Feast Ashes

I made a blood pact with the same man seven times, and broke it seven times.

And this vampire lord also severed our bond seven times for his moonlight goddess.

When we first made the pact, he knelt on one knee and said to me: "For the rest of eternity, my blood and flesh belong only to you."

But whenever his moonlight goddess awakened, the man would change his tune: "Can't you be more understanding? Do you really want Lilith to bear the shame of seducing a married man?"

The first time we broke the pact, I violently tore the contract trying to keep him, the backlash made me vomit blood and faint, yet I never saw him come to check on me.

The third time we broke the pact, I disguised myself as a servant at his banquet, just for a chance to see him one more time.

The sixth time we broke the pact, I had learned to quietly pack my things and move out of our castle by myself.

My hysteria, my endless compromises, my obedient compliance,

earned me his punctual returns for renewal,

and his repeated betrayals.

Until this time, when I received news that his moonlight goddess was about to awaken, I proactively placed the severance agreement before him.

He made our usual appointment for renewal as always, not knowing that

this time, I would leave forever.

Because next month's full moon night would be the coronation ceremony for me, this "walking blood bank," as the Ancestor.

...

I have forged a blood bond with the same man seven times, and broken it just as many.

Inside the top-floor study of the Nightfall estate on the Upper East Side of New York.

Alexander pushes the seventh dissolution contract across the desk toward me.

"Lilith is waking up," he says, flipping through a confidential letter in his hands without even looking up.

I instinctively grip my collar. The six intersecting scars from our previous blood bonds throb under my collarbone.

Every single scar marks a spot where he once promised me forever.

"Sign it. Once she's stable, we'll renew the bond." Alexander hands me a pen. The gesture is far too practiced.

I don't take it. The mark beneath my collarbone violently contracts, sending a piercing ache deep into my bones.

"Alexander, this is the seventh time." My eyes burn and sting. "Do you even remember the first time we bonded? How you got down on one knee and swore to me?"

His hand pauses. A flash of annoyance crosses his eyes.

"Here we go again. Serena, can you not repeat the exact same thing every single time?"

"Is it the exact same thing?!" I shoot up from my chair.

I point at the parchment, my voice rising. "The first time, you drained half my blood just to save her. The third time, you thought I was an eyesore around the estate and humiliated me in public, saying I was worse than a maid. Now it's the seventh time. The entire vampire society is laughing at me. Do you know what they call me? Your personal blood bank. A pathetic walking blood bag."

"Enough." Alexander snaps.

His tall frame steps closer, towering over me. The oppressive aura of a noble lord fills the room. It is a power he fed and built using a century of my blood.

"I know you feel wronged. But I just don't want Lilith dealing with gossip when she wakes up. She drained her lifeforce to turn me back then. She's too weak now. She can't handle the stress."

"She can't handle the stress, so I deserve to be drained dry to keep her alive?"

A tear drops onto the parchment.

I look at the man standing in front of me.

He used my blood to become powerful and respected. He thinks I am just some pureblood orphan with no backing. He thinks that as long as he throws me a bone, I will stay here forever and be his blood supply.

"Stop throwing a tantrum, Serena." He forces the pen into my hand. "You're just a pureblood with no family. You won't survive out there without my protection."

"Sign it. Then come back on the night of the full moon next month to renew the bond. Don't make me go out looking for you. I hate going to those trashy places."

A century of humiliation and compromise, all for his pity.

I look at his arrogant face and suddenly feel sick to my stomach. I tighten my grip on the silver quill.

"Fine."

A satisfied smirk touches the corners of Alexander's lips.

But I don't dip the pen in ink. I snatch the dagger from the desk, aim it at my left palm, and stab right through the flesh.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Alexander's face drops.

The pure silver pierces my skin and muscle, sending violent spasms up my entire arm. I bite down hard on my lower lip and let my blood, heavy with primordial power, drip directly onto the parchment.

A sharp hiss fills the air.

The moment the dissolution takes effect, a soul-tearing shriek rips through the room.

The backlash of violently severing the bond one-sidedly hits me instantly.

My throat tastes like copper. I vomit a mouthful of black blood and fall heavily to my knees on the rug. My organs twist in agonizing pain.

Alexander takes a step back. He looks at the ruined Persian rug, his brows knitting into a tight frown.

"Do you really have to pull these extreme stunts just to make me feel bad for you?" He stares coldly at me on the floor. "Suit yourself. Don't be late for the full moon next month."

With that, he turns around and walks toward the hidden passage leading to the underground ice chamber.

The place where Lilith sleeps.

The heavy stone door slams shut right before my eyes.

I use the desk leg to pull myself up and stumble out of the study.

My legs completely give out. I crouch under a cold streetlamp on the streets of New York, gasping heavily for air.

The excruciating pain of the severed bond still tears at my nerves.

He squeezed every ounce of value out of me and kicked me to the curb. I shake uncontrollably as I cry on the empty street.

Finally, I grab the freezing metal pole and slowly pull myself upright.

I roughly wipe the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand. The bloodstains there are already scabbing and peeling off right before my eyes.

It is a healing ability not even a noble lord could ever possess.

Under the pale moonlight, I pull my phone out of my pocket.

The screen lights up, displaying an encrypted flight itinerary. A one-way ticket to Rome.

The departure time is exactly on the night of the full moon next month.

And right below the flight details is a text message from Lucius, the Chief Inquisitor of the Supreme Vampire Council:

[The throne has been cleared of a century of dust for you. Welcome home, my Queen.]