Chapter 4

The First Embrace lasted long and by the time the noises next door died down, it was already the next night.

Just as I finished tidying my room, Saul kicked the door open furiously. His hands clamped down on my shoulders—right where the purple bruises from the picture frame still ached.

"You gave her the blood extractor, didn't you?"

His pupils had returned to normal black, no longer in feeding mode, but he seemed angrier than before.

I winced in pain, took a deep breath, and said word by word, "I don't know what you're talking about."

At my denial, he sneered, not loosening his grip.

"I can only recognize your blood scent. If you hadn't given her the extractor—coated in your smell—how could I have lost control and done that to her... Bella," he ground out my name, "I know your intentions, but you shouldn't have hurt her."

Looking at his angry, twisted face, I felt an overwhelming exhaustion.

"You couldn't control yourself and drank her blood, and you made her one of you..." I looked up at him and tried my best to explain. "You should be happy. At least no one else will drink her blood now."

The slap!

My cheek burned hot. I turned my face, blinking hard to hold back the tears in my eyes.

"You've changed."

He forced my chin up, eyes blazing with anger and disappointment. "I should never have saved you in the first place."

Yes. Why had he bothered?

I laughed bitterly, as years of company and devotion were wasted.

"Blood!" A scream came from next door. "I need blood!"

Saul's expression changed. Ignoring my struggles, he dragged me into the next room.

Jacinda, hair disheveled, looked around wildly. At the sight of Saul, she burst into tears like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline.

"Give me blood, Saul! Give me blood!" Her nails scraped the blanket, leaving jagged marks.

The scene was so horrifying that I forgot my pain for a moment.

There was animal blood in the fridge—it could save her.

But the next second, I was yanked in front of Jacinda.

Saul tore down my collar, and I realized his plan. I thrashed wildly, but my hands were pinned behind my back, and my neck was thrust toward Jacinda's mouth.

My veins held the fresh human blood that vampires craved most.

Jacinda didn't hesitate. Her fangs sank into my neck—right where Saul's mark had once been. She drank ravenously.

Blood drained fast, and I convulsed in pain.

"Let... me... go..."

The healed wounds on my back split open again with the struggle. I felt blood soaking my clothes, the smell of the blood choking my nose until I wanted to vomit.

As Saul leaned in to steady my drooping head, I felt a sharp pain from the pact tattoo on the back of my hand.

Three years ago, he saved me.

This was the last time he disappointed me and I've paid my debt.

I was feeling dizzy, and I had lost the last bit of strength I had. I closed my eyes resignedly, hands slipping limp from behind my back.

Saul felt my weight collapse and saw my pale face.

He jolted, releasing me just as Jacinda still lost her mind and tried to bite again. He shoved her, and she collapsed unconsciously.

His hand clamped over the two deep punctures on my neck, but blood poured through his fingers.

"Butler! Butler!" he shouted, panic in his voice.

There was no answer, so he laid me on the bed, saying "Wait for me," then bolted out.

Hearing him yelling for help, and then the door slam, I forced my eyes open. Shaking, I ripped the bandage from my arm, pressed it to my neck, and staggered up.

Dizzy as hell, I ransacked the drawer where the extractor usually was—it was gone...

The ancient clock chimed midnight.

I tore off the third page from the calendar and took the silver dagger to slash my pact tattoo on the back of my hand.

Blood gushed out, stinging horribly. It was agony, pain shooting through my entire body but the bond was broken finally.

Then, I left the castle without looking back.