Chapter 5
Lilith gasped, clutching her mouth in mock horror. “Lucien, she’s turning into a Feral! If you don’t deal with her now, she’ll become a danger to everyone in this manor!”
Lucien’s expression cracked-slowly, painfully-under the weight of her words. “That’s impossible,” he muttered. “Only noble vampires were present tonight. I told Harrow to release a few Ferals just to frighten her. They weren’t supposed to
get out.”
He didn’t want to believe it. But somewhere deep down… he knew.
Lucien couldn’t accept thisStill, he acted. Desperate, he bit into his wrist and brought it to my lips, letting his pureblood drip into my mouth.
“Celeste, no matter who turned you, if I give you the Embrace now, it might not be too late.”
But even as he said it, his lashes trembled uncontrollably as he saw my completely crimson eyes.
Because Lucien Blackthorne, prince of the Crimson Court, knew better than anyone: It was too late.
The moment his blood touched my tongue, I was like a thirsty traveler finding water in the desert
I drank greedily. A burning sensation spread from within, my thirst screaming for more.
I swallowed every drop he offered soon.
Then my gaze drifted to his pale throat. My throat tightened with raw thirst.
Holding nearly desperate darkness in his eyes, Lucien slowly pulled down the collar of his shirt, exposing his neck to me.
“It’s not enough, is it? You’re still hungry. Then take what you need.”
A growl tore from my throat-animalistic, involuntary. I lunged without thinking. My fangs pierced him.
He gasped, but didn’t fight. He opened his arms and let me feed, let me take everything I craved.
But before I could take more than a few mouthfuls, pain exploded in my chest. A blinding flash of silver. A dagger.
I staggered back, choking on my own gasp.
Lilith stood across from us, her eyes gleaming with malice. In her hand was a silver blade, still wet with my blood, the drops falling to the floor with soft, final splashes.
Lucien didn’t hesitate. He struck her hard across the face. “Who gave you the right to touch her?!”
Lilith reeled, cupping her cheek in disbelief as tears spilled from her eyes. “What was I supposed to do? Let her drain you dry? Lucien, she’s lost her mind. You’re the prince, you must deal with Ferals properly-no exceptions, no breaking our
laws.”
Lucien turned toward me, despair and pain twisting his features. “Newly embraced vampires naturally have difficulty controlling their thirst for blood. I don’t believe Celeste was turned by a Feral, and I don’t believe she’d become such
trash”
Chapter 5
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“She must’ve been changed by a noble. A true vampire. And when the next blood moon rises in seven days, she’ll awaken -her powers, her mind, her memories. Until then, no one touches her.”
Without another word, Lucien lifted me into his arms and carried me toward his chambers.
Behind us, Lilith’s voice rang out, thick with envy and venom. “You’ll see, Lucien! Seven days from now, you’ll realize the
truth-she won’t awaken to anything! She’s just a blood-hungry beast. A filthy mistake!”
But her words were cut off by the heavy slam of the bedroom door.
After bringing me back to the room, he placed his hand on my forehead and used his power. “Get some rest, Celeste.”
His fingers threaded through my hair. His breath trembled. “Seven days… You’ll surely regain consciousness. You’ll remember everything, won’t you?”
I sank into unconsciousness under the pull of his powers.
But even in that dreamlike void, I felt him feeding me his blood every day.
He knew it wouldn’t help, but he did it anyway. And through it all, he whispered at my side, like a prayer he couldn’t give up
“Do you remember the first time we met? You were working in that little bar… The moment I walked in, I was drawn to your
unique scent.”
“Even through the smoke and liquor and cloying perfume, your scent hit me like lightning. I couldn’t stay away.”
Chapter 5
