THE BLOOD MOON CURSE

CHAPTER 4

CLAIRE FRASER

The night is almost here, and that means we must be as far from the castle as possible to avoid another encounter with the guards.

Steve stops the horse near a lake and helps me down. I look around, seeing a field of flowers, and step closer before picking a yellow one and smelling it.

I smile and turn, seeing Steve standing still, watching me with a confused expression.

I glance at the sky, noticing that night is approaching and it won’t be safe for us.

“Are we staying here tonight?”

“Yes.”

“But we’re exposed...”

“Yes, but we’ll check first to see if any of them are coming this way.”

I start helping Steve build the improvised roof of a shelter made with tree leaves. I watch as he walks towards the lake, observing him closely.

I sit on the ground, watching Steve return minutes later with two fish, surprising me with his skills.

“Well, we have our dinner now.”

I nod, walking towards the lake, watching him light a fire.

“I’m going to wash myself in the river...”

The water is cool, and I close my eyes as I place my hands in it.

I turn back to see Steve busy with the fish, and I wonder in my mind what he must have done to be the king’s prisoner. Then I remember when he said he tried to kill him.

Steve’s golden eyes lock onto me, and I stop breathing for a second as I hear the sound of thunder cutting through the sky.

I rush back to him, watching our fish roasting, and then curiosity about him takes over.

“You’ve never transformed into your werewolf form before?”, I ask, and he doesn’t look at me.

He hands me the fish, and I start eating while sitting beside him.

“No, never. But I’ll be able to when the vampires are dead...”

“Do you have a family?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Because we’re together now, and I’m trying to get to know you better.”

Steve sighs, as if he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“Yes, there was someone very important to me. I loved her more than anything.”

“What happened to her?”

Steve tenses up, clenching his fists tightly.

“She was killed by vampires while I was away. I couldn’t save her.”

“I’m so sorry...”

He says nothing else, and after finishing my fish, I lie down, listening to the rain falling around us.

I blink, not feeling safe enough to sleep, even with him here, as exhaustion takes over my body.

“Steve?”

“What?”

“Will you still be here when I wake up?”, I whisper, watching as he takes the flower I picked earlier and places it behind my ear.

“Yes, I’ll still be here. Sleep, Claire.”

And I do.

I wake up startled, feeling my heart pounding in my chest after dreaming about my father’s death.

I wipe the tears from my eyes before getting up and looking around, seeing that the rain has stopped, but Steve is nowhere in sight.

His sword is still here, which means he can’t have gone too far, but I don’t like being alone.

I open my mouth to call his name, and then I hear the sound of water moving.

I turn, blinking in surprise as I see Steve emerging from the lake after diving in.

My heart starts beating even faster as he steps out of the water, completely naked.

I shouldn’t be looking at him like this, but it’s too late for that.

I watch as the water droplets slide down his golden skin. He shakes his head, drying his hair with his hands, and then his voice says:

“Are you enjoying the view, Claire?”

I feel my face flush completely red as Steve walks toward me, while I remain frozen in place.

“You’re... naked...”, I whisper in a low voice, and he stops in front of me, still wet.

I lift my head due to our height difference, and his golden pupils seem to glow as he looks at me.

Steve raises a hand and touches my face, leaving me confused.

I focus on his lips for some reason.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s something on your face...”, he whispers, touching my cheek, and then he moves closer to me.

I step back, feeling my back hit the tree behind me.

His face moves dangerously close to mine, and then he whispers in my ear:

“Aren’t you afraid of beasts, Claire?”

I close my eyes, my whole body trembling as I feel his breath against my skin.

“I’m not afraid of you...”, I answer, opening my eyes and meeting his.

Steve studies me for a moment, then I feel his hand wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

“Girls like you should run from me...”

“I’m not like other girls...”

He smiles wider.

“Oh, I know. I don’t know any other girl who managed to escape the king.”

My hand lifts, and I feel the warmth of his chest against my palm.

“Don’t move...”, he whispers, and I obey.

I close my eyes as I feel his lips against mine again, but this time, it’s different.

It’s slower and perfect.

My hands find his neck, pulling him even closer as he growls against my mouth.

I’m kissing a werewolf.

That phrase keeps repeating in my mind over and over, and then he slowly pulls away.

I open my eyes, and he points towards the road ahead.

“We should go now...”

I nod, watching him get dressed.

Steve finds some apples in the trees and hands them to me as we ride together again.

“Where are we going exactly?”

“To a safe place. We need to hide you from the king until we find out more about what your blood can do.”

“And who can help with that?”

“An old witch.”, he replies, riding faster as my hands hold onto him.

I widen my eyes, looking at him in confusion.

“A witch? I thought the king had forbidden all magic.”

Steve glances over his shoulder at me.

“Yes, he has, but I know someone who has a lot of knowledge about legends.”

“How many days of travel?”, I ask, and he sighs.

“Are you already getting bored with my noble company? That hurts, Claire...”, he teases, and I hit his shoulder.

I don’t know Steve completely yet, but he makes me smile, even though my heart is still broken over my father’s death.

“We’re still far away; maybe two more days if we hurry...”

I look at the horizon ahead.

I’ve never left the village before, and all of this feels new to me.

The sun, after yesterday’s rain, becomes our greatest ally against the vampires still hunting us.

We ride nonstop all day, and I feel my body growing tired, realizing I’m almost asleep with my head resting against Steve’s back.

“We’ll stop somewhere safe...”

I open my eyes as the sun disappears, and fear creeps back in.

I glance around, realizing we’re near another village I don’t recognize.

“Don’t worry, they won’t recognize us...”

We dismount the horse and head toward a tavern where people are drinking and working before the curfew.

Steve holds my hand, and I hide my face again with the hood of my cloak.

We sit at the bar, and I watch as Steve takes out some silver coins from his pocket, reminding me that I spent all my money to save him.

“Two mugs of beer, please.”

I widen my eyes, shaking my head.

“I’ve never drunk before!”, I protest, and he smirks, making me blush.

“Well, I’m honored that you’re sharing your first time with me, Claire...”

I bite my lip, feeling more embarrassed under his gaze.

He pays for two plates of food, and after the first and only beer, I feel a little freer.

Fortunately, no one recognizes us, but the tavern owner warns that guards search for two fugitives at night and advises us to stay inside.

Steve pays for the only available room, and as the door opens before me, I see there’s only one bed. He teases me again.

“I hope you can keep your hands off me tonight, Claire.”

There’s a small space where I wash myself while Steve cleans his sword, sitting on the bed.

He hands me clean clothes, saying he got them from the tavern owner.

I change and then lie down, hearing him do the same beside me.

I sigh as he blows out the candles, plunging the room into darkness, but I can’t sleep easily after our kiss.

I turn my head, barely seeing his golden eyes in the dark.

“Are you going to stare at me all night? I didn’t know you found me so attractive, Claire...”, he whispers, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Why are you like this?”, I ask, and he looks at me.

“Like what? Attractive?”

I smile more.

“Funny. We’re running from vampires trying to kill us, and you still manage to have some weird sense of humor.”

“Life made me this way...”

I stop smiling, remembering the scars on his back.

“How did you learn to control pain so well?”, I ask in a soft voice, and he sighs.

“You can suffer and let pain consume you, or you can live with it. I chose the second option.”

I stay awake for a few more minutes, thinking about that, then turn my back to him.

“Good night, Steve...”

“Good night, human...”

I am dreaming, but not an ordinary dream.

This time it's different, and when I open my eyes, I am inside a luxurious place, and I recognize it as the castle.

I look around, and then I look at myself, seeing that I am no longer wearing my dirty and old clothes. My body is covered by a beautiful red dress.

"You look stunning..."

I turn quickly, seeing the king walking toward me, his crown shining on his head.

"Your Majesty...", I bow before him, feeling his fingers touch my face.

His red eyes roam over every part of me, and then I feel his hand on mine.

"Dance with me..."

I have no control over myself, and it feels strange.

I stop breathing when I feel his hand wrap around my waist and pull me close to his body.

"What do you want?"

He smiles without showing his teeth as we start dancing together through the castle.

He spins me twice before finally answering.

"What I want involves you. I want the blood that runs in your veins...", he whispers, bending me backward, his mouth very close to my neck.

I close my eyes, feeling his lips against my skin.

"I want you to be mine, completely mine..."

I open my eyes, meeting his red pupils.

"We will be much stronger if we are together..."

"What?"

"No matter how much you run, it will be you and me until eternity..."

He holds my neck before revealing his sharp teeth.

"I will find you..."