“Just a scratch. Nothing to worry about,” I said, my voice perfectly calm.

Clarence’s hand froze mid-air, suspicion in his eyes.

But I was no longer the naive human painter he’d turned five centuries ago. I had learned to hold a perfect smile through Coven political games, to survive with grace amidst blood and betrayal.

“I have a gift for you,” I said, changing the subject. From a hidden compartment, I retrieved an ornate obsidian box and slowly slid it toward him.

It was heavy. Inside was a crystal orb that held a memory of our first meeting: under a Christmas tree on a snowy night.

It was supposed to be his anniversary gift. But I had already smashed it to pieces.

Clarence took the box, a look of surprise on his face. “What’s the occasion?”

He didn’t open it, instead placing it on the table and reaching out to touch my face.

I took a step back, my smile never wavering. “You truly don’t remember, do you, Clarence? Today is the five-hundredth anniversary of our bonding.”

His expression froze, as if he’d been struck.

I saw the panic and guilt flash in his eyes.

“Gods, Molly, I…” he reached for me. “Coven business has been so demanding lately, I completely…”

“It’s fine,” I said, deftly sidestepping his touch, refusing to smell another woman on his skin. “I understand.”

“No, it’s not,” he insisted, grabbing my hand, his grip tight. “We have to celebrate. Let’s go to the place where I first turned you. You love the blood moon there, don’t you? We can dance under it, just like we used to.”

Used to? The last time we danced was a century ago. Back when he would still kiss my ear and tell me I was his forever.

Now, he couldn’t even remember our anniversary.

But I nodded. “Alright. That sounds lovely.”

To get away clean, I still had to play the part of the devoted, oblivious mate.

At 4 a.m., Clarence was speeding through the night in his vintage Bentley, the classical piece that had been playing on the street when we first met filling the car.

“I really am sorry I forgot,” he said, glancing at me. “You know how much I love you.”

I didn’t answer.

My hand was in the glove compartment, my fingers closing around a silk stocking.

I didn’t need to guess who it belonged to. Seraphina’s scent clung to it.

I put it back, pretending I’d felt nothing.

I had no interest in his meaningless excuses.

When we reached the cliffside overlook, a massive blood moon hung in the sky.

We stood in silence for a long time while Clarence tried to recreate the warmth of the past.

He hugged me from behind, pointing at the moon and whispering romantic nonsense.

Then his phone buzzed, a specific vibration pattern.

“Sorry, my love. Coven emergency. I have to take this.” He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and vanished, reappearing at the far end of the cliff.

I quietly slipped back to the car, where Clarence kept his burner phone.

I found the chat log. The contact was saved as “Kitten Seraphina.”

Kitten Seraphina: I miss you, daddy… Can we try that new position and the new toys you mentioned tonight?

Clarence: Of course. Seems I didn’t quite fill you up last time.

Kitten Seraphina: You didn’t like it? I have other surprises planned. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.

Clarence: I look forward to your performance.

More messages flooded the screen, filled with filth and details for their next tryst.

They had a date for tonight. The Waldorf Astoria. He’d already booked the room.

When Clarence returned, he was once again the devoted mate.

“For a second, I couldn't feel your presence. It terrified me,” he said, reappearing beside me and taking my hand. “I thought you’d left me.”

My stomach churned.

A powerful wave of nausea washed over me.

“Molly, are you alright?” Clarence asked, his face a mask of concern. “You look pale.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. The lewd videos, the stocking reeking of another woman, his hypocritical concern.

It all made me physically sick.

I shoved the car door open and stumbled out, heaving violently into the bushes by the road.

The blood in my stomach came up, as if I was trying to purge the last five hundred years of my life.

“Molly!” Clarence cried, rushing after me. “What’s wrong?”

I knelt on the ground, still retching, tears mixing with the bile streaming from my mouth.

“Darling, you must have drunk some tainted blood.” Clarence gently helped me back into the car, handing me a flask of fresh, crimson liquid. “Let me take you to the blood bank. You can have anything you want.”

I shook my head, trying to look weak and harmless. “No, it’s alright. I think my energy has just been low lately.”

“Then let me throw a party for you, help you relax,” he suggested, ever the thoughtful husband. “Would the Lady of House Thorne do me the honor?”

An idea sparked, sharp and cruel. I smiled. “Of course. Could we have it at the Waldorf Astoria? I’ve always loved the decor there.”

A flicker of panic crossed Clarence’s eyes, but he masked it quickly. “Of course, my love. I’ll have it arranged immediately.”

I knew what he was thinking.

The risk of us both being at the same hotel was too high.

But he couldn’t refuse the small request of his “sick” mate, could he?

Back home, Clarence was exceptionally attentive. He brought me the purest blood, insisted I stay in bed, and checked on me every hour.

The perfect husband.

But I saw the text he sent Seraphina on his phone:

“Change of plans. Meet me in the private blood cellar beneath the hotel tomorrow. It’s more discreet. More… stimulating. Imagine what we can do amongst those expensive vintages…”

Kitten Seraphina: “Sounds amazing! I’ll wear that red silk dress you like. With nothing underneath.”

The sound of the shower turning off in the bathroom brought me back. I quickly put the phone down.

Clarence emerged with a towel knotted at his waist, water droplets tracing paths down his muscular chest. Five hundred years ago, the sight would have made my heart race. Now, it just filled me with disgust.

“Feeling any better?” he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed to feel my forehead.

I nodded silently.

Just then, Clarence noticed the obsidian gift box on my nightstand.

He smiled softly. “I still haven’t seen the gift you prepared for me…”

He reached for it, but I stopped him.

“I want you to open it in a week. Think of it as a surprise, okay?”

He looked at me, puzzled. “Why a week?”

I gave him a mysterious smile. “Because by then, you’ll understand its true meaning.”

Clarence shrugged, placing the box in his nightstand drawer. “Alright. If that’s what you want.”

The next morning, Clarence was up early, preparing breakfast for me in the dining room.

Fresh blood in a crystal goblet, garnished with my favorite black rose petals.

A perfect breakfast from a perfect husband.

Then, the doorbell rang.

One of Clarence’s men stood outside, holding a refrigerated case.

“Your Highness. The… delivery… you requested,” the man said furtively, avoiding my gaze.

But I could smell it. A rare, vibrant vintage of blood, no doubt a “delicacy” for their little rendezvous.

After the man left, Clarence returned to the table and continued his breakfast as if nothing had happened.

I stirred the blood in my goblet. “Clarence, I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

I looked up at him. “How important do you think loyalty is between mates?”

Clarence froze for a split second before raising his goblet. “Of course, it’s important. Loyalty is the foundation of everything.”

“Is it?” I asked, playing the part of a naive wife. “So, you would never betray me?”

Clarence immediately set down his glass and placed a hand over the blood bond rune on his chest.

It was the symbol of our union, a sacred vow for vampire mates.

“I swear on my immortal life,” he said, looking me straight in the eye, his tone solemn and sincere, “I will only be loyal to you, Molly. You are my mate, my queen, the only light in my eternal night.”

His performance was flawless. If I didn’t know the truth, I might have actually been moved to tears.

“And if you did betray me?” I asked, raising my goblet, my gaze turning cold.

Clarence, oblivious, even managed a relaxed smile. “Then may my power turn to dust and my life be forfeit.”

I took a sip of blood, savoring the metallic tang.

“Good, my dear. I’ll remember that.”

“I want to go by myself.”

On the way to the hotel, Clarence looked at me, confused. “Why? You always ride with me.”

Because I couldn’t bear to sit in the passenger seat where his new pet had sat countless times.

The thought of Seraphina there, whining for him to pull over so he could feed from her, made me want to vomit.

But I just said, “I feel like being independent tonight.”

Clarence thought nothing of it.

When he took my arm and we entered the hotel, the other vampires stared with a mixture of envy and awe.

In this world, being the consort to Prince Thorne was a dream for countless vampire women.

They had no idea what the position truly cost.

Several Coven elders came to greet us.

Clarence kept his hand on the small of my back, poured me the finest vintage of blood, and whispered in my ear, “This vintage is priceless, but it pales in comparison to your beauty.”

Once, those words would have made me blush.

Now, they just made me want to laugh. In his heart, my worth was clearly less than that of a stripper blood thrall.

Dinner went smoothly, at least on the surface.

Clarence discussed Coven business, occasionally turning to me for my opinion.

I played the part of the perfect Prince’s consort: elegant, intelligent, involved but never overstepping.

At 8:20, Clarence glanced at his watch. “Darling, I need to meet a business partner downstairs. It should only take half an hour.”

“Of course,” I smiled. “I’ll be here.”

A few minutes later, I excused myself from the banquet hall, feigning a headache, and called him.

He answered on the third ring.

“Hey, my love. What’s wrong?” Clarence sounded a bit rushed.

“I’m feeling a little dizzy,” I said, my voice weak. “When will you be back?”

“Soon. Just give me… fifteen more minutes.” His voice suddenly became muffled, as if he was struggling to control something.

And then I heard it.

A woman’s breathless giggle, followed by an obscene sound of swallowing.

“Clarence? Where are you?” I kept my tone worried.

“In… in the office,” he answered, breathing heavily. “My partner just arrived.”

“Mmm… Clarence…” a woman’s breathy moan came from the background.

My hand tightened around my goblet, my knuckles white.

It was unmistakably Seraphina’s voice.

“Darling, you sound strange,” I said, intentionally dragging out the call. “Are you sure everything is alright?”

“Of course… ah…” Clarence struggled to keep his voice steady, but I could tell exactly what he was doing. “This partner is just a bit… demanding.”

“Oh yes, Clarence… right there…” Seraphina’s voice was a blur, clearly unaware the line was still open.

“Hurry, kitten,” Clarence’s voice deepened. “I need to… taste you… now.”

The damning, frantic sound of him swallowing echoed down the line.

I quickly switched on my phone’s recorder, calmly documenting it all.

“Clarence? Clarence?” I called out, feigning panic.

“What? Oh, sorry, my love,” he said, now panting. “Bad signal. I’ll be right up.”

“Okay. I love you,” I said in my sweetest voice.

“I love you too.”

The lie slipped from his tongue so naturally, so practiced.

I saved the recording and returned to the table as if nothing had happened.

Forty minutes later, Clarence returned to the dining room.

His hair was slightly disheveled, his tie crooked, but his face was flushed with satisfaction.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, my love,” he said, sitting beside me. “That partner was a tough negotiation.”

I turned to him and offered a perfect smile. “It’s fine. Business is business.”

He reached for my hand. “You’re the best mate in the world.”

Just then, my phone buzzed.

“The identity glamour and trail-covering spells are ready. Departure in five days.”

I quickly locked the screen, but Clarence caught a glimpse of the message.

“Departure?” he asked, looking at me with a frown. “Molly, are you going somewhere?”