Set You Free, My Lord Chapter 03

Set You Free, My Lord Chapter 03

Author: Peachy
“There is a way.” I bit my lip and met his gaze.
“How?” Dorian stared at me intently.

“The curse must be cleansed with Lifeblood. And only the Bonded mate can give it.” I kept my voice flat, though my heart was hammering.

“How do you know that?” He narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

“The Blood Witch,” I lied.

Truth was, I watched Cordelia suffer the exact same backlash in my past life.

“Let’s go.” He didn’t hesitate. He grabbed my wrist, gripping hard enough to snap the bone.

He pulled me into the shadows, and the world dissolved. We reappeared in the Witch’s sanctuary.

Dim candles lit up the room as she ground ancient blood crystals.

“Witch, is it true?” Dorian cut to the chase. “Can mortal Lifeblood break the curse?”

She looked up, surprised, then looked at me. A complicated look. “Yes, my Prince. But…”

“But what?”

“The extraction of Lifeblood… from a mortal…” she sighed. “It is almost always fatal. She will not survive.”

Dorian’s hand dropped from my wrist as if he’d been burned. He turned his back to me, his shoulders rigid. “No.”

“I’ll do it,” I stepped up, voice steady.

He spun around, shocked and furious. “Are you insane? Why would you do that?”

“I owe her,” I looked right at him. “And I owe you.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it.

The conflict was written all over his face.

“Prep the ritual,” I told the Witch, cutting off his chance to argue.

She sighed and got up. “My Prince, it gets gruesome. Are you sure you want to stay?”

Dorian didn’t answer. But his eyes said it all. He wasn’t going anywhere.

An hour later, it was ready.

Red runes painted on the floor, surrounded by seven black candles.

They brought Cordelia in. She looked horrific.

Ghastly pale, veins popping black, dark blood crusted on her lips.

“Let’s begin.” The Witch motioned for me to lie in the center.

Just as the ritual began, Dorian stripped off his designer jacket and draped it over my face, blinding me.

“Don’t look.” His voice was weirdly raspy. Through the fabric, I could feel his hand shaking just a little. “This is going to hurt,” he whispered, his voice strained.

In the dark, I felt him hovering. “I’ll make this up to you… I swear.”

The ritual started.

The pain was absolute. A thousand silver needles, all dipped in fire, tore through my veins. I felt the dark magic crawling over my skin, draining me. Hot, thick blood streamed from my eyes, my nose, my mouth, painting crimson tracks on my pale face.

In a blur, I saw a golden light rip out of my chest and shoot into Cordelia.

Her agonizing roar mixed with my screams.

And then… just black.

I don’t know how long I was out. I woke up to the faint dripping of a blood-stone clock. The room smelled of incense and copper.

“You’re awake.”

I turned my head. Dorian was sitting there, eyes bloodshot.

He looked wrecked, his crimson gaze exhausted.

“Cordelia…” I croaked.

“She’s fine now,” he said softly. “Thanks to you.”

I closed my eyes. God, I was weak.

My lifeforce was basically empty. The price of giving up Lifeblood.

“Why did you do it?” he asked. He sounded confused, laced with something I couldn’t read.

“Now we’re even,” I managed a smile. “You can be with her guilt-free.”

Dorian frowned. “The Witch says you’ll need months to recover. I could… turn you. As compensation.”

My heart ached. Same old Dorian. Arrogant pity. Not love.

“No thanks, Dorian,” I said quietly. “I’m leaving.”

“What?” He shot out of his chair.

“We owe each other nothing.” I looked right at him. “I hope you and Cordelia are happy.”

He opened his mouth, but his phone buzzed.

He checked it, his face shifting.

“It’s Cordelia… she’s awake.”

“Go,” I told him, looking away.

He hesitated, but he left.

The second the door clicked shut, I forced myself up and got dressed.

The Witch had everything ready.

Fake discharge papers, meds, and my ferry ticket for tonight.

I left a note for the Witch to give him:

By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. Don’t look for me. This was my choice. My purpose is fulfilled. Live well, Dorian.

At 7 PM, I slipped out of the medical wing.

At 10 PM, when Dorian burst into my room, all he found was an empty bed and the note.

By midnight, breaking news hit the vampire territory.

A cross-sea ferry was struck by an unnatural firestorm. The boilers blew.

Right there on the passenger manifest was the name Odette Morrow.

The fire was so intense, the bodies were burned beyond recognition.