Chapter 1

A witch's power is born of desire—an ancient law etched into our bloodline.

Once a witch comes of age, the magic within her begins to surge and churn, desperate to bond with a powerful mate to regain its balance. Without that union, the long nights ahead will consume her, the untamed magic devouring its host from within.

Fearing that we might seek pleasure recklessly and invite disaster, the Elders of the Covenant decreed that the first duty of every newly adult witch is to choose a suitable partner—an alliance meant to strengthen our ties with other races.

Today, we had just arrived at the sacred altar and barely had time to study the diverse males gathered before us when the girl beside me nudged my arm.

"I saw your sister, Ella, on the way here. She kept running toward the Shadow Forest, and no one could stop her. Is she not joining the ceremony?"

The moment she spoke, everything clicked into place.

It seemed I wasn't the only one reborn. My dear sister had returned from our previous life as well.

And the way she rushed toward the Shadow Forest… no doubt she was chasing her dream of becoming the vampire queen this time.

Before I could respond, a sudden chill swept through the hall. Outside, dark clouds smothered the sky.

In an instant, gloom swallowed the day as several magnificent black‑and‑gold carriages—drawn by nightmare beasts—descended from above. A contingent of vampire envoys stepped forward to announce the prince's decree.

My heart tightened. From past experience, I knew exactly what this meant: Prince Alexus had arrived to claim his so‑called "lifesaving savior."

In my previous life, my sister intentionally made things difficult for me, ordering me into the Shadow Forest to pick moonlight blossoms for her. By sheer accident, I stumbled upon a man lying unconscious—ambushed and left for dead by his enemies.

I had planned to use a witch's life‑energy to revive him and, while at it, appease my own most primitive desire.

But when he awoke, he pressed the sovereign blood‑crest of the vampire clan into my hand. He revealed his identity as the vampire prince and immediately sent a bloodline transmission declaring me his future mate.

The Witch Covenant held a middling place among the races, and such an honor had never befallen us. Naturally, I had no right to refuse. A few simple words sealed my fate.

Yet the vampire race—rulers of the night—harbored a brutal secret.

To carry a pureblood heir, the mother must nourish the fetus with her own life essence. And because vampire blood is overwhelmingly domineering, no ordinary woman can withstand it. Most die within months, drained of vitality, taking the unborn child with them.

By a twist of fortune, I survived. Not only that—I gave birth to the sole pureblood heir of that generation. Overjoyed, the vampire prince formed an eternal blood bond with me on the spot.

Decades later, when Alexus ascended as Vampire King, I naturally became his one and only queen, basking in a lifetime of privilege and honor.

My sister, who had chosen the werewolf Alpha, soon learned the truth: he was astonishingly promiscuous, surrounded by lovers. She could never become his Luna.

He met with her only once a month—far from enough to satisfy a witch's nature. She lived in misery, drowning in tears each day.

When the witches' Full Moon Festival finally arrived, Ella lured me to a cliff and pushed me over the edge. The terror of falling to my death is something I will never forget.

Now, surrounded by the Elders of the Covenant, Alexus appeared before the crowd—holding my sister's hand—his expression full of tender affection.

"Ella is pure of heart," he announced. "She saved me in the forest. From this day forward, she is the bride I've chosen."

Following protocol, I knelt. My sister looked down at everyone with barely concealed triumph.

But where she could not see, the corner of my lips curved upward.

'My dearest sister… since you're so determined to die, I suppose I'll simply help you along.' I thought to myself.