Chapter 5

I let out a small laugh, answering casually, “Oh, that’s my friend Maria. She wants to see the Northern Lights, but her human ID expired. She was just asking me about the renewal process. You know how she is with all that human paperwork.”

My tone was light and natural, betraying nothing.

Clarence immediately relaxed, a look of sheepishness on his face. “Sorry, my love. For a second, I thought you were going to leave me.”

His words drew envious glances from the noblewomen at nearby tables. See how devoted Prince Thorne is to me.

I hid a cold smirk behind my crystal goblet.

To the outside world, we were still the perfect, enviable couple.

At 10:30, the banquet was winding down.

When we were the last two left in the restaurant, Clarence came to my side, reaching for an embrace. “Tonight was perfect.”

As he drew near, a mixed scent hit me.

Cigar smoke, the metallic tang of expensive blood, and that damnable, sickly-sweet scent of Seraphina.

That cloying, nauseating smell was radiating from his collar, his cuffs.

He hadn’t even bothered to mask it. Or perhaps he was so used to it, he didn't even notice.

The churning in my stomach returned, ten times stronger than before.

I shoved him away, clamping a hand over my mouth as I vanished, reappearing in the restroom.

“Molly? Darling?” Clarence’s worried voice followed me.

I fell to my knees on the cold marble floor, retching violently.

There was nothing left in my stomach to bring up, only bitter bile.

“What is it? Was the blood off?” Clarence knelt beside me, trying to help me up. “Did you have too much?”

The scent of him, of her, washed over me again, and another wave of dry heaves wracked me.

“Don’t… don’t touch me!” I choked out, pushing his hand away.

“Is it my scent?” he asked, frowning. “I’m sorry, I was hunting with that partner earlier, we fed on a human…”

That excuse was the final spark. The rage inside me exploded.

I slowly pushed myself up, splashing cold water on my face, and met his eyes in the mirror.

He stood there, a picture of innocent concern, as if he truly had no idea what he’d done.

“A hunt?” I bit out, my voice shaking. “You know damn well what it was!”

Clarence froze, stunned. He had never seen me lose control like this. “Molly, what are you talking about?”

I realized I was losing my composure. I forced myself to calm down. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”

The next morning, Clarence insisted on taking me to the Coven’s private clinic.

The vampire physician examined me. “The symptoms point to a psychic disturbance, usually caused by intense emotional distress. Has Lady Thorne been under any particular stress lately?”

Clarence frowned. “No, not at all. We had a lovely time just last night.”

“Perhaps it’s cyclical, then,” the doctor said, beginning to write a prescription. “I’ll prescribe something to regulate her energy.”

Just then, Clarence’s phone lit up.

He glanced at the screen, his expression tensing. “Excuse me, an important call.”

“Go ahead,” I said flatly.

Clarence stepped into the hallway. I could hear his hushed voice. “What? Now? No, I’m with her at the doctor’s… Fine, I understand.”

He returned, his face an apology. “My love, I am so sorry. An underling is delivering an important ancient text. I need to go downstairs to receive it. I’ll be back in five minutes.”

“Go,” I said, feigning understanding.

The doctor continued his diagnosis, but I wasn’t listening. I walked to the window, pretending to admire the view, but my eyes were fixed on the street below.

A few minutes later, I saw him.

He wasn’t waiting by the main entrance for any delivery.

Instead, he strode quickly across the street, slipped into an alley, and dissolved into a swarm of bats, flying away.

I watched him disappear, feeling not anger, but a cold, numb sense of release.

I knew he wouldn't be back in five minutes.

An hour later, my phone buzzed.

A message from an unknown number.

“So sorry, Lady Thorne, but it looks like he won’t be able to keep you company today. All I had to do was whine a little, and he decided to give me the Embrace. To make me his.”