“You are to be united by sacred marriage, binding the two clans—vampires and werewolves—to peace. Therefore, only death can part you,” declared the powerful oracle, who had devised this union.
I looked at Lucas, whose face was cold and smug. A pang hit me deep inside because I knew the Alpha King would never love the idea of marrying me, a vampire queen.
But he had no choice. It was his duty.
We kissed under the moonlight, and I hoped that night he would be able to look at me without seeing me as a hindrance to the first love he couldn’t marry. That somehow, we would find love within our marriage.
But I shouldn’t have hoped. Because his words still linger inside me.
“Remember this. You will never be Amethyst, Serene. You can never reclaim my heart from her. You are nothing but a duty to me.”
I had never felt so disregarded, so unwanted, so weak—until he became my husband. Because I fell in love with him, and he didn’t. I lived with his misery and anger, and I suffered every day.
-
“Lucas, where are you taking me?” It was hard to even utter a word because of the sharp pain in my stomach.
He was dragging me down the stairs, gripping my hand so tightly that I squinted in pain.
“I’ll make you remember your place! I’ve been trying to understand your silly attitude towards Amethyst, but now, I cannot let this go!” His voice was enraged.
My forehead creased. I couldn’t understand what he’s saying. What had I done to Amethyst? I hadn’t even seen her in a month!
“But what did I do—Lucas, you’re hurting me!” I snapped.
But the more I tried to pry his hands off, the tighter he gripped me.
He glanced at me, his face murderous.
“You sent her death threats and even sent her things to hurt her.”
“I didn’t do that! I haven’t had the time—with this pregnancy! I don’t have the strength. I am weak—”
I couldn’t finish my sentence because he shoved me inside the carousel.
He tossed me aside as if I wasn’t carrying our child. Another wave of pain seared through me, too much to bear. Nausea overtook me, and soon, darkness swallowed me whole.
When I woke up, I heard echoing footsteps and hollow voices. It felt like they were invading my head. My sight was dim—so dim, I almost forgot I had enhanced eyesight.
My eyes turned red as I checked my body. I was tied to the largest pillar of the ruins. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized what kind of place I had been brought to.
Then I saw my husband, Lucas, standing before me. Not an ounce of guilt was visible on his face—only anger.
“You'll stay here until you accept that you're no match for Amethyst—that you'll never have what she does. Until you stop hurting and threatening her out of jealousy." He smirked darkly. "Stay here."
My eyes widened in shock. I shook my head, my lips trembling uncontrollably.
“No, Lucas! You can’t do this to me! This place will kill me—it will end my life! I am pregnant, p-please—”
I couldn’t stop myself from crying as my gaze darted around the enormous, haunted ruins.
If I stay here, I'd die. My baby would die.
I tried to grasp his hand, but a rope yanked me up, forcing a sharp scream from my lips.
If only I weren’t so weak from this pregnancy, I could handle this.
I felt terror as I watched Lucas turn his back on me.
“Lucas! P-please, you… you can’t do—our baby—ahh!”
Pain ripped through me. My stomach twisted, my body stretching as if the baby was coming too soon.
“L-Lucas, he’s coming—”
But he didn’t let me finish. He shut the heavy doors and left.
I screamed at the top of my lungs. From pain, terror, betrayal.
I had done nothing to deserve this. Nothing to warrant these accusations.
Then I felt it. A warm, sticky liquid trickling down my thighs.
The echoing voices of those who had died in this cursed place filled my ears, suffocating me. Their souls clawed at my sanity. This ruin had imprisoned traitors and criminals—its curse was to take the life of whoever was locked inside.
Did he know that?
Did he really want me to die here?
Did he truly not care about our child?
I had believed—foolishly—that somewhere beneath his cold demeanor, he carried guilt for our child.
But I was wrong.
We meant nothing to him.
Only Amethyst did.
Cold enveloped my body. The ruins trembled as an ancient mechanism was activated. I heard something drop onto the ground.
With my last shred of strength, I lowered my gaze. The tiny bit of sanity I had left shattered.
Blood—My baby—lifeless, unmoving.
“My baby—” I whispered, weakly.
Tears streamed down my face in agony. I had carried him for nine months—dreamed of a life with him. And yet, I couldn’t protect him.
He’s the only part of his father that could have loved me. The only one who would have treated me kindly.—and now he’s gone.
I lifted my head, staring at the top of the ruins. A mirror reflected the faces of all who had perished here. Their sorrowful eyes met mine.
Soon, I would be among them—I’d die too—just like my baby.
And it was all because of Lucas.
