Chapter 9

"Welcome." The dominant man extended an arm, gesturing for me to enter. I only then realized I was frozen in place at the doorway. "I am Mateus."

He was the Master of the Independent clan. I cleared my throat, stepped forward two paces, and gave a slight bow as I introduced myself.

"I am Christine. I’ve come to seek urgent asylum, and I believe my reasons are more than enough to justify this request."

Mateus nodded, gesturing toward an armchair right in front of his desk.

"I believe you already know Nicholas. He witnessed what happened to you. This meeting is simply to learn which clan you are fleeing from, and why someone would attack you so brutally."

My eyes fell on Nicholas, and a strong sense of déjà vu washed over me. Now it all made sense — his voice and those deeply mysterious green eyes were familiar. He was the one who had rescued me from Eduardo’s men.

I found myself gazing thoughtfully at his lips, wondering if he was the vampire who had shared his blood to heal me. The thought sent a shiver through my body, and warmth crept up my cheeks. I heard someone clear their throat, and I quickly snapped my gaze up to meet his eyes.

His jaw was tight, and his stare felt scorching, his green irises darkening almost to black. Flustered, I dropped my eyes and focused fully on Mateus, the man who would decide my fate.

"I am a dhampir. I promise I will not be a burden. If you grant me shelter, I can be of great service to your clan."

"Aside from what has clearly happened, what forced you to leave your home?"

I hesitated, unsure how much of the truth I could reveal. Accusing Eduardo without solid proof would only backfire on me. I bit my lip and chose to hold back some details for now.

"The Master who raised me passed away a few days ago. His co-regent has taken over leadership, and he intends to claim me by force. He does not take 'no' for an answer." I sighed heavily.

A sharp knock rang out at the door, making me jump. Silence fell across the room. Mateus motioned for Nicholas to answer it, never taking his serious eyes off me as he continued the questioning.

"What is the name of your clan?"

"It is… or rather, it was the Camarilla clan."

Right after I spoke, a slighter vampire hurried into the room. He glanced anxiously at Nicholas, then at Mateus.

"We have visitors. A man claiming to be the Master of the Camarilla clan is here, and he looks ready to pick a fight."

"Let him in," Mateus replied calmly, settling back into his desk chair.

Panic crashed over me. How had Eduardo tracked me down so quickly? Dread surged in waves. I scanned the room for a hiding spot or an escape route, but Nicholas moved swiftly to my side. His stern gaze warned me to stay still.

Can he read my thoughts? Am I really that easy to read?

Moments later, Eduardo stepped inside, flanked by two bodyguards. A triumphant smile spread across his face the second his eyes locked onto mine. I held my breath. He had arrived far too soon. I was trapped.

"It seems you have something that belongs to me." Eduardo stood tall, oozing arrogance as he faced Mateus. He nodded dismissively to his host, then turned his full attention back to me. "Christine. Let’s go."

He advanced without hesitation, but Nicholas stepped forward to block his path. His features shifted, fully transforming into the deadly vampire he was. Eduardo froze at once. He knew he would not win this fight, not with the clan laws standing against him.

Even so, a surge of defiance rose within me.

"I do not belong to you!" I shouted. This time, I did not hold back and stood my ground. I had no idea where my courage came from, but the thought of Nicholas throwing himself into a brutal battle for me twisted my heart.

"We shared one night. I was innocent then, yes — but one night does not give you ownership over me. Leave me alone. Go back to your lovers in your clan. They want you. I do not."

Eduardo’s eyes widened in shock. He had never expected me to speak to him with such defiance. Rage twisted his features; his face paled, and his lips twitched with fury.

"Do not think you can escape this so easily. I can wait. But if you refuse to obey, you will face the consequences. Soon enough, I will teach you to show proper respect to a vampire centuries older than you — and your rightful Master."

"If there is nothing further to discuss, I suggest you take your leave." Mateus wore a faint, mocking smile. "You are welcome here only when you come in peace. Until then… stay away from Christine, or I will enforce the laws to the fullest extent."

Eduardo’s blue eyes darkened to near black, burning into me with a silent threat that I would pay for this. He spun around to face Mateus, who remained relaxed despite standing firm in my defense. He clearly trusted Nicholas to handle any trouble. Nicholas never took his eyes off Eduardo, ready to strike at the first sign of aggression.

"This. Is. Not. Over."

Eduardo strode away, enunciating each word sharply and letting out a snort of anger. His men followed a short distance behind, wary of bearing the brunt of his frustration.

My hands grew clammy, and my whole body trembled. I could barely stand, caught between the urge to sit down and the urge to collapse. Eduardo was obsessed. He would never let me live in peace.