All Chapters of BLOOD BOUND: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Sera slowly stepped into the room, hands visible and empty. Behind her, she felt Lucien's tension through the bond, every instinct telling him to protect her. "Rowan," she said carefully. "I came to talk. "Talk." Rowan's laugh was harsh. "That's what you've been doing with the vampires, isn't it? Talking. While wearing their chains and sleeping in their palace." "I was their prisoner.""Were you? Or did you choose to stay?" Rowan moved closer, his eyes hard. "I taught you better than this, Sera. Taught you to survive, to hide, to never trust them. And the first time you feel a mate bond, you walk straight into their territory like a lamb to slaughter." "The bond wasn't a choice." "Everything's a choice. You could have run. Could have fought it.Rather, you allow them to capture you, imprison you, and persuade you that the four hundred years of conflict were all a misunderstanding by that vampire prince." "There was no misinformation," Sera stated. "It was a plot.Silas Greythorne murd

Sera stared at Cassius Greythorne, looking every bit at home in the palace hallway. "You," she breathed. "Me," Cassius said, stepping in as the guards let him pass. "Surprised, Miss Thorne?" "You're supposed to be in hiding. Wanted for murder—" "Wanted by whom?" Cassius said, spreading his hands. "I've been looking into threats to the crown. Naturally, I returned when proof of a witch plot to kill the prince surfaced."Sera looked at Matthias. "You're protecting him. After everything we found—" "Lord Cassius has provided valuable intelligence," Matthias said coolly. "Including evidence that you've been coordinating with witch resistance to poison my son. Communications between you and Rowan Blackwood, plans to sabotage negotiations from within." "That's impossible. I've been under guard—""Witch magic makes many things possible. Remote communication, for instance." Cassius pulled out a tablet, showing what appeared to be text messages. Sera's name at the top, messages discussing "the

The blade at Sera's throat was cold. She could feel her pulse against it, one wrong move away from death. Through the bond, Lucien's fear crashed over her in waves."You're wrong," Rowan said finally. "About having to choose.""Am I?" Vivienne asked. "Then what's your choice?""Both. I choose both." Rowan's magic flared, green and bright. "I choose to love you and fight for peace. To honor my mate and my beliefs. Because they're not contradictory—you just convinced me they were.""Rowan—""Silas Greythorne was wrong. Cassius was wrong. And you're wrong." Rowan's voice was steady now, certain. "Bonds between our species aren't dangerous because they make us weak. They're dangerous to people like them because bonds make war impossible to sustain. Hard to hate someone when you love their kind. Hard to kill when you're bonded to the enemy.""Exactly my point," Vivienne said. "It makes you weak—""It makes us evolved," Rowan interrupted. "Capable of seeing past the lies we've been fed for

The list Vivienne provided was extensive and terrifying. Thirty-seven vampires, forty-two witches, and fifteen humans—all working to sabotage peace in various capacities. Some were active conspirators like Cassius had been. Others were passive supporters who provided resources or information. But all of them believed the war needed to continue. "This many?" Sera stared at the names. Some she recognized—minor nobles, resistance members, human officials. "How did they stay hidden?" "Cells," Vivienne explained. "Small groups that rarely interacted. Cassius was one node in a larger network. His death disrupted things but didn't end them. There's a council that coordinates—five members, one representing each faction." "Five?" Lucien asked. "You, Cassius... who else?" "Cassius's seat is empty now. Mine will be once they realize I've defected. That leaves three active council members." Vivienne pulled up photos on her phone. "Dietrich Von Klaus, vampire elder. Been part of this since Silas

"Go!" Sera shouted, breaking the spell connection. "It's a trap, they're under attack!" Lucien moved quickly, barking orders into his comm as he sprinted forward. Nightguard units split up and converged on building seven from several directions. Witch resistance fighters, following Rowan’s earlier setup, emerged from their concealed positions.The warehouse was surrounded in a matter of seconds.However, things inside were worsening—fast.As the fighting erupted inside, Sera quickly restored the spell connection. She focused, and her vision shifted to see through Vivienne’s eyes. Margot had thrown up shields to protect herself and Vivienne. Nearby, Rowan fought with brutal efficiency, blending magic and hand-to-hand combat to repel attackers.Despite their efforts, the group was outnumbered. Dietrich’s troops, who had been preparing this ambush, followed their coordinated attack plan: they used concentrated assaults, anti-magic wards, and spell-weapons to try to overwhelm the defende