Chapter 2
The room fell silent for a moment.
Wendy was obviously stunned.
She looked down at the blood ring in her palm, like she hadn't fully understood what was going on.
A few seconds later, she frowned. "Eric, stop being dramatic."
There was a hint of impatience in her voice.
It was like she was trying to soothe someone having a meltdown.
"Edward only needs me for the time being," Wendy said. "Once the baby's born, everything will go back to normal."
As I looked at her, I suddenly realized that even now, she didn't think she was at fault.
She took it for granted that I'd always be around and wait for her.
I chuckled. "Alright. So, be with him then."
Wendy's face faltered for a moment.
She stared at me, as if she finally sensed something was wrong.
Back then, no matter what she did, I never reacted this way.
I'd always kept quiet, backed down, and cleaned up her messes.
But this time, I didn't even bother reacting to her.
Wendy grabbed my wrist without thinking.
Her cold fingers were trembling as she asked, "Eric, are you serious?"
I looked down at her hand and uncurled her fingers from my wrist.
My movements were gentle, but her face drained of all color.
I replied, "Wendy, a vampire engagement isn't some charity case.
"And I'm not about to raise another man's child."
Wendy's breath caught. Anger finally flashed in her eyes. "You weren't like this before.
"Edward is in a tough spot right now. I'm only helping him out.
"Why are you forcing me?"
I looked at her quietly and suddenly realized that even now, she still thought I was giving her a hard time.
She never realized she'd wrecked what we had.
*****
I didn't say another word but turned and walked out of the study.
Her hurried footsteps echoed behind me.
"Eric!" Wendy called out.
She tried to follow me.
But the vampire guards in the long hallway of the castle were standing in her path.
They bowed their heads but refused to let her pass.
It was obvious to everyone that I was truly leaving her for good.
*****
Half an hour later, I got into a black carriage.
The castle faded into the distance.
The cold rain beat against the window.
I looked down and opened my pocket watch.
Inside was a faded old photo.
It was taken at the first Blood Moon Party that Wendy and I attended together.
She stood beside me, her smile radiant and fearless.
Back then, when she looked at me, it was genuine.
But it was a pity that everyone would change.
I gently closed the pocket watch.
Then, I took out the scroll of the Council of Elders and signed the annulment papers.
And I filed to leave the Sterling coven's lands.
As the blood imprint was set, a sharp pain stabbed through my mind.
It was the backlash from severing the blood bond.
I severed the last tie between Wendy and me.
I closed my eyes and leaned back in my seat.
My chest felt empty, like something was missing.
But for the first time, I felt a strange sense of relief.
*****
Meanwhile, inside the castle's grand hall, Wendy stood rooted to the spot, gripping the blood ring tightly in her hand.
Her expression turned grimmer by the moment because she'd lost all connection to me out of the blue.
The mental link between us had been severed.
*****
The snow in Northfeld was colder than that in Southfeld.
As the carriage rolled through the dark pine woods, the old wound in my shoulder started to throb again.
It was left from last year's hunter raid.
A holy silver arrow through the bone could leave lasting damage, beyond a vampire's ability to heal.
I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes to rest.
On the seat beside me lay a letter sealed with black and gold wax.
It was from Claude Ravenshade, the Prince of Northfeld.
Three days ago, after I submitted my annulment papers, this invitation was sent to the Council of Elders.
*****
And now, I was officially entering the lands of Northfeld.
The night grew darker.
At the foot of the distant snow-capped mountains, a massive black castle slowly emerged.
Its spires pierced the clouds, with the blood moon hanging overhead.
This was the heart of the Northfeld vampire coven and the place for one of the most powerful bloodline clans in Eunoranica.
*****
When the carriage stopped, dozens of high-ranking vampires in silver-lined robes were lined up on either side of the steps.
They all bowed to greet me. "Welcome, Lord Eric."
The moment I stepped out, I could feel many eyes on me.
Being of the pure Nightborn Bloodline and the youngest expert on blood bonds meant a lot in the vampire world.
Especially in recent years, old blood bonds had kept going haywire nonstop.
Many clan members lost their minds, and some even turned on the ones who created them.
And I was the only one who could restore high-level blood bonds.