Chapter 1

In the obsidian spire of Evernight City, my family's ancient castle chapel was packed. The entire vampire society was here to witness my eternal Blood Oath with Alistair.

"Carys, you have great taste," a noblewoman chuckled, swirling her goblet. "Alistair just secured that crucial purge mission for the Council. It brings glory to the whole clan."

"He is truly one of a kind," I maintained a perfect smile, clinking my glass with hers.

Honestly, I was sick of playing this game.

My clan had the oldest bloodline and unimaginable wealth. Traditionally, we didn't bother with the Council's dirty political games.

But Alistair was ambitious. He wanted absolute authority there.

To make his dream come true, I broke my clan's rules and used our resources to pave his way.

I stood here today to prove to the doubting elders that the man I chose was worth everything.

"Darling."

A familiar, gentle voice came from behind.

Alistair walked gracefully to my side. Countless envious eyes fell on us.

"I'm so happy," he gazed at me deeply, eyes shining like stars. "Today, our entire kind watches us step into eternity."

He pulled me into his arms, leaning down to kiss me.

The moment our lips met, a sharp dizziness pierced my brain.

Then, an impossible voice exploded in my mind.

[Sex with Gene is electric. Fucking Carys is like fucking a corpse.]

I froze. My blood ran cold.

That was Alistair's voice!

And he was still kissing me!

[Once this binding ceremony is over, I need to find a secret hideout and fuck Gene a few more times.]

I shoved him away.

"What's wrong, Carys?" Alistair still wore his flawless, gentle smile, even tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I just suddenly need a drink," I forced a smile and took a step back.

I turned toward the blood bar, my head still buzzing.

More voices flooded in.

[Alistair is a parasite. Without Carys's family, he wouldn't even touch the fringes of the Council.]

[I heard her family's vault holds thousand-year-old holy blood. If I could just get my hands on it...]

[Tonight's vintage is top-tier. Even the Council's gala doesn't have this standard.]

[This ancient clan is finally marrying outsiders. What a rare chance.]

I realized what was happening.

My telepathy had awakened.

Looking around at these fake faces, I heard their truest greed and schemes.

I took a deep breath, forcing my trembling fingers to still.

Looking past the hypocrites, I glanced at the corner of the banquet hall.

A man in a plain black suit stood there. Silas.

In this circle, everyone knew he was a low-born vampire, fit only for grunt work. He was also the current boyfriend of Gene, the newborn working under Alistair.

Watching him humbly wipe glasses, another voice rang in my head.

[The Progenitor's trial is almost over. How should I settle the score with those old bones in the Council? Maybe I should find a chance to tell Gene I'm about to take over as the Prince of the oldest clan.]

My grip on the goblet tightened.

Progenitor bloodline? Soon-to-be Prince?

My fiancé, who rode my coattails to power, was seen as untouchable.

While the real Vampire Prince was wiping down tables?

I turned to Gene, who stood next to Silas.

The moment our eyes met, her thoughts almost made my blood freeze.

[Carys is such an idiot, smiling so happily. She has no idea how many times her mate and I have done it. We even swapped blood.]

[Just thinking about Alistair promising me everything makes me shiver with excitement.]

Gene glanced down at the hand-carved obsidian rune around her neck, pure disgust flashing in her eyes.

[Look at Silas, this filthy thin-blood. Too poor to even buy a moonstone pendant. He only gives me this human trash.]

My knuckles turned white around my glass.

I always thought Alistair loved me more than anything.

[Tonight is the perfect chance. I'm dumping this thin-blood for good and throwing myself into Alistair's arms.]

How funny. She was trading a king for a common stone. I wondered what her face would look like if she knew Silas was the Prince.

[He wouldn't dare fight back anyway. What can a thin-blood even do?]

Gene finally made up her mind.