Chapter 3

But now, he casually told me to hand this priceless token over to another woman.

My nails dug into my palms so hard I almost drew blood.

I met Luca's cold, entitled gaze. Finally, I gave a slow nod.

"Fine. I'll send a thrall with it in the morning."

Luca's eyes flickered. He gave me one last, deep look before turning away.

His soft, soothing whispers drifted down the hall, followed by the heavy click of the master bedroom's stone door shutting.

Numb, I turned to a stone sarcophagus. I pulled out an old parchment calendar.

I took a quill dipped in dead-blood and drew a huge red 'X' over today's full moon.

Two days left until my brother came for me.

I stripped off my ruined dress and stepped into the scalding bath.

The hot water washed over my exhausted body.

Through the rising bloody steam, I stared at my own dead-pale reflection in the mirror.

Luca, you saved me from a hunter raid ten years ago. Let's say I owed you my life.

For a decade, I took silver bullets for you. I cleaned up your traitors and made Thorne Castle an impenetrable fortress.

As of today, that blood debt is fully paid.

The next morning, I did as Luca asked. I had a thrall deliver the Blood-forged bracelet to Mia's suite.

Mia left her double doors wide open, practically showing off.

As I walked down the hall, I saw her sitting at the vanity. She was using a small silver file to scratch the magic runes right off the bracelet.

"This junk is so tacky. I should tell Luca to melt it down into a diamond necklace. Something that actually suits me," Mia whined to her thrall.

The thrall nervously glanced at me in the doorway, too terrified to breathe.

I didn't even break my stride. Blank-faced, I headed down to the alchemy lab in the basement.

Whenever it rained, the old silver wound on Luca's chest ached like hell.

For ten years, I had brewed his healing potion myself. I purified it with my own blood.

I stood in front of the bubbling cauldron, quietly watching the dark brown liquid simmer.

This would be the last time.

I poured the thick potion into a crystal vial, set it on a tray, and walked to Luca's study.

The heavy double doors were slightly ajar. I could hear him talking to Marco, the clan advisor.

Just as I raised my hand to knock, Marco's voice rang out clearly.

"My Lord, you've gone too far this time. The Consort took a silver bullet for you. Aren't you afraid of completely breaking her? You know how addicted she is to your blood."

My hand froze in midair. Luca's voice was as cold as ice.

"If she leaves this castle, who's going to feed her? I made her immortal. Every drop of blood in her body relies on my mercy."

"I've let her get too dependent on me over the years. I made her think she can't survive without my blood. Mia needs my protection right now, and Elara needs to grow up."

"I'm forcing her to stop being so clingy. She needs to understand who actually runs this castle. Once she learns her place, there will always be a stone coffin for her in the Thorne clan. She won't starve."

Marco sighed. "Aren't you worried you'll push her too far? What if she’d rather starve than come back to you?"