Chapter 6
Caroline was keeping watch by my side, and when she saw Derek approaching with that stormy expression, she instinctively shrank back.
He came to a halt right in front of me.
"You know there's something wrong with your blood," he said.
I looked up at him, my face a picture of utter confusion. "What's wrong with it?"
"Stop pretending," he hissed, keeping his voice low. "Stanley said your blood has a factor that those who have been Embraced cannot process. You've been feeding her your blood for eight years. There's no way you didn't know."
I set my cup down and slowly stood up.
"Derek, you're saying there's something wrong with my blood?" I asked. "Then tell me, who was the one who insisted on draining my blood to feed her in the first place?
"I told you I didn't want to, but you said, 'You recover fast. Giving up a bit of your blood is nothing compared to the bigger picture.'
"I told you I couldn't take it, but you said, 'It's just a small cup. It won't do you any real harm.'
"So let me get this straight. Now that she can't stomach my blood, that's supposed to be my fault too?"
Derek's lips moved, but he didn't say a word because every word I said was the truth.
He couldn't come up with a single rebuttal.
"Even if we go way out on a limb here," I said calmly, looking him straight in the eye, "do you really think I can alter the makeup of my own blood?
"I'm the last of the Coven. I can't even command the servants. What could I possibly do to pull any tricks?
"Either your alchemist messed up, or Victoria's body can't take my blood. Either way, how is that my problem?"
I kept my voice low the whole time.
Every word came out soft and calm.
A muscle in Derek's jaw ticked with frustration.
He knew I was right, but he wouldn't admit it.
"You better not be lying to me," Derek shot back and then stormed off without another word.
Caroline let out a shaky breath, leaning against the wall. "Ms. Virellian, that was scary as hell. The look in his eyes..."
I ignored her.
The Sanctblood Will whispered again, deep within my veins, "Host, seventh seal activation progress: forty-two percent. Additional emotional resonance required for further advancement."
More emotional resonance.
So, I guessed I was still not hurting enough yet. Let them keep making a mess of things for a while longer.
That night, Victoria vomited blood seven times.
Word quickly swept through the entire castle.
By the next morning, the Coven Council showed up again with their envoys.
This time, there were three of them.
Leading the group was Countess Isabella Ravenscroft, the oldest hand in the Council.
She stood at the center of the main hall, clad in ceremonial robes of bone-white, her expression unreadable as she looked from me to Derek.
"Prince Bennett, the Council has received multiple reports accusing your official wife, Lillian, of poisoning Victoria. By Coven law, the Council will now conduct a blood test on her," Isabella declared.
Derek instinctively stepped in front of Victoria, his voice low and firm. "Go ahead, test her."
He shot me a look over his shoulder.
That look said it all. 'You'd better not be hiding anything.'
I gave Isabella a respectful nod. "Go ahead."
The blood test was held right there in the main hall.
Isabella handled it herself.
She drew three drops of my origin blood from my wrist and let them fall into a silver ritual vessel.
The Sanguine Vessel shimmered for a moment and then glowed with a soft white light.
"Pure," Isabella said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Even purer than the origin blood of most remnants of the Coven."
She glanced up at me, her gaze lingering for a moment on the mark at my collarbone. "Exceptionally pure."
She withdrew her gaze and turned to Derek.
"Your Highness, Ms. Virellian's blood is completely clean—no toxins at all. If Ms. Wooten's bloodline is rejecting it, you might want to look elsewhere for the cause," Isabella said.
"And one more thing," she said, snapping the Sanguine Vessel shut, "the Council's order to collect Ms. Virellian's origin blood is on pause for now.
"Because in her current state, it's just not safe to take any more from her."
Derek's expression shifted, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face.
Behind him, Victoria bit her lip, her nails digging deep into her palm.
Before Isabella left with her entourage, she lingered by my side for a moment.
She spoke in a whisper only I could hear. "Girl, your blood is really something. Drop by the Council and see me sometime."
Then she walked away.
I stood there, my heartbeat steady.
The Sanctblood Will gave a faint, almost amused tremor deep within my veins.
Victoria was at it again, kicking up a fuss.
Instead of backing off after the blood test results, she only escalated things.
That afternoon, tears streaking her face, she barged into Derek's study and smashed a pile of Sanguine Vessels right in front of his three lieutenants.
"Derek, you believe her? She's some leftover Coven. How could her blood be purer than mine? She must've messed with the ritual so the Sanguine Vessel wouldn't show anything," Victoria shrieked.
Derek rubbed his temples, his voice weary. "Victoria, Isabella did the test herself. There's no way she's wrong."
"Then Isabella must be in cahoots with her," Victoria shrieked.