A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 71: Scared Of Losing You!

Elena had never been so scared! For a moment, she thought she was dead! Breathing in itself was a grace. She could feel the blade on her neck still, and the blood drying on her skin. Not too far from where they stood, she spotted another corpse lying on the floor. His guts were scattered all over the place making her feel the urge to throw up.

Instead, she ended up clutching Gabriel’s turnic tighter. His embrace was the only place that felt safe for now. And as if sensing her fear, he caressed her hair softly, tapping her back as if shushing a crying child.

"It’s over now," Gabriel said but she was not close to letting go.

Vathin wiped the blood off his blade and crouched low to inspect the corpse of the lead hunter. He saw a piece of paper in his pocket and on unfolding it, saw a sketch of Gabriel.

"They were sent by the queen," he concluded, showing the sketch to Gabriel. Elena ducked her head to see the drawing too.

"More will be sent. We need to leave this place," Gabriel said.

"I’ll fetch the horses," Vathin offered and exited after giving the couple a slight bow.

"Hey Bunny?" Gabriel tore her hands from him. She had such a firm grip. "Look at me." He lifted her chin, his golden eyes settling on her blue orbs. She was so beautiful he’d never tire watching her for a lifetime, and he never did.

His eyes however fell on her neck, bringing with it the guilt and... fear. If she thought she was scared, then she was wrong.

"I was scared of losing you," he muttered, biting his lip hard. "Your life was in the hands of a hunter and I did nothing but watch." He cast his eyes down, succumbing to guilt.

"It’s not your fault," Elena spoke, switching roles to the comforter now. She held his cheeks in her hands trying to find his eyes.

"What if Vathin never came?" Gabriel asked in a drowned whisper. The fear was raw in his voice. "What if I failed to save you? I would never forgive myself!"

"Vathin rescued me Gabriel. You should focus on what has already happened, not what would have been." She looked outside and saw Vathin lead the horses to the entrance. "We should leave now before more hunters attack us."

She was about to leave when Gabriel held her hand. Surprised, she met with his eyes and saw something flicker in them.

"This is not the life I imagined we’d live when we fled the capital El. As far as I’m alive, a prince of Eldoria, we’ll always be on the run, putting your life at risk."

He took both of her hands, gently squeezing them. "I know you wanted us to leave Eldoria, start a new life somewhere else. I’d love to Bunny, really I do. But I feel... empty. This is not what I was meant to be, a fugitive prince on the run."

Elena shook her head in denial. "Don’t tell me you’re considering it..."

"I want to give you a home, for our children. This is not what I’d want for them, and neither would you. Brandon took what was rightfully mine, now I have to take it back. I’m tired of being a bastard, hunted for simply existing. Will you come with me?"

Elena’s hands slipped off Gabriel’s, a cold sensation replacing the warmth he exuded a few seconds ago.

"But, you promised me... ," she reminded.

"I promised you a good life Bunny. Look at what we have?" He took a step forward but Elena took another back. "All this will be meaningless without you. I’m doing it for you."

"But I don’t want it!" She said, raising her voice that they caught Vathin’s attention. "I want no more royal duties! I don’t want my son or daughter to be sold off to some heartless man, vampire!"

Gabriel froze in his tracks, the words cutting through his heart like a sharp knife. His fangs pierced his lips but the pain was nothing compared to what he was feeling right now.

"This," he said pointing at his fangs. "I’m a vampire! Did you always hate me this time?"

Elena shook her head, regretting the words she’d just said. "I didn’t mean..." He took a step forward, his eyes turning red. Her back met with the solid wall, her heart skipping a beat. "You... You’re scaring me Gabriel," she admitted.

Vathin opened the door just in time saving Elena from a heart attack. "We need to keep going," he said. Gabriel clenched his fists, the claws digging deep into his flesh. He muttered a low curse before he stormed out of the cabin, nearly throwing Vathin off balance.

Vathin’s eyes darted between Gabriel’s retreating silhouette and a scared Elena. "Are you guys okay?" He asked, bringing Elena back to her senses. She looked at him and faked a smile.

"Yeah. We’re good." Casting her eyes everywhere else but Vathin, Elena made her way to her horse. Gabriel was waiting for her there.

"I don’t need your help," she said and mounted without Gabriel’s help. She could have seen how his jaws tightened.

Vathin rode from the stables with a black horse and joined the couple before they started venturing into the darkness. They rode North without exchanging a single word since they left the cabin.

A heavy downpour proceeded, soaking all of Elena’s clothes. Despite Gabriel’s willingness to help, she ardently refused until Gabriel couldn’t take it anymore.

"We rest here until the sky clears," he said alighting from his horse. He held the reins of Elena’s horse and offered her his hand.

"I’ll manage," she said, giving him an assassin’s vibe. But she stepped on a wet stone the moment her feet touched the ground, losing her balance. She closed her eyes tightly anticipating the pain but she felt a strong pair of arms around her waist and neck.

Her lashes fluttered, Gabriel’s golden orbs coming into view. There was something about them that gave her the picture of a cat’s eyes, but his had a darker shade to it.

"I’m sorry," he said, breaking her from the reverie.