Chapter 2

Evander stalked toward me, each step radiating the menace of an ancient vampire.

"You have a problem with what happened last night?" His voice was a low, magnetic rumble. It sounded less like a question and more like a verdict.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Fear washed over everything else. The memory of his hands around my neck, his red eyes burning with murderous rage as he accused me of killing Odette… it was seared into my mind.

I forced my own voice to stay level. "No, my Lord. Your affairs are not my concern." I took a step back, putting space between us. "I'm just the alchemist."

A slow, cruel smile played on his lips. "Is that so? Then tell me, why did you slip into my study after the festival, claiming to 'take care of me'?"

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You stayed for an hour, just... watching. You thought I was asleep when you stole that kiss, didn't you, little alchemist?"

My breath hitched.

Boom. My mind went blank.

The memory came rushing back. He was passed out on the sofa in his study.

I went in to cover him with a blanket. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating his face.

It was the first time I’d ever seen him with his guard down.

His eyelashes were long, casting soft shadows on his cheeks.

I watched him for a long, long time.

And then, in a moment of weakness, I leaned down and kissed the cold corner of his lips.

I thought he was asleep. I thought he’d never know.

"It was a mistake," I whispered, my voice trembling. "If I offended you, my Lord, please forgive me."

He stared at me for a long time.

So long I thought he was going to say something else.

Then he straightened up, his eyes sweeping over the lab I had built from nothing. His tone turned to ice.

"Linnea, remember your place. You are human."

He bit off each word, cold and sharp.

"Don't ever get ideas about the Lord of this coven again. I have bonded with Odette. She is my only mate. You will treat her as the lady of this house."

He walked to the window, turning his back to me.

"I'm giving her the grand wedding she deserves. One month from now, in the ancestral chapel."

Each word wasn't a needle. It was a stake, driving through the ghost of my heart.

The life I had sacrificed everything for—he was handing it to another on a platter.

Then, his gaze fell to my neck.

A dark red pendant hung there—the "Blood Locket." The night I saved him, he’d let a drop of his own blood fall into the black obsidian and placed it around my neck himself.

He said that with it, no vampire in the City of Eternal Night would dare touch a hair on my head.

In my last life, I treasured it more than life itself.

"Take it off," he said.

I looked up.

"Odette's new bond makes her unstable. A target for hunters. She needs the Lord's token of protection more than you do."

He said it so casually. As if my life meant nothing.

I fought back the ache in my chest.

Everything he had given me, he was now taking back, piece by piece.

He wouldn't even spare a drop of protection for the human life he supposedly valued.

I reached up and undid the clasp.

The locket fell into my palm, still warm from my skin.

Evander's pupils contracted. I could see his surprise.

He was waiting for the tears, wasn't he? Waiting for me to beg, to clutch at his sleeve and whimper, 'But you gave it to me, Evander, please don't take it away.' Just like the pathetic girl I used to be.

Too bad for him. That Linnea was dead and buried.

"Anything else, my Lord?" I asked, looking him straight in the eye.

He stared at me. For a long, long time.

"...No."

He dissolved into a black mist and vanished through the crack under the door.

The lab door slammed shut.

My legs gave out and I grabbed the workbench to steady myself.

I walked to the mirror and looked at my reflection. My neck was bare. I had no protection now. Without the locket, I was just a delicious meal to any other vampire.

He didn't care if I lived or died. And I didn't care about him anymore, either.

Back in my room, I pulled out a hidden communication crystal. It was a direct line to the Vampire High Council.

"This is Linnea, human alchemist of the House of Cavendish."

An ancient voice answered. "Miss Linnea. How may we be of service?"

"I am requesting to be released from the House of Cavendish."

There was a short silence. Then, the Elder’s voice returned, laced with interest. "And what do you offer in exchange?"

I took a deep breath.

"The exclusive patent for the perfect, second-generation synthetic blood formula."

It was my trump card. My only one. The formula would allow vampires to get near-human-blood-level nutrition without ever harming a human again.

"Done," the Elder said without hesitation. "We will issue a Writ of Severance within three days. You will be permitted to leave the family with your human memories intact."

"When does it take effect?"

"One month from today."

I ended the call and put the crystal away.

Good. One month. The day of their wedding would be the day of my freedom.