Chapter 2

I meant to go straight home, but my anxiety dragged me back to the restoration archives.

I needed to calm down. I needed a plan.

Walking down the dim museum corridors, a few vampires glided silently past me like shadows.

Their pale, flawless faces looked eerie in the candlelight.

Thank God I never sent Morpheus a face pic.

Otherwise, any of these ancient beings could instantly spot the stupid human flirting with their kind online.

Stripping them wasn't an option. But I had another lead.

I scrolled back to last month. Morpheus had mentioned needing a custom signet ring for an "important family dinner."

I hadn't hesitated to recommend a wildly rare blood-garnet.

"Morpheus, are you by any chance wearing that signet ring I picked out for you?"

My phone buzzed. Instant reply.

"Of course I am."

Then a second text, dripping with that usual, blush-inducing aggression.

"I'm rubbing the stone with my thumb right now. But all I can think about is that collarbone pic you sent last night. Touching this ring feels like touching you..."

My face flushed again, but I snapped out of it. Now was not the time to swoon.

He was wearing it.

If I found the man with the blood-garnet ring, I’d find my secret vampire.

Right then, the intercom on my desk rang.

"Isabella, bring the files for tomorrow's board meeting to my office. Now."

It was Alistair Thorne.

My direct boss. A high-ranking executive in the Valerius clan.

He had this incredibly rare, aristocratic elegance. Always polished, always polite.

In a building full of lethal predators, he was the only vampire who didn't make my skin crawl.

"Right away, Mr. Thorne."

I took a deep breath, shoved my phone in my pocket, grabbed the files, and took the elevator to the top floor.

The top floor was lined with thick wool carpets. My heels made no sound.

Reaching Alistair's office, I raised my hand to knock. But the heavy mahogany door was slightly ajar.

A voice drifted through the crack.

"Please... my love... can you forgive me?"

My hand froze mid-air. I had never heard Alistair sound like this.

The normally composed, arrogant high-vampire was practically begging.

"Once this blows over, I’ll pin you down and kiss you for three days straight."

My heart hammered. I held my breath.

"But tomorrow... I really can't see you." Alistair's voice suddenly shook with genuine anxiety. "Prince Cassian is inspecting the museum tomorrow. I have to be ready."

Alistair took a deep breath. His tone turned ridiculously soft again.

"After tomorrow, okay? I promise."

The call ended.

I quickly fixed my face and knocked.

"Enter."

His voice was back to its usual icy arrogance, as if that desperate phone call had been a hallucination.

"Mr. Thorne, here is the new acquisitions report for tomorrow."

Plastering on a flawless fake smile, I walked up to his massive desk and handed over the files.

"Leave them. You're always thorough. I trust your work," Alistair said flatly, reaching out a pale hand to take them.

In that exact second, my eyes locked onto his right hand.

On his ring finger, a blood-garnet signet ring gleamed.

The deep red stone caught the light like fresh blood, set in vintage white gold.

Exactly like the one I picked for Morpheus.

My breath caught. I almost screamed.

"Sir, that... that ring is beautiful," I forced my voice to stay level. "Where did you get it?"

Alistair glanced at his hand and gave a small smile. "Custom-made recently. Why?"

"Nothing. It's just very tasteful." I forced a tight smile. "I'll be going now."

"Alright. Get some rest."

I practically fled the office.

It was confirmed. Alistair was Morpheus.

But...

Who was "my love" on the phone?

If he had a real partner, a vampire partner...

What was I? A disposable human toy?