Chapter 55

I swallowed hard, my body frozen as I stared at him. The weight of the situation crashed over me like a wave. Hadrian wasn’t just offering a few drops of blood—he was risking so much more. My survival was in his hands, but if anyone found out what he had done, it could cost him his life. I had no doubt that Caspian would keep the secret. He had no reason not to. But the real danger lay in ensuring no one else ever discovered the truth.

“I... I won’t tell anyone. I swear I’ll keep it a secret,” I stammered, my voice shaky.

“Good,” Caspian said with a sly smile, sinking into a chair by my bed.

I watched him, suspicion creeping through me. He was the only one who could give me the answers I needed, and I wasn’t going to waste the chance.

“You know, I heard your conversation with Hadrian, when you told him to give me his blood, right?” I asked cautiously, testing the waters.

“Yes, I assumed you might have overheard,” Caspian replied, his lips curling into a bitter smile.

“When he asked if his blood would affect me, you told him it hadn’t the last time… What did you mean by that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the question hanging heavy in the air.

Caspian sighed, a look of discomfort washing over him. It was clear he didn’t want to divulge too much, but the weight of the situation had gone beyond what silence could protect.

“Hadrian gave you his blood before. I don’t know all the details, but he mentioned that someone gave you a drug, and it was far too strong for your body to handle. He gave you a few drops of his blood, and then he left,” Caspian explained with a weary smile.

I gasped, my mind spinning with the realization. If Caspian was right, then I should have died that night when the wolves found me. Hadrian hadn’t just saved me from being taken; he had done so much more.

With shaky hands, I pulled back the sheets to inspect the injury. My skin looked perfectly unmarked, as though there had never been a wound.

“Is that how vampire blood works on humans?” I asked, trying to steady my voice. “Can it heal people or save them from death?”

“No. Only noble blood can allow humans to regenerate, and even then, it’s limited. I’m a noble myself, but my blood has poor healing properties compared to Hadrian’s. His blood is... exceptional. That’s why I was certain he was the only one who could save you,” Caspian said, his tone almost reverent.

I let out a small, bittersweet smile, trying to process everything Caspian had just shared. But one thing still bothered me: Why had Hadrian kept his act of saving me a secret? I was certain I would never tell anyone about it. No one in my position would. So why hide it?

“Caspian… are there any side effects from drinking vampire blood?” I asked, my voice trembling with the weight of the question.

Caspian’s lips pressed together, and he looked down, seemingly weighing the consequences of his words.

“Well, there can be a lot of side effects,” he chuckled nervously. “It wouldn’t be dangerous if it wasn’t risky. Hadrian took a gamble giving you his blood.”

I clenched my jaw, my gaze fixed on him, unwilling to back down. “What kind of side effects?”

“You might reject the blood entirely. Your body could treat it like poison and kill you within minutes...” Caspian’s awkward smile tried to mask his discomfort, but I wasn’t satisfied yet.

“What else?” I pressed.

“Insomnia, dizziness, nausea, blood cravings. And of course, the sun allergy I mentioned earlier,” he added, a strange grin on his face. “But don’t worry, if any of those happen, they should be temporary. The vampire blood will leave your system in a few days.”

I didn’t buy it. His words felt too rehearsed, like he was trying to hide something. I stared at him, my suspicion growing.

Then, my thoughts flashed back to what I had experienced—my ability, something I couldn’t ignore. Could it be possible that I had inherited more than just blood?

“Is it possible that Hadrian passed on his ability to me along with his blood?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, but my heart pounded in my chest.

“I’ve never heard of anything like that, but I suppose it could be different for you,” Caspian replied, a sly smirk playing on his lips.

“Why?” I asked, pressing further.

“Because your blood... it’s even more unique than Hadrian’s. It fascinates me,” he said, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.

I felt my pulse quicken. “Let’s say I have his ability because of the blood... How long would I have it?”

“Well,” Caspian shrugged, “I suppose it would last a few days, as long as his blood stays in your system.”

I stared at him, incredulous. According to everything I knew, Hadrian had given me his blood nearly four years ago. It was impossible that the effects could last this long. Even more baffling was Hadrian’s confidence in my ability on the court, despite the years that had passed.

“How did he know?” I murmured, still processing the shock of it all.

“Pardon?” Caspian looked at me, his grin widening.

“Hadrian gave me his blood more than four years ago… How did he know that I could use his ability? It should be impossible, but he knew exactly what I could do. How did he know?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Caspian leaned back in his chair, a frown creasing his brow. He didn’t have a clear answer, but I sensed that he was holding something back.

“He... might have sensed it,” he said, offering a wry smile. “I could smell a faint trace of vampire on you when I first saw you. It made me search for a bite mark, even though I knew it felt different.”

“So... Hadrian sensed something from his blood in me, and then he knew I could use his ability?” I struggled to wrap my mind around it.

Caspian’s awkward smile returned. It was clear he was hiding something from me, and I could feel my patience wearing thin.

I leaned forward, gripping his hands desperately. “Please… tell me the truth.”

“He’s going to kill me…” he muttered, looking away.

“Please…” I wasn’t ready to back off.

He took a deep breath, and for a moment, it seemed like he was torn between loyalty to Hadrian and his desire to be honest with me. Finally, his sincerity won out.

“When you accept vampire blood, you give the vampire access to your mind,” he said, his voice tinged with anxiety as his eyes flicked nervously to mine.

I released his hands, my heart racing. Panic gripped me as I processed what he had just said. I feared I already knew what that meant, but I needed to hear it from him.

“C-could he... hear my thoughts?” I laughed, the sound shaky and strained.

“More like he could sense your emotions,” Caspian clarified, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. “He could trace how his blood affected you, up to a certain point.”

“What else?” I gritted my teeth, my frustration mounting.

Caspian looked pained, shaking his head as though begging me not to push him further. But I couldn’t stop.

“What else, Caspian?” I pleaded, my eyes pleading for the truth.

He sighed deeply, clearly unwilling to reveal more, but I could see that he couldn’t hold back.

“Vampire blood can affect your emotions…” he said slowly. “Your mind will instinctively try to repay the blood you’ve received, especially when you’re unaware of the bond it creates.”

I felt my heart pound painfully in my chest as his words sank in.

“You might even start thinking you’re in love with the one who gave you blood,” he added, his voice heavy with meaning. “And the vampire can manipulate those emotions however he likes.”

My world tilted dangerously.