Blood of the True King

In the fifth year of loving Gabriel, he inherited his late brother’s title as Vampire Lord—

along with his brother’s widow, Chloe, the former Blood Queen, and, by blood and law, my sister-in-law.

Every time he returned from her chambers, Gabriel would hold me gently and whisper,

“Isabella, Chloe is only my Chosen Consort. Once she conceives and bears the heir of the Blazetooth Coven, I will bind myself to you through a Blood Bond.”

He said it was the only condition his family demanded for him to ascend as Vampire Lord.

During the six months after we returned to Blazetooth Coven, he shared Chloe’s bed a hundred times.

At first, once a month.

Then once a week.

And eventually, every single night.

On the hundredth night I stayed awake waiting for him, Chloe finally conceived.

The news arrived together with another announcement—

Gabriel and Chloe would soon be bound by Blood.

My son looked up at me, confused and innocent.

“Mom… didn’t they say Dad would form a Blood Bond with the Blood Queen he loves? Why hasn’t he come to take us home yet?”

“Because,” I said softly, brushing my hand through his hair,

“the Blood Queen he loves was never your mother.”

“But that’s all right,” I added. “I’ll take you home. Our own home.”

What Gabriel never realized was this—

as the only daughter of a reigning Vampire King,

I had never cared for the title of Blood Queen of Blazetooth Coven at all.

I left the Northern Realm because of Gabriel Brown.

My father had never believed Gabriel’s bloodline was worthy of standing beside me.

I was the daughter of a reigning Vampire King, the sole heir of House Sterling—

born for ancient crowns and royal legacies, not some peripheral bloodline lingering on the edges of the Court.

And yet, for love, I gave up everything.My name.My title.My inheritance.

I concealed my identity and fled the North with him.

I never imagined our love wouldn’t even survive five years.

As the memory of my father’s disapproval—and the worry he had tried to hide—rose in my mind, unease tightened in my chest. I closed my eyes, reaching for the ancient blood within me, seeking the quiet pull of my family’s power.

Before I could fully connect, a heavy scent flooded my senses.

Night-blooming jasmine.Strong. Overwhelming.

Arms wrapped tightly around me from behind.Gabriel had returned.

“Did I wake you?” he asked softly, his voice gentle against my ear. “It’s still early. Go back to sleep.”

He didn’t know that on the nights he went to Chloe, I never truly slept.

I only pretended—then lay awake, counting the hours until he came back.

Lately, he stayed in Chloe’s chambers until dawn.

And now, his entire body carried her scent. That cloying, suffocating Night-blooming jasmine.

I pushed him away.

“Go take a shower,” I said coldly. “You smell awful.”

He paused, sniffed at himself, then stepped back, awkward.

“I’m sorry, Isabella. I didn’t think about how you’d feel.”

After