From Ashes to His Embrace

Synopsis

As a rising star among vampires, I was soon to be crowned Countess at the Blood Bond Ceremony. Prince Alaric personally selected eight human blood thralls from his territory as gifts for me. They had been raised to worship their vampire masters with absolute obedience, except Arthur Sterling. It was his defiant nature that drew my attention and made me willing to share both my immortality and power with him. On the first day after the Blood Bond Ceremony, I stood atop the cathedral dome, letting the sunlight brush against my skin. Then Arthur betrayed me. To elope with his childhood friend, Lillian Hart, he used a silver dagger blessed with holy water to sever our blood bond forcibly. Exposed to the blazing sun, my flesh burned away piece by piece. I collapsed in agony as my body crumbled into ashes and scattered into the wind. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the Blood Bond Ceremony. Arthur was still kneeling before me on one knee. This time, I kicked him aside without hesitation and pointed at Carl Whitmore crouching in the darkest corner. I said, "I choose him."