VICTORIA

“CELIA!” her father’s roar echoed, followed by her mother’s. I was sure they had been lured down this hallway on purpose.

Didn’t they want to see me attack her? Well, wish granted.

By the time they reached the landing, I had already made sure Celia’s dying body hit the floor of the hall.

Before she bled out completely, a fast-moving shadow slipped into her, holding on to the last thread of her life.

“YOU DAMN VAMPIRE! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTER?!”

Mrs. Aghata lunged at me like a madwoman, and my hand trembled, dropping the bloodied dagger, the evidence of my crime.

I stumbled back several steps, eyes wide open, shocked that they had “caught me red-handed.”

“No! I didn’t mean to! She made me do it! She attacked me! Dracomir, save me!”

I screamed to the Lord, who was frozen at the landing.

His eyes were torn with contradiction.

He tried to look at me, but couldn’t tear his gaze away from Mr. Fenir, who was rushing down the stairs to save his daughter.

Mrs. Aghata’s claws we