**Chapter 13 — Leaving Blackthorn Reach**
The next day passed slowly inside the small stone room.
Liora spent most of the time sitting on the bed, too nervous to relax. Every time she heard footsteps in the hallway or voices outside the window, her heart jumped. She kept imagining Lady Nyxara returning with more demons to take her away.
Cairis barely moved. He stood by the window for long periods, watching the outpost below, or sat in the chair sharpening his claws against the stone wall. The sound made Liora's skin crawl.
As the sun began to set, Cairis finally spoke.
"Get ready," he said. "We leave as soon as it is fully dark. Pack everything. We will not come back here."
Liora stood up quickly, her hands shaking as she gathered her small bag. "Are we going to sneak out? Or will we have to fight?"
Cairis looked at her with cold eyes. "We will try to leave quietly. But Nyxara is not stupid. She will have people watching the gates. If they try to stop us, we fight. And you will not freeze this time. Understand?"
Liora nodded fast. "I understand. I'll try to help with my shadow magic. Just… please stay close to me. I don't want to be separated in the dark."
Cairis walked over and stopped right in front of her. "You will stay close because I say so. Not because I am being kind. If you slow me down or panic, I will carry you like a sack. Do not make me do that."
Liora swallowed hard. "I won't panic. I promise. I'm just scared of what will happen when we step outside this room."
Cairis gave a short, cold laugh. "Good. Stay scared. It might keep you alive tonight."
They waited until the sky turned completely black. Cairis opened the door quietly and looked down the hallway. It was empty.
"Come," he ordered.
Liora followed him closely, her bag slung over her shoulder. They moved down the stone stairs and through the main hall. A few demons glanced at them, but no one spoke. The air felt thick with tension.
Just as they reached the main gate, Lady Nyxara stepped out from the shadows. Four armed demon guards stood behind her.
"Leaving so soon, Prince Cairis?" Nyxara asked with a sweet but dangerous smile. "Without saying goodbye? That hurts my feelings."
Cairis stopped. He pushed Liora slightly behind him. "We are leaving. Open the gate."
Nyxara tilted her head. "I cannot do that. Not yet. You are still weak from the bond. My offer still stands. Let me use the witch for one ritual. I will give you supplies, warriors, and a safe path out of here. You could reclaim your court in weeks instead of years."
Liora's heart pounded with fear. She grabbed the back of Cairis's cloak without thinking. "Please… don't let her take me."
Cairis's voice turned low and deadly. "I already gave you my answer, Nyxara. The witch is not for trade. Open the gate or I will open it myself with your blood."
Nyxara's smile faded. "You would risk everything for one mortal girl? She is nothing. Weak. Scared. She will only slow you down."
"She is mine," Cairis growled. "That is all that matters."
One of the guards stepped forward, raising his axe. "The lady gave you a generous offer. You should take it."
Cairis moved faster than Liora could blink. He slashed across the guard's chest with his claws. Black blood sprayed across the ground. The guard screamed and fell.
Chaos broke out.
Nyxara shouted, "Take the witch alive!"
Two guards rushed toward Liora. She backed away, terror flooding her body.
"I don't want to fight!" she cried.
Cairis roared and slammed into the guards. He tore through one with brutal strength, ripping his arm off in a spray of blood. The second guard swung his sword, but Cairis caught the blade with his claws and headbutted him, breaking his nose.
"Use your magic!" Cairis shouted at Liora. "Now!"
Liora raised her shaking hands. Shadow threads burst from her fingers and wrapped around the legs of the remaining guard. The darkness tightened, making him stumble.
Cairis finished him with one vicious slash across the throat.
Nyxara watched with narrowed eyes. "Impressive. The bond is making her stronger already. But you are still outnumbered, Cairis."
More demons were starting to gather near the gate, drawn by the noise.
Cairis grabbed Liora's wrist and pulled her toward the gate. "Open it!" he roared at the two terrified gate guards.
The guards looked at Nyxara, then at the blood on Cairis's claws, and quickly opened the heavy iron gate.
Cairis dragged Liora through the opening. "Run!"
They sprinted into the dark forest. Behind them, Nyxara's voice echoed.
"This is not over, Prince! I will see that witch again!"
Liora ran as fast as she could, her breath coming in short gasps. Branches scratched her arms and face. "They're going to chase us, aren't they?"
"Yes," Cairis said, still holding her wrist tightly. "Nyxara does not give up easily. We need to reach the deeper woods before they organize a proper hunt."
They ran for a long time. When they finally slowed down, Liora was panting hard. Her legs felt like they would give out.
Cairis stopped and looked back. The outpost lights were far behind them now.
"You did better than last time," he said. "Your shadow magic actually helped."
Liora leaned against a tree, trying to catch her breath. "I was so scared. I thought they were going to take me. Thank you for protecting me again."
Cairis turned to her. His face was still hard. "Do not thank me. I protected what is mine. But you are learning. Slowly. That is good."
He looked around the dark forest. "We keep moving north tonight. No resting until we are far from this place. Nyxara may send trackers."
Liora nodded, still shaking from the fight. "Okay. I'll keep up. Just… don't let go of my hand. Please."
Cairis looked down at her small hand, then took it in his larger, clawed one. His grip was firm but not crushing.
"I will not let go," he said in a low voice. "Not until I decide what to do with you."
They continued walking deeper into the dark forest.
Liora was exhausted, terrified, and sore, but she was still alive.
And for now, that was enough.
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