Chapter 21

I kept eating breakfast, keeping my gaze fixed on the plate before me. Every bite seemed harder to swallow, my appetite weighed down by the words I’d heard earlier. At first, the only thing I could focus on was the realization that he hadn’t wanted me by his side. That thought eclipsed everything else he’d said, but slowly, his actual request started to sink in.

“You said… you needed me to do something for you,” I ventured, my voice laced with hesitation. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing too complicated,” he replied with an air of nonchalance, shrugging as if the matter were trivial. “I just need you to testify before the Night Council. Tell them how you and the others were imprisoned and about the plans to sell you.”

I froze mid-motion, carefully setting down my knife and fork. My throat felt tight. “The Night Council? What… what is that?”

“It’s like the supreme court for vampires,” he said, as casually as if explaining the weather.

I stared at him, the weight of his words settling heavily. “But… I thought everyone involved in organizing the auction was killed at the casino.”

He gave a small shake of his head, his expression darkening. “The Red Ruby Casino belongs to the Vexley family—one of the five grand noble houses in the vampire world. Auctions like the one you witnessed are just one of the ways they’ve been building their fortune. That specific auction had been running for years, but only recently did we gather irrefutable evidence and learn of the exact date.

“The Vexleys, of course, wouldn’t risk attending in person. They’re far too clever for that. But make no mistake—they’re the ones pulling the strings. They orchestrated everything. That’s why I need you to testify. Your words can expose them.”

I clenched my fists beneath the table, my mind racing with a storm of conflicting emotions. Rage burned in my chest at the thought of those monsters profiting from so much suffering, but fear wasn’t far behind. These weren’t just criminals—they were a powerful, influential family. Could I really stand before the Night Council and face them?

“I understand,” I said finally, though my voice was tight.

The faces of the other girls flashed through my mind, their vacant eyes and lifeless forms seared into my memory. Amara’s face lingered longest. Could I confront the people responsible for her death? Could I summon the strength to relive those horrors to ensure justice was served? If my testimony could bring even a shred of accountability, I knew I had to do it—no matter how terrifying the prospect.

Yet one question kept clawing at the edges of my thoughts, refusing to let go.

“My friends…” I began, my voice trembling. “Their bodies… they were torn apart. It looked like they’d been bitten, but not by vampires. It was—it looked like the work of wild animals. Was it really vampires who did that?”

Hadrian’s expression grew grim, his gaze heavy with unspoken truths. “The vampires responsible must have been degenerates. They’re consumed by bloodlust, driven mad until they’re little more than feral beasts. My guess? Someone let them loose to destroy any living evidence—your friends. But they acted too late and didn’t even bother covering their tracks.”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips, though it held no warmth. If I hadn’t been the last one waiting to be auctioned, my body would’ve joined the others in that room, mangled beyond recognition. And Amara… I shivered at the thought of what she might have endured. Perhaps she’d been spared a worse fate, her death swift and merciful compared to the others.

The rage simmering inside me threatened to boil over. Whatever punishment awaited the ones behind this nightmare, it would never match the suffering they’d caused. But it would be a start.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the room around me until Hadrian’s voice cut through the haze.

“Would you like some coffee?” he asked, his tone oddly gentle.

Before I could answer, he snapped his fingers, and a servant appeared, placing a cup of coffee in front of me and another for him. The rich, familiar aroma filled the air, grounding me.

I glanced at him, surprised by the gesture. He’d done it on purpose, I realized—to distract me from the darkness swirling in my mind. It worked, though I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“I love coffee,” he remarked, taking a sip with a slight smirk. “I regret not trying the one you made at the café.”

Heat crept up my neck, his casual teasing leaving me flustered. “Maybe you should’ve drunk it back then,” I replied, meeting his smirk with one of my own.

He chuckled, the sound light and unguarded. “I wanted to, but I had to run. Literally.”

“Run?” I tilted my head, curiosity stirring. “Was someone chasing you?”

“Something like that,” he said with a grin. “Let’s just say I decided to skip my first official duties as Lord Protector and do a bit of sightseeing instead. Gareth and his men weren’t too happy about it.”

The image of Mr. Larkspur frantically chasing Hadrian through the streets of Thornmere Town made me laugh despite myself.

“There it is,” Hadrian said, his voice softer now. “You should laugh more often.”

His words caught me off guard, and I quickly looked away, my cheeks burning. No one had ever managed to unravel me like this—not even during the chaos of my teenage years.

Then, his tone shifted, the teasing edge replaced by something more serious. “Now,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine, “I’d like to hear something from you.”

I blinked, startled. “What?”

“Why,” he asked, his voice low and intent, “were you being chased by werewolves?”

My breath hitched, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. Then, with a faint, awkward smile, I murmured, “Well… where should I begin?”