reath coming in ragged gasps. Behind her, she heard the res

harder, faster. Her magic sparked at her fingertips, responding to her panic, and she forced it d

m. It felt like running against a riptide, every step away from him requiri

ot, she had to leave vampire territory and return to neutral land. If she cou

her, a figure fel

e eyes stood out even in the low light of the gas lamps. He was even more impressive up close, towering and broad-shou

n a calm, low voice. "You'

chest with a burst of kinetic force that came out of instinct. He flew backwards

in the othe

began to take effect. If you can escape, don't fight. If you can hide, don't use magic. Nob

She sensed his surprise, his confusion, and, beneath that, what

er. They moved in a predatory, coordinated manner to block her w

owled, his lips retract

shadows. The gas lamp light vanished as the alley's darkness deepened and grew more complete. She darted be

estrians in the late hours of the night turned to look. Human witne

wned this district. Th

once more-the one from the restaurant-closing the distance with unbelievab

rough the bond. He would

f into it, scurrying up and over a fence on the other side with the aid of a bit of levitation. Her jacket tore when it ca

onds at most. The fence

fourth side and tall stone walls along the oth

ere was a door in the distant wall that most likely led to the buil

ck

rattle behind her.

her magic grew. She felt as though her heart might burst through her ribs due to its intense pounding. It

ed quick enough to follow her

They simply gazed at one another for a considerable amount of time. With

g to hurt you

l right. Since vampires are renowned

reaking district law. You h

let me

in closer, raising his hands

bond, the thing that hadn't existed between their kinds for four hundred years, since Aldric and Morgana. Since the murder that started the war. "It doesn't

choose how t

ower, but he was quicker. She heard footsteps coming from several dire

en. "Don't make this violent," he sai

should have felt reassured by the realisation. Instead, it made her more afraid. Because it was in

at her with a variety of shocked and enraged looks. They ha

hair, had a look of dawning terror on her face as she g

ttered in a strained

ughts searching for a way out but failing to find one. Sh

ordered his group. "S

She's a witch," while

clear-" "I sai

rity of someone accustomed to being o

another, seeming perplexed. With what appeared to be betrayal, the blonde woman-

ed cautiously. "You

king?" Lucien had a st

fully. No harm comes to

ere the same kind that had burned her grandmother's w

," she said, he

p up with Lucien'

his hand around her wrist. His flesh on hers completed a circuit she was unaware was

id of you. They will retaliate with deadly force if

shouted, "Why?" "Why wou

ough the bond-centuries of training and animosity clashi

chains. The metal looked ordinary but felt wrong, coated in magic designed to suppress witch power. Sera's magic recoiled from it even before it touched her skin. "

uch in need of pro

easoning made sense. Her charm instantly became muffled, remote, and dampened. It fe

ght through the bond. Even though he didn

here are you

ou'll be held there until I f

l you decide h

y to someone who shared her confusion and fear. Both hi

means," he said. "And why does it exist

a with hardly disguised hostility. The other guards were the same; their bodies were rigi

Nocturne District like a little military procession. Word would

erritory, th

hat she had been compromised. She was surrounded by skilled vampire fighters, even w

tion of the vampire royalty's palace. A witch who was dumb enough to allow a ma

. Everyone in Ashwick had previously witnessed it from a distance, but Sera had nev

es, doing calculations, and attempting to choose a course of ac

witches who had been murdered by his type, including her parents

d by additional gas lighting after

en, they were alert, and when they saw S

en commanded. "Tell him I ne

t this

ow

follow Sera as she went, and down corridors adorned with crimson carpets and black wood. Everythi

a pair of doors. With a low but urgen

t before the king. You are unable to-" Her eyes widen

it out, and judging by her expression,

" Lucie

d years because of a vampire and witch bond." "Because it resulted in b

t choose

" Elara's composure crack

killed him as a result. How are you going

nobility. It was clear from the way he carried authority and the way the guards ob

was the great-great-grandson of the

ry was too

tself. The doors opened before

tioned for t

" but he appeared anxious. "Though he wishes me to co

ucien rema

dread, she refused to back down and raised her chin. Sh

re who could only be the king sat at the far end on an elaborate chair tha

nd more rugged. His dark hair was interwoven with silver, and his expression c

had spent the previous four centuries

as shackled, captured,

is voice resonating effortle

s unexp