SPELLBOUND

On the other side of the door.

Leon already had his eyes turned red the moment the door closed behind him. He knew the emperor was planning on doing something unforgivable. Though a half-blood, he was still a vampire and a strong one at that. Thus, his hearing was not impaired at all and was every bit as good if not better than the average vampire. And now that he had heard all the things emperor Lorcan had said through the doors, he could no longer stop himself from taking action.

He knew what was at stake and he understood why the princess was trying her very best not to make the emperor doubt them. However, Leon could never let this happen. Prince Gavriel had entrusted Her Ladyship's safety and well-being into his hands. Thus, allowing her blood to be drawn and taken as food for another vampire – and the emperor, no less – was definitely going against that order. Even though the emperor did swear to have just take only a sip of her blood, Leon knew that once he tasted the princess' blood, he would never be able to stop drinking until he drew every single drop from her body and will eventually end up killing her.

Prince Gavriel had told Leon before he left to never let her get wounded – not even a single scratch. And Leon very well knew the reason where that order stemmed from. Because the princess getting wounded would be the same as game over for the both of them. Just a small scratch and the emperor and every vampire here would all go crazy over the princess' scent!

Gritting his teeth, he saw the huge and powerful vampires who were guarding the emperor's door notice the change of color in his eyes and they walked over to him, prepared to drag him down or even to kill him if he does anything suspicious like barging inside the emperor's chambers.

Leon noticed the vampires' approach, but he calmly turned and knocked on the door when he suspected that the emperor was about to launch himself on the princess. He was hoping that the knock could at least do something, anything. But as expected, the emperor ignored his knock and Leon did not receive any response. However, Leon blatantly continued rapping on the heavy wooden door without care still hoping that it would serve as a distraction to deter the emperor from continuing on his deed.

"If you knock one more time, you're dead." The vampire behind him threatened. "A mere half-blood like you does not have any rights to disturb his majesty's –"

The vampire could not even finish his sentence because Leon had already sent both the big men flying. He had delivered a surprise punch to the face for each of them and he did not bother to reign in his strength. And in the blink of an eye, Leon pulled the door instead of pushing it and broke it completely as he was afraid that the princess might be right behind the door. 'I'm sorry Princess, but this is the only thing I could think of doing right now.' He uttered within himself as he flung the broken door carelessly behind him, not caring if it hit anyone. As he knew anyone who was there would be people who are on the emperor's side. Thus, it was only deserving if they did get knocked down.

As he moved, he was already planning to snatch the princess away and escape the castle immediately before Lorcan could sink his dirty fangs into her neck and bite her. But when he finally stepped into the emperor's chambers, his eyes were greeted with a surprising sight. To his utmost surprise, there was a long and ugly slash running across the emperor's face – from his temple to his chin – with the princess on the opposite side, slightly crouched. In her hand, a beautiful but wicked looking dagger was tightly clutched in her hand.

"You little conniving bitch!!!" the emperor roared. "How dare a mere human like you do this to me!!! I'm going to kill you!!!"

Leon jumped forward and swiftly grabbed Evie and the next thing Evie knew, they were being pursued as though they were wanted criminals. The imperial army came after them and Leon slashed wildly and mercilessly at the unfortunate vampires who tried to block their path.

Evie only knew that they were being chased but she could not see anything clearly. She was being hauled around like a sack of potatoes over Leon's shoulder as he leapt, ran, and fought against their pursuers. The sudden turn of events was so abrupt that Evie could hardly process everything that was going on. Oh God. What was going to happen now? Would everything she worked so hard and planned for going to crumble to pieces now? More importantly, how are they going to survive this?

Evie lifted her head and looked back to where they had been fleeing from. What she saw made her heart nearly stop. There were too many soldiers who are now chasing after them. She could not even estimate the numbers that were coming at them – it was that many. How could they escape this predicament that they have landed themselves in?

Her thoughts were disrupted at the sound of something falling and crushing. When she turned to look at the source of the loud noise, she saw the great chandelier that was hanging from the ceiling of the grand hall they were running across come crashing down on many pursuing vampires and blocked up the grand staircase. It appeared that Leon had found the opportunity to slash at all the chandeliers they passed by. This had caused the vampires who were chasing them to fall a little farther back from where they are.

In no time, they both arrived inside Evie's chambers and Leon was already hurriedly wrapping her up in her thick travelling cloak.

"I'm sorry princess, but we don't have any other choice but to escape this city." Leon said before he pulled her hood down. However, this time he did not throw her over his shoulder as he did before. Evie did not know this, but Leon was told that the princess could be pregnant with the precious heir. So, he was trying his very best to be gentle in his handling of her person. He was so conscientious of this matter even though they were in this situation where they could hardly afford to breathe. Evie spied her bow and arrows lying on the chair nearby and ran over quickly to grab them before Leon made her sit on his strong arm and hold onto his neck when the door was smashed open. There also already vampires swarming outside the windows.

Evie heard Leon curse quite colourfully and she could not help but flash a wry smile quickly. She did not expect the proper and usually silent Leon to be such a sailor in this aspect.

"Get ready, Princess. And please don't get wounded or else..

." Leon whispered as he pulled down Evie's hood even further.

In the next instant, Evie heard another crushing noise and the sounds of sword slashing against flesh. Then there was that feeling of them being suspended in air as Leon jumped from the castle's window.