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The Ministry emphasized the importance of the blood compatibility exam to common citizens and Regal heirs of age alike. By forming marriage pairings, the exam assessed the compatibility between lineages. A high compatibility allowed the marriage process to continue smoothly, while a low result allowed the pairing to denote extra partners to guarantee stronger heirs.

Though outdated, these customs allowed a steady growth in our population as vampires were only a quarter of humans. On the other hand, it allowed Heads of Ministry to instill more of their members in Representative roles.

“With how your brothers have been throughout the years, they’ll continue to postpone it until Heads of Ministry surrenders,” Tristan murmured. “Or until someone steps to it.”

“No one will willingly volunteer,” I said, my raw feelings regarding the topic seeping. My brothers and I would never succumb to marriage because it was one of many aspects that drove our mother to the ground. It proved to us that death was a better choice than to be bonded to the Ministry— than to do the sole thing That Man spawned us for. “It will never happen.”

ChapterEleven

KATERINA ELI

Herpresence pricked against my skin like needles. And I wanted to fucking scream. But if I did, I would hearhervoice hint in mine.

Instead, I swallowed it down alongside the pills like it was my last meal.

The dosage had increased, but none of them were doing what they were prescribed for— except make me more nauseous than usual. Minor headaches started developing, too, and my memories became murkier.

While I was overdoing it, the extra pills mutedher. I wasn’t risking my job for a third time because ofher.

Something else nagged at my mind: Sonia hadn’t reinstated me. The replacement period was today, and there was no doubt she’d be busy, but I couldn’t help but overthink.

And somehow, Alek slithered into my thoughts.

“Ugh.”

His words had been on repeat since yesterday. Honestly, they were driving me crazy at this point. They irked my skin more than I’d like to admit and took up the majority of my head space. At least Kaleb made it obvious he disliked me, while Alek. . . it was different.

His expression was clouded by a shadow of confusion as if he was battling with himself. The more I thought about him maybe feeling some sort of regret, the angrier I got.

He was a puzzle, one with all the pieces scattered before me, but no way to know the big picture.

I stared outside of my window, the grounds barren. Ever since my encounters with Alek, I settled on being stuck in my room to avoid interacting with him. But I couldn’t stay still anymore— it was now or never.

After sliding into the tight swimwear, I quickly gazed up and down the hallway. Empty. Pure stillness in the silence. It was the only thing that always consumed the house.

Some days, the quiet space was nice for a sense of peace that I didn’t have in my mind. But most days, it made me miss the blaring shouts from Lace and my cousin whenever they were around. The noisiness echoed through the CEG walls. Sometimes, even my own voice in my head. They were all a reminder of my existence. It proved to me that I was here andshewasn’t.

On the other hand, the house sometimes disproved that. The silence was unlike anything I’d been in before, especially since there were seven brothers in one house. Even when they were out in the living room with the Ambrogios, their voices were slightly heightened. It barely made a difference in the air.

It was too unsettling. I already felt enough of that withher.

I silently crept down the stairs and through the entrance. It took seconds to dash through the grounds and through the forest until I reached the lake. Today it gleamed a dark blue glint.

A cold breeze blurred past my body as I took in the serene water below the dark horizon. Daybreak inched in the distance, the gleaming light washing away the stars one by one.

Katerina.

Hervoice forced me across the wooden pier and off into the air.

A stream of icy water followed my body as I crashed through the surface. My weight sank as I held my breathing, my control focused on anchoring my body in the deep end.

With fall, the weather slightly shifted each morning. While my body temperature kept its scorching heat, the lake followed the weather’s lead. It didn’t matter since, no matter what, the water embraced me with open arms no matter the change.

It typically sank my problems along with it, but today the water betrayed me. My problems were all on the surface.

As much as I wanted to blame my anger toward the way Alek spoke to me —and manhandled my wrist— there was something else weighing in the back of my mind.

His scent called to me.