I Chose His Ancestor Instead

The news spread fast. I had chosen a mate from the Blackwood clan. Everyone assumed it was the man I'd chased for centuries.I ran into Damon the next day at the monthly "Evernight Salon.""Well, well, Damon," his friend Marcus shouted as soon as he saw me, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Isn't that your eternal bride-to-be?"Every vampire turned. Their eyes flickered between me and Damon.It made sense. Damon was the heir apparent, the next Lord. His choice of a mate was always a hot topic.Damon heard him. He was in front of me in a flash, his crimson eyes burning with rage."Isolde!" His voice was a low growl, laced with venom. "How dare you? Did you really think you could force a bond with me?"His rage boiled over. His fingers clamped around my wrist like a vice, tight enough to shatter bone."Are you that desperate?" he snarled. "That you’d use a political alliance to trap me?"I’d seen that look in his eyes so many times before. But his disgust still sent a shard of pain throu

I shut down the mental link and collapsed into a chair.Now I understood. I knew why she was so bold this time.Delia had been reborn, too.In our last life, she at least pretended. She and Damon were never so obvious. Now, she didn't even care about appearances.I closed my eyes, forcing the memories of my past life to surface.After our bond, my blood prophecy paintings helped the Blackwood clan avoid disaster after disaster.Their power grew immensely. The clan elders called me the "Lucky Star of the Covenant."But those same elders helped Damon hide the truth—that he was in love with Delia.Only the legendary Monarch, Caspian, had sent an envoy to warn Damon.Not long after, I found the hidden memory crystal."Isolde."Mother's voice cut through my thoughts."Monarch Caspian has awakened from his slumber," she said, entering the room. My mother’s expression was a storm of warring emotions. "He was silent for only a moment about this blood bond… then he agreed."She left without ano

Every vampire in the hall shot to their feet, bowing as one.They bowed deeply.Even the proudest elders lowered their heads, their bodies trembling from the Monarch's sheer presence.I turned, holding my breath.Caspian Blackwood stood at the entrance to the hall.The legendary Monarch was more breathtaking than I could have imagined.He was carved from sin and shadow, a fallen god in the flesh.Long black hair fell loosely around his shoulders. His deep, dark-gold eyes seemed to see through everything.A powerful aura washed over the room like a tide.This was true power.Compared to him, Damon was nothing more than an arrogant child."Your Majesty!" Damon's voice trembled, sweat beading on his forehead. "I'll have Isolde move at once! She doesn't understand the rules!"Caspian ignored him.He walked straight to the throne.Every step radiated a king's authority. The dark energy flowing from him kept every vampire's head bowed.He sat, and the world shifted. The sheer, suffocating pr

"Show some respect!"I shoved Damon away, glaring at him. "I am your future Queen!"Damon's face twisted, his pride utterly crushed."Queen?" he snarled, his voice turning savage. "You think climbing into that old monster's bed makes you superior?""Have you forgotten? You used to beg me to love you!"He lunged, trying to bite my neck.His sharp fangs gleamed in the dark."Your eternal life belongs to me!" he roared. "So what if that relic woke up? I was the first to taste you! Your first blood was mine!"I fought back, but he was too strong.Just as he was about to sink his fangs into me, I fell back into a cold, solid embrace.Caspian.His black cloak enveloped me, a comforting, cold scent filling my senses."Get out."Two words, but they held the power to shatter worlds.Caspian waved his hand.Damon was sent flying backward, smashing through the stone angel in the center of the garden.Stone fragments flew. Dust billowed.Damon spat blood, but his eyes still burned with a crazed ha

The deep, resonant toll of the blood bond bells echoed through the castle halls.I wore a wedding gown woven from moonlight spider silk. I walked slowly toward the altar, bathed in holy light.Every step fell on a carpet of pure white rose petals.Caspian waited at the altar, dressed in a black formal suit, his eyes only for me."Today we bear witness as this couple forms an eternal blood bond," the High Priest announced.All the vampire nobles rose in respect.Caspian and I stood face to face, ready to exchange a drop of heart's blood.Just then."I object!"A thunderous voice exploded in the hall.Damon broke through the guards, sprinting to the front of the altar.He was covered in blood, his eyes burning with a mad fire."Isolde belongs to me!" he roared. "She was mine in our last life!" he shrieked, his voice cracking. "Two centuries, we were bound! That is our destiny, not this... this farce!"The guests stared in shock at the madman."We have shared memories! We were in love!" D