Chapter 146
The sound of clashing steel filled the passageway, echoing like a death knell in the narrow stone walls. My breath was shallow, my hands trembling as I pressed myself into the shadows, trying to make sense of what was happening. Rowan had hidden me here, told me he would protect me but I couldn’t hear him anymore. I had to do something.
I couldn't stay hidden.
Gripping the dagger he had given me, I pushed open the hidden panel and slipped into the dimly lit corridor. The scent of blood and sweat filled my nose, and I barely had time to react before a soldier turned toward me, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"Well, well," he sneered. "Look what we have here."
“We’ve been searching for you everywhere. You’re coming with us.”
He lunged.
I barely dodged the first strike, my instincts sharper than I expected. The dagger in my hand felt foreign, but I gritted my teeth, slashing wildly at the soldier's arm. He cursed, stumbling back, but another was already behind him, advancing fast.
I wasn't going to make it.
A blur of movement—a snarl of rage and suddenly Rowan was there.
His claws arced through the air, slashing the soldier down before he could reach me. Blood splattered across the stone, and Rowan turned, his feral eyes locking onto mine.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice rough with fury.
"I heard you in pain! I couldn't just—"
Rowan's expression darkened as he grabbed my wrist, his grip tight, almost desperate. “You should have listened to me! You were supposed to stay hidden, Ariadne! No matter what."
Before I could respond, another soldier charged.
Rowan shoved me behind him, but I refused to cower this time. The moment the soldier swung, I ducked low, moving faster than I thought possible, and drove my dagger straight into his side.
The man grunted, stumbling back, but before he could recover, Rowan was on him, finishing him off with his claws as he pounced on him.
I was panting, my heart racing.
Rowan turned to me, his expression unreadable.
"I told you to stay put," he said, his voice taut with frustration.
I swallowed hard, gripping my dagger tighter. "And if I had, you'd be dead."
“I wouldn’t have died that easily Ariadne. I’m a wolf. I’ll heal! Unlike you!”
For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Something like pride. But then his expression turned grim, and I realized he was badly injured
His tunic was soaked in blood.
"You're hurt, why aren’t you healing as fast as you should?” I whispered.
Rowan exhaled, his stance swaying slightly. "It's nothing. Poisoned blades, they slow down the healing process. We need to move, I already gave the order for them to seal off this wing. We have to make it on time.”
I stepped closer, reaching for him, but he caught my wrist, stopping me. "Ariadne, there's no time."
A shout echoed down the corridor. More soldiers.
Rowan cursed under his breath.
“We have to run. I have to get you somewhere safe.”
I nodded, my chest tight.
He grabbed my hand, pulling me with him as we tore through the passageways, our boots pounding against the stone. My lungs burned, my vision blurring from the speed, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
The air was thick with the scent of battle, and I knew this wasn't over.
It was far from over.
We burst into an old chamber, a hidden sanctuary within the castle's depths. Rowan slammed the heavy door shut behind us, barring with his body. He staggered, gripping the wall for support.
His face was pale, his lips pressed into a tight line.
I rushed to his side. "Rowan, sit down. Let me see the wound."
"I said it's fine," he muttered. But his knees buckled, and I barely caught him before he collapsed.
"Liar," I snapped, lowering him onto the stone floor. My hands shook as I lifted his tunic.The gash on his side was deep, bleeding heavily.
I swallowed my panic. I had to stop the bleeding.
“Stay still.”
I said as I applied pressure on the wound, focusing all my energy on it.
I had to heal him. One way or the other.”
"You’ll wear yourself out. Don’t worry about me. Save your energy for you and the baby.”
“I can’t..” I murmured but he was right, I could feel my strength slipping with every second as I tried to mend him.
“Tear the hem of my cloak," Rowan instructed, his voice hoarse.
I did as he said, pressing the fabric against his wound. He hissed sharply, his muscles tensing under my touch.
The bleeding had reduced drastically, but the gash was still there, I needed more time. More time and energy to heal him, two things I didn’t have.
I kept my focus, pressing harder to stop the blood flow. "You took a risk coming for me."
His eyes softened.
“I would always come for you."
The sincerity in his voice unnerved me.
Something inside me twisted painfully. I didn't remember everything, but I knew this man meant something to me.
I stared at him, my throat dry. "Rowan..."
He lifted a hand, cupping my cheek. His fingers were warm despite the blood on them. “You scared the hell out of me tonight."
My breath caught.
The air between us was charged, heavy with something unspoken.
I wasn't sure who moved first, but suddenly his lips were on mine.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't careful.
It was desperate, raw—a collision of emotions neither of us could hold back.
For a moment, I let myself fall into it. The warmth of his lips, the taste of blood and fire and something achingly familiar.
Then, a loud crash.
The door shook violently.
Rowan and I jerked apart, the reality of our situation slamming back into place.
"They must have found us," he said, his voice low, dangerous.
I grabbed my dagger, my hands steady now. "Then we’ll fight."
He grinned despite the pain.
“That's my wife."
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