Page 31 of Vampire Blood

I couldn’t breathe as I watched Lucas spin, sword raised. Then, he lowered it when he saw Kael. They spoke quickly, sharp gestures and tense movements, and then Kael pointed toward me.

Lucas’s head snapped up. His eyes locked on mine.

And suddenly, none of the noise or danger mattered.

He was there. Alive. Fighting for me.

I broke free from the shadows before Kael could stop me.

“Annika!” Lucas’s voice cracked as I ran to him. He caught me just as my knees gave out, pulling me into his arms and holding me so tight it stole my breath.

I buried my face against his chest, gripping his cloak as though letting go would shatter me. His scent, all smoke and earth and something distinctly him, wrapped around me, grounding me even as my body shook.

“You’re here,” I whispered, the words trembling. “You came.”

“Always,” he said, his voice low, rough with emotion. He pulled back just enough to cup my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. His eyes burned, fierce and desperate. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” I shook my head quickly. “Just weak. They took some of my blood, but I’m okay.”

A flicker of something dangerous passed through his eyes, but he swallowed it down, pressing a kiss to my forehead instead.

“I’m going to get you out of here,” he promised.

I clung to him for one more heartbeat, my lips brushing against his jaw. “You already have.”

“Not yet,” Kael snapped from behind us. “We don’t have time for this. We need to move.”

Lucas’s arms tightened around me for one last second before he let me go, his hand sliding down to grip mine. “Stay close,” he ordered.

I nodded, forcing my legs to move even though every step felt heavier than the last. Callum took the lead, Kael falling in behind us as we weaved through the camp.

It was chaos everywhere. Fires were burning, shifters barking orders, and the distant clash of steel. But no one was looking our way. Not yet.

We stuck to the shadows, slipping between tents and crates, my heart slamming harder with every step. Lucas’s handstayed firm in mine, grounding me as we edged closer to the trees.

A shout rang out behind us.

We froze.

Kael cursed under his breath. “They’re searching the cells.”

“We’re almost there,” Callum hissed, pointing to the line of trees just ahead.

I felt Lucas tense beside me, his grip tightening. “Run.”

We bolted.

I stumbled, my legs trembling, but Lucas didn’t let me fall. He kept me upright, pushing me forward as the sounds of pursuit erupted behind us.

Branches whipped at my arms as we plunged into the woods. The shadows swallowed us whole, and still, we ran. My breath burned in my chest, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop, not when freedom was so close.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Kael slowed. “They’re not following,” he said, panting.

I sagged against Lucas, my body giving out as relief crashed over me. He caught me, lowering me gently to the ground and brushing the hair from my face.

“We did it,” I breathed, staring up at him.

His lips curved into the faintest smile. “We did.”

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