Chapter 1

I am Belladonna.

To the humans who built towns at the foot of my mountain, I am a myth meant to keep children indoors after dark. To the vampires who rule the night courts, I am a monster among monsters.

My blood does not grant life or pleasure to my kind. It is pure venom. A single drop on a vampire’s tongue delivers a severe burn worse than vervain. It scorches their veins from the inside out and leaves them raving mad finally relieving them of their misery by sending them to the after life.

And that is the reason why I'm infamous. The name Belladonna is not just my birth name. It is a double entendre.

So, I chose this isolation. I built my cold sanctuary in the mountain surrounded by silence. And for many years, the silence was my blanket of comfort.

Until one night...

I sat in front of the hearth, sipping from a glass of wine and reminiscing as the night was greeted with the cold rainfall and heavy wind. The years had passed by like the days would in a human life. And as much as I enjoyed the peace, a small side of me was seeking for an adventure. Not the kind that promised danger. But something of a different kind of thrill. Maybe a trip to the cold waterfalls or a beautiful amazon rainforest .

Suddenly, the doors of the estate shook under the impact of a violent kick.

I sat up swiftly, my eyes narrowing a bit. The howling wind outside was not enough to interfere with my hearing or focus.

A second kick came to the door again. This one was louder and screamed of desperation. It nearly detached the hinges. And then came silence.

"Lilith, give me strength," I grumbled under my breath as I rose from the chair.

Ignoring the wind slipping through my black silk robe to caress my naked skin beneath, I moved towards the entrance, the rest of my grumblings incoherent.

Seducing death was my specialty, but stupidity was rarely an invitation I accepted. Whoever was at the other side of the door must have thought twice. And if this was an idea of a silly joke, I would reward such by draining that person completely dry and make it a perfect overall dinner.

I pulled back the iron latch and dragged the door open.

The freezing wind hit my face first, carrying with it a scent so heavy it made my fangs ache behind my gums. My eyes then lowered to the ground and my eyebrows rose.

A man was collapsed against the archway. One hand was pressed against his ribs, clutching a jagged, black-veined wound. My eyes widened slightly in recognition of his attire. It was a fine, tailored leather of high nobility. However, it had been majorly torn to ribbons and soaked in crimson.

He lifted his head to stare at me. At that moment, my cold heart missed a beat and a strange warmth penetrated my chest.

Even half-dead, covered in mud and his own gore, this stranger possessed a devilish beauty. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead by the rain, and his eyes were a striking gold, revealing his vampiric heritage. Those golden orbs locked onto mine with a hint of feral intensity and desperstion. A shiver slithered to the base of my stomach and then crossed the midst of my thighs, down to my toes. And no, it wasn't because of the cold rainfall.

"Help me," the stranger groaned in a voice hoarse, yet almost silky.

Regaining my posture and steeling myself, I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms as the wind whipped my dark hair around my face.

"You’ve chosen the wrong door, stranger," I said. "I don't offer shelter."

My eyes narrowed with dangerous intent. "And I certainly don't offer mercy."

"I didn't come for mercy, Belladonna." He let out a harsh, breathless laugh that ended in a dark cough. "I came because you're the only creature alive whose blood might be toxic enough to burn out a shadow-curse."

"So, you know my name." My eyebrows perked in interest and a twinge of surprise.

"Yes." A violent cough escaped his lips. "Your reputation precedes you."

"You know who I am and what runs through my veins." I scowled. "Yet you dragged your broken body up a frozen mountain just to seek it out."

"Yes." He nodded weakly. "It was a risk that was worth it."

"If you drink from me, you die," I said in a tone of dismissal. "Your hazardous journey has been a waste of time. Save us both the mess and let the cold finish you."

I stepped back to shut the door. However, his hand shot out and gripped the edge, stopping it from closing. In my surprise, I noticed his fingers trembling with force.

"Please, help me," he coughed again.

"Has the approaching hands of death gripped you so firmly that it has affected your sense of hearing?" I frowned. "Did you not hear me just say that you'll die if you drink from me?"

"Then let me die trying." A defiant glow shone in his eyes. "Because if I die on this doorstep, my brother takes the crown, and this whole continent burns. So open the damn door... or kill me yourself."

The sheer audacity of him sent an unexpected pulse of heat straight through my chest.

I stared down at the man bleeding on my threshold and my mind slipped into deliberation. The best thing to do would be shoving him into the snow. It would be a pleasant delight to watch the mountain swallow him whole.

'But wouldn't it be also something to see him be consumed by his delusion?' A devious part of my mind whispered. 'If he wants to take the risk with the blood from your veins, knowing it would kill him, why not grant him that wish.'

Exhaling loudly, I gripped his collar, hauled his heavy frame over the threshold, and slammed the door.