Chapter fourteen: Releasing

Alina’s POV

My eyes fluttered open, settling on the familiar ceiling of the room I’d been given. The sunlight spilling through the window told me it was already late—well past noon. Groaning, I sat up and dragged myself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face as flashes of last night came back in pieces. The cave. The venom. And yet... I was still alive.

How?

I left the room and padded downstairs. The five people traveling with us were already gathered around a table, the quiet buzz of conversation filling the space.

“And here comes our sleeping beauty,” one of the guys—red-haired and grinning—called out, drawing everyone's attention. They all turned and gave me warm, surprisingly friendly smiles.

“How about we finally do introductions?” the redhead continued. “I’m Ryan. You already know Refeal. This is Xavier,” he said, nodding toward a guy with a slender build and striking purple eyes. “That’s Rory”—he gestured to the large, broad-shouldered one—“and this one here is Lucian.”

I nodded, committing their names to memory. It was easier now that they didn’t look like they wanted to kill me. Maybe getting bitten by a vampire and surviving had earned me some points—or maybe nearly dying for their boss did.

Ryan tilted his head at me. “Can I see it?”

“The mate mark?” I asked cautiously.

He nodded eagerly, but Xavier immediately cut in.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Ryan frowned. “Come on, I haven’t seen a mark like this before. Touching won’t hurt.”

Now that he mentioned it... I hadn’t seen one like it either. The mark curled over my collarbone in a wild, dark pattern—black and silver, like ink laced with starlight, alive with faint pulses that beat in sync with my heart. It looked like flames licking across my skin, elegant yet feral.

“You’re a lost cause,” Rory muttered, rolling his eyes.

“What? I’m curious!”

“Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” Xavier said, shaking his head as I gave Ryan a hesitant nod.

He stepped closer, tugging down the neckline of my dress just enough to see the mark clearly. I stiffened slightly at the closeness. It felt strange being this near to another vampire.

Then the front door creaked open.

Ryan froze, his hand dropping from my neck like he’d touched fire. We both turned.

Valerian stood in the doorway, cold eyes locked on Ryan as he strode toward us with silent menace.

“Daft,” Xavier muttered under his breath.

“I just remembered something important,” Ryan stammered, bolting from the room like his life depended on it.

I couldn’t look away from Valerian. The memory of last night slammed into me, heavy and hot. What did I do? Why couldn’t I remember it until now?

My face flushed. He didn’t say a word as he reached for my hand and tugged me outside. I didn’t resist. I couldn’t. My voice had vanished somewhere between the kitchen and the front door.

He helped me into the car, then slid behind the wheel and drove. Still, I didn’t ask where we were going. I just sat there, caught in the strange, silent energy between us.

We stopped in front of a café. I blinked at the sight.

“Huh?”

“I figured you’d be hungry,” he said, stepping out. “There wasn’t any food back home.”

I followed him inside. We sat near the large glass window, sunlight spilling across the table. The warm scent of baked bread and grilled meat hung in the air, making my stomach rumble—loudly.

The ground should just open up and swallow me whole. I groaned internally.

I think it was a cute rumble, Kaia chimed in, smug.

Traitor, I shot back. After what happened last night, the least she could’ve done was warn me. Instead, I was caught off guard and embarrassed.

I hadn’t really thought about food in days, not since our journey began. And now, faced with the smell of real food, my brain just... shut off.

I stared down at the menu:

Buttered rosemary steak with roasted potatoes

Creamy mushroom pasta with garlic bread

Grilled salmon with lemon sauce

Spiced chicken over herb rice

Sweet buns filled with honey cream

Iced peach tea, blood-cherry soda, or enchanted herbal wine

I ordered everything that sounded remotely edible. Only after the waiter left did I realize Valerian hadn’t spoken.

“Just water,” he said quietly when the waiter returned.

Of course. He was a vampire. He didn’t need food to survive. I almost felt bad for him—missing out on something as sacred as satisfying hunger. Though... if he ever got hungry enough, it wasn’t food he’d be craving.

The plates arrived, and I immediately dug in, no longer caring about manners. I’d always loved food. Always eaten with passion. This was no different.

When I finally looked up, Valerian was still nursing the same glass of water. Barely touched.

My gaze dropped to his lips. Heat flushed through me. Memories of last night—his mouth on my skin, his hands gripping my waist—hit like a fever. I couldn’t stop it. My thoughts spiraled. All the things he could do to me. All the ways he could make me beg. My body stirred, mind fogging, overtaken by want.

I could feel his eyes on me. He frowned, clearly aware.

My gaze flicked to a human man sitting nearby—his eyes locked on me, interest flaring.

If I can’t have Valerian… The thought crept in.

“Alina.” My name came low and sharp from across the table. It was the first time I’d heard him say it.

I hummed in response, dazed.

“You’re releasing your sex appeal,” he added, tone dark—but even that didn’t fully snap me out of it.

I glanced again at the man watching me, and I felt it: lust rolling off him in waves. Maybe he could give me what I wanted. What I couldn't ask Valerian to give

“If you don’t keep your sex appeal in check,” Valerian said lowly, “I’ll kill everyone in this room. Including the one you’re staring at.”

That did it.

The trance shattered like glass.