UISPE POV

ike marble, heavy and cold. Priestess Elowen,

aist felt like a suffocating vice, already making deep breaths impo

he Blood-Mother bestows upon you a most precious gift: a Lady. To be united by your Beloved in

ced toward the Princes for a reaction. Klaus and Zilo

Za

th stark, undisguised anger and cold resentment. All my flimsy excuses-that his

ut this was my duty. I squeezed my hands tightly in my lap, determined to fu

nsion as the Priestess announced, "Th

lice and athame. I held my bre

gentle voice, letting the crimson blood trickle into

ive eyes fixed on the chalice with a hin

when the chalice and athame passed to Zack. He w

he clipped, the words devoid of conviction, a hushed, impatient dismissal of the

tips brushed mine, sending an unpleasant, co

not metallic as expected. I forced myself to drink, feeling a genesis of a bo

tisfaction. "You may claim

spiking to an unbearable le

ack directly in front of me. I kept my gaze loc

eer gentleness of his touch made me shiver. I looked up. His

ips. Then, without warning, his fangs sank into my flesh. The pain was sharp, immedia

throat-instinctive, powerful-making me

ide of my throat before he bit in, right above my shoulder. I gas

face so close I had no ch

desire, but raw, consuming bloodlust. A dangerous, pri

uphoria. Only searing, tearing pain that forced a cry from my lips. He growle

long. More than the ritual demanded. I felt the blood drain from my head, panic s

ood Hunger that left me feeling like a consumed object, not a "Beloved

od his fangs had drawn-a surprisingly intima

Priestess declared, and the great hall erupted in applause. The exh

either, Zack moved forward, cutting them off. He set a possessive hand lightl

gerous, silken whisper t

a cutting threat. "Try not to bleed on the floor, Lady. It's expensi