Chapter 2
Carl knelt with his back perfectly straight, his black hair shadowing his eyes.
I sliced open my wrist. Dark golden blood welled from the wound, carrying a scent tempting enough to drive any vampire crazy.
"Carl, raise your head," I said.
His body trembled slightly before he finally raised his head. Storm-like emotions churned in his dark eyes, barely held beneath the surface.
With shaking hands, he bit into his own wrist and pressed the wound against mine in absolute devotion.
The moment our blood blended, an ancient blood bond circle ignited beneath our feet.
The blood bond could not only strengthen our emotional connection but also enable us to share our power.
As the bond formed, I immediately sensed the emotions and desires Carl had suppressed in his heart: absolute submission and possessiveness.
For a moment, I remembered the feelings I'd sensed from Arthur after our blood bond formed: subtle annoyance and reluctance.
Carl's movement pulled me back to the present. He lowered himself onto one knee and pressed a reverent kiss to the back of my hand.
"Carl, how dare you!" Arthur finally snapped out of it, his eyes blazing as he lunged toward us.
He was overwhelmed by jealousy.
Because he knew better than anyone that a bonded blood thrall could gain extraordinary power and privilege.
"Get lost," Carl said. He didn't even turn around, simply lifting one hand.
Arthur was sent flying like a broken doll. His body slammed hard against a stone pillar before he crashed to the floor, blood spilling from his mouth.
Even so, he still glared at me stubbornly. "Victoria, you're only doing this to spite me. You'll regret it."
I couldn't even be bothered to look at him.
I declared, "From today onward, Carl is my only bonded blood thrall. As for Arthur, strip him of his status and throw him into the Blood Dungeon. Once his punishment is over, send him to the outer castle to do rough work."
*****
The next day, I stood on the balcony outside my chambers, letting sunlight pour across my skin.
A vampire bound to a human through the blood bond would not be harmed by sunlight.
Last time, I had chosen Arthur.
He severed our bond with a holy-water dagger and left me to burn into ashes beneath the sun.
This time, I chose Carl. And now I remained completely unharmed.
Carl entered quietly with a cup of warm blood in his hands. "My master, it's mixed with fresh rose dew."
He got down on one knee beside the bed, his gaze moving slowly across my face, dark with restrained desire.
I took the crystal cup and sipped from it, thoroughly pleased. "Carl, you don't have to call me master."
He froze briefly, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Then, how about Countess Victoria?"
"We've already formed the blood bond. Now you're my..." I paused before the words "blood mate" could leave my lips.
Arthur had always hated that title.
Before the sunlight reduced me to ashes, he finally said, "Victoria, you're too greedy. As a vampire, you were never meant to crave the sun. This is the price for trying to chain me down.
"And as my blood mate, you should've obeyed me completely instead of standing above me. This is what you deserve for defying me."
I lifted Carl's chin and forced him to meet my gaze. "What do you want to call me?"
His breathing faltered instantly.
He suddenly grabbed my wrist with all the strength a human could have, but then released it carefully. "Vicky."
I froze. It was my nickname. Only Prince Alaric had ever called me that in private.
Carl continued, his voice rough, "But I don't dare. I'm afraid this is only a dream. And when the dream ends, you'll still choose Arthur."