Chapter 513

Alicia flushed, her demeanor suddenly fragile. She shook her head stubbornly, her voice barely a whisper. “I did not.”

Caden’s heart raced, its rhythm echoing in Alicia’s chest like a distant drumbeat. He didn't want to admit it, but the moment he saw Alicia in that private room, it felt as if his heart had been yanked down, awakening a fear he'd never known.

“You can’t pull surprises like this without asking me first. Terriland isn’t exactly safe for women,” Caden said, his voice firm, slightly rough, a lingering hoarseness from their earlier intimacy.

She nodded, murmuring a soft, “Got it.”

Once dressed, Caden handled the situation with the young girl. He gave her a small stack of cash. Following his instructions, she wrapped herself in a large towel, ruffled her hair, and gave herself a disheveled look, as if they’d just made love. He then ensured she got home safely with a bodyguard.

He returned to his hotel suite and took Alicia back. During the drive, Alicia’s curiosity overcame her. “Are you always this…cautious here?” she asked, glancing at him.

He gave a short, noncommittal grunt. “It keeps things…interesting.” Alicia didn’t quite understand, but she suspected she would, eventually.

In the middle of the night, she woke thirsty and disoriented. Quietly, she got up for water. Opening a cabinet, she was startled to find rows of knives and guns neatly lined up inside. After pouring herself a cup of water, she glanced at Caden. “Is the water safe to drink here?” she asked.

Caden’s mouth twisted into a teasing grin. “Careful. Drink too much, and you’ll get hooked.”

Startled, Alicia quickly set the glass down. “Then what should I drink? What do you usually go for?”

“Human blood,” he replied with a straight face. Alicia’s eyes widened in shock, but Caden couldn’t keep up the act, bursting into laughter. “Relax! It’s not that dramatic. You believe everything I say.”

A bit annoyed, she punched his arm lightly before defiantly taking a gulp of water. She leaned into him, their faces close, and they shared a kiss that reignited the spark between them.

“There’s a pack of condoms in the drawer,” Caden murmured, his eyes glinting. “Grab one and put it on.”

Blushing, Alicia reached into the drawer, fumbling for the pack, but her hand brushed against a smooth ceramic box instead. Curious, she opened it to find a fragrant powder inside. “What’s this? Some kind of makeup?”

Caden glanced over, amused. “It’s a drug.”

She froze. “You’re joking, right?”

Caden said nothing, simply watching her with an unreadable expression. Alicia’s hands trembled as she set the box down and reached for the condoms again. Her hands were unsteady. Grasping his shoulders tightly, she looked up, her whole body tense. “Caden.”

“Hm?” he responded lazily.