The Name She Wrote in Blood

After I was reborn, I was the one who changed the name on my blood bond with Prince Mortlock. I wrote in “Isabella”—the other vampire he’d always cherished, always protected.

When Isabella wanted the ruby necklace, the one that marked the Prince's Mate, I let her have it.

The wedding dress Mortlock had prepared for me? I gave that to Isabella, too.

I did it all because in my past life, I got my wish. I became Mortlock’s mate, but I lived every moment in Isabella’s shadow. In the end, during a battle with vampire hunters, Mortlock ran to a wounded Isabella first. I was the one left to take a silver stake through the heart.

So this time, I decided to let them be. To stay far away from Mortlock.

But this time, the cold, distant Prince wept and begged me to be his mate again.

I was reborn on the day I was meant to sign the blood bond with Mortlock.

"Grace, Isabella is waiting for me. How much longer are you going to drag this out?"

Mortlock’s voice echoed before the ritual altar, sharp with impatience.

I looked around at the ancient stones and the flickering candles. Everything was exactly as it had been in my past life. Back then, I’d signed my name with so much love and hope, believing this bond would be the proof of our eternal love.

I was wrong.

Even with the bond, his heart only ever belonged to Isabella.

In my last life, even on what was supposed to be our first night as mates, he didn’t hesitate to leave me for her.

"Isabella isn't feeling well. Her old affliction has flared up," he’d told me, without a trace of guilt in his eyes. "She saved my life. I owe her."

"But today is…"

"Grace, don't be so petty. Isabella is like a sister to me. As the Prince's mate, you should be more understanding. Besides, we have a lifetime of nights ahead of us, don't we?"

A sister.

What a joke.

This "sister" was the one on his arm at every important banquet, while I, the Prince’s actual mate, was left to attend alone, mocked as a pretty ornament.

This "sister" lived in the room next to his—the one reserved for the Prince’s mate—while I was put in a guest room.

…

I gave way for his "sister" countless times, until finally, in that battle with the hunters, Mortlock missed his chance to save me because he was protecting Isabella.

As the silver stake pierced my heart, he was holding a terrified Isabella, comforting her.

Before I died, I saw him look at me in panic. He stumbled towards me, his eyes shining with what looked like tears.

But it was too late.

"Grace!" Mortlock's voice pulled me back to the present. "The Elders are waiting. What has you so distracted?"

I looked up at the man who was about to ruin my life.

"It's nothing."

"If you have something