My Vampire Lord Mate Replaced Me on Mating Ceremony

Three days before my blood oath ceremony, someone planted a silver crucifix in the bridal shop and set it ablaze while I was inside trying on my ceremonial gown.

My fiancé — Vampire Lord Damien — had the arsonist thrown into the silver prison, sentencing them to the harshest punishment our laws allowed.

I lay in the healing chamber, my body covered in severe burns, refusing to wake fully as the reality of my disfigurement sank in.

In my semi-conscious state, I heard Damien speaking with the coven's apothecary.

"My Lord, we can still heal her completely with the ancient blood rites. If we wait any longer, Serena will bear these scars for life! You just want Miss Vivienne to be your Consort at the blood oath ceremony. This is cruel beyond measure!"

"Let her keep the scars. I'll provide for her for the rest of her life, but if she's healed, she'll definitely cause trouble at the ceremony."

"I promised Vivienne that her child would be welcomed into the coven with full honors. Only when Serena is completely disfigured will she be grateful enough to raise Vivienne's child as her own. The scars are necessary - at least this way, she won't dare mistreat the boy."

In the corner of the room, where no one was watching, a tear slid down my burned cheek.

So this was the truth. The blood oath ceremony I'd dreamed of was nothing but a lie.

The blood bond I longed for would be my death sentence.

If that's how it had to be, I would give him what he wanted.

"Don't argue with me. Follow my plan exactly. The Purified Essence must be precise - make sure it destroys her bloodline power completely. She can't suspect anything." My mate Lord Damien's voice was cold.

"Once she wakes up, I'll take her to meet Vivienne's child. Without her power, she'll have no choice but to cherish the boy as her own. No Vampire Thrall has ever challenged a High Blood's decision."

The apothecary Elara wiped sweat from her brow, her conscience clearly troubled.

"My Lord, please reconsider. Serena will be covered in burn scars, and now you want to destroy her bloodline power too? This is beyond cruel - it's practically a death sentence. How will she face the coven elders as a Thrall?"

"And what about Vivienne's child? The boy looks exactly like you. What if Serena notices the resemblance? Everything will fall apart!"

Damien reached out, methodically pressing a blood-silk cloth to my cracked lips with surprising gentleness.

His voice carried a note of resigned sadness that made my heart ache despite everything.

"She won't notice anything. Once she becomes a Thrall, she will have to stay in the coven. She cannot afford any risk of leaving. A powerless vampire wouldn't survive a week outside these walls."

"I promised Vivienne I would give her a magnificent blood oath ceremony. That I would watch our son grow up together. Even though she's bonded