Chapter 1

Arce

I had to remind myself, yet again, why I was doing this. Not for the clan. Not for the fragile balance between species. No, I was doing this for me. For the satisfaction of knowing that when this was over, I would stand above them all.

The moment that arrogant Alpha chose me, he had dug his own grave with his own hands.

“Are you prepared?” my father asked, his gaze fixed on the crowd gathered before us. He didn’t bother to look at me, didn’t need to. His focus was on the hungry faces staring back at us, faces that made my stomach twist with disgust.

For all their centuries of existence, they resembled starving animals more than dignified immortals. Bloodlings, they said, were ruled by primal thirst. But watching these so-called elders, I wondered who the real monsters were.

Still, I couldn’t fault them entirely. Hunger had its many shapes, and I knew mine well. I had no desire for humans, no taste for their fragility. My thirst was different. Darker. More dangerous. I craved the blood of wolves. The thought of piercing a dagger through their chest had haunted me since I was old enough to name desire.

“I’ll bid Hades a visit for your safety,” my father said at last. His hand closed around the back of my neck, firm and commanding, pulling me just close enough for his words to burn against my skin. “Make them feel what real hell is.”

And then he let go.

I bowed, lips tugging into a smile he couldn’t see.

I climbed into the waiting carriage, every movement as practiced as the princess I was meant to be, graceful, composed, untouchable.

This wasn’t simply a matter of being owned by a dog. No vampire had ever set foot in their territory and lived to tell of it. Even the ones kept as pets never lasted more than a week. As far as I knew, I would be the first, if, of course, the Alpha decided to honor his end of the deal.

A year, I told myself. I just have to endure a year.

But the thought soured as quickly as it came. Endure what, exactly? The twisted games he would try to play? The things he might force on me? My jaw tightened. No. Whatever he imagined, I would not allow it. He would learn soon enough that I was no one’s toy.

I closed my eyes, but the darkness only drew me deeper into thought. How far we had fallen.

Once, vampires were said to be feared in the underworld, wealthy, indulgent. Now, that wealth meant nothing. Rich, yet still at the bottom of the food chain. The weakest among all who prowled the shadows. And the worst part? We didn’t care. Pride had rotted out of us long ago. All that remained was hunger, blood and fleeting pleasures.

The carriage jolted, then slowed. Outside, muffled voices and heavy steps shifted.

“We are here, Princess,” the servant said softly as the wheels came to a halt.

We had reached the meeting point. Beyond this line, no vampire had ever been allowed to step.

As I descended from the carriage, the servant gave me a slight nod before pulling away, the sound of hooves fading into the distance. From here on, it was enemy territory. I repeated that to myself, steadying each step as I approached the second carriage, the one prepared by my hosts.

The stench hit me before I could climb in. Dogs. They reeked of earth and pine. The scent of the forest clung to them like a curse, and the thought of breathing it in for an entire year made my stomach churn.

“Princess.”

A man stood by the door, smirk firmly in place as though it were stitched to his lips. “I am Orion, a trusted warrior of Alpha Ynovar.”

I arched a brow, my eyes narrowing in faint amusement. “Not even his Beta? How thoughtful of your Alpha to send me off with a guard dog. Clearly, I’m worth so very little as a pet.”

I scoffed softly and swept past him, ignoring the hand he extended to help me in. Touching him would have been worse than touching filth.

He slid in after me, and we sat facing one another, the tension thick as the carriage began to move.