His Eternal Bond Was Never Mine

Darius didn’t come back to our chambers that night.

I knew where he was.

The next morning, I opened the Coven’s internal feed.

The top post was a new announcement.

Prince Darius has taken a priceless Soul-Crystal from the Coven’s vault to maintain his blood bond with Livia.

The comments exploded.

“Our Prince forged an Eternal Bond with someone else?”

“But isn’t Isolde his fated mate?”

“I heard that woman, Livia, moved into the Prince’s Chambers.”

“Isn’t the blood-oath ceremony next week?”

I shut off the comm.

At noon, I met my best friend, Chloe.

“You what?” Chloe’s voice was so sharp it nearly shattered her wine glass. “You’re calling off the ceremony?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you insane? He’s your fated mate!”

“A fated mate doesn’t forge an Eternal Bond with someone else right before the ceremony,” I said calmly, sipping my blood-substitute. “And he certainly doesn’t get another woman’s name tattooed on the sacred sigil meant for me.”

Chloe gasped. “The sacred sigil?”

I slid my phone across the table, showing her the picture I’d taken of the sigil on Darius’s chest.

“That manipulative bitch!” Chloe slammed her hand on the table. “She played you!”

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Isolde, you can’t just give up. Darius loves you.”

“Loves me?” I gave a bitter laugh. “Does someone who loves you complete an Eternal Bond with another woman behind your back?”

Chloe fell silent.

“I’ve accepted the offer from the Vienna Academy.” I said, standing.

“So soon?”

“If I stay any longer,” I told her, “I’m afraid I’ll do something I won’t regret.”

At eleven that night, I returned to our suite after an ancient texts symposium.

The gathering had been a success.

I’d met several vampires from Europe, including a few Princes I’d never seen before.

When the elevator doors opened, Darius was standing there.

His eyes were cold, his nostrils flaring slightly. “Where were you?”

“A symposium.”

“With who?” he pressed.

“Some colleagues.”

Darius stalked toward me like a predator closing in on its prey. “Don’t lie to me. I can smell another man on your soul. A Prince.”

His hand shot out, cupping my chin and forcing my head up, his lips almost touching mine.

It was a punishing, possessive gesture.

“So what if you can?” I stared right back at him.

A dangerous light flashed in his eyes. “Get away from him,” he snarled, his eyes flashing. “And go wash that Prince’s stench off you before you come near me again.”

“You have no right to order me around.”

“I am your fated mate!”

“No, you’re not,” I pushed him away and walked past him. “You’re Livia’s.”

I headed for our chambers, Darius close behind.

But he didn’t argue. He went straight to the armchair by the fireplace, sat down, and closed his eyes.

I knew what he was doing.

A mental link.

His expression softened, and through our strained bond, I could feel his whispered thoughts.

To Livia.

Our power will grow stronger. Healthier.

Our power.

He was already looking forward to it.

I turned to go back to my room.

“Isolde.”

His voice stopped me.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about. Regarding the ceremony.”