The hybrid nobody wanted

Chapter 11:The awakening

Darkness.

That's all there was at first.

Then sounds. Muffled. Distant.

Running. Breathing. Heartbeats.

My heartbeat? No. Someone else's.

Dorian.

I tried to open my eyes. Couldn't.

Tried to move. Couldn't.

But I could feel,being carried, bouncing with every step, arms wrapped around me tight.

He's carrying me. He's running.

The sounds grew clearer. Wolves howling behind us. Vampires shouting. Chaos.

Then nothing.

Just silence. And cold. And darkness.

I don't know how long I was unconscious.

Minutes? Hours?

When I finally opened my eyes, I was in a cave. Small. Dark. Damp.

And Dorian was beside me, pale as death, breathing hard.

"Raya." His voice was barely a whisper. "You're awake."

I tried to sit up. Pain shot through my head. I fell back with a groan.

"Don't move." His hand pressed my shoulder. "You've been out for hours."

I blinked at him. "The cliff. The King. Kael. How…how did we"

Dorian closed his eyes. Let out a long breath.

"When the King snapped his fingers, you collapsed. Just... dropped." His voice was rough. "The wolves and vampires were too busy fighting each other to notice at first. I grabbed you and ran."

"Ran where?"

"Into the forest. Down the cliffside. There's a path,barely that leads to the bottom. I found it while they were killing each other."

I stared at him. "You carried me down a cliff?"

"You're not heavy."

"Dorian"

"I wasn't going to leave you." His eyes met mine. "I don't care if the King kills me. I don't care if Kael hunts me. I wasn't leaving you there."

Something cracked inside my chest.

"But you were dying," I whispered. "You could barely stand."

"I found strength."

I looked at him. Really looked. His face was pale. Dark circles under his eyes. His hands shook slightly. But he was here. Alive. With me.

"How far did you carry me?"

"Miles. I don't know. I just kept moving." He looked away. "Found this cave as the sun came up. Hid us inside."

I reached out. Touched his face.

He flinched. Then leaned into my palm.

"You saved me," I whispered.

"You saved me first."

The bond pulsed between us. Warm. Steady. Alive.

I pulled him down and kissed him.

It was soft at first. Gentle. Then deeper. Desperate.

Three hundred years of loneliness poured into that kiss. Years of running. Years of hiding. Years of being alone.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both gasping.

"I've waited three hundred years to feel something," he whispered against my lips. "You're worth every second."

I laughed. Broken. Happy. Terrified.

"We're going to die, aren't we?"

"Probably." He almost smiled. "But not today."

I kissed him again.

A growl echoed through the cave.

We froze.

Dorian pulled me behind him. Stared at the entrance.

Shadows moved outside.

Then Kael stepped inside. Alone.

His eyes found us. Found Dorian's hand in mine. Something flickered in his face ,surprise, then cold amusement.

"So," he said quietly. "The hybrid and the vampire. Together." He stepped closer. "The King will be disappointed."

I raised my dagger. "Stay back."

Kael stopped. Looked at me. Really looked.

"You chose him." His voice was flat. "Over your own kind. Over power. Over survival."

"I chose what matters."

"Love?" Kael laughed. Low and bitter. "Love is weakness. Your mother learned that. She died for it."

My blood ran cold. "Don't talk about her."

"She was strong once." Kael's eyes burned. "Then she met your father. Chose him over her pack. Over me." He stepped closer. "And where did that get her? Dead. Buried. Forgotten."

I gripped my dagger tighter. "You don't know anything."

"I know she'd be ashamed of you." His voice cut deep. "Dying for a vampire who probably killed her."

I froze.

Dorian went rigid beside me.

Kael smiled. "He didn't tell you? Interesting." He looked at Dorian. "Tell her, vampire. Tell her about the night her father died."

Dorian's hand tightened on mine. Through the bond, I felt it,guilt, shame, terror.

"What is he talking about?" I whispered.

Dorian didn't answer.

Couldn't.

Kael laughed. "I'll leave you to that conversation." He stepped back toward the entrance. "The King knows where you are. He's coming. You have maybe an hour." His eyes met mine. "Use it wisely."

He disappeared into the darkness.

I stood there, shaking. Dorian's hand in mine. His secret hanging between us.

"Dorian." My voice was cold. "What did he mean?"

He looked at me. Pain in his eyes. Fear.

"Raya..."

"Tell me."

He opened his mouth.

And I waited for the truth that would break us.