Chapter 56

"W-what?" The single word escaped my lips, even though Caspian's statement echoed loud and clear in my mind.

I felt the blood drain from my face, leaving my skin cold and pale, while my heart pounded furiously against my chest. A wave of dizziness and nausea surged through me, and even the light in the room made my eyes ache. Still, I doubted it was a side effect of vampire blood.

"Of course, it's not like Hadrian would ever manipulate your feelings..." Caspian let out a strained laugh, his attempt to assure me awkward and unconvincing. His words hung in the air like a frail shield against the storm of doubt raging inside me.

Some desperate part of me searched for an explanation—any reason that would keep me from feeling betrayed. But how could I not?

"Caspian... How is it even possible for traces of Hadrian's blood to stay in my body for four years? And now..." My voice cracked as panic tightened its grip. "Am I going to change somehow? I'm not... I'm not turning into a vampire, am I?"

Caspian shifted closer, his hands wrapping around mine as if anchoring me.

"No, of course not," he said, his gaze steady as it met mine. "You're not turning into a vampire. But Hadrian's blood is... different. Normally, vampire blood would be broken down and leave your system within days. But with Hadrian, it seems that your blood has assimilated the essence of his." He paused, his brow furrowed in thought. "That would explain the faint scent that's lingered for so long—and why you’ve been able to use Hadrian's ability."

His words sent my mind spinning. "Then... what happens now? Will this bond grow stronger? Will my emotions be... clouded because of it?"

Caspian hesitated. "I can’t say for sure. Only Hadrian would know how strong the bond is. It's similar to the connection between a newly-turned vampire and their maker." He shrugged, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips.

"A master-servant relationship..." I whispered, the words heavy and bitter on my tongue.

It felt as though someone had driven a knife through my heart, over and over again. I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel. Pathetic—that was the only word that came to mind as I tried to describe the chaos within me. My heart was in shambles, but outwardly, I was frozen. Perhaps my own mind couldn’t decide what emotion should surface.

"I’ll leave you to rest," Caspian said softly, rising from his seat. "Someone will take you to the Lord Protector's castle in a few hours." Without another word, he left me alone in the sterile, silent room.

I sat on the bed, the sheets tangled around me. My hands trembled as I peeled away the bandages, revealing flawless, healed skin. I should have been grateful—thankful for the gift of life—but a part of me resented not knowing the price I’d paid beforehand. I hated being special. I hated that once again, my unique DNA could turn me into someone else’s pawn.

Memories flooded my mind—every interaction with Hadrian, starting from the moment he saved me from the wolves and gave me his blood. I thought of the night I’d run blindly into the woods, only to find myself at the site of Hadrian’s accident. It had to be the essence of his blood that had drawn me to him, like a magnetic force beyond my control.

Then, doubt crept in, seeping into every memory. Could I even trust my feelings for Hadrian? Were they real, or were they just the blood bond? The confusion grew sharper with each passing second. My emotions for him were unlike anything I’d ever felt—intense, all-consuming, and utterly foreign. Even my longing for him to bite me seemed unnatural, as though it wasn’t truly mine.

It was logical to assume the blood bond had created this mess of feelings. And yet, the realization brought no comfort—only pain. Hadrian must have known how vulnerable I was to him, how the bond made me susceptible. He’d known, and he’d used it. The thought that he might have found my helplessness amusing made my stomach churn.

The sickening truth was that even a few drops of his blood had left me powerless. What would happen now, after I’d taken so much more? The idea of becoming his puppet terrified me. I’d rather die than lose my free will.

I spent those hours of supposed rest lying motionless on the bed, my eyes wide open and my mind churning with relentless "what-ifs." Logic and paranoia blurred together in an endless loop, and no amount of reasoning could quiet the storm inside me.

Three hours later, a knock at the door broke the suffocating silence. For once, I was relieved to see Mr. Larkspur instead of Hadrian. Facing Hadrian now felt impossible.

Mr. Larkspur handed me a set of clothes, his expression calm but his eyes watchful. "I’ll wait for you outside," he said simply.

That was the moment I realized I had no idea where I even was. The sterile room had kept me trapped, the shock of everything blinding me to my surroundings. When I stepped out into the corridor, a sense of familiarity washed over me. It resembled the bank I worked at every day, its cold, clinical design etched into my memory.

As I followed Mr. Larkspur to the elevator, I finally broke the silence. "Um... This might sound stupid, but... where exactly are we?" My voice was tentative, my smile awkward.

"We’re on level -5 in the bank’s headquarters, at Master’s private medical facility," he said curtly, glancing down at me.

"I see..." I murmured, the words barely audible.

"You seem... fine," he said, his tone carrying a faint trace of concern.

I forced a nervous smile. "Yes. All thanks to the Lord Protector and Doctor Blackwell."

He nodded, his eyes scanning me carefully. "I’m only asking because Master seemed... concerned about his employee." His words were formal, but his scrutiny betrayed something deeper.

"Thank you," I replied softly, offering him a warm, if strained, smile.

He made a strange grimace that barely resembled a smile, then quickly averted his gaze. We headed to the parking lot, and he drove me to the castle without a word.

"You’ll be assigned protection starting tomorrow," Mr. Larkspur said, his voice steady as he drove. "Every time you enter the company, two bodyguards will follow you, as per the Master's orders."

"Thank you," I replied softly.

My emotions were too tangled to offer more. I could feel Mr. Larkspur’s gaze flicking toward me, his sharp eyes noticing the unsettled air around me. But I was sure he wouldn’t understand the storm of human fears that churned within me.

"Master has left to visit Lady Kessler," he continued unexpectedly. "He’ll be gone for at least a few days."

I smiled awkwardly, surprised by the unexpected tidbit. It was the first time I’d been informed of the Lord Protector’s whereabouts.

Inside, my heart was a battleground. One part of me longed to confront him, to demand answers now that I knew the truth about the bond. But another part, a much louder part, recoiled in fear, terrified of facing him, of what I might discover next.

As soon as I stepped into my chamber, the sound of frantic footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by the unmistakable sobs of Freya. I rushed to pull her inside before her crying could raise alarms throughout the castle.

"I was s... so afraid... that you would die!" she cried, her voice raw with panic.

"How did you know I was in danger?" I forced a nervous laugh, trying to calm her as I patted her head.

"The Lord Protector caused such a scene that it was impossible not to know something happened to you..." She sobbed harder, her face buried in my shoulder.

I grasped her trembling hand and guided her to the bed, urging her to sit. It took a while, but eventually, her tear-streaked face met mine, and her eyes began to focus.

"Now... tell me exactly what you heard." My tone was firm, my gaze unblinking.

"Mr. Tavian said that after the Lord Protector learned someone had verbally attacked you, he ordered extra cameras to be installed in the bank. Only he and the CFO could access them. When he returned to the castle yesterday and you weren’t there, he checked the surveillance footage. Apparently, all the regular cameras were switched off for some reason. He doesn’t know what he saw, but whatever it was, it made him so furious that he jumped into his Bugatti and sped off to the bank at full throttle!"

Her words hit me like a wave. The image of Hadrian rushing to my rescue, like some kind of knight in shining armor, sparked an unexpected flutter of warmth in my chest.

Clenching my fists to steady myself, I fought to maintain control, but a small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. I wanted to keep my expression neutral, but the thought of him coming for me filled me with an undeniable rush.

"You weren’t hurt, right?!" Freya asked, her voice rising with panic as she scrutinized me. "The Lord Protector came in time, didn’t he?!"

"No... those bastards didn’t even touch me." I lied, forcing a bright smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

"Thank goodness..." She sighed, but her gaze sharpened. "You’re not lying just to calm me down, are you?"

"No..." I laughed, but it was nervous, shaky. "Trust me, everything’s fine."

I hated lying to her, but the truth was far too dangerous. No one could know about Hadrian giving me his blood—not yet. I suspected even Mr. Larkspur didn’t know, and I couldn’t think of any other plausible explanation for how I had survived and remained untouched after my chest had been torn apart.

"This is so romantic!" Freya exclaimed dreamily, wiping her tears away. "The Lord Protector rushed to save his chosen princess!"

"Please, get a grip!" I burst out, a laugh escaping me that bordered on hysteria. "There is nothing between me and the Lord Protector! He doesn’t treat me like a princess! I’m just his employee..."

"Oh yeah?" Freya smirked, a teasing glint in her eye. "I don’t remember him rushing to save any other employee. But he always seemed to be your knight in shining armor."

"Yes..." I sighed, my smile bitter. "He might be every girl’s dream."