LUCIEN’S POV

Whispers.

That was all the room had been filled with since the start of the house meeting, low, crawling whispers, skittering like insects beneath the surface of every word, every gesture. I stood at the head of the long obsidian table, reading over the weekly reports, issuing commands, reminding everyone who I was.

But the murmurs never stopped.

Even my lieutenant kept darting glances my way, lips twitching like he was biting back a smirk.

“The northern territories reported three rogue vampires near the border,” I said, voice clipped.

Silence.

Then Councilor Hadrek cleared his throat. “And what does the Vampire Princess suggest we do about that?”

My gaze snapped to him.

He didn’t flinch.

Neither did the dozen other vampires in the chamber who stared at me with thinly veiled amusement.

There it was again.

Princess.

Not Celene. Not me.

Vera.

Someone laughed under their breath. I slammed my palm on the table, silencing the room.

“Enough,” I growled, my fangs extending slightly. “This is a Shadowmere meeting, not a gossip den.”

They all went quiet, but the damage was done.

The moment the meeting ended, I shoved the chair back and stalked out through the corridor.

I knew who started this.

Celene was in the west wing’s private dining hall, legs elegantly crossed as she sipped from a crystal goblet filled with blood wine, her movements lazy and deliberate like she didn’t have a care in the world.

I slammed the door shut behind me.

She didn’t even blink.

“Celene.”

She glanced up, eyes lazy. “Lucien.”

“Did you tell them?”

She arched a brow. “Tell who what?”

“The house,” I snapped. “About Vera. About the Vampire King’s court. About what we saw.”

Her lips parted in a small, amused smile. “Is that what this is about?”

“Don’t play dumb,” I hissed, stepping closer. “You and I were the only ones who saw her in that court. The only ones who heard the King claim her as his daughter. And now half the house is whispering about a royal mate who never was.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Celene—”

“I didn’t,” she repeated, rising to her feet now, slow and deliberate. “If people are whispering, maybe it’s because rumors fly and your face told the entire story. Maybe you weren’t as composed as you think.”

I shook my head. “No. This has you written all over it. You were humiliated, and you decided to spin it first before anyone could ask questions.”

She scoffed. “Oh, you think this is about me feeling humiliated?”

“You haven’t stopped sulking since we left Sanguinara!”

“I haven’t stopped sulking?” she laughed, a bitter sound. “Lucien, you’ve barely looked at me since we left the throne room. Your thoughts are still with her.”

“Don’t twist this.”

“Then stop pretending!” she shouted, suddenly fierce. “Why are you so obsessed with her?”

The words hit like a punch to the chest.

I took a step back, stunned.

My mouth opened but no sound came out.

Her expression twisted. “Oh. There it is.”

“Celene—”

“You’re still bonded to her, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Even after the severance ceremony. Even after everything.”

“That’s not—”

“Prove it,” she interrupted, pulling out a silver blade from her bodice. “If you’re truly free of her, prove it.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m giving you a choice,” she said, drawing the blade across her wrist. The scent of her blood filled the room, rich, powerful, undeniably seductive. “Drink from me. Right now. Show me that my blood is enough for you.”

I stared at her bleeding wrist, my fangs extending involuntarily. “Celene, this isn’t necessary—”

“It is,” she said, moving closer. “Because every time you look at me, I see her in your eyes. Every time you feed from me, I feel you comparing me to her.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Am I?” She thrust her wrist toward me. “Then drink. If my blood satisfies you, if it makes you feel complete, then drink and prove it.”

The scent of her blood was intoxicating, calling to my vampire nature. I took her wrist in my hands, my fangs already extended, and bit down.

The taste that flooded my mouth was everything I remembered, fire and strength, ancient magic that sang through my veins. But even as I drank, even as her blood enhanced my power, I felt the hollowness beneath it.

It wasn’t enough.

It would never be enough.

When I pulled away, Celene was studying my face with calculating eyes. “You’re thinking about her, aren’t you? Even now, with my blood in your mouth, you’re thinking about how she tasted.”

I couldn’t deny it.

“Tell me,” she said, her voice soft but deadly. “How did her blood compare to mine?”

“Celene—”

“Tell me!” she screamed, her composure finally cracking. “I need to know what I’m competing against!”

Before I could answer, the door creaked open, and my mother stepped in, her voice as sweet as poisoned wine.

“Well, this sounds delightful,” she said. “Who’s competing with who?”

Celene spun to face her. “Ask your son. He thinks I’ve been spreading rumors because he can’t stop obsessing over his ex-bride.”

I stared at the floor, rage and shame tightening around my throat like a noose.

Lady Vela blinked. “Ex-bride?”

“She was at the Vampire palace,” Celene said, her voice rising with each word. “Wearing the royal crest. The King himself claimed her. Said she’s his daughter.”

The room went still, and my mother froze.

“His daughter?” Lady Vela repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Princess Vera Sanguinara,” Celene continued, venom dripping from each word. “Heir to the vampire throne. The most powerful bloodline in existence.”

My mother’s face went pale. “Are…were you serious about what you said the other day?

“You know what the worst part is?” Celene asked. “I actually thought I could make you forget her. I thought my blood, my power, my love would be enough. But you’ve been mourning her since the moment you lost her.”