Chapter 1

"Die, Lucius!"

The rogue hunter crushed the UV grenade. A sharp crack echoed.

I froze. I squeezed my eyes shut right before the blast.

Blinding daylight sliced through the hall like a blade.

Vampire reflexes meant nothing. Everyone, including Progenitor Lucius, was struck blind and paralyzed.

In a flash, memories flooded my brain.

Julian dragging me to the Sunlight Cell. The agony of fire melting my flesh. The horrific sight of my newborn turning to dust...

The phantom pain still burned in my bones. The chaos of the hall swallowed me.

I snapped back to reality. I was reborn.

I was back at the exact moment our Progenitor, Lucius Nightshade, was about to be fatally hit.

I touched my heavy, pregnant belly. I ruthlessly shoved down the mate bond humming in my blood.

The assassin was about to detonate a vest full of silver explosives. I didn't hesitate. I shoved the blinded Lucius hard behind a massive obsidian pillar.

"Get down!" I shielded him with my body.

A deafening explosion ripped through the air.

A shockwave laced with silver shrapnel slammed into my back.

Silver fragments buried deep into my spine. They killed my vampire healing.

Ripping agony shot through my entire body.

I coughed up a huge mouthful of blood. It splattered hot and red all over Lucius's suit.

The harsh light faded. Lucius finally got his sight back.

His crimson eyes, always so cold and commanding, were wide with utter shock.

He stared at me.

Coughing up blood under his stunned gaze, I forced out a weak whisper.

"Progenitor Lucius... glad you're safe. The Syndicate needs you..."

I watched the shock in his eyes soften into gratitude.

Right then, I knew my gamble paid off.

Meanwhile, my mate Julian—who should have been here guarding him—was waltzing with Lilah at a masquerade.

Just because that two-faced bitch whined about feeling unsafe. He abandoned his post and took all the elite guards with him.

In my past life, I cared too much about Julian.

I was terrified he'd be punished and lose his shot at becoming Clan Lord.

So I instantly force-triggered the mate bond. I summoned him to my side.

He saved Progenitor Lucius. That glory got him a High Council seat, the Lord title, and endless wealth.

But later, Julian called me vain. He decided I was a manipulator who got Lilah killed just to use him.

He burned me and our newborn to ashes.

I got a second chance. I am not making the same mistake twice.

This time, the hall was still full of wounded vampires groaning in pain.

But because of me, the Progenitor was unharmed.

Syndicate Enforcers arrived and locked down the area.

The crisis was over.

But I felt a thick, warm wetness between my thighs.

Blood poisoned with silver poured from my back. It was draining every ounce of life out of me.

In a panic, I touched my swollen belly.

The tiny life inside, kicking wildly moments ago from the trauma, was fading.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

My world went dark. My body went limp.

"Damn it! Healer! Over here, now!" Lucius caught me frantically as I fell.

The ruthless, thousand-year-old king held me tight against his chest. His blood-soaked hands were actually trembling.

I gripped his shirt, digging my nails deep into the fabric.

I needed him to remember me. I needed him to be my blade for revenge.

I choked down the blood rising in my throat. With my last breath, I stared straight into his crimson eyes.

"My name is... Elena Vance. I am Julian's... mate."