LOGINI was ready to leave the Vampire Academy's main campus with Liam, my childhood sweetheart. All because he told me he was being bullied. He was the unrecognized bastard of the Vance clan. Born with a fraction of the power we pure-bloods commanded. So I promised him. I would go with him to Duskfall Academy. A campus that didn't care about bloodlines or power. A place where he could finally belong. But the night before we were supposed to seal the transfer scrolls with our blood signets, he betrayed me. I heard his friend's sneering voice. "You drank beast blood and faked the whole abuse act just to dump Isabella Thorne? Damn, Liam. That's cold-blooded." Liam just shrugged. "I'm sick of her pure-blood, high-and-mighty attitude. And this is cleaner than having her clinging to me forever." My world shattered. I turned and walked away. On the ancient transfer scroll, I took my dagger and slashed through the name of Duskfall Academy. Then I wrote the name my family always intended for me: Crimson Fortress Academy, in the Evernight. It seemed everyone had forgotten. Even as fated blood-bond mates, I, Isabella Thorne, am the sole pure-blood heir to the Thorne clan. Once I sever our ties, he can crawl back to me on his knees, and I wouldn't let him have a single drop of my blood. He'll be nothing.
View MoreDegup jantung berdetak kencang menemani dinginnya seorang gadis bernama Isma di dalam mobil yang sedang melesat cepat. Sesekali, sorot matanya yang gugup bertemu dengan ekor mata lelaki yang tengah mengemudi melalui kaca spion bagian depan.
Entah sudah berapa ribu kali Isma mengusap keringat dingin di telapak tangannya, dia benar-benar ketakutan."Jangan mengecewakan Isma, dia laki-laki pertama yang berani membayarmu dengan harga tinggi!"Suara Mami Ratna penguasa rumah bordil tadi kembali terngiang di telinga Isma, semakin menguatkan gelisah yang menderanya.Cittt!!! Mobil berhenti tepat di depan sebuah hotel bintang lima. Terang cahaya dari gedung pencakar langit tersebut nyatanya tidak mampu membuat Isma merasa tenang. Justru, di matanya semua nampak gelap seolah tidak ada siapa pun dalam dunianya yang mulai kelam."Turun!" Pria yang tadi menyetir turun dari mobil, membukakan pintu untuk Isma."Iya," sahut Isma mulai menurunkan kakinya menjejak di bumi. Dress di atas lutut yang melekat di tubuh sintalnya sedikit tertiup angin yang berhembus. Isma menarik napas panjang, mulai berjalan mengikuti si pria tinggi di depannya.Pintu hotel yang terbuat dari kaca terbuka otomatis. Isma mengedarkan pandangannya, mencari-cari seseorang yang kata Mami Ratna sudah menyewanya untuk malam ini."Duduk di sini," titah lelaki tadi menunjuk sebuah sofa di sudut lobby hotel yang cukup ramai dilalui banyak orang.Isma hanya menurut saja, dia duduk di sana dan menunduk. Matanya mulai berkaca meski sudah dia tahan untuk tidak menangis."Isma, ibu kamu sakit dan butuh biaya banyak. Uang hasil kerja kamu di warteg ya mana cukup untuk menghidupi kebutuhannya!"Ah ... tuntutan dari keluarganya di kampung membuat Isma putus asa hingga memilih jalan yang tidak seharusnya. Dua bulan Isma bekerja di sebuah rumah makan dengan gaji tidak lebih dari dua juta, nyatanya tidak mampu memenuhi kebutuhan.Sekarang Isma memilih jalan pintas. Menjadi wanita malam melalui Mami Ratna, langganannya di rumah makan yang berani memberikan uang dua juta yang ia dapat selama sebulan bekerja hanya dalam waktu semalam saja.Akan tetapi Isma harus membayar mahal keputusannya. Uang yang dia dapat dengan mudah itu nyatanya harus membuat Isma rela kehilangan kehormatannya yang akan ia jual malam ini kepada seorang lelaki pilihan Mami Ratna."Ah!" pekik Isma terkejut sekaligus merasa sakit di bagian belakang kepalanya. Dia menoleh, mendapati dua orang lelaki sedang menatap kepadanya. Salah seorang lelaki terkekeh seraya mengatupkan kedua tangannya di dada."Maaf Mbak, saya tidak sengaja!""Hm!" kata Isma mengangguk pelan, mengusap kepalanya yang ngilu. Sepertinya tadi lelaki itu tidak sengaja menyikutnya."Kalau begitu permisi Mbak, maaf ya sekali lagi saya minta maaf!""Iya tidak apa-apa, Mas." Lalu Isma membiarkan dua orang lelaki itu pergi, lelaki yang berjalan paling depan tampak acuh dengan kejadian tersebut. Tidak ada senyum tipis di wajahnya malah terkesan dingin.Tidak lama setelah insiden itu, pria yang tadi membawa Isma ke hotel kembali dengan seseorang lainnya. Isma berdiri, menyambut kedatangan mereka. Lelaki yang baru dia temui tersenyum menyeringai, menelisik penampilan Isma dari ujung kaki hingga ke ujung rambutnya dengan mata kelaparan."Ya ... lumayan cantik untuk ukuran koleksi Mami Ratna," gumam si lelaki bertubuh gempal dan berperut buncit itu."Maaf Pak—""Bawa langsung ke kamar, saya tidak sabar untuk segera mencicipinya!"Deg! Jantung Isma berdenyut nyeri. Jadi ... lelaki ini yang akan tidur dengannya? Lelaki tua ini yang akan merenggut kehormatannya?"Ayo!"Seretan di tangan Isma menyadarkan lamunannya. Dia mulai bimbang, namun kakinya tetap mengayun mengikuti langkah dua pria di hadapannya."Ibu hanya berpesan, jaga diri kamu baik-baik. Jangan khawatirkan Ibu, yang penting kamu di kota itu hidup baik dan sehat Is." Suara ringkih ibunya sesaat sebelum Isma pergi merantau seperti berdengung di telinganya.Isma menatap punggung lelaki tersebut. Hati kecilnya berteriak menolak, namun Isma membutuhkan uang dua juta yang Mami Ratna tawarkan. Tadi sore bahkan saudaranya sudah menelepon meminta kiriman uang, dan Isma berjanji akan mengirimnya esok pagi setelah Mami Ratna memberikannya."Kamu tidak usah jaga di sini, Gus. Malam ini saya mau senang-senang.""Baik, Pak."Ketiganya berhenti di depan pintu sebuah kamar. Salah seorang pergi setelah mendapatkan bayarannya. Saat lelaki bertubuh gempal itu pergi, Isma dipersilahkan masuk ke dalam kamar."Kenalkan, saya Hartono. Ayo masuk," ajaknya dengan senyum nakal menjijikkan yang terbit di wajahnya."Tapi Pak, sebentar—""Tidak ada tapi-tapian, ayo sekarang masuk!"Didorongnya punggung Isma dengan paksa. Blam! Pintu segera dikunci, Hartono melepas jasnya yang sempit lalu melemparkannya ke sofa."Ayo Sayang, layani Om malam ini!""Pak sebentar—" Isma dibuat kaget saat tiba-tiba Hartono memeluknya dari belakang. Pria yang usianya berkisar 50 tahun lebih itu mulai melakukan aksinya. "Pak!"Refleks Isma menepis tangan Hartono, melepaskan dirinya dari pelukan si lelaki tua. "Lepasin saya!""Loh, apa ini?" Hartono mulai menyadari ada yang tidak beres karena penolakan yang dilakukan oleh Isma. "Kamu nolak saya?" tanyanya kembali mendekat membuat Isma berjalan mundur menghindarinya.Isma mulai berubah pikiran. Uang dua juta yang semula membuat tekadnya bulat mulai runtuh. Dia tidak mau melakukannya, menjual diri kepada lelaki tua di hadapannya."Saya berubah pikiran, tolong hubungi Mami dan biarkan saya pergi!" kata Isma dengan suara bergetar."Tidak bisa begitu, saya sudah membayar kamu dengan mahal dan tidak bisa dibatalkan. Kamu pikir saya pesan makanan di pinggir jalan yang bisa seenaknya saja ditinggalkan?!""Tolong Pak, saya tidak mau melakukannya. Saya mau pergi dari sini!" Isma berjalan menuju ke pintu, namun tangannya dicekal oleh Hartono yang menariknya hingga Isma pun kembali terseret ke belakang."Tidak semudah itu! Kamu tidak bisa pergi sebelum urusan kita selesai!" Suara Hartono mulai meninggi, kesabarannya tidak bisa diuji seperti ini."Pak, tolong lepaskan saya. Bapak tinggal ambil kembali uangnya dari Mami—"Plak! Sebuah tamparan mendarat keras di pipi kiri Isma, meninggalkan bekas kemerahan di wajahnya yang sudah dipoles riasan oleh Mami Ratna."Beraninya kamu mempermainkan saya!" teriak Hartono dengan urat leher menegang, rahangnya mengeras dan matanya hampir melompat keluar menakuti Isma."Bukan begitu Pak, saya cuma benar-benar tidak bisa melakukannya!"Bugh! Isma terjerembab, tubuhnya beradu dengan lantai keramik karena Hartono baru saja mendorongnya."Tidak semudah itu, malam ini kamu milik saya!""Tolong Pak—" Isma mengangkat wajahnya, mulutnya terbuka lebar saat melihat Hartono mulai melepaskan ikat pinggannya. Senyumnya lebar seperti iblis menampakkan deretan gigi. Hartono mendekat, mencengkeram dagu Isma lalu berbisik di telinganya, "kamu tidak akan bisa lolos dari Hartono Wijaya!"Three years later.In a secret valley in the Evernight, the moonpetal flowers bloomed like a silver sea.Their white petals danced in the night breeze, releasing an intoxicating scent.Elves moved through the flowers, chanting blessings in an ancient tongue.I stood on an ancient stone platform, dressed in a pure white blood-oath wedding gown.Damon, in a black tailcoat, was as handsome as the brightest star in the night sky."Isabella Thorne," the Elder's voice echoed through the valley. "Do you willingly enter into an eternal blood-bond with Damon Volkov?""I do.""Damon Volkov, do you willingly enter into an eternal blood-bond with Isabella Thorne?""I do," his voice was firm and full of love.We pricked our fingers at the same time, letting our blood drip into the ancient Bond-Chalice.The two drops of red mingled, glowing with a brilliant light."By blood sworn, by soul bound," the Elder declared. "Let the union of House Thorne and House Volkov be an eternal legend. A new dynasty.
The next morning, I woke to the scent of bloodroses.Sunlight streamed through the silk curtains, casting soft patterns on the floor."Morning, sleeping beauty."Damon's voice drifted up from downstairs.I slipped on a silk robe and walked down.He was in the dining room, setting out elegant crystal goblets."What are you doing?""Preparing breakfast," he said, smiling over his shoulder. "A 1895 Noble's vintage. Just the right temperature."He pulled out a chair for me with a flourish."You don't have to do all this.""Do what?" He sat down across from me. "Take care of my woman?""I mean... so formal.""I'm practicing," he said, a wicked glint in his eyes. "For my future role as Prince Consort."I nearly choked on my blood."Prince Consort?""The husband of the future Matriarch of House Volkov. Isn't that a Prince Consort?"He said it so matter-of-factly I didn't know how to respond.Just then, my communication crystal began to flash manically.Message after message flooded in.[Isabe
A week later, my friends threw me a welcome-back dinner at the Bloodrose Hotel."Isabella, you look amazing," Vera said, raising her glass. "Life in the Evernight clearly agrees with you.""Thanks," I smiled. "I definitely learned a lot there."The mood in the private room was relaxed.These were the friends I'd grown up with, all of us catching up, no schemes or hidden agendas.Until a voice cut through the chatter."Sorry to interrupt."It was Liam.Everyone went quiet.He stood in the doorway with Chloe right behind him.Neither of them had been on the guest list."Liam?" Marcus frowned. "What are you doing here?""I heard Isabella was back. I wanted to see her," Liam said, his eyes fixed on me.Chloe clutched his arm tightly, her possessiveness on full display."We won't stay long," she said with a sweet smile, but her eyes were full of venom."Since you're here, sit down," I said calmly.Not because I wanted them there, but because I wouldn't make a scene in front of my friends.M
A week later, I had to return to the manor to retrieve an ancient blood-pact treaty.The company was signing a treaty with the Old World's High Council and needed the official family seal.The moment my car passed through the manor gates, I saw a figure who shouldn't have been there.Liam was curled up on the stone steps of the porch.His face was pale as a sheet, his lips colorless.He was trembling, the obvious toll of long-term beast blood use.I got out of the car. He immediately looked up."Isabella."His voice was painfully hoarse."How did you get in?" I asked coldly. The manor's blood wards should have stopped him."I burned through half my life-force, weaponizing the embers of our bond to shatter your wards. It only worked once." He struggled to his feet, swaying. "Isabella, you've gotten thinner."He walked toward me, arms open for an embrace.I instantly stepped back, a barrier of pure blood-power flaring up between us.The force threw him back several steps."Stay back.""I
Back at the manor, I went straight to the cellar. It was where I kept every gift Liam had ever given me.The first sandalwood box. Inside, the moonstone ring he'd carved for me, bearing his family crest. I had worn it with such pride. Until I saw its twin hanging from a chain around Chloe’s neck.
The next morning, I took my new transfer scroll to the Grand Council of Elders. As the Elder stamped it with his blood signet, a wave of emptiness washed over me.I stared blankly at the crimson seal until someone blocked my path."Isabella!"The familiar voice came from behind me. I turned to see L
Back in the study of my manor, my fingers trembled as I unrolled the transfer scroll. The ink smudged as a tear hit the parchment.If it were just a friend's betrayal, maybe I could have laughed it off. But our bond, once a burning fire in my chest, now felt like a thousand silver needles piercing m
The moment I heard the truth, the blood in my veins turned to ice.A month ago, Liam had come to me in tears, saying every vampire at the Academy looked down on him for being a bastard.The Liam I knew was always so strong. Seeing him break down in tears, I swore I would protect him.Later, when the






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