Chapter 3 · Cursed Bond, Lost Love

After returning to the castle, I slipped into my coffin and finally got to close my eyes again.

Since I was given another chance, I hadn't slept well for a single night.

The nightmare of dying under the blazing sun kept following me around, never letting me sleep in peace.

Now that Lucas was handed over to Theodore, he probably wouldn't last much longer.

Vampires had incredibly long lifespans. When life got too boring, they sometimes chose to go into a deep slumber and wake up decades or centuries later.

Maybe by the time I woke up, he'd already be gone.

*****

I slept for a long time, about a hundred years.

The news of Duchess Maeve waking up spread like wildfire among the vampires.

Vampires started showing up at my castle. It was the perfect excuse to throw a huge party to celebrate my fresh start.

But what caught me off guard was that I never thought I'd get to meet Lucas again.

He'd been turned into a lowest-ranking vampire by Theodore and was dragged in front of me, chained up.

"Duchess Maeve, do you remember this little pet you gave me?" Theodore stuck out his tongue and licked his fangs, a wicked grin on his face. "Go on, say hello to your previous master."

Lucas lifted his head, his eyes calm as he looked at me. "Greetings, Your Grace."

I tried to read his reaction, but there was nothing there.

Theodore suddenly burst out laughing. "Duchess Maeve, I really have to thank you for the entertainment. You made the last hundred years a lot less boring for me.

"This blood servant was so terrified of dying that he willingly became my slave for eternity, to be turned into a vampire and gain immortality.

"He lets me do whatever I want to him: beat him or order him around. Isn't that funny?"

I gave a faint smile. "As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters."

Halfway through the party, Theodore suddenly announced he had a "spectacular show" for everyone.

He ordered his servants to bring in piles of firewood and torches, bound Lucas at the center of the hall, and set the pyre alight.

In an instant, the flames lit up the entire castle.

Lucas let out a piercing scream.

He was a lowest-ranking vampire, only half-turned. He was unlike us purebloods, who were immune to fire.

But his regeneration was way better than when he was human. So he kept getting burned, only to heal and suffer all over again, worsening the pain.

The vampires all around us shot disgusted looks at the scene.

Clearly, they thought torturing one of their own was plain wrong.

Theodore was grinning with satisfaction, completely ignoring everyone else's opinions.

Strangely enough, as I watched the flames, my skin prickled with heat, as if I could feel the burning pain myself.

These flames wouldn't kill Lucas.

He dropped to his knees, his mind clouded, and muttered something that sent a chill down my spine. "It's so hot. The sun is scorching. It hurts so much.

"Maeve, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it."

I shot up from my seat and, with a flick of my hand, extinguished the flames engulfing Lucas.

Theodore shot me a vicious glare. "What the hell are you doing?"

I let out a cold snort, teleported right behind him, and slashed at him without hesitation. "I've changed my mind. He's coming with me now."

"How dare you!" Theodore roared, his eyes blazing with fury as he blocked my strike and lunged back at me.

In a few seconds, we traded countless blows.

But it didn't take long for Theodore to lose to me.

"You bitch. One day, you'll pay for this." Theodore spat, his voice full of venom as he limped away from the castle, nursing his wounds.

The other vampires, seeing how things were going, wisely left my place.

I stared at Lucas, who was curled up and shaking on the floor, my expression a mess of emotions. For a brief moment, a shadow of gloom flashed through my eyes.

Now that this unfaithful jerk had been given another chance, I, Maeve Lothian, would finish him off on my own.

I ordered, "Lock him up in the dungeon. Thirty lashes every day and—"

Before I could finish, crisp knocks suddenly echoed from the door.

The steward went to open it, and a soft, timid female voice floated in. "Excuse me. Do you need a blood servant here?"

Chapter 3

After returning to the castle, I slipped into my coffin and finally got to close my eyes again.

Since I was given another chance, I hadn't slept well for a single night.

The nightmare of dying under the blazing sun kept following me around, never letting me sleep in peace.

Now that Lucas was handed over to Theodore, he probably wouldn't last much longer.

Vampires had incredibly long lifespans. When life got too boring, they sometimes chose to go into a deep slumber and wake up decades or centuries later.

Maybe by the time I woke up, he'd already be gone.

*****

I slept for a long time, about a hundred years.

The news of Duchess Maeve waking up spread like wildfire among the vampires.

Vampires started showing up at my castle. It was the perfect excuse to throw a huge party to celebrate my fresh start.

But what caught me off guard was that I never thought I'd get to meet Lucas again.

He'd been turned into a lowest-ranking vampire by Theodore and was dragged in front of me, chained up.

"Duchess Maeve, do you remember this little pet you gave me?" Theodore stuck out his tongue and licked his fangs, a wicked grin on his face. "Go on, say hello to your previous master."

Lucas lifted his head, his eyes calm as he looked at me. "Greetings, Your Grace."

I tried to read his reaction, but there was nothing there.

Theodore suddenly burst out laughing. "Duchess Maeve, I really have to thank you for the entertainment. You made the last hundred years a lot less boring for me.

"This blood servant was so terrified of dying that he willingly became my slave for eternity, to be turned into a vampire and gain immortality.

"He lets me do whatever I want to him: beat him or order him around. Isn't that funny?"

I gave a faint smile. "As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters."

Halfway through the party, Theodore suddenly announced he had a "spectacular show" for everyone.

He ordered his servants to bring in piles of firewood and torches, bound Lucas at the center of the hall, and set the pyre alight.

In an instant, the flames lit up the entire castle.

Lucas let out a piercing scream.

He was a lowest-ranking vampire, only half-turned. He was unlike us purebloods, who were immune to fire.

But his regeneration was way better than when he was human. So he kept getting burned, only to heal and suffer all over again, worsening the pain.

The vampires all around us shot disgusted looks at the scene.

Clearly, they thought torturing one of their own was plain wrong.

Theodore was grinning with satisfaction, completely ignoring everyone else's opinions.

Strangely enough, as I watched the flames, my skin prickled with heat, as if I could feel the burning pain myself.

These flames wouldn't kill Lucas.

He dropped to his knees, his mind clouded, and muttered something that sent a chill down my spine. "It's so hot. The sun is scorching. It hurts so much.

"Maeve, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it."

I shot up from my seat and, with a flick of my hand, extinguished the flames engulfing Lucas.

Theodore shot me a vicious glare. "What the hell are you doing?"

I let out a cold snort, teleported right behind him, and slashed at him without hesitation. "I've changed my mind. He's coming with me now."

"How dare you!" Theodore roared, his eyes blazing with fury as he blocked my strike and lunged back at me.

In a few seconds, we traded countless blows.

But it didn't take long for Theodore to lose to me.

"You bitch. One day, you'll pay for this." Theodore spat, his voice full of venom as he limped away from the castle, nursing his wounds.

The other vampires, seeing how things were going, wisely left my place.

I stared at Lucas, who was curled up and shaking on the floor, my expression a mess of emotions. For a brief moment, a shadow of gloom flashed through my eyes.

Now that this unfaithful jerk had been given another chance, I, Maeve Lothian, would finish him off on my own.

I ordered, "Lock him up in the dungeon. Thirty lashes every day and—"

Before I could finish, crisp knocks suddenly echoed from the door.

The steward went to open it, and a soft, timid female voice floated in. "Excuse me. Do you need a blood servant here?"