She Took My Place I Cut His Clan
My blood-mate, Lord Lucien, found out.
I gave the “Moonlight Blood” treaty, the one I bled to secure with the werewolf packs, to his new pet, Celeste.
He thought it was the result of his decade of cold neglect. A sign I had finally shattered.
So, he offered to take me to the centennial Crimson Feast in Venice.
But when Celeste heard, she flew into a jealous rage and threatened to leave his clan.
Lucien, who catered to her every whim, panicked.
He spent three days and nights soothing her ego, even giving her his prized Elder Blood.
Then he left me behind again, using a border skirmish with our rivals as an excuse. He gave her my invitation—the only one.
Later, he explained himself, lounging on his sarcophagus with a careless air.
"Love is a luxury we can't always afford, Octavia. The clan's survival is everything. I am their Lord. I have responsibilities."
"You are my blood-mate, Octavia," he said. "You'll support me. Won't you?"
A thrall presented a magic mirror. In it, Celeste pressed her pale cheek against Lucien’s shoulder.
They embraced under the moonlight, their lips meeting as they exchanged blood.
I said nothing. I just nodded.
Lucien thought I had finally learned my place. A satisfied smirk curled his lips as he promised to buy my silence with a trinket from his private collection when he returned.
But he didn't know.
I had already cut ties with the clan. And he had already signed the dissolution papers with his own blood.
There was no "us" anymore.