Chapter 1

Elena's POV

I was born the second daughter of the Valerie family.

In a family that measured everything by the value of a marriage alliance, a second daughter wasn't worthless — but wasn’t the first choice either.

Since I was a little child, my parents barely spared me a glance.

They brought me along to the social gatherings of the vampire nobility, where I was nothing more than a backdrop.

Not too dazzling or memorable.

Everything changed at the ball that year — the first time I saw James.

The second son of a noble vampire family, standing quietly beside his father and elder brother.

My parents told me he was the boy I had been promised to since the day I was born — that I should mind my manners and learn how to stand by his side.

He was still young then, but the cold, sharp lines of his features had already taken shape.

In that single moment, everything shifted. For the first time in my life, I wanted to fight for something. I wanted to be remembered.

His expression was distant. He gave me a polite, gentlemanly nod, but his gaze didn't linger on me for even a second.

I couldn't help looking up at him again. My heart was beating so fast it didn't feel real.

"Hello. I'm Elena."

In that moment, no one knew.

What rose up in my chest wasn't numbness or resistance anymore.

It was relief.

Relief that the man I'd been promised to was James — that he was someone I loved.

After that, I began moving in vampire circles more and more often, studying alongside James, living alongside him.

Before I had even come of age, I had grown used to that world's nights, used to the scrutinizing glances reserved for humans, used to standing at James's side.

He had always been quiet and almost never smiled.

But it didn't take me long to realize his silence was something he saved only for me.

All his patience, all his tenderness, all his attention — belonged to one person.

Vicky.

His childhood companion, a noble-born vampire like him.

From the moment Vicky was born, she had been at James's and his brother's side. She had been the one obsession of James’s life.

But just because he had been born two years after his brother, he had lost his place as the heir — and his chance to have Vicky as his own.

All Vicky had to do was stand there, and she had every ounce of James's attention, every shred of his favor.

I had stood beside him for years, and he had never once truly looked at me.

When I was younger, I didn't understand.

I thought I just wasn't good enough, so I threw myself into becoming better.

After I graduated from design school, I became an event planner, designing weddings and banquets for vampire aristocrats.

I bore witness to countless vows. I helped other people celebrate their grand love stories.

I came to know many powerful vampires, kept up a respectable network and a respectable career, took meticulous care of myself so that I would always look poised and beautiful.

But no matter what I did, I could never make James turn his head for me. Not once.

Every banquet we attended, I was the one on his arm. I was the one smoothing things over for him, but he was always looking at Vicky.

Even when Vicky was always his brother's dance partner.

I started to envy her.

I started praying when no one could hear — If, just once, James could look at me the way he looked at Vicky — even once — I would give anything.

That day came sooner than I expected.

At the engagement banquet for Vicky and James's brother, she wore a gown I had designed. She stood on the dais radiant, soaking in the applause and the blessings of the room.

And I sat below, watching James — his expression hollow, complicated.

"Don't be sad, James. I'll always be here for you."

I looked at him and said the words I had said a thousand times before, and got back the same hollow answer I always got.

"Mm."

He poured himself one glass of wine after another, quietly shrugging off the hand I rested on his shoulder.

I pretended not to notice. I rose from my seat with composure and went to check on the rose arrangements in the garden.

The thorns drew blood from my palm. I didn't feel a thing.

I told myself, over and over, that it was nothing. I was just about to give in to the tears when I heard familiar footsteps behind me.

Before I could turn around, someone caught me from behind.

The thick smell of wine washed over me, and a second later, James lowered his head and kissed me.

Every part of me went still. I didn't dare meet his eyes.

Even drunk out of his mind, his elegance and his bearing made him seem completely composed — and I had always been lost in him, helpless to resist.

His hand pressed against my waist. His voice was low and rough.

"Haven't you always loved me?"

My throat closed. I couldn't speak. I only heard him let out a soft laugh.

It was the first time I had ever heard him laugh because of me.

"We can try."

In that moment, I thought — finally, my love and wait had received a response.