All Chapters of The Crimson Accord: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The sunlight streamed into the room by the gap in the curtains. It was bright all of the sudden and the warmth from the light was what woke me up. I wasn’t ready to face the day. Like you have a choice, I thought. Reality was setting in and my choices were nonexistent. I reached my hands out to stretch while laying down and took in a deep breath. The air was thick with the smell of body odor, tequila, and sex. The delicious ache between my thighs reminded me of last night and a smile creeped onto my face. ​Not my proudest moment, sure but god it was great. I flipped on my side and gave myself the satisfaction of looking at the naked man next to me. Poor Lucas. He had been quiet in his pining for me. But I wasn’t dumb. I could see the second-too-long glimpses he spared my way. That was definitely not part of his job. I indulged him last night. Maybe as my last act of rebellion, maybe because I was bored. Nonetheless it wasn’t what I was expecting from the quiet man. It was a shame it

I could feel her in the house the minute she arrived, or maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, regardless I knew she was somewhere in these walls, my future wife. I sucked in a breath when I heard the Deveraux lady giving Margot and her father a tour of Tencrest. They had stopped outside of my office and behind the closed door, I heard Mr. Astor asking a question about the painting in the hallway. It was a provocative image of a woman offering her neck to a Blackwell ancestor. Perhaps he was looking at that painting and wondering about his own daughter’s future surrender to me. He had been here before, but for Margot, this was all new. Every year during the Crimson Ball, the houses’ invitations were limited to five family members and Johnathan Astor was often included in that invitation, Margot was never though. She will have to figure it out as she goes, we both will, I thought to myself and continued to drown myself in my work. I was elbow deep in the paperwork for a new company

I smiled as my name and title were announced to the elaborate dining room and the large doors swung open, welcoming me in. Glancing around, I realized I needed to give the staff bonuses. They had outdone themselves this year. The walls were painted a new fresh coat of ivory and they had stenciled what looked like gold blood dripping off the walls. New paintings that depicted the historical year of the Accord signing were placed throughout the room as well as a few portraits of my family. It was a little gaudy in my taste, but the Founding Ten would eat it up.My senses peaked after my late night Registry snack, a sign that I had fed well and enough. The room, heavy with bodies, meant I could smell a mixture of body odor, blood, and sex. Walking into the crowded room, Without thinking, my feet move towards my table, looking for Margot in the crowd. Her back was to me, but from my angle I could sense she was tense. Her back was straight as a pin as if scared to relax and her hands were

I should be thinking about the Registry. Instead all I can think about is her. The Binding has its claws in me still. It’s a chokehold that might have loosened, but it is still there. I could find her in this room blindfolded. It’s like my body was incomplete before and now I must take her to make us whole. It’s an unsettling feeling to have.I never wanted this. I wasn’t supposed to be selected for this Accord marriage. But it’s a voting matter and one I lost. Even though I have known for years that I would marry, I am at a loss for how to control my confusing emotions.​The Registry is supposed to benefit both parts of the Founding Ten. An important part of the Crimson Ball is getting more donors to volunteer and more of the Eternal Order to partake so that we can continue to bridge our alliance. My snubbing the Registry publicly could be looked down upon but I have already fed tonight and want nothing more than to rescue Margot who looks so uncomfortable right now.​I walk towards