جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

My husband, the new Duke of our world, called me tyrannical. My adopted daughter hated me for robbing her of the right to grow up. So, I decided to spend my last seventy-two hours indulging the father and daughter who so craved "freedom." I would play the part of the perfect woman.The Clan Healer's diagnosis echoed in my mind. "The Blood Blight has reached your heart, Isolde. If you don't ingest the Progenitor's Blood immediately, in three days, you will crumble to dust like a statue."I stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, pulling the collar of my black velvet nightgown higher to cover the gray, petrifying patch on my collarbone.As Miles's wife, I had carefully nurtured our marriage for a century, until a fledgling vampire entered our lives."Still angry?" The heavy wooden door to the bedroom swung open, and Miles strode in.He undid the top button of his collar, his gaze darted toward me, scanning me quickly before looking away. "I'm fine." I turned, my voice soft.He frowned

The next day at midnight, at the clan headquarters.The news spread like a plague. Isolde Vance had appeared at the Vampire Court with her adopted sister and announced a transfer of power on the spot."Isolde, what is this farce?" Grand Elder Marcus pressed his withered hand on the documents. "You're handing the flock over to a fox.""I've never been more serious." I signed my name in blood-red ink on the transfer deed. "From this day forward, Vivienne will hold the Progenitor's Shares, which carry the ultimate power of veto."Vivienne's body trembled with excitement, but she did her best to feign humility, tears clinging to her eyelashes. "Sister, I... how could I possibly be worthy? This honor should be yours.""Save your tears," I said, pushing the heavy documents toward her. "Don't disappoint the clan."In the limousine on the way back to the castle, the partition rose.In the confines of the car, Vivienne finally dropped her mask of innocence."Isolde, why are you doing all this?"

"Please return at once, my lord." Silas's voice was calm and firm.At the Elder Council."What? Isolde is severing her soul link with the sacred relic?" Grand Elder Marcus gripped the phone, his knuckles white. "Sterling, are you certain? That is a death sentence!""The documents arrived last night, Grand Elder. Isolde signed them herself with a blood seal," Sterling's voice said over the phone. "She has transferred all rights to Miss Vivienne, including the soul-bond. Furthermore, she used an irrevocable trust. Not even the Council can freeze it."Marcus slammed the phone down, his ancient face pale. The council chamber was deadly silent."This is all wrong," Marcus paced back and forth, his brows furrowed deeply. "Isolde has never been impulsive. Giving everything to a fledgling... it reeks of a trap.""Could it be..." a subordinate hesitated, "that the shock of the coronation was too much for her?""Contact her immediately!" Marcus roared."We've tried. We cannot sense her."Before

The holographic projection didn't stop for Miles's stunned silence.The image changed, displaying a private family physician's diagnostic log, with dates spanning the last three months.The report clearly stated: Subject: Vivienne Thorne. Transformation Status: Complete. Rejection Symptoms: None. Physical Condition: Healthy.Every line was another hammer blow to Miles's face."That's impossible..." The world was spinning around Miles. "She was in pain every day. I saw it with my own eyes..."The screen switched to another file, a recorded phone call.The timestamp was from a week ago.Vivienne's voice filled the room, light and cheerful, completely lacking her usual feigned weakness."Your Majesty, Wolf King, the plan is proceeding smoothly.""How are things on Isolde's end?" a gruff male voice asked."She's dying," Vivienne laughed, her tone demonic. "The Blood Blight, with no cure. She won't last more than a few days. I have Miles completely wrapped around my finger. He'll do anythi

"Kill me... Miles, I'm begging you, give me a knife..."At the top of the clock tower, the midday screams were more punctual than the church bells.Vivienne was curled in a corner of the "Sun Cage." The specially enchanted glass filtered out the sun's lethal ultraviolet rays, leaving only a searing heat that felt like a branding iron.Her skin ulcerated and healed, over and over again.Miles stood in the shadows below the tower, clutching a withered lily. He listened to her wails from above, his face a mask of stone."My Lord, are you not going to see her?" Silas asked coldly from behind him. "Today marks one month of her punishment.""No." Miles turned and walked toward the edge of the muddy cemetery he had defiled. "Death would be too easy for her. Her hell is living."He walked to the edge of the cemetery and stopped abruptly.The invisible barrier was still there. If he took one more step, the blood curse Isolde had left behind would scorch his soul.For an entire month, he had be