let the rope swing back his way, and he snatched it back up, lifting an eyebrow at me in warning. I crossed my arms and pressed my lips together, shooting a glare his way. ”Your lands?” I shot back. ”I was running for my life and ended up here by accident.”

He moved closer to the edge, his imposing frame towering over me even from a distance. I refused to let him intimidate me, glaring defiantly into his piercing cerulean eyes. I held his stare as I tilted my head up.

”I don”t believe you,” he growled. ”You reek of death and deception. I know a vampire when I smell one.”

My eyes widened in shock. How could he tell?

”Half vampire,” I corrected through gritted teeth. ”And I”m telling the truth—I stumbled here while fleeing the alpha”s wolves.”

The man said nothing, merely swinging the rope to me again, his eyes daring me not to take it as if this were the last time he”d offer. There was a challenge in the depths of his blue eyes that told me he would leave me. So, with a huff, I snatched the rope back, my arms dropping to reach out and take it, forcing me to stumble forward.

I planted my foot on the rope and swung with it as my body went over the chasm separating me from freedom. A yelp escaped my mouth as I forced myself not to look down. The man grabbed my body and held the rope as I dropped off the rope onto my knees once again. This time, kneeling in front of a stranger.

I quickly jumped up and stumbled back close to the ledge, my body tipping over. A scream built in my throat, and the man grabbed my hand, pulling me back up. My heart picked up speed as I knew the plummet would be long and the impact painful.

Still, I didn”t piss myself. I stood plastered to this man”s chest before he carefully pulled me away from the ledge and down the tunnel.

The man leaned down, inhaling deeply as his eyes roamed my face. My traitorous heart quickened at his sudden proximity, at the heat that seemed to radiate from his broad chest.

”Lies,” he hissed. ”You were sent here as a spy for the bloodsuckers.”

”I don”t even know where ”here” is!” I yelled in exasperation. ”Now let me go, you arrogant brute!”

A flicker of amusement crossed the man”s stoic features. ”Arrogant brute? You have spirit, I”ll give you that. But you”re not going anywhere until I have the truth.”

I blew an exasperated breath out. ”You want the truth? I”m running for my life from shifters and vampires alike. All I want is somewhere safe to hide, not to be imprisoned by an egomaniac!”

The man”s eyes bored into mine, flashing with anger... and something more. The torchlight danced across his chiseled face as he considered my words. Finally, he turned abruptly and strode away.

”We”re not done here,” he called over his shoulder before disappearing into the shadows.

He left me alone and fuming, my heart racing from the strange exhilaration of our confrontation. I rushed forward so that I could see his back once again, my legs moving fast to keep up with his long stride.

”Who are you?” I demanded, grabbing his arm to stop him as we walked swiftly down the darkened tunnel. My dear old dad”s lineage gave me above-average night vision, but he couldn”t know that. He ignored me, plowing forward without a glance back. I hurried to catch up.

Finally, we exited the tunnel into the bright light of the day, and my hand shot up to shield my eyes from the blinding light. I started to look around for an escape. We were in what looked like a courtyard, the tunnel opening up. In the distance was an actual castle, and we trotted toward it at maximum speed. My dress tangled in my legs as I tried to keep up. Finally, I lifted my skirt and jogged after the man.

”Wait!” I called out to his retreating form.

The castle nestled in the distance ascended fast, and I was soon rushing up the steps toward him and the massive front door. I reached out to grab his arm. Why, I didn”t know. I knew I should be running away from him, not toward him. I also knew what awaited me out there. My best chance was here. I wanted to figure out this place, this man, his dragon, and how he had saved me. Not out there where only death and worse awaited me.

As my fingers grasped his overly warm, muscled arm, the man went instantly still, and I slammed into the back of him. A low snarl emanated from his lips, making my blood run cold.

”Get your hands off me.” He growled low as it rumbled menacingly from deep within his chest.

Before I knew it, he grabbed me fast and hard, pulling me inside the house. He pushed my back hard against the thick wood of the door and towered over me. His skin was too close. I felt the burning warmth like a caress on my skin.

I knew my heart was pounding wildly, and in case he might be a shifter or other supernatural creature, I forced the fear down with a swallow and took deep breaths before lifting my chin and meeting his stormy blue gaze. Dark auburn tendrils of long hair fell over his face from the tie holding most of it back.

He wasn”t devastatingly handsome or even ethereal like the fae and vampires. No, he was rugged in a way that you couldn”t deny he was a man. His jaw could cut glass, and his high cheekbones pointed toward a full, sensuous mouth. His nose was thin and a shade too large in profile. He was handsome, but his presence made him so much more. It was commanding and purely masculine.

He leaned in to sniff me, his jaw scraping against my cheek as the rough hair felt like sandpaper. His hot breath along my neck and ear sent gooseflesh down my body and heat in my core. I stood still, unsure what to do, before he pulled back and glared at me through long, dark lashes over moonlighters.

”Death clings to your skin like a poison.” His lips curled, and I shoved him back hard, flashing my teeth like a vampire. Only no elongated canines appeared.

”Yeah, you mentioned that earlier. And you look like an idiot,” I snarled back.

A ghost of a smile tipped the edges of his lips, and his eyes crinkled briefly before the expression vanished. ”I can”t argue with that,” he deadpanned before turning and walking away, deeper into the castle while leaving me to stare after him.

It was then I looked around the room. Various odds and ends were scattered to and fro. Stacked furniture was pushed into a corner that seemingly didn”t belong in the space. What couldn”t be denied was the opulence of the castle. There was gold everywhere—gold-lined paneling and wainscoting.

Gold frames, golden objects of art, gold trimmed and yet dusty crystal chandeliers, and the castle”s foyer opened up to a large room that I now took in. It was massive, like a ballroom. Two large staircases branched off on the sides until they converged together in the middle, disappearing into the top level, leaving an open landing for those above to look down onto the floor below.

The ceiling was made of gold and colored glass tiles as the morning sun hit it, creating a light prism that highlighted the whole room. Catching the dust particles in the air, including the massive amount of odd dusty objects and furniture that seemed abandoned on the floor.

It was then the man turned, looking me up and down, and his cold blue eyes softened as he noted the scrapes and nicks found all over my body. The ill-fitting shoes and the general state of my decimated body. He reached for my hands, and I flinched, snatching them back suddenly.

”Let me see,” he asked, holding my stare. ”Please.”

He gently took my hands and examined the cuts I”d received from brambles and thorns while running in the forest. He shook his head at the damage as he examined my injured body.

We were deep into the castle, and he led me by gently taking my hands into his as if afraid he would hurt me. His words and actions were so contradictory that they made my head swim, so I focused on anything but him.

I felt hyper-aware of his presence—of the way his body was close to mine and the way my heart sped up as he leaned closer. For the briefest of moments, I thought maybe he was just as affected by my presence as I was by his until he pulled back, and his face bore no change, only cold calculation.

”You should be fine, but we should wash the scratches as soon as possible,” he said before stepping away. The lack of heat made me chillier, so I examined the castle again to calm my nerves.

The castle was beautiful and extravagant yet had the air of a tomb. I made my way through the furniture and objects scattered around, dust-covered, to the ajar door. I moved toward it, further distancing myself from the man who seemed both cold yet had such a caring touch. Peeking in tentatively, I pushed open the door, and the man followed.

We stopped in front of a long table, where the man pulled out water and bandages, cleaning and wrapping my cut-up hands. He was still gentle in his administration even though his gaze was laser-focused on the task.

”There,” he whispered. ”Now you won”t die from infection before you leave.” He stood abruptly, leaving me to jump up and follow.

”I have nowhere to go,” I admitted, hoping that the tiny kernel of compassion I”d seen would be enough for him to grant me temporary sanctuary.

”Not my problem, though it doesn”t matter anyway,” the man barked. The room was much darker, as the window to the space was covered in a thick velvet curtain tied together to keep out the morning light. I dragged my feet forward and found him sitting on steps leading up to what looked like a dais—only it was empty.

No, not empty, at least not entirely. On the matching throne chairs were what looked to be pieces of porcelain shattered and arranged lovingly as if they could be pieced back together and made whole again. The man stood before them, his back to me.

Even in the dim light, I could see the tension, the thick lines of corded muscle that formed up his back as his hands clenched and unclenched the closer I moved to him.

”I”m sorry. I can”t just leave. I need help,” I said with more anger than I”d intended. ”There are men after me. Men who wish to hurt me.”

The man growled again, the sound inhuman. If I”d had doubts about his species before, they were confirmed then. He was a shifter. What type remained to be seen. The dragon from earlier was my best guess.

This entire situation was beyond weird, from the magic surrounding the property that made me sick in the woods to the furniture piled high and scattered through the castle—and now two thrones with broken porcelain. I was beginning to believe the creature before me had lost his mind in the worst way.

The shattered porcelain on the twin thrones seemed arranged in a deliberate pattern, and a chill went down my spine. It was as if their very souls were fractured and trapped here, unable to move on. What dark magic could accomplish such a terrible fate?

”Why are you still here?” His deep voice cut through the silence, forcing me to jump.

I inspected him momentarily, my gaze flicking back to the throne. ”They are cursed, aren”t they?” I asked, moving forward.

Only for him to round on me, forcing me to step back quickly before I lost my footing and stumbled backward. Pain flickered across his handsome features before he quickly stamped it down, his face turning into a mask of hardness. He expected fear, but I was used to being treated like shit by men.

Instead, I crossed my arms and glared. My early inspection continued as I noticed his clothing, while finely made, was very much out of date. He wore a long, embroidered tunic and a belt. Then beneath it were tight, form-fitting pants with tall, worn leather boots on his large feet. He had the body of a warrior used to battling with a sword. I knew just by a sniff that he held daggers on his person. The steel was sharp and metallic in the air. Despite that, he had forgone a sword. Those large hands were weapons enough.

He must have thought I wasn”t a threat, and I supposed to him, I wasn”t.

”Yes, they are cursed. So am I,” he said through gritted teeth. As if it hurt him to admit it.

”Who cursed you?” I asked, squaring my shoulders as I felt the air spark at an oncoming fight.

He barreled toward me, his hulking, towering form pushing me further back until I felt the hard bite of the wall at my back. ”Your people did,” he spat. His face invaded my space, inches from mine.

My hands went up to protect myself, pushing against his chest. His muscles were tense beneath my fingers.

”My people?” I inquired while trying to push him away to no avail. I was weak, even with half-vampire blood running through my veins. I was nothing compared to him.

”I can smell death clinging to your skin. You belong to the moon, or at least you serve them.” He leaned in, breathing in deeply. ”Yet, there is something else. Something otherworldly. Why is a creature of the moon here? Did she send it to you?” he growled, pushing me further against the wall until there wasn”t any space to breathe.

”Get off me, you creep!” I shouted, the sound echoing off the chamber. I felt my hands ball into fists as I pushed against him, feeling the swift rise of my heartbeat. I thought of the last time I”d been in a similar position, helpless against a man.

I knew my eyes had widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw regret in his gaze as he released me just enough that I could push him back a half step. I knew he”d allowed that, and my puny strength had been nothing.

He wasn”t human, but I wasn”t entirely sure what he was. Whatever he was, he was powerful. His aura alone brushed up against my skin, and it was intoxicating.

”Make me.” He leaned over and growled in my ear, his hot breath warm. Which did funny things to me even though he was a stranger.

He had me against the wall, and he was threatening me. Yet, it was different somehow from Gideon. I had the distinct feeling that although he intentionally intimidated me, he”d never cross the line. My heart sped up, and I felt the warmth in his body. The intoxicating scent of firewood and cedar did odd things to me as a warmth spread deep in my center. I licked my lips.

He smirked as if he had read my reaction. The smug bastard merely smirked. I pressed my teeth together, my muscles tense, and my fists tightened as I felt the anger wash over me.

I kneed him in the balls, and he folded over. I kneed him in the face. ”Don”t you ever threaten me again!” I screamed in rage, feeling angrier at my reaction to him than what he”d done to me. I was used to alphas and men manhandling, threatening, and abusing me. I was done with it. Done with being weak and at the mercy of others.

I heard the laughter and the chuckle that sounded across the room. ”Well then, Lore. You sure know how to pick up the ladies,” someone with a thick accent said. It was one I couldn”t place.

I turned to see another man, not as big as the redhead, who was now standing up to glare at me. He was broader in his shoulders but a few inches shorter. His hair was a shade of blond that seemed to shimmer bright in the sunlight but darkened as he stepped into the darkened room and away from the tall stained-glass windows. He wasn”t nearly as handsome, either. The man called Lore had a rugged kind of attractiveness that made women swoon. Not pretty, but manly. This man looked ready to spend the night in the elements and live in a cabin all his days. Wildness was in his appearance; his hair was long, messy, and unkempt as if the forest had long since claimed him as her own.

Moments later, a busty pale-haired woman and her young boy barreled behind him through a door just past the man.

”Stay out of it, Alastair,” the one called Lore spat toward the blond man, his eyes narrowing on him.

If the man called Alastair didn”t hold an amused grin, I”d have thought them enemies. But he merely stood as if desperately trying not to laugh. Leaving me even more confused.

”Is it true?” the boy asked, the same shade of pale blond on his head as his bright green gaze shot to mine. ”There”s a lady here?” He smiled a toothy grin, one of his teeth missing.

The busty, plump, petite blond woman grabbed him, stopping him from barreling forward.

”She just got here, unfortunately,” Lore, my assailant, muttered as he turned toward the odd bunch behind him. They, too, were dressed in outdated clothing, less refined than the man they”d called Lore.

”Your name is Lore?” I asked, changing my tone. I wasn”t ready to leave. I knew if I did, the pack would find me and either tear me to shreds or pass me along as their personal whore. Neither sounded particularly pleasing.

”You simpleton,” the woman said, a look of disapproval on her face as eyebrows furrowed. ”Introduce yourself to the lady.”

Lore had the good sense to look guilty at her tone and hard stare as if caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The thought of cookies made my stomach embarrassingly grumble so loud it, too, echoed through the room. I was mortified, but the woman”s gaze softened, and she stepped forward.

”Oh, you poor thing. Come with me, and we”ll get you some food.”

I hesitated despite her kind face and soft words. I wasn”t used to kindness, and my first instinct was not to trust it. So many times in the past, kindness had been twisted to ugliness in a split second. After standing there awkwardly deliberating over the risk of following her, the aching hunger in my belly won out. I nodded but stopped as a big, callused hand reached out to stop me.

”I”m Lore MacCain. Welcome to my home. You”re not welcome, not really. So don”t get comfortable.” His overly warm arm barred the way to the woman who now stared at him with little patience and a thinned expression that irate women far too often gave when they were being pushed too far.

”Fucking alpha prick,” I muttered under my breath.

A ghost of a smile flitted across Lore”s lips before he released me. “Don’t let Alysha hear you using those types of words. She’ll wash your mouth out with soap. Actually, it’d be funny to watch. So be my guest.”

I sneered at him, baring my teeth. “I’d like to see her try.”

I turned and left him in the tomb of a once-upon-a-time throne room. The promise of food lifted the deep ache of long-time hunger in its promise for the barest of moments.