“Finally, after all these years of waiting and planning everything... I can meet you again, darling.” Etana swung the sword in her hand, directing it towards the light that broke through the glass roof. She tilted her head and crooked a triumphant smile, then her eyes glanced at Lev. “Remember this sword, kid?”“Who are you?” Lev asked, squinting his eyes while hissing. Lewin, who had been trying to stop him all along, loosened his grip. He was equally surprised, just like the others.Etana grinned. A cunning and satisfied gleam appeared in her eyes. Then she pointed her sword at Henry, who was still sitting on the floor. “Ask your brother what kind of relationship we had in the past.”Lev shrugged off Lewin’s hand from his arm in one swift motion, turning to look at Henry. “Henry?” he called.“Get out,” Henry said, uncertain to whom. One thing was clear; Etana wouldn’t leave so easily just because Henry asked to do so.“You are The Queen,” Donis De Goire said. “You’re the one who kil

“What’s your name?”“Etana Selvaria.”The butler, Raphael, observed Etana from head to toe through his monocle. It was her first day working as a maid in the Deammone family’s castle, and she felt extremely nervous. Not only because she was a newcomer in the beautiful city of Duradel, but also because of the infamous reputation of the Deammone family for being cruel.However, they paid their servants a high salary, much higher than any job in her hometown. So when one of her relatives offered her this job, she accepted it without a second thought.“Follow me,” said Raphael.Raphael turned and walked away, and Etana obediently followed him. They crossed hallways adorned with carpets, luxurious wallpaper with beautiful paintings, and chandeliers emitting golden light.“Your task is to clean the west wing, the residence of the young master Deammone,” explained Raphael. “You are allowed to enter from morning until afternoon, after which all areas of the family’s residence are off-limits t

Alexander called Henry to the tea room in the back garden, on a bright afternoon.The last golden lights from the sunset broke through the French windows that were decorated with spring flowers. There, in the one set of iron table and chairs, sat Alexander and Yvanna, his wife and Henry’s mother.Anyone who sees them together, even though they have only seen them once, will know in no time that there was no love between them. They married for political reasons, in order to strengthen each other family’s position among the vampire nobles.Yvanna wore a red-wine color velvet dress. Her dark hair was beautifully styled and her slender hand was holding a cup of tea. On the other hand, Alexander was looking at the sunset. The expression on his face was gloomy as always.Henry pulled an empty chair between them and sat there. As soon as he positioned himself, Alexander looked him in the eye and said, “Do you know the most disgusting thing a vampire can do?”His stomach tightened at the ques

Vero ran along Noblebranch and saw in the distance, the Thancred residence started to crumble. She walked faster, and the fear grew larger in her heart, imagining Lev trapped in there and they couldn’t meet again for good.When she got closer, on the other end of the street, between the smog and dust from the crumbling mansion, she saw a glimpse of something red moving away.Was that Etana? She walked with someone. No. She dragged someone along with her.Etana's presence diverted Vero’s attention to the point that she didn’t realize she has arrived in front of Thancred residence, and that the tall iron fence slowly fell toward her.When Vero saw the giant thing fall on her, it was too late for her to dodge. She lifted her hands in a wasted effort to protect herself. And when she was only a heartbeat away from death, someone lunged at her and saved her.They rolled on the street before stopping a few meters from the collapsed fence. Vero was lying on the ground and Lev was on her. He h

Since the Thancred Residence is still under construction after it was destroyed, the meeting of The Elders was moved to Castellar’s place. And there was nothing about Castellar that Vero likes, from the house, the servants, and Castellar himself.Raphael informed Vero about some important things regarding The Elders because he thought that Vero would have a lot to do with them in the future. Well, that couldn’t be denied. Especially after all the vampires in Duradel found out that she was Lev’s lover.Vero and Lev walked side by side, following Daire Thancred as they entered Cristoval Castellar’s residence. He was the only Elder who didn’t have a family. No wife and children, and it seemed that he greatly enjoyed his solitude.Although his house wasn’t as big as Deammone’s or Thancred’s, everything here looked more expensive and luxurious. From the furniture to the decorations on the walls. There was no doubt that Cristoval was a cunning vampire who enjoyed collecting luxurious items.