Share

Chapter 2

Author: Peachy
"Dorian! Help!"

A scream shattered the quiet dawn.

Dorian and I had just stepped out of the castle, heading for the tower. Heaven's Needle.

The desperate cry made Dorian freeze.

"Cordelia?" He whipped around.

A disheveled young vampire stumbled toward us. It was Myra, Cordelia's blood servant.

"Your Highness! It’s bad! Lady Cordelia is losing it! Her bloodlust is out of control!" Myra cried. "She knows the Oath can't replace the Bond. She... she just snapped!"

Dorian went pale. "Where is she?"

"The family estate..."

He turned to leave without a second glance. Then, after three steps, he froze. "Wait for me," he commanded, his voice cold as ice.

Then he dissolved into black mist.

I stood there, shaking my head with a bitter smile.

Classic Dorian.

Ten years, and she always came first.

Back in my room, I grabbed the stuff under my pillow.

The fake passport. A ticket for an 8 PM ferry to a port town 500 miles away.

A tiny note slipped out—Ticket confirmed. First class. Safe travels, Odette. Signed by the Blood Witch.

She knew.

She always knew everything.

I took a deep breath. Time for the hard part.

The Elders' hall was suffocating.

I stood before the former Prince and the Duchess, feeling their cold, crimson stares dissect me.

"You asked for a private meeting. Speak." The old Prince’s voice was ice.

"I came to say goodbye." I met his eyes. "I’m leaving the territory tonight. I’m never coming back."

The Duchess sneered. "Finally know your place? But do you really think the Bond breaks that easily?"

"I’m not here about the Bond." I shook my head. "I’m here to warn you."

"Warn us?" Both frowned.

"I have seen a vision," I said, my voice flat. "A prophecy. If the Bond between Dorian and me remains, in ten years, he will die a brutal death in a pointless war."

The room went freezing cold.

"What nonsense are you spewing, girl?" the old Prince roared.

"He dies saving me." My voice shook from the pain. "Rival clans. They'll use a silver-laced bomb." I pointed to my own heart. "It will pierce him here. The silver will rot his heart from the inside out. He will burn to ash before my eyes."

I was too specific. The old Prince’s anger turned into pure shock.

"I don’t care if you believe me, but I’m not risking it," I pushed on. "Let Dorian have Cordelia. I prepped the Blessing Ritual, not the Unbinding. That way, they still get your rock-solid political alliance, even without the Bond."

The Duchess gripped her husband’s hand tight. "A vision like this... we can't ignore it."

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Far," I smiled sadly. "Let him forget me. Forget the mortal."

Walking out, I felt light.

Regret number two: Never standing up to the Elders. Done.

Night fell. I went to the top of the tower alone.

The moon was just rising, spilling silver over everything.

Our meeting spot. But I knew he wasn't coming. He was with Cordelia.

"Beautiful..." I whispered, looking down at the glowing city. "At least I got to see it this time."

"You betrayed me."

The icy voice behind me made me whip around.

Dorian stood there. His eyes were burning red.

He oozed lethal danger, glaring at me in the moonlight.

"What the hell did you tell the Elders?" He stepped closer, his voice like a blade. "They've changed the terms! Now the Blessing will only make Cordelia his subordinate, not his equal!"

I stepped back. "I just told them the truth..."

"Liar!" he roared. "Do you know what happened to her? She used the Withering Curse to erase your Bond! It’s forbidden! The magic backfired on her!"

My eyes went wide.

The Withering Curse? The dark magic that rots your own veins?

"Why would she do that?"

"Because of you!" Pure hate in his eyes. "That garbage prophecy you fed the Elders shattered her! She knew a simple Blood Oath would never be enough to make her my true mate!"

I froze. That didn’t make sense.

She should’ve been happy with the Blessing.

But no. Her toxic pride couldn't handle being a fake. She wanted to be me.

Dorian slammed his fist into the railing. A loud crack. "If she dies, I swear I’ll make you pay!"

His glare sliced right through me.

"Tell me..." He crowded me, his cold breath hitting my face. "How do we save her?"
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • Set You Free, My Lord   Chapter 9

    Six months had transformed him. The gaunt, haunted look was gone. He was leaner, calmer.Most importantly, those crimson eyes—once full of despair and obsession—were incredibly calm.He wore a simple gray sweater and dark jeans. He looked like a normal human volunteer. Not a high and mighty vampire Prince."Odette?" He froze at the door. Surprise flashed in his eyes. But there were no wild mood swings. No ecstasy. No despair. Just a gentle surprise. "What... what are you doing here?""I came to say goodbye," I said directly. My voice was calmer than I expected.He nodded. He didn't ask why. He didn't overreact. He just stepped aside peacefully. "Come in. It's chilly out there."The inside was even cozier.Warm pine wood burned in the fireplace, giving off a light scent.On the comfy sofa, a little girl with werewolf traits sat drawing quietly. She looked about seven or eight. Her arm was wrapped in bandages for silver burns."We saved her from vampire hunters last week. A werewolf o

  • Set You Free, My Lord   Chapter 8

    Six months later.Free from the blood bond, I entered the best phase of my life.My architecture firm became famous in the Pacific Northwest.My buildings won international awards for their unique healing vibes and human-centric designs.Architectural Digest even put me on the cover. They called me "The New Era's Most Healing Architect."More importantly, my relationship with Liam was going strong. We spent almost every day together. We shared every little moment.One sunny afternoon, the mailman brought a surprise.A beautifully printed invitation. It was written in ancient vampire runes on thick parchment:"Ms. Odette Morrow is cordially invited to the inauguration of Alexander Blackthorne, the new Prince of the Eternal Night Coven. Time: Midnight this Saturday. Location: Moonshadow Castle Great Hall."I held it and hesitated for a long time. My fingers brushed over the familiar runes.Finally, I decided to go with Liam.Not out of nostalgia. But to say a final goodbye to the past.

  • Set You Free, My Lord   Chapter 7

    In Liam's arms, I smelled his calming scent. A mix of light sanitizer and fresh aftershave.It reminded me of safety and warmth. A pure world with no vampires, no magic, no painful memories.My heart beat faster. My cheeks grew hot.Liam looked down at me. A tender light shone in his brown eyes.He looked like he wanted to say something important. His lips parted slightly.But at that exact moment, his phone rang harshly."Damn it," he cursed softly. He answered it reluctantly. "Hello?... What?... Okay, we'll be right there."He hung up. His face turned serious. "Odette, we have to go back to the clinic now. The sheriff says someone broke in. It's a mess."We sprinted back to the clinic. We saw flashing police lights and a crowd from far away.When we rushed through the doors, I gasped.The inside was completely trashed. Chairs were flipped. Medical gear was scattered everywhere. Blood splattered the walls.The air was thick with the smell of blood and a supernatural scent I knew wel

  • Set You Free, My Lord   Chapter 6

    For the next two weeks, Dorian lingered around the clinic.He never showed his face to me. But I knew he was there.Every dusk, I saw a familiar dark shadow in the woods.A few times, some shady supernatural creatures showed up in town. But by morning, they were gone. Vanished without a trace. As if a powerful, unseen guardian had swept the town clean.I knew who was secretly protecting the town. But I didn't want to admit it. I definitely didn't want to be grateful.By this afternoon, I couldn't stand being stalked anymore.I pushed the clinic doors open coldly. I walked straight to the shadows at the edge of the parking lot. "Come out, Dorian. Stop hiding in the dark like a coward."A cloud of black mist slowly formed into a man. Dorian stepped out of the shadows.He looked even worse than two weeks ago. A hint of hope flashed in his crimson eyes. But my cold face shattered it instantly."Get lost, Dorian," I snapped. "You just make me sick.""I just want to... to make sure you're sa

  • Set You Free, My Lord   Chapter 5

    Five years later.A foggy town in the Pacific Northwest. The air smelled of ocean and cedar.I stood at the construction site of a new community clinic. I held the final blueprints in my hands.This town knew me as their best architect. This was my new beginning.This clinic was my twelfth project. It was one of my proudest works.A high priestess and an elven friend helped me fake my death. They snuck me onto a different cargo ship. I simply vanished. I traveled a long time before settling in this remote coastal town.The rune amulet on my body completely cut off the bond's connection. I vanished from Dorian's world for good.For five years, pure, unadulterated hatred for him was the fuel that built my new life.That hate burned like magma in my heart. It gave me the strength to stand back up."Odette, how is the progress?" a warm voice called from behind.I turned and saw Dr. Liam walking toward me.He was tall and handsome. He had chestnut hair and gentle brown eyes. He was my ancho

  • Set You Free, My Lord   Chapter 4

    "Impossible! That's not her!"Dorian smashed his fist on the table. The thick oak splintered under his rage. Blood welled from his knuckles. He didn't feel a thing."Your Highness, the police confirmed it," his guard commander, Marcus, reported carefully. "Odette's name was on the ferry's passenger list. All passengers...""Shut up!" Dorian roared. His crimson eyes flashed with dangerous bloodlust. "Get out!"He exploded into a furious cloud of black mist. He crashed right through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows and shot into the night sky.Thirty minutes later, Dorian stood at the harbor. He looked down at the charred wreckage of the ferry.Rescue teams were still working. A few burnt bodies had already been pulled out."Such a tragedy," a human cop shook his head. "Looks like we'll need DNA to ID them."Dorian desperately pushed his senses out. He tried to catch even a hint of Odette's sweet blood in the air.But he only smelled gasoline, burnt flesh, and death.The blood bond

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status