Michelle
It took Lucien Ashbourne, Blackwater's vampire lord, three nights to notice I hadn't requested any fresh food, human medicine, or clothes. At last, he called me himself.
"Evelyn, St. Raven's has the release order," he said, his voice low and patient. "Your treatment won't be interrupted. See? Stop treating Celeste like the enemy, and I can take care of everything."
The petition to dissolve our blood bond already bore my seal.
To the outside world, I had the kind of fairytale love every human girl dreamed of—with a vampire who would lay down his life to protect me.
Reality, as it turned out, was a little less romantic.
My blood could not open the castle's wards. I had no access to its accounts or medical reserves. Even my daily meals required the signature of Celeste Vane, his housekeeper.
She managed his household, his schedule, and every request that reached him.
Lucien called it convenience.
Three nights earlier, our unborn daughter's vampire blood had started rejecting my human blood. I was bleeding into a treatment pool at St. Raven's. The doctor said a transfusion of Lucien's heartblood could still save her if the vial was released from the family vault immediately.
I begged for its release.
Celeste demanded a second physician's seal. Then a blood-bank review. Then confirmation from the Night Court.
When I called Lucien, he told me to follow her instructions.
By the time the blood arrived, our daughter was gone.
I had stayed because I loved him, and because I believed that when it truly mattered, he would choose me.
I was wrong.
He was waiting for me to apologize again—for making a scene and causing trouble over his precious rules.
I'd signed the petition and packed what was left of our child.
I was leaving.