Chapter 2

Snapping back to reality, I looked down at the young man sprawled on the floor.

There was no denying that Lucas was so handsome that he even outshone any vampire I'd ever met.

He clearly knew his advantage, too. Fighting back the pain contorting his features, he looked up at me pleadingly. "Ms. Maeve Lothian, if I—"

I cut him off coldly. "Don't call me by my name. You should call me Master."

He lowered his gaze instantly, looking submissive. "Yes, Master.

"If I've done anything wrong, please punish me, Master. Don't be angry with me. Ruining your mood is the last thing I'd ever want."

I stared at Lucas for a moment, watching his nervousness. A wicked smile curled on my lips. "Alright."

I raised my hand, signaling the steward behind me. "Drag him to the dungeon and give him a proper torment. Don't let him out unless I give the order."

Lucas's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't wrap his head around how the person who had doted on him moments ago could turn so ruthless.

The steward immediately summoned two burly servants who manhandled Lucas, one on each side, hoisting him up without a shred of gentleness.

Much to my disappointment, Lucas didn't beg for mercy. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he stayed silent.

As he was dragged away, his deep blue eyes never broke contact with mine, as if he were trying to etch my face into his soul.

*****

Two days passed in a blur.

Since Lucas was thrown into the dungeon, the other blood servants had been bending over backwards to cheer me up. They hoped to take Lucas's place.

Even the steward tried to persuade me. He suggested I could pick one of the blood servants to sleep with me if I felt lonely.

But I wasn't in the mood for any of that. All I could think about was how to make Lucas pay for his betrayal.

Ending his life was too easy for him. Keeping him locked up in the castle forever made me sick.

As I was racking my brain for a solution, the steward came with the news that Lucas was dying.

*****

With an icy expression, I rushed down to the dungeon.

Lucas was lying in a damp, shadowy corner, blood streaming from the base of his thumb. A shard of glass lay nearby.

Clearly, the shard was from the bowl he used for his meals.

Lucas heard the footsteps. His lashes trembled as he weakly opened his eyes.

"Master," Lucas whispered, licking his cracked lips. "I don't know what I did to make you refuse to see me. For someone who loves you so much, it feels like you're taking my life.

"So if giving up my life is what it takes to calm your anger, then I'm willing to do it."

With that, he closed his eyes, his breathing growing weaker by the second.

I swallowed hard, forcing down my craving for blood, and ordered the steward behind me, "Go fetch a human doctor."

As soon as I finished speaking, Lucas's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

I saw through his trick.

In my previous life, Lucas only managed to win me over thanks to his obsessive ways and ruthless tactics.

Back then, I probably would've totally bought into his act.

But now that I knew how heartless he'd get after he stopped caring about me, there was no way I'd fall for it again.

I thought about a place that was probably suitable for an unfaithful mate.

After patching up Lucas's wounds, I waited until he was out cold and then hopped in the carriage and headed for Count Theodore's castle.

Despite being a fellow vampire, Theodore was always the black sheep among us. His treatment of blood servants was nothing like that of the so-called high-ranking vampires.

All of his blood servants were scarred and battered. They were victims of his cruel whippings and torture, only to be drained dry and tossed aside.

I knocked on the castle gates and personally handed the unconscious Lucas over to Theodore's steward. "Tell your master this is a gift from Duchess Maeve.

"She specifically said to let your master have his fun with this man."