felt more like a nightmare. The moment their fingers intertwined, he pulled her forward, guiding her swiftly through the

murmured, his voice low but

her breath coming in shallow gasps.

n of a second before answering

ine. "That's impossible. My father-

an interrupted. "She was vampire royalty.

g to piece together a truth that had been hidden from her for so long. She wanted to deny it, to push awa

s snapped her out of her thoughts

ding, pressing her back against the cold brick wall. His body was a barrie

embers. Their leader, a woman with long, raven-black hair, stepped forward.

for battle. "Stay behind me,"

at her insides, demanding release. Her vision sharpened, her senses expanding beyond anything she had e

t powerle

ck, her movements faster than she had ever imagined possible. A primal growl escaped her lips as she twisted, landing

ashing in his crimson eyes. "You'r

r senses heightened to an unnatural level. She sidestepped, her hand instinctively shooting out, claws extending

licking the blood from his wound. "Your transformat

her. Weak? No. She

e alley wall with bone-crushing force. "You underestimate her,"

entire vampire world will either bow to her... or burn." With a sharp whistle, she signaled the othe

her body thrumming with unfamiliar power.

e with unwavering intensity. "Now, we prepare you fo

firm. "There's someone you need to meet," he said.

asked, still shake

st who knew your mother. He'll have ans

knowing there was no turn

disappeared into the night, the city stretch

it streets, Evangeline's mind raced w

Old District, where the human and vampire worlds blu

do we ge

By proving you're

moved ahead of them. A lone figure stepped into thei

"The lost princess and her knig

iffened.

comer was, he wasn't a friend. And judging by Lucian's reaction,

res. "The elder won't be pleased that you've brought her unprepared," he sa

a right to the truth. We don't

h, but everything is a game to him. T

n the uncertainty bubbling inside her. "If he

ore nodding. "Brave words, princess

an hesitated before gripping Evangeline's wrist, his voic

ze. "Neither are you.

before he released her. Together, they followed Dorian i

lt the weight of her fate pressing down. Whatever awaited her beyond the dar