"I am unclean, Your Highness," Kael said, stepping back as though distance alone could protect him from what is about to be fall him.
Isolde did not reply.
She simply stood there, watching him and observing his reaction.
The scent of her hunger hung heavy in the air.
"I will go and get you a pack of blood," Kael added quickly, already turning as if escape was the only solution for him.
"I need fresh blood."
Her voice was calm.
But it was not a request.
Kael paused mid-step and turned slowly to face her again.
"My princess… I will send someone to fetch it immediately."
"I need it now," she repeated, her eyes darkening. "At this moment."
Silence fell between them.
"You cannot feed on me," Kael said carefully. "I am unclean. I am not worthy to serve you in that way."
A flicker of something crossed her expression.
"Are you refusing me, Kael?" she asked softly.
Or are you in love with me? She asked shocking him.
Kael flustered and speechless not knowing where to start or what to say dropped to one knee instinctively. "I would never refuse you and neither can I habour such an abominable emotions for you, Your Highness."
"Then stand," she commanded. "And do not move an inch."
Kael rose slowly.
His heart began to pound — not from fear.
From awareness.
Drinking directly from a living host was intimate. Dangerous. Sensational in ways that went beyond hunger. The bond it created, even if temporary, was powerful.
And she was not just any vampire.
She was his princess.
Isolde stepped toward him.
One step.
Then another.
Kael felt every inch of space disappear between them. He could hear her breathing and Could feel the heat of her body through the thin fabric separating them.
She stopped only a breath away.
Her eyes lifted to his.
For a moment, the world narrowed to nothing but that gaze.
Kael's control trembled.
Her lips hovered dangerously close to his, almost brushing. His shoulders tensed, every instinct battling within him.
Then—
She shifted.
Her lips trailed past his, her breath warm against his neck.
Kael inhaled sharply.
Without warning, her fangs sank into him.
A soft groan escaped his lips before he could stop it.
The sensation was overwhelming — pain and pleasure blending into something intoxicating. His fingers curled at his sides as he fought the urge to pull her closer to him.
Her hand gripped his shoulder for balance.
She fed slowly.
Intimately.
The room seemed to pulse with the rhythm of it.
After a long moment, she withdrew.
A thin line of blood traced her lower lip.
She lifted her gaze to his.
And in that suspended breath of silence, something shifted.
Kael looked at her — truly looked at her.
Her flushed skin.
Her parted lips.
The dark hunger fading from her eyes… replaced by something softer. Something vulnerable.
+He lost the battle within himself.
Before reason could return, his hand rose to her face.
And he kissed her.
It was not gentle.
It was not calculated.
It was a mistake born of longing and loss of control.
Isolde's eyes flew open in shock.
Reality crashed down on her.
She pushed him away.
Hard.
Kael stumbled back, breath uneven, horror slowly replacing desire in his expression.
What have I done?
He stared at her as though he no longer recognized himself.
Forgive me.
He did not speak the words aloud.
But they filled his eyes.
And before she could say anything —
He disappeared.
Leaving only silence… and the echo of a kiss neither of them could undo.
Isolde stood frozen.
Her fingers slowly rose to her lips.
The warmth of his kiss still lingered there.
Her heart beat faster — not from hunger this time, but from something far more dangerous.
The silence of her chamber felt heavier than before.
That same night.
Jace returned home long after midnight.
The grand mansion stood tall and silent — beautiful but lifeless.
Ever since his mother died, the house had changed.
Every corner had lost its spark.
The laughter that once filled the halls was gone. Even the chandeliers seemed colder.
Home was the most depressing place he could be.
He walked straight to the bar table and poured himself a drink.
"Jackson."
The voice came smoothly.
Mrs. Smith stepped into the room, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She sat across from him without invitation and casually took his glass, sipping from it.
Jace didn't look at her.
"Don't you think you should switch majors?" she asked lightly.
Silence.
"Tommy is still young and growing," she continued. "I believe he will handle the business perfectly once he comes of age."
Jace finally turned his gaze toward her.
A slow smirk appeared on his lips.
"I thought you already had everything you wanted but i forgot that wealth can never be enough," he mocked.
Her smile didn't waver.
"And isn't your son a little too young for all these… scheming plans?" he added coldly.
She placed the glass down gently.
"You don't have to be so hostile, Jackson."
"I never planned on majoring in business," he said, his tone darkening. "You should know that."
He stood up.
He had to be careful.
Patient.
Very patient.
Until he retrieved what his mother had hidden before her death.
The truth.
Without another word, he walked away.
Mrs. Smith remained seated, lifting the glass again.
A satisfied smile curved her lips.
She remembered everything.
How she had threatened her dear friend after finding out the secret her dear friend had hidden for years. And how she came to replace her.
All while playing the grieving replacement.
Soon… everything would belong to her son.
The next morning.
"Allow me to drop you off, Princess," Kael said quietly, avoiding her eyes.
Avoiding last night.
Isolde simply nodded.
Neither of them mentioned the kiss.
The silence in the car was suffocating.
"About what happened last night. Isolde began.
" Am sorry about that. Kael cut in between her words.
Am sorry for crossing the line. It will never happen again. Kael assured and Isolde nodded.
Kael dropped her off at school and left immediately.
As Isolde walked toward her class, she collided with someone.
"Are you blind? Or should I lend you a pair of glasses?" the girl snapped.
"Sorry— I'm so—" Isolde looked up.
It was her.
The girl from last week.
"Hey!" May suddenly burst out. "You can't even apologize properly?"
She shoved Isolde's shoulder hard pushing her to the floor.
A crowd quickly began forming.
Berry and Amanda stepped forward like loyal shadows.
"Kneel and apologize," Berry ordered, scanning Isolde from head to toe.
"I already apologized. It was an accident," Isolde replied as she stood up from the floor, her tone sharpening. "Why should I kneel before a weak human?" and by the way she just pushed me to the ground I guess we are now even. Isolde said.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Kid, do you know who you're talking to?" Amanda asked, stepping closer.
"Isn't that May Jones? The campus queen?" someone whispered loudly.
Amanda smirked.
"And so, what?" Isolde said boldly she have tried to act calm, but she won't tolerate being bullied.
The crowd went still.
"I am Isolde Vayn," she said clearly. "Heiress of the Vayn family."
Silence.
Then—
"The Vayns family?"
"Aren't the Jones and Vayns families the most powerful in the country?"
Whispers exploded around them.
May's expression darkened.
"Enough!" she snapped.
Everyone fell silent.
She walked forward slowly, stopping directly in front of Isolde.
Their eyes locked.
Power met power.
"What's going on over there?" Dave asked as he approached with Jace and Andrew.
Jace pushed through the crowd.
The moment he saw Isolde standing there surrounded, something inside him tightened.
He stepped between the two girls and pulled Isolde gently but firmly to his side.
Protective.
May scoffed in disgust.
"Don't tell me this is the new toy you picked after I rejected you… several times, Jace Smith?" she mocked smoothly.
Murmurs rose again.
"Isn't that the Smith heir?"
"The school popular play boy"
"Why is he standing near the Vayn heiress"
" Could she Probably be his play thing"
"Is he trying to get the Joans family heiress to be jealous?"
"I thought he was practically pursuing May?"
Jace's jaw tightened.
"You can say whatever you want to me," he said calmly, "but don't involve Isolde."
May studied them both.
Then she smiled — slow and calculating.
"Interesting."
She turned and walked away, Berry and Amanda following closely behind.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
Jace turned to Isolde.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly.
"I'm fine," she replied.
"May was actually cool just now," Dave muttered.
"Dave," Andrew warned.
Isolde hesitated.
"About yesterday… I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Jace said quickly.
"Last night?" Dave and Andrew repeated in unison, exchanging knowing looks.
Jace shot them a glare.