Chapter 2

Looking at Alistair's incredibly fake face, I forced down the nausea churning in my stomach.

I had to stop this farce. Now.

"Alistair," I stepped back, raising my voice slightly. "Since this is an eternal Blood Oath, we need the most ancient witness. Go to the castle's catacombs and fetch the vial of thousand-year holy blood."

The elders around us gasped.

Thousand-year holy blood. It was my clan's core treasure. Even the high princes of the Council rarely saw it.

Greed instantly lit up Alistair's eyes.

[Perfect! She's even bringing out the holy blood! The elders will finally see how obsessed Carys is with me. My spot in the Council is secured!]

"For you, my love, anything." Alistair bowed perfectly, kissing the back of my hand.

[Finally, a chance to be alone with him! I'll show him I'm a hundred times better than that bitch!]

Gene stepped forward eagerly.

"Lord Alistair, the catacombs are dark and slippery, and the vessel is heavy. As your subordinate, I should accompany you."

Alistair's smile deepened.

[Such an eager little whore. The catacombs are perfect. I can press her against the cold stone and take her again, right now.]

"Very well, Gene. Follow me," Alistair agreed easily.

Right then, Silas stepped out of the shadows. "I'll go too..."

Alistair's smile vanished. He glared coldly at Silas.

[Fucking thin-blood, trying to ruin my fun.]

"Stay here, Silas," Alistair cut him off arrogantly. "This is high-vampire business. You have no right to interfere."

I watched coldly as Alistair and Gene disappeared down the hall.

Then, I dissolved into a silent swarm of night-moths, blending into the shadows of the library.

Through the half-open library door, I saw Silas.

He was completely surrounded by three of Alistair's elite blood-guards.

The leader sneered, drawing a dagger coated in deadly holy water and pressing it hard against Silas's throat.

"Stay away from Gene," the guard hissed. "Fight back, and I'll nail you to a cross to watch tomorrow's sunrise!"

Silas didn't even blink.

[A piece of trash like you? I could turn you into paste with less than ten percent of my strength.]

Enraged by his indifference, the guard thrust the dagger forward!

But the next second, Silas vanished.

He turned into pure shadow, reappearing right behind the leader.

A sickening crunch echoed. Silas casually crushed the man's wrist with one hand.

Before the silver dagger even hit the floor, Silas moved again.

Two pinpoint-accurate strikes smashed into the hearts of the other two guards.

The terrifying pressure of a pureblood Progenitor exploded in the room.

In just an instant, all three elite guards were completely incapacitated.

I drifted back to the hall, a cold smirk on my lips.

Alistair, you hopeless idiot. You have no idea what kind of monster you just messed with.

It seemed I really did need a new ally.

Soon, Alistair walked out, carefully holding the luxurious crystal vial of holy blood. Gene trailed close behind.

Her breathing was still uneven, and angry red bite marks stained her neck.

She instinctively tugged at her collar to hide them. But when her eyes met mine, a flash of undeniable provocation and smugness crossed them.

Just then, a commotion broke out.

Everyone noticed the mess by the library doors.

Three blood-guards were groaning on the floor in agony, while Silas stood by coldly.

Alistair's face turned livid.

[Useless trash! Can't even handle a thin-blood. They're humiliating me!]

"What happened here?!" Alistair roared, putting on his big-boss act.

The guard with the crushed wrist came crawling to him and crying like a child. "Lord Alistair! The thin-blood attacked us first! He went crazy, like he's on werewolf venom!"

Gene snapped her head toward Silas, her face twisted in disgust.

"You savage, lowlife scum!" she screamed, pointing right at his nose. "You make me sick!"

[I was blind to ever settle for him! If he wasn't decent in bed, I wouldn't have looked twice. Now that I have Alistair, I need to ditch him immediately!]

"They drew silver daggers laced with holy water on me first," Silas said, his voice low and calm. "It was self-defense."

"Lies!" Alistair stepped forward, releasing his aura. "My guards are strictly trained elites. Why would they attack you for no reason?"

[This guy is a threat. I have to kill him tonight so he doesn't get in my way later.]

"Stop lying, Silas!" Gene shrieked. "Your violence and cheapness disgust me! We are totally done. Stop harassing me!"

Her screams echoed down the hall, firmly condemning him.

Faced with this absurd framing and betrayal, Silas stopped defending himself.

He lowered his eyes. His knuckles turned white.

[Good. I'll remember every face in this room tonight.]

In the shadows, a dangerous, murderous intent boiled wildly around him.

Leaning against the long table, I quietly sipped my blood wine.

I knew my moment had come. An alliance forged in darkness is the hardest one to break.