Chapter 2

Luca's massive frame stiffened.

A flash of shock crossed his deep scarlet eyes. His frown deepened.

Mia froze, completely forgetting to squeeze out more tears.

I pulled out a silk handkerchief.

I casually wiped away the silver burns on my fingertips and dropped to my knees.

I kept my head down, blinking hard to stop the tears from falling.

Without even casting a shield spell, I used my bare hands to pick up the sharp, silver-soaked glass. I tossed it into an obsidian waste bin.

A shard sliced my palm. Beads of crimson blood rolled down, but I didn't even flinch.

When I was done, I stood up and shot Luca a glance.

"I ruined my dress. I'm going to my room to clean up."

I turned around, keeping my spine perfectly straight. I headed for the stairs down to the crypt.

Luca's eyes burned into my back the entire way.

I pushed open the heavy stone door of my tomb and magically locked it behind me.

I slid down the door to the floor. Hiding in the dark, I finally let the silent tears stream down my face.

I just never thought that ten years of my life and a blood bond would end in such humiliation.

Just then, the obsidian scrying stone on my stone bed pulsed. It was a message from my older brother, Gabriel.

"I will make the Thorne clan pay back everything they owe you with blood and fire."

I stared at the glowing runes, my eyes burning.

Suddenly, a suffocating, terrifying pressure crushed the room.

The ancient locking spell silently shattered. The heavy door slowly swung open.

In the darkness of the doorway, swirling black mist formed into Luca's cold silhouette.

His sharp eyes locked onto the glowing stone in my hand.

He closed the distance in long strides and snatched it away.

Thank god, the runes vanished the second he touched it.

He didn't even bother to ask. He just crushed it and let the dust fall onto the cold stone floor.

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up.

"Drop the pity act, Elara." His voice was low and calculating. "Trying to play new games?"

I met his eyes, my tone flat.

"Haven't you always complained that I was too clingy? You told me to be more independent."

"I gave her the collar and the daylight ring. Isn't that what you wanted? Are you happy now?"

A dark, unreadable emotion flashed in Luca's eyes.

He let go of my chin. His large hand suddenly gripped my lower back. He slammed me hard against the wall.

His cloak smelled of the intoxicating sweetness of high-tier blood. It mixed with Mia's nauseating rose perfume.

The combination made my stomach turn. I just wanted to get away.

He leaned in. His cold lips brushed my earlobe as he whispered in a low, husky voice:

"Elara, I know you felt wronged tonight."

"But Mia's brother was executed by hunters to get me intel. I owe her. I have to protect her."

"As long as you behave, no one will take your place as Consort. You will always be... the special one."

He made it sound like charity. It was an arrogant, patronizing promise.

He fully believed I would beg like a dog for this tiny scrap of his favor.

A frantic knock interrupted us.

Mia's weak voice drifted in from the hall. "Luca, my veins are burning again... Can you come see me?"

The hand gripping my waist instantly let go.

He didn't hesitate for a second. He turned and walked away.

When his hand hit the doorknob, he paused and looked back.

"There's a high-stakes negotiation with the wolves tomorrow night. I'm taking Mia to gain some experience. Give her your Blood-forged bracelet. Fledglings are unstable. It’ll soothe her blood-thirst."

I almost thought I misheard him.

The Blood-forged bracelet.

Years ago, I took a silver bullet for him during an attack by a rival clan. I bled for days and barely survived.

To comfort me, he forged that bracelet. He fed it with blood from his own heart for seven days and seven nights before putting it on my wrist himself.

He said it meant he loved me. It was meant to protect me if I ever got hurt again—it would alert him instantly so he could rush to my side.

I treasured it more than my own life. I didn't even take it off to sleep.

Once, a new thrall misplaced it. I thought I lost it and cried hysterically.

Luca had pulled me onto his lap, kissed me, and laughed. He called me "my poor little stray."

"No one touches what's yours," he had said.