Chapter 2

I forced myself to get up, my newly scarred body protesting every movement.

Damien's study was just next door. The safe in his desk had a familiar combination - the date we first met.

"I'll never forget this day," he'd told me then, crimson eyes glowing with what I'd thought was love. "The day my blood first recognized her mate."

But nothing inside belonged to our story.

Instead, I found dozens of bottles of blood supplements for vampire pregnancies, still sealed, pressed against Vivienne's blood test results.

The most recent date was three years ago - the very day Damien had proposed to me.

A phone lay among the evidence. Its cloud storage synced to a folder labeled "Our Blood's Journey."

Weekly blood resonance images filled the screen. Each one had Damien's handwritten notes: "Lucien's first heartbeat!"

"Look at those tiny fingers!"

"Our little prince is growing so strong!"

There were pages of carefully crafted blood formulas - specific blood types, temperatures, and concentrations to support a vampire through each trimester. Damien had noted Vivienne's cravings and reactions to each mixture.

The nursery plans were elaborate.

"Lucien's room should have the finest blackout drapes," he'd written. "My little vampire will love the purest darkness."

The messages showed bookings at the coven's premier birthing chamber. The date matched exactly when Damien claimed he'd be away on coven business.

I remembered how he'd insisted he wasn't ready for children, how he'd said we should wait until after the blood oath ceremony.

"I want to focus on us first," he'd said. "Children can come later."

Now I understood - he didn't want children with me because he already had the family he wanted.

The safe's lower compartment held the design for a blood oath ring, sized for Vivienne's finger.

Then I found the notifications Damien had sent to neighboring coven Lords. From the very beginning, he'd introduced Vivienne as his true Blood-Bonded to everyone.

The eternal covenant scrolls bore both their signatures - Damien and Vivienne, Lord and Consort.

His message to the ceremonial master was clear: "Ensure everything is perfect for my true mate's ascension to Consort. The other matter will be handled discreetly."

The "other matter" was me.

I laughed until the sound turned to sobs.

With shaking hands, I messaged my friend Isolde overseas.

"I need a healer," I wrote. "Someone who can reverse Purified Essence poisoning. And I need to disappear. Please arrange a fake hunter attack. "

I began the formal process to remove myself from the Blood Ledger. Let them think I was accepting my fate as a Thrall.

Isolde didn't question much, assuming I'd finally seen Damien's true nature.

Her messages radiated relief that I was escaping.

I put down the phone and let exhaustion pull me into darkness.

But this time, when I closed my eyes, I didn't dream of Damien.

I dreamed of freedom.

I woke to the sound of Damien's sobs.

He clutched a report from Elara, his broad shoulders shaking with what appeared to be grief.

"Serena... Elara discovered during the examination. Your bloodline power was critically damaged in the fire. It can't restore itself."

"Without your power, you'll never be able to bear High Blood children. Our bloodline..."

He reached for my hand, his touch gentle but calculated.

"But I won't abandon you. No matter what happens, you'll still be my mate."

"Once you're released from the healing chamber, we can adopt a child. A strong High Blood child to carry on the coven line. Having a child to care for will help you heal."

I was the one who had lost my power, yet he acted more devastated than I felt.

His performance was flawless. I didn't bother exposing the lie.

After a long silence, I stared at the report in his hands and nodded slowly.

Damien's eyes welled with tears as he pulled me into his embrace.

"I'll take care of you, always. Don't be afraid. No matter what anyone says about a High Blood with a Thrall mate, I'll stand by you."

"After the blood oath ceremony, I'll transfer ownership of our coven’s territories to you. It's the least I can do to secure your future."

Our chests pressed together, but our heartbeats told different stories.

His heart raced with hidden excitement while mine beat steady with cold understanding.

Finally, Damien spoke hesitantly:

"About the blood oath ceremony... it's all prepared, but with your condition..."

"Find someone to take my place," I interrupted. "We can't let the coven lose face."

I knew exactly what he wanted to say.

Better to suggest it myself than be cornered into it.

At least this way, I could maintain some dignity.

Damien seemed amazed by my sudden compliance.

But with his goal achieved, he didn't question my change of heart.

His phone rang, shattering the moment.

He glanced at the screen, then looked at me in confusion.

"Serena, why are you canceling your Blood Ledger registration?"