Chapter 2

I turned to meet Alaric's suddenly alert eyes, forcing a gentle smile.

"Oh, I was just talking to a friend about a human noble family on the East Coast. The heir betrayed his wife, and now she's annulling the marriage, severing all ties, and even taking her entire dowry back with her."

If he wanted a performance, then I would play my part until the final curtain.

Alaric's gaze was like a needle, probing my face for any sign of a crack in my composure.

Only when he was certain my expression was normal did the tension in his shoulders finally ease.

His large, pale, and cold hand slid around my waist as he leaned in and placed a kiss by my ear.

"A foolish man, to betray his own partner. That is like severing his own lifeline."

"My princess, something so sordid would never happen between us."

I looked up into his bottomless eyes and offered a faint smile.

"So... what if it did happen?"

"For example..."

"Seraphina, there is absolutely no possibility of that."

Alaric cut me off without hesitation. "I, Alaric Morvath, swear on my prince's blood and on my clan that I will never betray you."

Alaric must have seen something in my expression, because his gaze faltered for a moment before he smoothed my hair.

How ironic. He could seek solace in the arms of his childhood friend while still showing me this suffocating possessiveness.

"If I ever break this vow, may the deepest blood magic hide all trace of you, so that I may spend an eternity searching and never find even a hint of your presence. May my clan..."

"I was just asking." I pressed my fingers to his lips.

He pulled me tighter. "You know, Seraphina, you are my life. Losing you would turn me into a mindless monster."

I didn't respond, only quietly slipped out of his embrace.

In three days, I would be gone from here. Alaric, the curse you just swore upon yourself is about to come true.

He seemed to want to say more but was interrupted by an abrupt voice.

"Your Highness, everything is ready."

Alaric nodded, a mysterious smile suddenly blooming in his eyes as he took my hand and led me to the edge of the terrace.

"My love, I have prepared a one-of-a-kind gift for you."

"Three, two, one..."

The moment the countdown ended, he lowered his hands from my eyes.

I looked up, and the entire night sky lit up.

Countless points of light poured down from the heavens. It was a meteor shower, summoned by Alaric's power as a Prince.

The stars streaked across the black dome with silver-blue tails, as if someone had shattered a trove of jewels and scattered them across the sky.

"Look at the brightest one." He held me from behind, his lips against my ear. "In my name as Prince, I have had the Star Scribes of the Elder Council rename it for you: Seraphina."

"We have been bound by blood for five years. With every passing year, you become more captivating than the day we first met."

I watched the fleeting meteor in the night sky, feeling as though a lifetime had passed in a daze.

Yes, five years.

Five years ago, I fell for him at first sight, defying my family to marry him.

I loved him for five years, and for five years I was the revered princess of the clan. Five years is but a blink in a vampire's eternal life, but it was long enough for deep love to curdle into betrayal, for an immortal vow to become the cheapest of lies.

Alaric turned me around to face him, his crimson eyes burning with a heat that felt like it could melt me.

"Five years, and all I want is to lay the entire world of darkness at your feet." He slowly bent down to kiss me.

If I hadn't found that red hair by the pool last night, I would have willingly believed his performance until the day I died.

Just as his lips were about to touch mine, the sound of flapping wings broke the night's silence.

A blood-red raven swooped down and landed on his shoulder, a letter tied to its claw.

A flash of violent irritation at being disturbed crossed his features.

But the interruption was a relief. It saved me the trouble of having to avoid his kiss.

"Damnation. I gave specific orders that no one was to approach us tonight."

But when he took the letter and glanced at its contents, his expression changed drastically. I caught a glimpse of the wax seal; it bore the crest of Elise's clan.

He quickly folded the letter, but in the starlight, I still saw the flash of panic in his eyes, and with it, a sliver of irrepressible desire.

Sure enough, the next moment he turned back to me, his face was a mask of impeccable apology.

"What is it?" I asked, feigning ignorance, though I clenched my fists to keep the tears from falling.

The truth was already laid bare, but a ridiculous sliver of hope still lingered deep in my heart, a hope that he would stay for me tonight.

"A clan emergency." He tucked the letter into his breast pocket. "My love, I have to leave for a little while."

"Now?"

"I'm sorry. I know tonight is important, but this concerns the very survival of our clan." He bowed his head and kissed my forehead in a rush.

"Go on back and wait for me. I will return to you as soon as I have handled this."

"I understand. The clan's safety always comes first."

I nodded calmly, playing the part of the understanding wife, just as I had done countless times before.

Alaric let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, gave me a hurried embrace, and then turned and vanished into the night.

I stood on the terrace, watching his silhouette disappear at the far end of the old castle.

I had to see this "emergency" for myself.

I turned, went down the spiral staircase, started my car, and followed the direction he had gone.