Chapter 1
I was Lucien Blackthorne’s caged songbird-his treasured little human pet-until the day he brought home a new girl.
She was human, like me. But her parents had both been elite vampire slayers.
Lucien stroked my hair gently, his tone soft even as his words cut like glass. “Train her. Break her. Make her the lowest of
the low.”
Her name was Lilith Davenport. I pitied her-another caged bird in the manor-so I only had her do simple duties. Tea
runs. Chores.
That was enough for Lucien to strip me of the gilded key-the symbol of my authority as mistress of Ravencourt Manor. “Can’t even handle these yourself? Lazy kitten. You need to be punished.”
On my birthday, he promised nine surprises.
I spent the night alone, waiting in a cold, empty room until dawn broke. The only ‘gift’ I received was the sound of Lucien and Lilith crying out in ecstasy. Nine times.
By the next day, emboldened by his favor, Lilith had already trespassed into Crimson Hollow-the forbidden heart of vampire territory-to test how much he truly loved her.
In his fury, Luciensummoned the entire Crimson Court for a “celebration” – a twisted game of hide-and-seek designed to punish.
But the one he offered up as prey… Wasn’t Lilith. It was me.
Lucien held Lilith in his lap, looking down at me with cold disdain. “Celeste,” he said, “who gave you the right to send her into the Hollow? Aren’t you the one who loves treating others like blood thralls? Guess who your new master might be. Maybe a Feral? One of those drooling, mindless brutes with jagged teeth?”
The very thought of being bitten by a Feral made me tremble.
Once they turned you, there was no going back. You became one of them-an ugly, bloodthirsty beast.
“Lucien,” I whispered, “I didn’t send her into the Hollow. She went on her own-”
But he cut me off with a bitter laugh. “I warned you. The Hollow holds the shrine of the Progenitor. Any human who trespasses becomes a blood thrall. The noble vampires guarding that place will drain them completely dry.”
–
“You really expect me to believe Lilith just waltzed into there to die for no reason at all? That’s the best lie you’ve got?”
Looking at the cold, merciless Lucien, my vision blurred with memories.
Suddenly I recalled how the most exalted prince of the bloodline had once knelt before me -so humbly, so earnestly-
as he placed the Gilded key representing power and status in Ravencourt Manor in my hands with trembling hands.
“Celeste,” he had whispered, “the world yields all its treasures to me without question. Yet all I truly desire… is your heart.”
It was he who brought Lilith, whose parents were both vampire slayers, ordering me to make her the lowest servant in Ravencourt.
Chapter 1
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I had shown mercy. I gave her chores, yes-but nothing more.
Lucien’s eyes turned cold as he questioned me: “Can’t you handle these things yourself? My lazy kitten, you deserve
punishment.”
Not only did he take away the key symbolizing my role as the lady of the house for her sake, but with it, the love he once
held for me
Now the nobles who had once bowed to me looked at me like ravenous wolves, salivating outside my cage.
“There’s something intoxicating about her scent,” one whispered. “If the prince hadn’t pampered her so completely, I’d have had my way with her ages ago-both her body and that sweet blood of hers.”.”
“I’ve been driven mad by her scent for weeks,” another growled. “The hunt’s about to start. Let us see whose fangs claim
her first.”
“When I catch her,” said a third, his eyes glowing red, “I’ll sink my teeth right into her carotid. It’s closest to the heart-
freshest and sweetest blood.”
Under their burning gazes, my body shook with fear.
Lucien showed me no mercy, only raised his glass and smiled.
“Let the hunt begin,” he said softly. “Enjoy the game.”
