5

Isaac

The rules for choosing the new bride were clear. They cared about looks — face, body, posture. They cared about blood scent. And most of all, loyalty.

The first two tests were easy.

Almost too easy.

They lined us up in the courtyard, two nights before the blood moon. Blue flames flickered in silver chandeliers above us. We stood there while vampires watched us from a high balcony, silent and serious.

They looked at everything — our skin, how we stood, how we moved. The Devereux didn’t just want power. They wanted beauty too.

I stood tall, shoulders relaxed, chin up. I tried to look proud, but not full of myself. The blood I had taken made my skin glow a little, just enough to look more like them. A little smoother, a little more attractive.

Marcus was on the other side of the courtyard. His arms were crossed, and he was wearing that annoying smile he always had — part laugh, part insult. I glanced at him, then looked away like he didn’t matter. He didn’t like that.

“Medor Thornwell,” one of the older vampires said, calling me forward.

I stepped into the circle. They walked around me slowly, looking at me like I was a thing, not a person.

“Strong body,” one said behind me. “Good shoulders. Stands like a soldier.”

Another leaned forward, breathing in. “The scent… amazing. Sweet. Strong. You can smell it through the tonic.”

A few nodded. One looked up at Lucien, who was standing with Elias. “This one would be a strong match.”

I saw Marcus’s face twitch.

Good.

They waved me away, and I stepped back into the shadows, hiding how relieved I felt.

The real test wasn’t how I looked.

Or how I smelled.

It was how far I was willing to go.

⸻

They say betrayal hurts most when people expect it from you.

I stood at the edge of the courtyard again.

Lucien was in the middle, next to Elias and a guard I didn’t know. The guard was tall, pale, and had eyes like ice. The rest of us — the other contenders — were circled around them. Our footsteps echoed as we were led in, like animals waiting their turn.

“The third trial begins now,” Elias said. His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone heard it.

Lucien stayed quiet. He didn’t need to talk. His eyes moved across us like a blade. When he looked at me, I felt it in my spine.

“You’ve shown strength,” Elias said. “And control. But loyalty… that’s harder to find. And more important than any weapon.”

A heavy wooden door opened.

Guards walked in, pulling a group of humans with them. Five in total. They were tied up. Scared.

One girl was crying softly. A man next to her looked angry, but his legs were shaking.

Then I saw him.

Sebastian.

He was hurt. Bleeding a little. His collar was soaked. His lip was split. His hair was stuck to his forehead. He looked around until his eyes found mine.

My stomach dropped.

“Each of you will prove your loyalty,” Elias said. “You will protect the prince. Protect this house.”

That was it. No more explanation.

The cold-eyed guard stepped forward and stabbed a blade into the stone in front of us.

“The test is simple,” he said. “One of these people is a spy. You are to kill them. No questions. No doubt.”

A nervous sound passed through the group.

I didn’t move.

Sebastian looked straight at me. He didn’t need to speak. He knew.

“Step forward, Thornwell,” Lucien said.

I swallowed hard.

And stepped forward.

Everything felt unreal. Like a dream soaked in blood and moonlight.

A guard pulled Sebastian forward and pushed him down on his knees in front of me.

He breathed in sharply. But then he stilled. He kept his chin up. Met my eyes. Calm, the way he always was in danger.

Elias walked down slowly. Like a cat playing with its food.

“No hesitation,” he said softly. “Loyalty is shown in blood.”

My hand tightened around the dagger on my belt.

“He was caught near the wall,” Elias said. “Could be a spy. Could be worse. But that doesn’t matter, does it?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My mouth was dry.

“You say you want to protect the prince,” Elias went on. “Prove it.”

He pointed at Sebastian.

“Kill him.”

Silence.

No one moved. No one even breathed.

Just the wind.

Sebastian didn’t beg. Of course he didn’t.

He knew the game.

I stepped forward. My boots echoed on the stone.

Lucien didn’t move. He just watched, still as stone. But I could feel him staring through me — not just to see if I would do it, but how.

Was I scared? Was I eager?

I knelt in front of Sebastian, face to face.

He leaned in, whispering, “Don’t do anything stupid.”

I gave a weak smile. “Too late.”

I slowly reached for the dagger.

I pulled it out. Quietly. Carefully. The moonlight hit the blade.

Someone behind us chuckled. Probably Marcus.

I held the dagger between us, not raised.

“I’ll fix this,” I said under my breath.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “By killing me?”

I almost laughed. But I didn’t.

I stood. Held the blade high.

“I’ll do it,” I said loud. Calm.

Elias looked pleased. “Then do it.”

I looked at Sebastian one last time.

Then I raised the dagger high — so everyone could see.

The whole courtyard held its breath.

And I slammed the blade down.

Right into the ground beside Sebastian’s knee.

The sound rang out through the stone.

“No,” I said softly.

Gasps filled the air.

The crowd shifted. Shock rippled around us.