Chapter 57

• I couldn't settle my restless thoughts. If I had to face Hadrian right now, I knew I would lose control emotionally. But there was another side to me, one that was burning with questions, questions I was desperate to ask him—especially why he hadn't told me about the bond, why he had played me. I had always known Hadrian had the capacity for cruelty, but never had I imagined it would be aimed at me.
• It was just a thought, but I think I finally understood why Hadrian never wanted to mark anyone. A vampire's blood creates a bond, but what if it worked both ways? Hadrian had mentioned that marking someone stoked desire, but what if it was really about losing control—something that terrified him? I realized he had been using the fact that his blood bond still lingered between us, savoring the way I craved his bite, enjoying the power he held over me. He wanted to stay in control, and he knew that leaving his mark would mean relinquishing it. There, in that moment, I finally saw him for who he was—a calculated, cold figure, the next Vampire King. A part of me wanted to hate him, but another part longed to proudly claim myself as his possession.
• I missed my punching bag. I couldn’t even remember the last time I trained. A good sweat session would clear my head, I thought. I needed to focus. My bodyguards might offer protection, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that danger would find me again, and when it did, I’d want to be ready. The memory of bleeding out, those three men looming over me, terrified me still. But the real reason I craved a good workout? It was the only thing that could keep my mind off Hadrian.