Chapter 1

Everyone in the Council of Elders knew it.

Wendy Sterling only secured her position as the heiress because I was backing her.

But the day she found out she was pregnant, the child wasn't mine.

Wendy stood at the doorway to the study, her hand resting gently on her belly. "Eric, Edward's a total mess right now.

"He can't get by without me."

I looked up at her.

She was my fiancée.

Three years ago, she stood outside the Blood Moon Church, begging me to form a blood bond with her.

She swore I'd be the only man she'd ever love.

Now she was carrying her childhood sweetheart's baby, yet acted like it was perfectly fine to keep me propping up her family.

A bitter laugh escaped me. "So what do you want?"

Wendy didn't pick up on how I was feeling.

She lowered her voice and added, "Once the baby's born, we can still get married."

In that moment, the last three years felt like a joke for me.

I'd taken a holy silver arrow for her.

I'd rooted out traitors for her.

I'd nearly gotten killed by hunters to protect her coven's blood crystal lode.

And through it all, she never truly chose me.

I stood up slowly and slipped off the blood ring that stood for our engagement. "Wendy, you should be with Edward now."

*****

At midnight, icy rain lashed the castle walls.

I sat alone in the study, a silver candelabra flickering with ghostly blue flames, a blood bond scroll unfurled across the desk.

The scroll had the names of Wendy and me.

It was the blood bond she'd sealed three years ago, signing our engagement with her own blood.

That was the night she stood outside the Blood Moon Church, tears streaming down her face as she begged me to stay.

"Eric, you're the only one I trust," she said.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she clung to my sleeve as if letting go would shatter her world.

But now, she was different.

From outside the door, I heard the click of high heels on stone steps.

Each soft sound made my chest tighten.

The attendant opened the door and said softly, "Lord Eric, Ms. Sterling has arrived."

I didn't respond.

A few seconds later, Wendy stepped into the study.

She wore a black robe. Her blonde hair was a mess, and her face was almost drained of all color.

But what stood out most was the slight swell of her belly.

The room fell silent.

Vampires weren't supposed to have heartbeats.

Yet I could feel something pressing down on my chest.

Wendy stood there, her fingers gently caressing her belly.

She looked at me, sounding exhausted. "Edward's been a mess lately.

"He's been threatening to slit his wrists every day, and everyone in the coven is scared he'll actually do it."

I leaned back in my chair and watched her quietly.

Edward Blackwell was Wendy's childhood sweetheart, a low-ranking baron who lived off the Sterling coven.

He was the one she always said would always need her looking after.

Over the years, Wendy had put Edward first and left me out more than once.

In the past, I always believed I could wait for her to think everything over and settle down.

But now, she was carrying his child.

Wendy saw I wasn't saying anything, so she softened her voice. "Eric, the next one will be yours. I promise."

As she spoke, she tried to move closer to me, like she was trying to soothe me and do me a favor.

I couldn't help but feel a bitter urge to laugh.

Three years ago, Wendy begged me to make a blood bond with her.

Back then, everyone in the Council of Elders knew I was the youngest blood bond specialist in a hundred years.

I was born of the pure Nightborn Bloodline.

I could repair ancient blood bonds.

Countless covens sent invitations my way.

Even the Prince of Northfeld sent someone to try and win me over.

But in the end, I chose to stay with Wendy because I loved her.

She was always cold, so I rebuilt the entire castle's underground heating system to keep her warm.

Whenever she had a headache, I spent six months coming up with potions to help her feel better.

When she set her sights on the coven inheritance, I dealt with every rival clan that dared to covet her lands.

Last year, when hunters launched their attack on the border, I took a holy silver arrow through the shoulder, but I still defended the blood crystal lode for her.

Where was Wendy during all that?

She was attending a party with Edward.

Thinking about this, I suddenly felt a wave of emptiness.

I looked down at my ring finger.

There, I wore a dark red blood ring.

Inside that ring, the soul imprints of Wendy and me were bound together.

As long as our engagement remained, we could feel each other's emotions.

But now, I couldn't even bring myself to touch her anymore.

I slowly slipped off the blood ring and pressed it into her palm. "The engagement is over."