Chapter 34: Chapter 34 - The Night They Came for Us
Eira awoke to the sound of Caius shifting beside her. The oppressive weight of the night pressed down on the room, as if the very air held its breath. Moonlight streamed through the narrow windows, casting pale streaks across the dark linens and illuminating the sharp lines of Caius's face. He was still, his golden eyes open and focused on the door.
"What is it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Caius didn't answer immediately. His hand reached for her, pulling her closer as his gaze remained fixed on the shadows beyond the threshold. His body was taut, every muscle coiled like a spring. It wasn't fear that radiated from him but something far more dangerous: the quiet fury of a predator sensing a threat.
"Stay behind me," he said, his voice low and calm, but with an edge that sent a shiver down her spine.
Eira sat up, her heart beginning to race as she caught the faintest sound—a murmur, a scrape, barely perceptible, but enough to set her nerves alight. She reached instinctively for the dagger hidden in the folds of her nightdress, her fingers trembling slightly as they closed around the hilt.
The door exploded inward.
The sound was deafening, wood splintering into shards as figures poured into the room, their movements fast and feral. Eira barely had time to register the glint of steel before Caius was on his feet, a snarl ripping from his throat. He moved faster than her eyes could track, his figure blurring as he collided with the first intruder.
"Eira, stay back!" he roared, his voice a command that left no room for argument.
But there was no time to obey. The attackers surged forward, their dark forms filling the room like a tide. Eira stumbled back, her dagger raised, her breaths coming fast and shallow. Her mind screamed at her to act, to think, but the chaos overwhelmed her. Shadows and steel clashed in the dim light, the air thick with the sound of snarls and the clash of blades.
One of the rogues turned toward her, his fangs bared in a twisted grin. His eyes glowed faintly, animalistic and wild, as he lunged. Eira's arm moved on instinct, her blade flashing upward. It caught him across the chest, a shallow cut, but enough to make him recoil with a hiss.
Another step back. Her heel caught on the edge of the bed, and she nearly fell, the rogue closing the distance in an instant. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in an iron grip. The dagger clattered to the floor as pain shot through her arm.
"Let her go."
Caius's voice was deadly calm, cutting through the noise like a blade. The rogue froze, his grip slackening just enough for Eira to pull free. She stumbled to the side, clutching her wrist, as Caius stepped forward.
The room seemed to darken as he moved. His golden eyes burned like embers, his fangs bared in a snarl that sent a primal chill through the air. The rogue hesitated for only a fraction of a second before Caius struck.
It was not a fight. It was slaughter.
Caius's hand closed around the rogue's throat, lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing. There was a sickening crack, and the body crumpled to the floor. Another attacker rushed him, but Caius was faster. He tore through them with a precision that was terrifying to witness, his movements a blur of claws, fangs, and raw, unrelenting power.
Eira could only watch, frozen, as the room became a battlefield. The rogues didn't stop coming. They poured through the shattered door, their snarls filling the air, their weapons glinting in the faint light. Caius met them head-on, his fury like a storm, his strikes leaving carnage in his wake.
But there were too many.
"Eira!" Caius's voice broke through her paralysis. "Get out—now!"
Her legs moved before her mind could catch up. She stumbled toward the open window, the cool night air hitting her face as she looked down at the courtyard below. It wasn't a long drop, but the thought of leaving him—leaving him to face this alone—made her hesitate.
A hand grabbed her shoulder, yanking her back. She turned, her fist flying, catching the rogue across the jaw. He snarled, his claws slashing toward her. Pain bloomed in her side, sharp and hot, and she gasped, her hand flying to the wound.
The room spun. She staggered, her vision blurring as the rogue loomed over her. But then he was gone, a blur of motion as Caius ripped him away, throwing him against the wall with a force that cracked the stone.
"Eira!" Caius was at her side in an instant, his hands steadying her as she swayed. His golden eyes were fierce, but there was something else there now—fear. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," she managed, though her voice trembled. "Just… just a scratch."
His gaze dropped to her side, where blood seeped through her dress. His lips curled back in a snarl, and he turned toward the remaining rogues, his entire body radiating rage.
"Get out of my castle," he growled, his voice low and lethal. "Or die here."
The rogues hesitated, their snarls fading as they took in the scene—their fallen comrades, the destruction, and Caius standing between them and Eira like a vengeful god. But they didn't retreat. With a collective roar, they charged.
Caius met them head-on.
Eira sank to the floor, her back against the wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The pain in her side was sharp and unrelenting, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene before her. Caius was relentless, his strikes brutal and precise. The room was a blur of motion, of blood and shadows, the air thick with the scent of iron and the sound of breaking bones.
And then, finally, it was over.
The last rogue fell with a gurgling snarl, his body crumpling to the floor. Caius stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving, his hands stained with blood. The glow in his eyes began to fade, but the fury in his expression remained as he turned back to Eira.
She tried to push herself to her feet, but the pain made her falter. Caius was at her side in an instant, his arms steadying her as she leaned against him.
"I told you to get out," he said, his voice tight with anger.
"And leave you to this?" she shot back, her voice weak but defiant. "Not a chance."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he carried her out of the room. Eira didn't have the strength to protest. Her head rested against his shoulder, her eyes drifting closed as exhaustion began to take hold.
"Stay with me," Caius said, his voice softer now, the anger replaced by something else—something she couldn't quite name. "Don't close your eyes."
"I'm fine," she murmured, though the words felt heavy on her tongue. "I'm not going anywhere."
She felt his grip tighten, his steps quick and purposeful as he carried her down the hall. The world around her blurred, but she could feel the tension in him, the way his heart pounded beneath her cheek. For the first time, she saw him not as the untouchable vampire lord but as something else—someone who feared losing her as much as she feared losing him.
Caius carried her over to the bed, the destruction and death left around them a testament to the chaos they'd just endured. Eira winced as he laid her down gently, the softness of the linens a sharp contrast to the sharp, burning pain in her side.
"Caius," she began, her voice weak but urgent. "The door—someone could—"
"They wouldn't dare," he cut her off, his golden eyes blazing with an intensity that silenced her protests. "No one will set foot in this room without my permission."
He crouched beside the bed, his hands already working to pull away the torn fabric of her nightgown. She stiffened, her hand darting down to stop him. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your life," he said flatly, his tone brooking no argument. "Your wound needs to be healed before you lose any more blood."
Eira's cheeks flushed, her fingers tightening on the hem of her gown. "You can't—you can't just—someone could walk in—"
"They won't," he said firmly, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. "And even if they did, I don't care. Your safety is all that matters."
The words left her momentarily stunned, her grip slackening as he carefully pulled the fabric away from her side. She shivered, though whether from the chill of the air or the heat of his touch, she couldn't say. His hand rested lightly on her hip, his touch steady and sure despite the tension radiating from him.
"This will hurt," he warned, his voice softer now, almost gentle. "But it's the only way."
Before she could protest further, he leaned down, his lips brushing against the edges of the wound. Eira gasped, her hands clutching the sheets as the first wave of pain tore through her. His tongue moved over the torn skin with deliberate precision, the contact sending searing heat radiating outward.
It burned. Like fire coursing through her veins, the pain was all-consuming, and she couldn't stop the cry that escaped her lips. Her vision blurred, tears springing to her eyes as she twisted beneath him, her instincts screaming to pull away. But Caius's hand held her firmly in place, his grip grounding her as he continued.
"Breathe," he murmured against her skin, his voice a low, steady rumble that somehow cut through the haze of pain. "Just breathe, Eira."
She tried, but it was too much. The searing pain overwhelmed her senses, blotting out everything else until there was nothing but the sound of her own ragged breaths and the unbearable heat tearing through her body. Her fingers clawed at the sheets, her body trembling violently as a faint, broken sob escaped her lips.
The world began to dim, the edges of her vision blurring into darkness. She heard Caius's voice again, softer this time, but the words were lost to her. Her body sagged against the bed, the fight draining from her as the pain pulled her under.
"I won't let anything happen to you." His voice followed her into the darkness, sharp and laced with worry, but she couldn't answer. The last thing she felt was the steady warmth of his hand on her hip, holding her in place, as her world went silent.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
JadedButCute
JadedButCute Wow, what a chaotic, high-stakes night for Eira and Caius. Writing this chapter was all about capturing the tension between raw survival and the deep bond they’re starting to build. Caius’s protectiveness really shines here—not just in his actions, but in the way he focuses completely on Eira, even when everything is falling apart around them. And Eira? She’s fighting through fear and injury, refusing to give up or leave his side. It’s messy, dangerous, and so them.
I also wanted to balance the action with a quieter emotional undercurrent—Caius’s fear of losing her and Eira realizing just how far he’s willing to go to protect her. That’s something they’re both going to have to confront in their own way as the story unfolds. What did you think? Did this chapter leave you as breathless as they were? Let me know!
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