Chapter 2

He gestured, and a servant brought forward a bloody, mangled mess.

I looked closer. It was Haze, the white fox familiar I shared a life bond with.

The little fox who used to play and cuddle with me was now covered in wounds. Its fur was stained crimson, and it was barely clinging to life.

I thought the pain I felt was a phantom sensation from my past life, but these two had been secretly torturing my familiar!

Haze gently licked my palm, its eyes full of agony as a single tear fell.

"Miriam Sutton, you knew we shared a life bond! You tortured Haze on purpose!

"If you're angry, come at me. What kind of person preys on a defenseless animal?" I choked out, sobbing.

"Sis, how can you make such a baseless accusation? You sent it to bite me in the middle of the night. I was terrified, so Julian just threw it out the window."

Haze was always gentle. It would never attack someone unprovoked. The gashes on its body were clearly made by the spiked whip Miriam usually used.

Rage surged through me, blinding my reason. I swung my hand, aiming a sharp slap at Miriam.

A jolt of pain shot through my wrist as Julian caught my hand mid-air, his gaze freezing.

Miriam hid behind him, acting timid. He shoved me back with enough force to knock me down, then ground his heel into my wrist.

Haze let out a whimper of pain. I looked at the fox through my tears, wanting to save it but unable to move.

"Life bond? Stop with the mystical nonsense. You're just trying to frame Miriam!

"Miriam was ready to look past your grudge and use a spell to save it, and you tried to hit her? Celeste, you really are a viper!"

Miriam drew a sigil in the air and cast it into a bowl of water, then forced it down Haze’s throat. Within minutes, the wounds on its body miraculously closed.

But I felt no relief in my own body.

A flicker of surprise crossed Victor’s face, and his expression softened.

"Father, Miriam is the true heir. Please, just let us be together!" Julian shouted urgently, sensing his father’s change of heart.

Victor let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. I won't interfere anymore. The marriage contract is void."

He helped me up. "Celeste, you’ve been wronged. After what Julian did to you today, the bloodline debt between our families is settled. We are even."

Julian couldn't wait to throw the marriage contract into the brazier, where it instantly turned to ash.

Seeing no reaction from me, he snorted and grabbed a pen to draft a new one. On it were his and Miriam’s names.

Miriam lowered her head shyly, but her eyes glinted with triumph as she glanced at me.

I picked up Haze. The fox’s breath was paper-thin.

Miriam hadn't saved it at all. She had used an illusion spell to make the wounds disappear to the naked eye!

My parents had found Miriam as an orphan in a spell arena. My mother had been too kind-hearted to leave her alone, so despite my father's protests, she brought her home. She treated Miriam as one of our own and taught her the family’s secrets.

Perhaps it was the bloodline barrier, but Miriam only ever learned low-level illusion spells. She certainly couldn't handle the life transference spell

Julian Thorne, I won't lift a finger this time. I want to see how Miriam is going to save your life.

Miriam clutched her stomach and whispered something into Julian's ear, her face twisted in feigned agony.

"Stop. Who said you could leave?"

He stepped toward me and gripped my jaw tightly. "Celeste Shannara, you were reborn too, didn't you?"