Chapter 3

After I'd been locked up for a full day and night, an enraged Vivian finally agreed to see me. "Why was it you who married me back then, you pathetic scum?"

Her whip cracked across my back, immediately drawing blood.

I didn't make a sound or even frown. Instead, I crawled to Vivian's feet and spoke as tenderly as always, "Babe, you have to believe me. Delroy and I were switched at birth. That's the only reason he got to grow up in the nobles' castle all these years. With how advanced technology is now, a DNA test is all you need to find out the truth.

"This is the perfect chance to humiliate the vampires, babe. Think about how long you've been at each other's throats. Leila is married to an impostor, yet she still walks around looking all smug. If you expose Delroy's true identity, won't that keep her under your heel forever?"

Vivian's whip froze in midair as she looked me over. Just when I thought she still didn't get it, she finally pulled me up and into her arms. Her movements were gentle, but her words were ice-cold.

"If you're lying to me again this time, don't blame me for being ruthless."

I was taken to do a DNA test. Father and Mother tried to bribe the doctor, but Vivian's people caught them on the spot.

At that point, what else was there for Vivian not to understand? She made a huge show of storming the vampires' castle with her people and forcing Delroy to do a DNA test, too.

The results came out quickly. I was the only one with noble blood, while Delroy was a fraud.

Leila kicked him out and demanded that Vivian hand me over. "Only someone with blood as pure as mine has the right to marry the purest human."

What she meant, of course, was that Vivian's own bloodline wasn't pure enough. I immediately fanned the flames—as if a werewolf would just swallow that!

Vivian lunged at Leila, and the two of them started tearing into each other.

In the chaos, I set fire to the dungeon and broke the demon hunter out, framing the whole thing on the vampires. However, the demon hunter had been locked up too long. He couldn't even walk properly anymore.

Vivian and Leila's brawl had both races on full alert in an instant. The gates were heavily guarded; there was no way I could get the demon hunter out.

Seeing werewolves posted everywhere, I made a snap decision and dragged him back to my bedroom. The most dangerous place was the safest, right?

As soon as I shut the door, I heard Vivian's delighted voice drift in from outside. "Titus, where are you?"

My heart lurched. Why was she back so fast?

If she found out I'd rescued the demon hunter, I wouldn't escape a brutal round of torture, no matter how pure my blood was. Worse, I would completely lose her trust.

It didn't help that werewolves liked living in caves. Even after moving into human society and proper houses, most of our furniture was still made of stone. There was nowhere to hide another person.

Vivian's footsteps drew closer. She was about to push the door open.

I gritted my teeth, grabbed the demon hunter, and rolled with him onto the bed. We'd just yanked the covers over us when the door slammed open.

Vivian walked in, her mood fantastic. "Good thing you chose me, Titus. You should've seen Leila's face when she learned the truth about Delroy. It was priceless… Wait. Why does it smell like blood in here?"

Damn it! Werewolves had an insanely sharp sense of smell, and I hadn't had time to bandage the demon hunter's wounds.

Vivian's nose twitched as she traced the scent to my bed.

"Titus, are you hurt?" For once, there was real concern in her eyes.

I shook my head, looking embarrassed. "Don't ask. My hemorrhoid is acting up."

Vivian clearly didn't get what I was saying. She reached out to yank back the blanket. "What are you even talking about? Let me see where you're hurt."

Then, her pupils blew wide, and she stared at me in utter disbelief.