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All humor was gone from his expression, and I barely made it out of the room with my head still on. But just as I was about to walk down the hallway to enact the first part of my plan, the stepspawn decided to show herself. She even had the audacity to pause and look nervous.

Fucking perfect.I couldn’t hold back the laugh as I launched myself at her.

The spawn shuttered as I dragged the magic-coated knife across the bare skin of her neck. The magical drug that I coated the metal with dripped onto her neck, glittery pink blending in so perfectly with her skin.

I waited so long for this. So long to make her squirm.It wasn’t hard to get the knife, but it had been much harder to keep it hidden while I ran around the palace, just waiting for my chance to enact my plan.

I had been hesitant before, maybe even a bit afraid. But not anymore. Not after I saw what awaited me.

Compared to the prince, she was nothing but an annoying gnat that I needed to squash, and my actions would serve as a reminder to her that she couldn’t fuck with me anymore.

“I wanted to take my time with you,” I murmured, looking her over as she tried to shy away from my touch. “But unfortunately, I have a little pet waiting for me.”

I hadn’t thought it through, but as soon as I saw the bitch alone, I knew I needed to get her secluded.

A random, unused bedroom would do. Although it was probably way too close to Father’s office, with all the other things he was worried about, I doubt he would even care about what I did.

As long as she kept her screams down.

I used some spare fabric from my dress to tie her to the headboard of the bed while I sat on the plush mattress right beside her. I kept the room dark, but the light from the window was enough to see her squirm.

“What else does she have planned?” I asked as I dug the sharp end of the knife into her skin, just enough to break the surface. It should give her the faintest hint of the drug. I watched her eyes closely for a sign that it was working as intended.

“You’re fucking crazy,” she spat.

I gave her a pitying smile. She hadn’t seen anything yet. I was showing restraint. The darkness that hid in the back of my mind wanted me to do so much more. I had years and years of built-up anger that I needed to get out.

The only issue was my poor little mouse. The one who thought she’d get away from me. But I couldn’t let her go. Not just yet.

“I am,” I agreed with a mock frown. “But saying that doesn’t get us anywhere, does it?”

“Don’t infect me with that shit?—”

“This?” I asked and pushed the knife further into her skin. “Too much of this stuff is dangerous, you know. Especially for good little girls like you who have never dabbled in it. Want to guess how much it takes until it starts to hurt?”

“Once Mother finds out—” she cut off with a hiss as I pushed the knife in further. Dark blood flowed down her neck and stained the pretty blue of her dress.

“Or maybe you want to wear the black veins on your forehead permanently?” They were already forming. Slowly, faintly, but they were there.

If she knew anything about this drug, she would know that it would take a lot more and longer for that to happen, but what she didn’t know only worked in my favor. I almost wished it was fully saturated with the drug so she could truly feel the pain she inflicted on me over the years.

Maybe I’ll add it to the docket for the next time I want to play with her.

“She has nothing planned,” she forced out through gritted teeth. “She has already done all she needs. You think you are off the hook just because Icas was killed?Father doesn’ttrustyou. More than that, he sees just how many people are willing to leave for you. If you think you’re safe—you’re wrong.”

She let out a sinister laugh that only annoyed me more.

I dragged the knife down her neck. Her pained groans were like music to my ears.

“You’re lucky he doesn’t know about your involvement yet,” I murmured. “How long do you think you can hide behind mommy’s shadow? Or maybe I should let him know about your affair with Dalia’s husband? I heard you and him had some alone time before my wedding.”

Her face paled.

“What do you think?” I asked. “Something to level the playing field? Father would be furious if he heard you’re spreading your legs and ruining vampire families.”

“Dalia fucks his dad,” she spat. “There is nothing keeping that family together. It’s a joke.”

I let out a laugh. “And you think your status is on par with Dalia’s? Better yet, why would he choose you over her if this rumor spread?”