Everyone had lied to her. Her mother wasn't human, but the vampire friend Charlotte had spoken about. It made sense now how Belinda could take a hit from a supernatural and live, how she could make Ashton stumble, a powerful slayer.

Vampire blood coursed through her veins.

Her mother attempted to get close, but she recoiled. "How could you keep this all from me? I had every right to know the truth."

"I feared what they would do to you."

"You should not have kept this a secret." Fane's voice held a menacing tone. "Who is her father, Bexley?"

Her mother remained silent.

"Who is he?" The look on Fane's face would have brought any man to their knees, quivering in fear.

"Jericho."

Fane's eyes widened. "Does my mother know?"

"She knows everything."

With a glance in her direction, Fane vanished. Belinda remained rooted to the ground, her heart aching at the pain in his eyes. Perhaps part of him wished he had been correct, and she was the descendant of some werewolf. Anything but this. "He hates me."

Denarius placed a hand on her shoulder. "Give him time."

"Please come inside so we can talk."

Not in the mood to argue, Belinda followed her mother into the house. She wrapped her arms around herself, unable to focus on whatever her mother said, the memory of Fane's expression flooding her mind.

"Belinda?"

"What?"

"You can ask me anything you want."

Belinda narrowed her eyes. "Are you even going to answer with the truth? I asked you before to tell me everything and you lied to me."

"I promise I won't continue keeping things from you."

"Were you born a vampire?"

"Yes."

"How is that possible? I'm human."

"Your great-grandmother was human. It's rare, but sometimes it can happen."

Belinda glanced at the man she knew as her father. A sharp pain erupted in her chest, and she plopped down on the sofa, attempting to fight back the tears that threatened to spill to the surface. "Who is Jericho?"

"He was of royal blood, a close friend to the royal family."

"He killed Dante..." Belinda raked her hands through her hair. "He killed Fane's twin brother."

"That's what he says—"

"Alaric, don't."

Belinda jumped to her feet and glared at her brother. "How can you—"

"I believe Fane murdered Dante and blamed our father."

"Your father—that man means nothing to me." Her mother attempted to seize her arm, but she wrenched free. "What made you finally tell the truth?"

"I became tired of keeping it a secret," her brother answered instead of her mother. "So, I walked into the town meeting."

"Are you trying to take the throne from Fane?" Her brother remained silent. "So, it's true then?"

"This is exactly why I didn't want to reveal who you are." Sadness flashed across her mother's face. "Whatever Jericho did, it has nothing to do with Alaric or you. Your brother doesn't seek the throne, but because of whose blood courses through his veins, everyone blames him for all this madness."

Belinda eyed her brother. "I'd like to hear it from him, Mother."

"Belinda, please."

"Please, what? You wouldn't be the first mother to be blind to their child being a monster." She had seen plenty of that in the news. A mother's love blinded them to the truth laid out right before them.

"I do not seek the throne."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Vow it to me."

"I vow to you that my intent is not to take the throne."

"Are you the one responsible for the deaths of the chosen ones?"

His eyes glimmered crimson. "No."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Belinda—"

"Mom, him being my brother means nothing." Even if they were related, he was a stranger. She knew nothing about him. With a sigh, she turned to her mother. "I want to know everything. Please."

"A year before my twentieth birthday, I realized I had fallen deeply in love with someone I had considered a friend for centuries. When I confessed my love to him, I was delighted to know that my feelings were reciprocated. We dated, and our love flourished."

The pain laced in her mother's voice tore a hole in her heart. "Maybe it's best—"

"No. You have every right to know everything. Perhaps once you do, then you'll finally understand my fear of Fane using his bond against you." She paused. "When I turned twenty, I was forced to marry Jericho. I told my father that I loved someone else, but he didn't care. I was of royalty and royals didn't have the privilege of choosing who they married. I attempted to run away with him, but of course, we were captured. My father almost killed him that day... Before that, I never dared tell him who I had fallen in love with because I knew how he would react."

When her mother paused, clearly struggling to hold her tears back, Belinda held her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "For years, I endured so much suffering by Jericho's side. Despite how much I tried to love him, I couldn't. My heart belonged to someone else."

"Did you ever see him again?"

Her mother nodded, her eyes brightening up. "At first Jericho attempted to prevent me from seeing my old friends, but they were stubborn and stood up against him... Fane is a lot like his parents." She removed her ring. "This is from him... To protect me from Jericho's compulsion. Whenever I refused to do what he wanted, he always used his abilities against me... This gave me hope when I was on the verge of madness..." Her voice drifted off. "He gave me hope. We began to see each other in secret, but Jericho found out and demanded the king and queen execute him—but, of course, they refused."

"You never mentioned any of this," Alaric said. "Why?"

"I didn't want to turn you against your father." Alaric approached her mother and hugged her.

Belinda noticed her father didn't seem surprised at all. "So, who is he?"

Her mother hesitated, glancing at her father. That she hadn't told him. "Zeref."

Wide-eyed, Belinda stared at her mother. "What? But—But he was with the Queen when—" Belinda recalled when he had attempted to get closer to her father and her mother had blocked his path. It now made sense how he had reacted.

"I need fresh air." Without another word, Belinda exited the house. On the balcony, Corina sat on the iron bench with Denarius. The moment she continued into the woods, she knew Denarius would follow.

As she trudged through the tranquil forest, she ran a hand through her hair, allowing everything her mother told her to sink in. After finding out the truth, would Fane even want to be with her?

"I'd like to be alone," she said, not turning to face Denarius.

"It's not safe for you to be alone."

"I know... I just would like time alone, so I can think."

When she stopped walking, Denarius stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "Fane doesn't hate you. It's obvious he's crazy in love with you."

Warmth sprouted within her, making her feel as though she stood too close to a scorching fire. She whirled around and flexed her fingers, every bone in her body aching. "I'd understand if he never wants to see me ever again. He has every right to hate me. My father killed his twin brother—" She lost her voice for a moment, the pressure in her chest constricting her airway. When she stumbled forward, she clung to the bark of a tree, raising her gaze to the moon that seemed to snarl her in.

"Belinda, are you all right?"

"I'm not sure."

Denarius approached her and seized her arm, eyes narrowing. "You're hot."

"I know," she said with a chuckle that turned into a grunt. Her eyelids fluttered closed at the divine sensation emanating from her neck that shot throughout her body. It delighted her heart that despite knowing whose daughter she was, Fane had sensed her distress and attempted to help her calm down.

She focused and thought of him. I didn't think you'd want anything with me... after knowing the truth. I thought you'd hate me.

I could never hate you... Forgive me for reacting the way I did... His voice felt like a whisper in her ear that made the butterflies in her stomach go wild.

There's nothing to forgive. I would have reacted the same way.

A brief silence followed before he spoke once more. Zeref knows.

What?

He was with my mother when I questioned her.

Where is he?

On his way to your home.

She pivoted around, coming to a halt at the snap of a twig. Her brother stood feet from her, his eyebrows furrowed. "I'd like to speak with you." Denarius leaned a shoulder against the bark of a tree. "In private."

"If you want to talk to her, you'll do it in my presence. I'm not about to leave her with you, alone."

"I'm her brother."

Denarius raised his brows. "And that matters why? I've seen blood turn against each other. Nothing guarantees me I can trust you."

"I don't want to talk right now." She turned to leave, but Alaric seized her forearm.

Denarius shoved him back, a soft hue of sapphire, intricate thread-like marks flashing across his neck. "Don't ever touch her again."

"Perhaps you should stop hiding it—Is your mother aware of it?"

"What is he talking about?" inquired Belinda.

"His mark, of course."

Wide-eyed, Belinda stared at Denarius, who didn't deny it. With evident reluctance, he pulled his shirt up to his ribcage, revealing beautiful silver lines that turned and intertwined to form a crescent.

"But your birthday was two years ago, wasn't it? Does anyone know? How can your beloved not..." Her gaze fell upon the bracelet identical to hers. She had assumed all slayers wore them to protect them against any magic that could take their free will away. Denarius didn't wear it for that reason. He wore it to hide his existence from his beloved.

Belinda held his gaze. "Do you have any idea who it is?"

He shrugged. "No—and I don't care to find out."

"How could you sense he is a chosen one?" Belinda asked her brother.

"I simply took a wild guess."

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you his beloved?"

Alaric smiled. "No."

"Show me." He hesitated before raising his shirt to reveal there wasn't a mark on his ribcage. "I find it hard to believe you took a simple wild guess. Do you know who it is? Is it a woman? A man?"

Denarius chuckled behind her. "Does it even matter? Belinda, I don't wish to be chained to anyone."

"I want to know because you're my friend and I don't know what... How have you been feeling?" He attempted to walk away, but she stopped him, seizing his arms. "Please. Be honest with me."

His gaze lingered on Alaric for a moment before he leaned closer to her. "We can talk about this later."

She leaned in even closer and whispered, "Is it Harper?"

His eyes narrowed. "Why would you think that?"

"Because of what happened earlier."

He contemplated something before hatred flashed across his face. "No." As he stepped back, he said, "I'd rather die than be tied to one of them."

She seized his forearm. "Don't talk like that, please. They aren't the monster you believe them to be."

"I find it quite impressive that you hid it on your birthday," Alaric said. "If you wore that bracelet that night, your beloved must have been losing their mind. It is as though half their soul is missing. Every year that passes, they are pushed deeper into madness until their humanity is nonexistent."

"Why do you talk about it like you've endured such pain?" Belinda asked.

Alaric sighed and faced them. "Those are the stories I've been told. But then again, it could all be fabricated to compel chosen ones to give each other a chance."

"The murders began the following year," Belinda said.

"Are you implying I caused this madness?"

"Of course not." That wasn't her intent. "But I'm trying to understand why. Why did it all begin a year later?"

"Maybe it's a coincidence," Denarius suggested. "If not, don't you think whoever is behind it all would want me, not you?"

"Nothing makes sense."

"It could all be a simple distraction," Alaric stated. "It would be easy to take out the royals whilst they are distracted by keeping peace between the vampires and slayers."

"We should head back."

Denarius seized her hand and began the stroll back to town. When they arrived at her home, she found her mother on the porch with Zeref.

Part of her didn't want him there, knowing the past he had with her mother. But if her father was okay with it, she would bite her tongue and keep her opinion to herself.

She headed into her home, pausing when Alaric entered. Her father stood close to the front door, a mug of black coffee in hand. Even if he permitted Zeref and her mother to speak, she could see in his eyes that he didn't like his presence.

"Are you okay, Dad?"

He smiled. "Of course, darlin'."

Denarius headed into the kitchen, returning with a beer in hand. "So, you invited a vampire into this home? I never thought I'd see a day when a slayer would make such a questionable decision."

"He's my wife's son, Denarius."

He shrugged. "I was simply stating an observation."

Her father took the beer from him before he could pop it open. "It's way too early for you to be drinking, boy."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious." Her father gestured to Alaric. "He knows I don't fully trust him. I already warned him that the moment he does anything I don't like, I'll revoke his invitation."

A groan escaped Belinda's lip at the mild burning sensation on her forehead. Her father stared at her for the longest before averting his gaze. "What?"

Denarius took the beer back. "Sorry. He asked to speak with her in private."

"You were supposed to stay with her at all times."

"The fuck I was—" Her father shot him a look, and he lowered his gaze. "I wasn't about—You know what? She's a grown-ass woman. What did you want me to do? Tie her up and force her back?"

"Enough," Belinda said, her cheeks burning. "Dad, please don't overreact. I'm not a little girl. I'm almost twenty-one."

Her father approached her and hugged her. "I know."

As her father withdrew from their embrace, his brows furrowed and he glanced toward the porch. Belinda followed his gaze to find her mother speaking to Zeref on the porch steps. At that moment, she realized that although their lips moved, she couldn't hear anything either said. Zeref was shadowing their conversation, which her father didn't like at all, and she understood.

If they had nothing to hide, then why shadow their conversation at all?

Zeref glanced at Belinda before his lips moved once more. When her mother visibly froze, Belinda wondered what he had asked her. His eyes flickered crimson as he stepped closer to her mother, grasping her forearm.

"Back off, Zeref," her father warned.

"It's okay," her mother said, focusing her attention on Zeref. "No."

He released her arm, his eyes shifting to Belinda again. "Bexley—"

"Leave, Zeref."

Pain flickered across his face before he removed the bracelet he wore and took her mother's hand, handing it to her. "In the end, your father was correct."

"Zeref—" He vanished before her mother could finish whatever she was about to say. For a moment, her mother didn't move, holding the bracelet in her quivering hand.

"Are you okay?" her father asked.

Her mother turned to them with a smile that fooled no one. "Of course." Without another word, her mother headed inside, and her father followed a few steps behind.

"What just happened?" Belinda asked no one in particular.

"I can imagine what he asked," Alaric said.

"And what would that be?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Belinda, you were in our mother's womb when she ran, and she had been secretly seeing Zeref. What do you think could have crossed his mind?"

Belinda stared into the distance. "If I'm his daughter." She wrapped her arms around herself. "Did Fane lie to me about his age? How could he have recognized my mother when he would have been a baby then?"

"Charlotte was our mother's best friend. I'm sure she has plenty of photographs of them together."

"So, he is indeed twenty."

Alaric chuckled. "Is that hard to believe?"

"Where is Jericho?"

Alaric seemed uncomfortable with the question, but she had to ask. She wanted to know everything.

"He is dead. Fane killed him."

She met her brother's eyes. "What do you know of that day? Were you supporting our father?"

"The day Fane and Dante came for him, I was with our father." Sadness flashed across his face, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. "Our father had a friend teleport me out before the royals arrived. If my father would have listened to me, Fane would be dead, along with Dante."

He moved closer, but halted when Denarius positioned himself in front of her. "That's close enough."

Alaric sighed as his blue eyes flashed crimson. "I would never hurt her. She is my baby sister."

"Like I said before. That guarantees me nothing."

"Please break it off with Fane."

Belinda's brows furrowed. "Why should I?"

"All his followers despise us. Do you really believe they will accept you as their queen? If you have his children, they will be treated as I have been."

"We're not guilty of the crimes committed by Jericho."

"That is not how they see it. They believe we too will turn against the royals as our father did."

"That's absurd."

"Fane despises me solely for the blood that courses through my veins. He does not hate you as well because you are his beloved. Were it not for the bond between you, he would have struck you down the instant your paths crossed."

When Denarius lost his footing, she seized his forearm. "Are you alright?"

He flexed his fingers. "Yeah."

Alaric's gaze snapped to him, curiosity etched on his face. "Is that a lie I sense?"

"Shut the hell up." Denarius folded and unfolded his fingers. "It's a simple ache."

Belinda forced him to turn to her. "What sort of ache?"

"I'm fine." A smile tugged on his lips as their eyes met. "Don't worry about me." She released his hand when his gaze lingered on her lips and stepped back to see the amusement on Alaric's face.

"What?"

His attention shifted to Denarius. "Get that heart of yours on check, slayer. Unless you wish to deal with Fane's wrath."

"I'm not afraid of a vampire."

Alaric scuffed and said nothing else before entering the house.

Belinda stared at the porch floor for the longest before saying, "Denarius—"

"Don't. I'm aware you love Fane."

She hated the fact Catherine had been correct, and she had been too blind to see it. "Are you going to be honest about what just happened?"

"I don't know. It was like an electric shock."

"You should tell your mother the truth."

"I'd rather not."

"But this could be an effect of—"

"Drop it," he interjected. "Please. No one is forced to be with their beloved."

"I know, but there is a difference between rejecting your beloved and hiding from them. Let them know you're here and reject them. Please."

He moved to head into the house, but she blocked his path, causing him to bump into her. He held her shoulders to stop her from falling back. To her astonishment, he pulled her to him too close, their lips centimeters apart. "Denarius, don't."

"Oh, my," a high-pitched voice said, prompting him to move away from her.

Eloise stood at the bottom of the porch steps, cupcakes in hand. "Good afternoon." She raised the platter of cupcakes. "We baked some cupcakes to raise money for the kindergarteners' upcoming event. Would you like to buy some?" Her smile fell as she stared at something behind Belinda. Belinda followed her gaze to find her brother standing in the open doorway, a hint of a smile on his lips.

The platter almost slipped out of Eloise's hands, but Denarius moved and caught it. "Are you alright?"

Eloise didn't take her eyes off Alaric for the longest before recollecting herself, her dazzling smile back on display. "Denarius, would you like some cupcakes? The little ones helped bake them. They taste wonderful."

"I'll take one."

Eloise glared at Alaric. "I thought vampires didn't eat regular food."

Alaric seemed amused by her attitude. Although he said nothing as he held her gaze, Eloise's eyes widened, a hint of pink appearing across her cheeks.

Belinda elbowed Alaric, and he chortled. "Watch it. You better not be using any vampiric abilities."

"I did no such thing."

"Good." She headed inside to retrieve the money needed to buy two cupcakes. Once she paid Eloise, she took the cupcakes and handed Denarius one. Eloise smiled at them, but wouldn't look toward Alaric at all.

"Is everything alright, Eloise?" Denarius asked. "Did he try to get into your head? I can kick his ass if you want me to."

Her face turned bright red, and her mouth opened, but she squeezed it shut. "He didn't do anything. Thanks for buying the cupcakes. Have a wonderful rest of your day." Before anyone could say anything else, she hurried to the neighbor's home.

Belinda glared at her brother. "You better behave while you live in this house." When she took a step forward, she lost her footing, a searing heat flowing through her. Denarius reached out and coiled a hand around her waist to stop her from collapsing face-first to the wooden porch floor.

Alaric stared wide-eyed as actual wisps of smoke emanated from her skin, her body becoming too hot. The heat consuming her amplified, and every muscle ached to the point of bringing tears to her eyes.

Denarius placed his hand over her chest, aiding her to stand upright, golden strings emanating from his fingertips and dissipating into her skin, easing the agony that consumed her.

Everything ceased.

She attempted to control her breathing as Denarius turned her around to meet his gaze. "How many times has that happened?"

"I lost count."

His gaze drifted to Alaric's. "Could she be ascending?"

"It would not be the first time a vampire ascended long after their twentieth birthday."

She pulled away from Denarius. "That's nonsense. I'm human."

"No. You're not," Denarius said. "You're a half-breed."

"What happens if I am ascending?"

Alaric would not meet her gaze. "The way that looked. Your body could be rejecting the change."

Belinda stared into the distance. "Please, let's keep this between us."

"What—"

"Alaric, please. I don't want to worry my parents even more."

"What about Fane?"

"I don't want anyone else to know, including Fane."

"Fine."

She waited for Denarius to agree as well, but he said nothing. "Denarius, please."

"I can't promise anything."

"Why not?" She grasped his forearm but released him when her mother walked outside and sat on the bench, her favorite book romance novel in hand.

"Is everything okay?"

"Of course," Belinda answered with a smile.

To her relief, Denarius said nothing to anyone, despite not having promised her he wouldn't.

————

For the next few weeks, Fane became busy with prince duties to visit.

Every day, she headed out in search of a job without success. When she was close to giving up, one of her father's friends gave her an opportunity at a small diner in the town.

As usual, the diner was packed. Belinda helped her coworkers take the orders and clean the tables. By the time her shift was over, she daydreamed of laying in her comfy bed.

The second she walked outside into the bustling streets of the town, Denarius joined her. She went nowhere without him or Alaric.

Denarius handed her a bag of her favorite chocolates, and she devoured it. "Slow down. You're going to choke."

"I'm starving." She took another bite of the chocolate. "Where's Alaric?"

"He said he had to make a quick stop." He glanced at his watch. "Which was four hours ago."

She clasped a hand over her lips, gagging. "I suddenly don't feel so well." Her thirst worsened, yet when she stopped at the convenience store and bought some water, it didn't help at all.

"Denarius—" She wobbled and clutched to his arm. "I don't feel—" The light went out before she could get another word out.

————

Her eyelids fluttered open and to her surprise, she was in her bedroom. When she sat up, her surroundings swayed, and she thought she might throw up. After heaving herself out of bed, she stood in front of the full-length mirror, turning to the side to notice how round her stomach looked.

Denarius entered the room, his eyes lingering on her stomach for a moment. "I should have known that wasn't a result of all the chocolate you eat."

"It's barely notable."

"Your mother sent out for the family doctor. She will be here soon."

"I honestly thought you would have taken me to the hospital."

"Well, I thought it had to do with you ascending. The doctors in the hospital wouldn't have been able to help with that, so I brought you here."

"You told my mother—"

"I didn't have to tell her anything. She's a vampire, remember?"

She plopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I feel horrible." She was hungry and nauseous.

"Fane will be here soon."

She sat up. "What?"

"Your mother believes you need his blood. While you were passed out, Alaric attempted to feed you his, but it did nothing."

"And what does that mean?"

"They suspect Fane blood bonded with you, which would mean you can only feed from him."

At the melody that filled the house, Belinda got out of bed and power walked out of the room. As she descended the stairs, Denarius trailing a few steps behind, Alaric opened the door. The sight of her beloved brought a smile to her face.

His eyes met hers. "Hey."

"Hey."

"You can come in," said her mother, emerging from the kitchen, a mug of presumably coffee in her hands.

Belinda continued down the stairs while he crossed the threshold in two strides, his attention turning to Alaric, who was leaning against the wall. Once close to Fane, she embraced him.

His eyes widened before he rested a hand on her stomach. "You are pregnant."

Before she could utter a word, the pain returned with a vengeance. She gripped Fane's shoulders, her legs threatening to give out any second as wisps of smoke emanated from her skin. Fane swooped her up in his arms and she directed him to her bedroom. There, he set her down and, to her relief, she remained standing.

"Forgive me. I should have known the signs I saw were of a vampire ascending and not a werewolf."

She cradled his face. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this. The truth shouldn't have been kept from us."

When he bit his wrist, she created distance between them, astonished she could smell the fragrance of his blood. "What are you doing?"

"You need to feed."

"Fine. I'll make myself something—"

He stopped her when she tried to leave. "You need blood, love."

"Fine." The instant she covered his wrist with her lips, sweet blood spilled into her mouth. Electric tingles shot through her body as she continued to feed. He attempted to pull his hand back, but she seized his wrist and, despite not having fangs, she bit down harder.

He grabbed a fistful of her curls, eyes swirling scarlet, and parted his lips enough for her to see his fangs. Consumed with the desire to have him bite her, she released his wrist and offered her neck to him, which he eagerly accepted.

Soft sounds escaped her lips at the divine sensations he evoked within her. He retracted his fangs and captured her mouth with his in a fiery kiss.

When she attempted to pull him even closer, he ended the kiss. "I should go."

She shook her head. "Stay with me."

He kissed her once more. "If I could, I would, but as king of the vampires, I have many responsibilities." He continued to kiss her, enhancing her burning desire. "If you come with me to the palace, you will see me every day."

She couldn't stop smiling. "Nice try."

"If you are ascending, the twins will enhance your thirst—"

"Twins? Oh, my." She laughed.

He pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Love, please think about it. The palace is the safest place for you. When we ascend, if we do not have someone to help us through it, it could end with the bloodlust consuming us."

"I'm sure my mom—"

"Her aid is not the same as mine."

Her cheeks grew warm. "What if I'm not ascending?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Then you would be on the brink of becoming a lost one."

"Alaric said it was the signs of someone rejecting the change—"

"Alaric knew, and he said nothing?"

The anger etched on his face made her regret her words. "I made him vow to me—"

"You cannot force Alaric to do anything."

"Why do you hate him so much? What our father did isn't his fault or mine."

Fane stepped back, running a hand through his silvery hair. "Was this his plan? To turn you against me?"

"What? Of course not. All I'm saying is that he has done nothing to be treated the way he is... I don't want our babies to be treated the same."

"No one would ever dare do such a thing."

She sighed. "This hatred you have towards him has no ground. You hate him simply because his Jericho's child. I'm his child as well, Fane. His blood courses through my veins, too."

"Forgive me, but I cannot trust him."

"Can you trust me?"

He remained silent.

"You don't?"

"Of course I do. I trust you, but not him. You were not the one to turn clans against my father. Alaric might not have been the one to plan to murder my father, but he knew and did nothing. Dante confronted him once, and I stepped in. I stopped my twin from ripping his heart out... and ever since then, I have regretted not allowing my brother to end his pathetic existence. Dante was correct in his prediction... He was correct in many things."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know any of that."

"There is no need for apologies. Your brother is the one who omitted details that would make him look bad."

"I shouldn't have automatically believed his word. An entire race turning their back on someone doesn't come out of the blue." She fidgeted with the bracelet. "But... If those clans were truly loyal to your father, no one could ever force them to turn against him. Clearly, they already had. My brother just pushed them into the light. As king, would you trust such clans? Wouldn't it be better if they show their true colors so you're not blindsided?"

A smile played on his lips as he cradled her face. "You are correct. Those clans are no longer under our protection."

"Why did Jericho betray your father?"

"He perceived my father as weak, arguing that his kindness would be our undoing. Thus, he planned to seize the throne by any means necessary. In his view, his method was the only correct one."

"And what was that?"

"To eradicate the slayers and enslave humanity."

————

When she woke up the next morning, she didn't expect Fane to still be by her side on the bed. She assumed he would leave the instant she fell asleep. She seized his hand and pressed it against her cheek, her eyes narrowing. His skin felt too hot.

A screech escaped her lips when smoke emanated from his body wherever the sunrays touched his skin. Fane jolted awake and within seconds, he was out of bed and away from the sunlight spilling into the bedroom. Belinda hurried and closed the shades, enveloping the room in darkness.

Fane's eyes glimmered like that of a cat before they changed to normal as the third-degree burns on his face healed. The sight brought pain to her heart. She noted the sun pendant no longer shone and wondered why he had decided to spend the night, aware the magic blessed upon it would fade by morning.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah." His laughter was sweet music to her ears. "Fuck that hurt."

Belinda observed her skin. "If I were ascending, wouldn't the light affect me too?"

His brows furrowed. "It should, but perhaps it is because you are not fully vampire."

After ensuring no rays of sunlight peeked through the gaps of the shades, Belinda made her way to him and embraced him. "Why would you stay if the spell wouldn't last till morning?"

"I could not leave without ensuring the amount of blood you took was enough."

As she pulled away to meet his gaze, he cupped her face and drew her in for a tender kiss. "I love you."

"I love you more."

At a knock on the door, Belinda opened and was greeted by the bright smile of her mother. "Good morning."

"Morning."

"Fane, your friend brought something for you." Her mother tossed the necklace in the air and he caught it. "Head downstairs to eat breakfast."

"I'll be down in a minute."

"Okay," her mother said before heading down the corridor.

"Are you leaving?" Belinda asked Fane.

He nodded.

"You can't stay?"

He smiled. "If I could, I would, but I have many things to do."

As he approached her, her heart spun out of control. His mouth captured hers, and as the seconds ticked by, the soothing tingles shooting through her body amplified.

She didn't want him to leave, but she understood that he had many responsibilities as King of the vampires.

She watched him depart, wondering if she would see him soon.

Hopefully, this time, he wouldn't take weeks to come to see her.

————

As she took an empty seat on the dining table, her gaze locked on the glass in Alaric's hand, filled with crimson liquid. "Where did you get that?"

"Stole it from the hospital."

"You can't do that."

"Should I feast on a human instead?"

"Never mind." A stolen bag of blood donated to the hospital was a better dinner for him than a human.

The sleeve of his shirt slid up, exposing a stunning, intricate, tattoo-like mark. Before she could take a better look at it, he tugged it back down.

Alaric had a beloved?

She diverted her attention when he glanced at her.

It couldn't be possible for her brother to have been rejected by his beloved. She attempted to recall those who had been chosen—but then again, Denarius had hidden it well from everyone. Could Alaric's mate also be a slayer?

How many chosen ones were hiding from their beloveds?

"Dad," she began, tapping her fork against her plate. "What can happen to someone who hides their mark?"

The curiosity of why she would ask such a question was palpable. "I don't know. Why? Do you know of someone—"

"I was simply curious."

Her mother set a plate with biscuits on the center of the table. "Is there something you want to tell us?"

Even Alaric, who talked like there was no tomorrow, ate in silence.

"If someone was hiding a mark, I would advise them to come forth before it's too late. There are stories of long ago when chosen ones were being hunted down for blood... they hid their marks but that didn't help at all—On the contrary, it's losing half your soul and slowly, you're overwhelmed with a feeling of emptiness... which eventually drives you insane."

Belinda glanced at Denarius before she could stop herself. "How long?"

"Three years."

She stared into the distance, her chest tightening. Denarius had only one year remaining. She had to persuade him to reveal the truth to his mother and to formally reject his beloved.

When the melody of the doorbell resonated through the house, her father rose to his feet and returned seconds later, accompanied by Aurora and Skylar. Belinda stood and hugged them, noting the beautiful marks on their necks. Both congratulated her on her pregnancy and joined them at the table.

After they finished their meals, they made their way to the nearby beach. Belinda slipped on her sunglasses and carried her sandals, strolling through the icy water of the beach, Denarius by her side. Aurora and Skylar had borrowed swimsuits and were actually in the water. Although it was late spring, when Belinda had attempted to join them, she felt as though she had walked into freezing winter waters.

Denarius draped an arm around her shoulders. "Those two are nuts being in that water—"

"Aren't you worried? My father said—"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

When he moved to continue walking, she seized his arm and pulled him back to her. Neither having expected the force she used, he bumped into her and almost sent them both sprawling to the ground.

A playful smirk on his lips, he said, "You need to learn to control that strength of yours."

"Sorry—" At the sound of footsteps, she turned her head and spotted Catherine approaching them with a couple of slayers.

Denarius released her arm and took a step back.

"You shouldn't have come this far, Denarius." Catherine glanced at Aurora and Skylar, who no longer played in the water. Their focus was solely on the slayers who had joined them. "Reckless for the wolf king to allow his beloved to travel by herself." As she said the words, an arrow pierced through the air and plunged itself into the sand beside her feet.

Belinda stared at it, astonished, before whirling around to find Harper feet from them, glaring at the slayers. "Foolish of you to assume such a thing. The wolf queen is never alone."

Catherine shrugged. "I simply made an observation."

Harper came closer to Belinda. "Do you think it was wise to come here?"

"I'm with my guardian. I trust he can protect me. Besides, we're not that far from the town."

"Well, Fane has asked me to watch over you, so now you have technically two guardians."

"That won't be necessary—"

"It's not up for debate, Slayer."

Denarius visibly seemed to hate the idea of being forced to spend time around Harper.

Belinda seized his hand and noted how it quivered. She met his gaze before he jerked his hand free. If they had been alone, she would have asked questions, but she wasn't about to air out his secret.

"Two guardians are better than one. Please, Denarius."

"Fine."

Catherine approached Harper. "Sorry, bloodsucker, but you can't just decide to become one of her guards without the permission of my father."

Harper leaned closer, her glare intensifying. "Your father has no control over the slayers or us. He isn't the slayer leader, is he?" Catherine said nothing. "The queen knows of Belinda's pregnancy and has spoken with Corina. Either I guard her, or I will take her to the palace. If you all stand in my way, I have been given orders to strike you down without hesitation, slayer." The venom in Harper's voice stunned Belinda.

Catherine lifted her hand, her bracelet shining, but Denarius appeared beside her and held her hand, shoving her back with enough force to make her stumble.

She stared at him, bewildered. "What are you doing?"

"If my mother agreed with the vampire queen, all will respect that decision."

Catherine inched closer to him. "If your mother continues to bend to the will of their queen, soon she will no longer be our leader." Without another word, Catherine left with her friend slayers.

"Shit is about to hit the fan, isn't it?" Aurora asked as she stood beside Belinda. "If Corina loses her leadership position, I don't want to even think—"

"She won't."

Belinda glanced at Denarius. "How can you be certain? If they all turn against her, she can't do anything." He remained silent, his eyes flashing violet. "Are you alright?"

"Of course." His smile didn't fool her, but she wouldn't push the subject.

She turned to Harper and hugged her. "I thought you were ascending."

With a shy smile on her lips, she clutched the crescent-shaped pendant of the necklace around her neck. "Ever since my vampiric side woke up, I haven't been the most stable. Almost three years and I still don't fully ascend."

"What does that mean? You move as any other vampire and—"

"I don't heal as fast, and sometimes the desire to rip someone's neck apart consumes me."

"Sounds like you're close to becoming a lost one," Denarius stated.

Harper let out a humorless chuckle. "You slayers are so quick to jump to that conclusion. If I were becoming a lost one..." Her voice trailed off as she inhaled and exhaled, her eyes a pool of crimson. "I would have devoured you on sight, Slayer."

Denarius appeared visibly taken aback by her honesty. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"I've tasted your kind's blood before. When I escaped my prison, I killed many slayers. None of their blood compares to yours."

Belinda stared at Denarius, and he averted his gaze. "How old are vampires when they are given a beloved Harper?"

"Vampires are older than their beloveds."

"Wait, how old is Fane?"

"In human years?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm kidding." She laughed, and it enlightened Belinda to see her as bubbly as usual. "He will be twenty-one soon."

Belinda fidgeted with her bracelet. So, Harper wasn't Denarius's beloved. Then who was?

Aurora seized her hand. "Come on. Let's have some fun!"

With Skylar's aid, she pulled Belinda into the water. Belinda freed herself from their grasp, but as she turned to flee to safety, Denarius barred her path. He swooped her up and threw her further into the water with a gentle splash.

It enlightened her heart when Harper joined them. To succeed in protecting her, both she and Denarius had to set their hatred aside and work together as powerful allies would.

For a moment, she forgot about everything and simply enjoyed her time with her friends.