Chapter 68

Hadrian and Caspian fixed their gazes on me, their anticipation thick in the air, waiting for my response. But how could I react when my emotions were at war? Part of me leapt with joy, knowing I had something precious to offer Hadrian. The other half, however, screamed in protest, dragging me back to memories of being in a similar situation. I despised the thought of being reduced to an object, a priceless possession in someone’s eyes. Owners didn’t fall in love with their “things,” no matter how valuable. In that moment, I felt like nothing more than a literal blood bag.

"Wow... never thought I’d end up as someone’s energy drink," I muttered bitterly, a faint, humorless smile curling my lips.

"Thalassa..." Caspian exhaled, his hands extending in a gentle attempt to soothe me. "That’s not—"

"You just don’t get it, Thalassa, do you?" Hadrian interrupted, his voice sharp as he cut Caspian off. "You’re the only one who bears my mark. You’re my woman." His confident gaze locked onto mine, unyielding.

Once again, my emotions collided. Part of my heart wanted to celebrate his words, while the other churned with unease, finding in them yet another reason for restlessness.

"I just..." I hesitated, searching for words that seemed impossible to find. Taking a steadying breath, I finally said, "I’ve been treated like a thing before—because of my DNA. You can’t blame me for feeling uneasy when I find out there’s something in me that makes me valuable for a reason." My voice wavered, nervous yet resolute.

Without warning, Hadrian surged forward, closing the space between us. His presence loomed over me, his intense gaze making it clear there would be no room for defiance. My body betrayed me, yielding instantly to him. His hand found the back of my head, steady and possessive, while his lips descended toward mine.

His touch was deliberate, as though I were a fragile, irreplaceable treasure. His fingers grazed my skin with reverence, igniting a warmth that traveled through me. A shy, unbidden smile tugged at my lips, and he seized the moment, deepening the kiss with a passion that both overwhelmed and disarmed me.

I lost track of time, oblivious to everything but the feel of him, until Caspian loudly cleared his throat. The sound jolted me back to reality. Embarrassed, I flinched and pulled away, my cheeks burning as I avoided Hadrian’s gaze.

Unlike me, Hadrian remained utterly unaffected by the interruption, his focus unwavering. He grasped my hand and led me to sit beside him on the bed, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

"Everything’s going to change now," he said with quiet certainty. The mischievous gleam in his eyes made it impossible to tell whether that promise was comforting or foreboding.

As much as I wanted to believe his words, doubt lingered. Change was inevitable, but whether I would welcome it was a question that remained unanswered.

After my reluctant acceptance of the situation, Caspian shared more about the peculiarities of my blood. One revelation offered a sliver of comfort: my bone marrow, it seemed, produced blood cells far faster than a normal human body could. That alone explained why I could still stand after being drained by Hadrian the night before. It also led me to wonder if this unique trait had been the reason I survived curing Hadrian’s poisoning and his insatiable bloodlust.

"You actually regenerate incredibly fast. I think it’s the small werewolf component in you," Caspian mused, his tone curious. "I’m also fairly certain the blood Hadrian gave you recently has strengthened your body. If you’d allow me, I’d like to run some tests—"

"She’s not giving you any more blood anytime soon," Hadrian interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "Thalassa needs rest so I—"

"Could you please stop deciding what happens to my blood without consulting me?" I snapped, glaring at him. "I’m not some kind of object that belongs to you!"

"But you do belong to me," he replied, smirking as his arm snaked around my waist.

Words failed me. I stared at him, both annoyed and utterly speechless. His ability to leave me flustered and helpless to argue back was infuriating. Caspian’s sudden laughter broke the tension, his amusement unrestrained.

I shot him a withering look, my patience hanging by a thread. He caught on quickly, smothering his laughter, though the mischief in his eyes remained.

"Anyway," he said, working hard to sound serious, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Let me know if anything unusual happens."

"Do you expect something else to happen?" I asked warily.

Caspian’s demeanor shifted, his expression turning clinical as he drew a deep breath. His gaze flicked to Hadrian before he spoke.

"The amount of silver in that bullet should have killed you," he said gravely. "With that level of poison, draining ten or twenty blood bags wouldn’t have saved you. This is just a theory, but I believe no other blood, except Thalassa’s, could have healed you."

Hadrian locked eyes with me, his gaze warm and strangely tender.

"I am fully aware that I owe my life to Thalassa," he said, his voice steady yet filled with meaning. "She’s my lucky charm." He added a wink for emphasis.

The fluttering butterflies in my stomach betrayed me, drawing an involuntary grin to my face. Every time his words carried that warmth, they chipped away at the carefully constructed walls around my heart. He left me disoriented, teetering between trusting the heat of his gaze and fearing it might burn me.

"Alright, this is officially unsettling," Caspian interjected, his grimace betraying his discomfort. He glanced between us with exaggerated awkwardness. "I’ve never seen this ruthless Lord Protector act so... human. I’m not sure I want to stick around to see more. I’ll be in Monteforte City if you need me. I suggest you two follow suit." With that, he grabbed his briefcase and disappeared through the door.

He wasn’t wrong—we needed to return to the city. But as much as I knew it was inevitable, I didn’t want to leave. Staying felt safe, like lingering in a fragile, sweet dream I wasn’t ready to wake from. Outside the Kessler estate, the world loomed large, harsh, and indifferent, waiting to swallow me whole. Yet, no matter how I delayed, the moment was inescapable.

The weight of anxiety settled on me the instant we stepped outside the mansion. Hadrian, by contrast, seemed unshaken. His stride was purposeful, his focus razor-sharp. There was a quiet, effortless strength about him, a confidence I wished I could borrow for myself. Walking beside him, I felt like a runaway bride who’d made an impulsive vow and was now headed home to face reality.

"Relax, Thalassa," Hadrian said with a calm smile as he held the car door open for me. "You bear my mark now. No one can touch you."

I hesitated as I slid into the passenger seat, then, unable to suppress the gnawing question, asked softly, "Do you... regret marking me?"

His answer came with a smirk and a steady, unwavering gaze.

"Some things are destined to happen. Fate made the decision for me." He shrugged before taking the driver’s seat.

Though his words sounded accepting, they weren’t exactly comforting. To me, it felt as though he’d resigned himself to an unchangeable reality rather than embraced it. My smile wavered, masking the ache those words left behind.

The ride back to Monteforte passed mostly in silence. My thoughts spiraled, irrational and overwhelming. Any other person in my position would have been consumed by their recent kidnapping or the attacks on Hadrian’s castle and the city’s blood banks. But my mind kept returning to the mark. I had once yearned for Hadrian’s bite, craving the intimacy it implied, but I had never considered the repercussions. Now, it was too late for second thoughts. All that remained was acceptance.

As we approached the castle, the reality of the situation began to crystallize. From a distance, the destruction of the east wing was impossible to miss—the charred, crumbling remains standing as a stark reminder of the recent attack. It was the first sharp slap of reality, with many more, I was certain, waiting just around the corner.

But as we neared the main entrance, something unexpected caught my eye.

A long line of people stood at attention in front of the castle—servants, guards, and staff, all arranged in solemn formation. My initial thought was that they were apologizing to Hadrian for failing to protect the estate during the attack. It seemed like the kind of strict protocol he might impose.

Hadrian stopped the car in the middle of the line, climbed out, and swiftly circled around to open my door. His movements carried an air of purpose.

"It’s time, Thalassa," he said, his voice heavy with significance.

I blinked at him, confused, as he extended his hand toward me. My own hand trembled as I placed it in his, letting him help me out of the car.

The moment my feet touched the ground, the entire line of people bowed—not to Hadrian, but to me.

It took several seconds for the realization to sink in. They were bowing to me.

Before I could fully process the scene, Mr. Larkspur stepped forward. His expression was as composed as ever, but there was something almost reverent in his tone.

"I have taken the liberty of moving Ms. Drayton’s belongings to the north wing," he announced. "I trust you will find your new chambers satisfactory."

For a moment, I could only stare at him, stunned. Those words were meant for me—me. My response was an awkward, uncertain smile as I struggled to comprehend what was happening.

Hadrian’s pride was evident in the way his lips curved into a knowing smile. With deliberate ceremony, he took my hand and raised it to his lips, pressing a light kiss to my fingers for all to see.

His voice carried power and authority as he addressed the gathered crowd. "For those of you who remain unaware, allow me to introduce Ms. Thalassa Drayton—the new Mistress of the House of Kessler."