~Serah POV~
The river roared louder, foam spraying against my face and the boat rocked so hard that I thought it would splinter. On both banks, red-eyed hounds kept pace, their snarls rattling my bones and torches flickered behind them.... hunters shouting.
"Alive, don't kill her, Lord Veylen wants the child..." My father's voice again cold and commanding.
Tristan shoved the oar deep into the water, straining against the current his jaw was tight, and eyes darting from the rapids to the shadows. "Hold on, we've got one chance through this gorge if you let go, you die."
I gripped the boat's edge, knuckles white and my wound burned, hot and wet. The smell of my own blood filled the air this made Tristan's head snapped toward me for a split second, eyes flashing red.
My stomach twisted. "You're... hungry" I whispered.
"I'm not!" His voice was sharp, controlled, but the veins in his neck stood out. "Don't distract me."
"You're trembling."
"Because I'm trying not to tear into your throat, Serah." His snarl came low, guttural.
I flinched for a heartbeat, I almost wished he would at least then I'd stop thinking about my father, Jethro, and Lydia who smirk when she took everything from me.
A spray of arrows hissed over the water as one lodged in the side of the boat. I yelped and ducked, Tristan swung an oar like a weapon, batting away another. "Stay down!"
"No, I can help." I grabbed a loose plank, ready to throw it at the shadows swarming the bank.
Tristan snapped his head at me. "Are you insane?! Sit down before you capsize us."
"I'm not going to just sit like some useless doll!"
"You'll kill us both if you keep thrashing...."
The boat jolted as my movement tipped it sideways and water rushed in Tristan cursed, lunging to steady it. His hair clung wet to his face, fangs flashing as his control frayed. "Do you want to drown? Is that what you want? huh!"
My chest heaved. "I want to fight back I won't just run forever...."
"Then learn when to pick your battles Serah!" His roar made the boat vibrate. "This is not the right moment for reckless decisions."
Before I could answer, a hound launched from the bank, its body hitting the boat with a sickening crack. I screamed as claws scraped the wood Tristan stabbed the oar straight through its chest, shoving it back into the water then the river turned red.
The scent of blood exploded in the air which made Tristan froze, nostrils flaring and his pupils dilated, sharp and hungry. He looked at me... at the blood soaking my dress, his tongue flicked against his fang before he ripped his gaze away.
"Tristan—"
"Don't," His voice broke on the edge of control. "Don't say my name right now."
I stared at him, my protector and my almost executioner, he was fighting himself harder than he fought the hounds.
The boat lunged forward, current dragging us faster, rocks jutted like knives and Tristan barked, "Left...lean left now!"
I froze, panicked, leaning the wrong way the boat slammed into stone, spinning sideways. Water gushed in and we both nearly toppled.
Tristan grabbed me by the waist, hauling me against him. His voice was a furious hiss in my ear. "You'll get us killed, Serah! For once in your life, trust someone who's not trying to ruin you."
My eyes burned. "You think it's so easy after everything? After my father sells me, after Jethro casts me out, and Lydia laughs in my face..."
"I am not like them! We almost sink because of you." His face was inches from mine, eyes glowing, breath hot with hunger and rage. "I'm the only one between you and the grave right now so decide, do you want to live or not?"
My chest rose and fell against his for the first time, I couldn't tell if I wanted to slap him or kiss him.
"I... want to live." My whisper cracked.
"Then stop tearing yourself apart long enough for me to keep you alive." His voice dropped, low. "Or I won't just lose control to the river, I'll lose it to you"
His meaning slammed into my blood and my heart stumbled.
Before I could reply, the boat pitched into the rapids and we shot forward like an arrow. White foam swallowed us I screamed as icy water drenched my body the river spit us out like broken branches, my body ached from every collision with the rocks, but Tristan dragged me onto the muddy bank, his chest heaving, his crimson eyes glowing I coughed water, gasping, while the world spun around me.
"Get up, Serah," Tristan's voice was harsh, guttural, the hunger in him unmistakable. "They're coming."
I clutched my stomach, heavy beneath my drenched gown. "I can't—"
"You can," he snapped, hauling me upright his grip on my arm was fierce, shadows curling at his shoulders like wings ready to strike.
I should have listened and followed his command but the glow of torches flickered through the trees, familiar voices cutting through the night. My father's men.
"They're here," I whispered. "My father's soldiers, if I speak to him or I beg... he'll let us go."
Tristan's face darkened, fangs glinting. "What? Are you out of your mind? The father that rejected you, or have you forgotten these men also work for Jethro? What is wrong with you!"
But stubbornness had already taken root in my chest because I thought they might pity me after all this stressed. I shoved away from Tristan's grasp, stumbling toward the trees. "He's my father Tristan, no matter what I knew he still got soft spot for me and won't let them hurt me."
The torches broke through, the ring of steel surrounding us. Crossbows rose, silver bolts aimed.
"Lady Serah," one of them said, voice cold. "lord Jethro demands your return, come quietly and stop running."
"Stay back," Tristan growled, shadows thickening at his heels. "The first bolt you loose will be your last."