Chapter 32

My body trembled as Lucian's words began to sink in.

“H-how?” I stammered, my eyes silently pleading for him to explain further.

He smirked before continuing. “Twenty years ago, back when the old Lord Protector of Kessler was still alive, Hadrian lived the life of a young master. Women adored him; many belonged to him. He could’ve practically bathed in the blood of those he marked. But everything changed when he fell in love with one woman and started dismissing the others.”

“It sounds like a romantic story,” I murmured, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. Despite myself, a dull ache spread through my chest, jealousy blooming for the woman he had once loved.

“It was, and it was also a scandal,” Lucian sighed. “He rejected the daughter of the Warden of Fenn and openly declared his intention to turn his beloved and marry her.”

I couldn’t help but envy that human girl, even knowing their story had ended in tragedy.

“He must have been committed,” I said, leaning forward. “So, what went wrong?”

Lucian’s smirk faded into something more somber as he spoke. “The nobles who supported Hadrian pressured him to wait a few years before turning her. They argued he needed to secure his position first. He agreed but underestimated his ability to control his bloodlust. Without donors at the castle, he relied solely on the blood she willingly gave, but it wasn’t enough.

"Starving, he tried to sustain himself on animal blood, but that only worsened his state. At the time, drinking bagged blood was seen as weakness—unfit for a future ruler. He managed on most days, but the full moon was unbearable. On one such night, his hunger and frustration reached their peak. He snapped.

"He lost control, his desire morphing into fury, which robbed him of his sanity. He stormed into her room and drained her completely. When he regained consciousness the next morning, he found her lifeless body beside him.

"Wracked with guilt, Hadrian sank into despair, punishing himself for years. He withdrew from his duties, living in seclusion until his father’s murder by silver poisoning forced him to return and assume the title. Since then, he has never marked anyone,” Lucian finished, his expression pensive.

I sat frozen, speechless, my heart aching for the unimaginable pain Hadrian must have endured. Yet, despite the heartbreak, a selfish thought crept into my mind. A bitter voice whispered how slim my chances of being marked by him truly were.

Wait… Do I actually want him to bite me? When did I become a masochist? My inner voice screamed, trying to make sense of this sudden longing.

Maybe my hormones had gone rogue—bound to happen eventually. After all, my past experiences with intimacy had been far from pleasant, marked by violence and dissatisfaction. I was practically a poster child for permanently unfulfilled.

Perhaps my frustration had finally found a target. Around Hadrian, I felt excitement—an electric pull. It was maddening, turning me into a weak, needy version of myself.

I took a deep breath, desperate to quiet my thoughts. My first day of work had left me drained. With my phone still missing after it was taken at the casino, all of Hadrian’s messages had been relayed to me through Lucian. Thankfully, my protector had checked with Lucian to ensure my tasks were complete before sending Elio to pick me up.

When I reached the car, it was already waiting.

“How was your first day, Ms. Thalassa?” Elio greeted me with a cheerful grin.

“It was… eventful,” I replied, forcing a smirk.

Elio, ever the enthusiastic driver, spent the journey showering me with compliments—on my appearance, my supposed qualities, and everything in between. Though sincere, his chatter was both endearing and exhausting. Too tired to interrupt, I let his words blur into white noise until we reached the castle.

As I stepped out of the car, he informed me with a bright smile, “The Lord Protector is waiting for you in his study.”

“Just when I thought I’d get some rest,” I muttered, clicking my tongue.

I sighed, trudging toward the castle’s north wing. After steadying myself with a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

“Enter,” his cold voice commanded.

Shivers raced down my spine, my heart pounding with anticipation. A rational part of me wanted to scold my excitement, but it was too late. I had already opened the door and was caught in his piercing gaze. My thoughts blanked instantly.

“Don’t just stand there, Thalassa. Come in and sit,” Hadrian instructed, gesturing toward the chair opposite his desk.

I managed a faint smile before obediently sitting where he indicated. He studied me intently, his chin resting on his muscled forearms.

I tried to avoid his stare, but my resolve faltered. I found myself lost in the stormy depths of his grey eyes, unable to look away until his voice broke the spell.

“Lucian says you did well today,” he remarked, his smirk curling at the edges of his lips.

My logical mind snapped to attention, determined not to let me embarrass myself. “That’s because I’m good at my job,” I replied confidently.

“Fortunate for you,” he said, his gaze unwavering, “that I find you useful.”

"As long as you keep doing your part, I will ensure your complete protection. Not even your father will be able to lay a finger on you," he declared with unwavering certainty.

His words carried a weight that eclipsed any love confession. They struck a chord deep within me, unraveling emotions I hadn't dared to confront. My chest tightened, and a tremor coursed through my body. It was as though a crushing burden had been lifted, one I hadn't realized I was carrying. Tears slid unbidden down my cheeks, dampening the fragile smile that had formed.

Hadrian glanced at me, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before he cleared his throat, snapping me out of my daze.

Embarrassed, I gasped and quickly wiped my tears, determined to mask my vulnerability. I straightened my posture and fixed him with a composed expression, silently willing him to believe I hadn't lost my mind.

"Thank you," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper, a nervous smile tugging at my lips.

He exhaled deeply, his tone softening. "I always keep my promises. What I said applies to your protection when you give your statement to the council as well."

"Don’t worry," I replied firmly, my resolve hardening. "I’ll do whatever it takes to see those bastards pay for what they’ve done."

Hadrian rose from his seat, moving to lean against the desk beside me. His posture was casual, but his expression betrayed his hesitation.

"Their punishment may not meet your expectations," he cautioned.

"What do you mean?" I asked sharply, bracing myself for an answer I knew would infuriate me.

"It’s the Vexley family," he began, his jaw tightening. "They have powerful allies. The council may vote to confiscate some of their assets or strip them of their titles, but it’s unlikely their punishment will go further than that."

"What?!" I exploded, anger flaring in my chest. "That’s all they get for murdering people?"

"Thalassa, wake up," he snapped, his voice laced with frustration as he leaned closer. "Vampires kill humans every day. We drain their blood, sometimes until there’s nothing left. Humans are just food to us."

I met his cold, detached gaze and shook my head. "You don’t believe that," I said quietly.

His laughter erupted, sharp and bitter. "Lucian told you, didn’t he?"

"He told me you once loved a human," I admitted without hesitation. "That you wanted to marry her. He also said you refuse to mark anyone because of what happened back then."

Hadrian’s hand shot out, gripping my chin and tilting my face toward him. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, freezing me in place.

"Let me make this perfectly clear," he said, his voice a chilling whisper. He leaned in, his cool breath brushing against my skin. "I don’t care about human lives. I don’t mark them—not because I fear hurting someone, but because I don’t like to hold back during sex. With vampires, I don’t have to. With humans, things can... get messy."

A cruel smirk played on his lips as he released me and stepped back.

A shiver ran down my spine, though it wasn’t fear that gripped me. It was something far more unsettling. His words sank in slowly, but I didn’t believe them—not for a second. He hid his true self behind a carefully constructed wall, masking his emotions with precision. But I saw through it. I recognized the act because it mirrored my own. I pretended I wasn’t broken, but I was. And what if he was, too?

"Why don’t you?" I asked suddenly, my voice braver than I felt.

"Why don’t I what?"

"Why don’t you have a relationship with another vampire?" The words spilled out before I could stop them, and I instantly regretted it.

His eyes darkened, the gray tinged with a fiery red glow. I flinched instinctively, lowering my gaze like a child awaiting punishment.

Hadrian’s hand tangled in my hair, yanking my head back with a sharp tug. Pain flared at my scalp, and I bit back a cry. His face loomed close, his expression a mix of fury and control.

"Don’t cross the line, human," he hissed, his voice as cold as ice. "And don’t ask about my private life again."

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat nearly choking me. "I... I’m sorry," I stammered, my voice trembling under the weight of his rage.

He released me abruptly, and I instinctively raised my hands to my head, checking to see if my hair was still intact.

"Tomorrow, Elio will pick you up from work at five," he said curtly, his tone clipped. "He’ll take you directly to the Night Council court. Be ready."

With that, he strode to the door and flung it open.

"Now, get out."

I didn’t hesitate. Nodding quickly, I bolted from the room. The door slammed shut behind me, the sound echoing down the hall. I flinched at the noise, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I walked back to my room, shame and frustration gnawed at me. I cursed myself for pushing too far, for forgetting, even briefly, that I wasn’t dealing with a human—but with a creature that might be even more ruthless and terrifying than my father.