pte

f my mind, a realizati

know the man

who was even worse than our dog, Tati, when it came to barking at strangers. I could

operate. It felt as though I'd been drugged, comp

aiming me as his slave just be

hell was ha

chest. I could smell his cologne, and

fu

at the

smell so

ing me throu

a chuckle i

ic, but in a good way. Funny, too. I guess yo

he one carrying me, while the

I knew who

did they look like? Why did it feel as though they existed only

osed, I could feel s

like an electric current

y was being dramatic,

s exactly h

inally said afte

inside m

ave of heat surged through my body, and I caught

reacte

s, but whatever it was,

. She needs to drink

st have

ing to had to be the reas

taking me somewhere I could final

st they were

to be walking more carefully now, and I guess

s, but I still couldn't

x," another

nded f

I heard

ting but will return shortly. We must prepare before he gets

"This is getting out of hand. Wha

problem, Brixto

voice inte

obably hi

andsome Cardinal has fin

derstand thei

whatever I needed to drink so

t Ophelia would kill me if she

ng weaker," Osc

gs, then Oscar was definite

meone app

to my lips. The touch was soft, and judging by the

a pleasant fragrance

at her. She needs to dri

Oscar, y

repeated, so

ed. "She's f

Nath shu

as though inspecting me. "Long, silky black hair. Glo

pa

Brix. Sh

a

oo

ctually sme

lau

to k

i

ll were th

ide," said a voice I

the strange doct

d hear footsteps echoing against

as they continued talking, and I

eard a d

eaving, Sis Nat

I want to get to know

anded on

ll of them sta

up," Brix

something pr

ining my strength. I could finall

hey weren

hey were

e way she thinks

rix. She's i

eyes," Br

t the

your damn eye

sically force me to obey. Instead

sed to be my slave, yet

, Astralla," Na

d slowly op

e light from a chandelier ha

hard and l

ore me, along with Mr. Bi

man with a buzz cut

have bee

your service," he said

Her long gray hair flowed down her back, her lips we

ed like

ealized how tall

n when I looked at the

last

defined. His hair was styled in a loose pompadour, his lips were

d his muscles flexed beneath th

on Ca

," Nath w

toward me with

can call me Nath. We can either be best

" I managed

at was

r la

not what you

at Mr. Bill

fore leavin

t them intimidated me-their elegance, their striking appearances

t and sat beside me, h

stick shade?" sh

red a

legant in both her mov

ously, what's your lipstick shade? Are those

, joining us. "Stop, Sis. She's

dn't r

yself to look at the ta

r

ix," Nat

oking at him when

eyes

llowe

she suggested. "Since you two will

blurted

d. "I'll replace her as s

eart

ng?" I finally ma

ticed my confusion. "You're caught between two worlds. You're not fully one of us yet, b

did

en a l

ansi

g one o

new

ugs and wanted

ing, throwing himself onto the

e

initely losin

that?" Brix interrupted, r

ally smell his

little deeper. Then again, you're hu

ords

t know how to respond. Still,

ir territory

r opene

be in a trance. She looked dazed, as though

ra. You'll like i

to me. He wiped her arm bef

her arm, t

d encour

breath, I le

her arm fo

I kis

ce fo

eks, desperately trying

rimaced. "You don't kis

fr

i

t to be ki

ps tr

ied easily, but tears b

just want to go home.

d with a nod. "Afte

y voice broke. "I j

my life, I genuinely

had to live with Au

somewhere far away

t understand, A

ke a pathetic human, chasing after a man to help someone you didn't e

screamed,

board, desperate to put as much

think about it. Ple

expressio

n't need

ed to

ant to find out. I didn't want to be there, feel wh

said sadly. "Now, all you have to do is accept i

ars and squeez

pped down

fa

I wouldn't cry aga

tered, clearly irritated. "Fine. I know this is

ires," Osca

ade me

lve. Blood is all we need. As long as humans exist, vamp

looking dir

n, are now one of us. Wh

ly fell away

the restroom

Oscar excha

Bil

ady Nat

old man ap

st you, La

nded hi

all

and, and we

Brix, I kept

utside, I finally felt as t

ion was

the spotless floors. Everything looked immaculate

ht, Lady Astra?"

ou one o

nod

ler. I serve Lord Severo, their father

h I barely understoo

up at the

t have had at le

d attention to them. Most depicted Nathalia

are, La

pened the r

. Call me if yo

and stepp

or behind me, I stood

as bigger than

complete with a gl

angely

was no

large window ove

ddenly occ

climbed outside, making

n I

y, I didn't

blocked

fr

r

the tips of his fangs were vi

o go home,"

smi

en

before takin

ed moving, somethin

d over,

my skin, and tears s

u try to escape?" Brix as

you live to serve me. Y

pain, I mana

ve w

d spun a

ateful that I saved y

hed bi

wanted to

he flinched, but h

as you breathe, you're mine. You'll obey me. You'r

led down

onster!" I screamed. "I

his head a

lood? I couldn't care less whether

ly, bringing his f

ll serve me. You'll never di

I had left, I raised my

ou demon! Turn me into a monster all you want, but someda

my body gr

tralla," he replied coldly. "

spite the pain and ang

s beca

lift my head an

ived those cent