Outside the gates of Sexton, carriages began to arrive one after another. Each one slowed near the front before coming to a stop. Once the doors were opened, the Elites of the society stepped down from it.

One by one, they made their way towards the building while their carriages were drawn away. Polished shoes moved against the hardened ground and their coats followed, moving just above the surface of the snow.

"Sexton does know how to put on a show," one of the vampires remarked as he entered the main hall and sat down on one of the plush red seats. His gaze moved lazily and he continued, "I hear even the prince couldn’t stay away. And Mikhael has raised the value of groundlings compared to last year."

The vampire beside him laughed before responding,

"I’m surprised you returned. Didn’t you buy two groundlings?"

"Unfortunately," the first vampire replied, lifting a glass of blood without much interest, "one didn’t last. The other..." he paused briefly, almost dismissive, "barely walks now. No point keeping what doesn’t serve its purpose."

And while the buyers filled the main hall, in another building, consciousness slowly returned as Ruelle surfaced from her sleep.

Her eyelids felt heavy, but she forced them open, blinking against the pale winter light that spilled through frost-etched windows.

The sheets felt warm and that’s when she became aware of the heat source beside her. She carefully turned and found Lucian lying next to her, his face turned to her with one arm draped across his torso.

The morning light fell on his dark hair that rested across his forehead, turning the deepest black strands into threads of midnight silk.

He was devastatingly handsome. The kind of handsome that made her chest ache and her eyes shy away. From the sharp line of his jaw to the aristocratic slope of his nose. The soft curve of lips that had whispered dark promises against her skin just hours ago.

Somewhere she found it hard to believe that this person wanted her.

But the proof throbbed at her neck.

The last thing she remembered was Lucian’s lips on her neck and the molten pain that seared through her body.

She still couldn’t believe she had fainted from it.

Feeling parched, she carefully got up and her one foot touched the floor. When she got up, ready to take a step away from the bed, a hand closed around her wrist.

She turned and met his darkened red eyes that had opened with the haze of sleep disappearing like smoke in air, replaced by something intense and focused.

"Where are you going?" His voice was deep which held a faint rasp to it and she felt her heart skip a beat.

"I was going to get water," Ruelle managed feeling warmth spread through her chest.

His gaze held hers for a moment before the look in his eyes softened and he released her wrist. He sat upright and said, "You were burning last night."

Of course, with the way he had kissed her, it was a miracle she hadn’t melted like a candle on a flame right there against the door.

Even now, hours later, her lips still tingled with the ghost of him.

If someone had told her at the beginning of the year that the aloof, brooding Lucian Slater—the man whose gaze was like winter and spoke in clipped riddles, could kiss like that... she would have thought them mad.

And a hidden part of her had enjoyed it. Her eyes lowered as a blush came to settle on her cheeks.

Then she felt Lucian lean forward and rest his hand on her forehead, his cool fingers pressing against the heat that had settled into her skin.

"Looks like it settled," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that vibrated somewhere beneath her ribs. He noticed the blood rush up to her face at his touch as if she were remembering the grip of his hand from lastnight. He hummed, "What’s got you flushed?"

"The room turned warm," Ruelle breathed. She then asked, "The feeding... does it always hurt like that?"

"Scared?" Lucian cocked his head to the side, pulling his hand back to his side.

"Me? Not at all," Ruelle denied. Though a little heads-up would help her prepare in the future. Remembering something, she said hesitantly, "You might find better blood elsewhere. Mine isn’t... particularly good."

"My tongue thinks otherwise." A faint trace of amusement flickered in his eyes, and he stated, "Your blood rivals the mermaids."

Frowning, she pointed, "But it was clear from yesterday’s—"

"Test?" Lucian completed her sentence. "Dane altered your blood by having you consume parsyth. It dulls the quality of blood."

The toffee! And to think Dane had handed it to her so easily, without a hint of suspicion, thought Ruelle.

"Humans with blue blood have grown scarce, to the point that vampires abduct them and keep them as prisoners," Lucian explained to her. If people thought her blood was of little worth, it would keep her safe.

Ruelle couldn’t believe the Slater brothers had manipulated test results in front of an entire room full of vampires to keep her out of attention.

Suddenly a knock was heard at the door. She watched Lucian rise from the bed barefoot. When he opened the door, she caught a glimpse through the narrow crack of a man who bowed his head.

"Mr. Slater, it is about today’s job. As ordered, everything has been prepared," came the hushed voice of the man.

Lucian stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

Ruelle crossed the room and drank water. She was walking past the mirror when her footsteps halted as if catching something.

She took a step back, turning to look at her reflection. Her eyes widened as she stared at her neck and moved closer. She had expected two punctures but instead there was a thin, inky black vine, which coiled intricately around the base of her neck.

When the door opened, she saw Lucian step inside the room. She pointed at her neck and asked,

"What is this?"

"A soul bond."

Ruelle’s eyebrows furrowed as she had never heard of it.

"Purebloods can mark who they want to spend the rest of their lives and the life after it. The pureblooded vampire bites the person, like last night," Lucian explained to her patiently. "Once it is done, there’s no undoing it as the soul entwines. It lets others know that you are taken."

He had made her his... Her gaze returned to the mirror to stare at the vines. Upon closer look, she noticed the faint thorns and she asked,

"Does everyone have this?" Because she didn’t come across people with these markings.

"It doesn’t always show. People usually hide it behind chokers and collars. Whatever keeps it unseen. The markers can will it out of sight." When Ruelle’s brows lifted, Lucian added, "Don’t expect me to do it."

"I didn’t say anything," Ruelle’s words faltered when he reached for her neck and brushed the base of her neck for a shiver to run down her body.

Just then, the toll of a bell carried through the room, Ruelle remembered the bidding, which would begin soon.

In the main hall, everyone was seated. From elites to the groundlings’ families, where the groundlings’ family sat in the corners and away from the vampires.

And as delighted as the Elites were, not everyone felt the same. The groundlings were dressed in fine clothes and jewellery. Some would continue to wear them beyond today, and for others it would be the last time.

Their faces were brushed to life that did not quite reach their eyes.

"I look absurd... even those at circus look better," Hailey muttered, staring at her reflection.

Frowning, she looked around the vast room while rubbing the pigment off her cheeks. She wondered where Ruelle was. She hadn’t seen her since last afternoon.

"Don’t tell me she was forcibly taken back to the castle...!" She murmured with a frown.

Her eyes then fell on Caroline, who was fixing her hair with a hum. She sure looked calm and composed, Hailey thought to herself. The young Belmont sensing eyes on her, turning and questioned,

"What? You haven’t seen a pretty woman before?" Rolling her eyes, Caroline turned back to continue twirling her hair. Last afternoon, Ezekiel had left, saying he was going to sell the house to pay for her bidding, and she hadn’t seen him until this morning. She was excited to leave Sexton today.

To get some air, Hailey stepped out of the room when she caught sight of her roommate Blake, who was walking along with Sawyer.

"How are you holding up?" Blake asked, noticing how tense Hailey was.

"I can barely breathe," Hailey said. Then with a small, uneasy laugh, she sighed, "I wish I could be your maid instead."

The vampiress gave her an apologetic smile and replied, "Forgive me. I’m hardly in a position to keep one—it would be careless of me."

"It’s alright. I’ve been praying and praying," Hailey sighed. She turned to Sawyer, who had been watching her. "And you, senior...Do you mean to bid?"

Sawyer smiled at her before answering, "I had a mind to take one I could drag about. Are you interested?"

Hailey awkwardly laughed before muttering, "No... I think not." After a pause, she asked, "Do you know where the prince is?"

"From what I heard, he left last night for the castle," Blake replied, watching Hailey’s shoulders slump.

"Miss Elliot!" someone called her and Hailey turned to catch sight of the marquis’s cousin’s nephew, whom she had danced with during the Winter Ball’s night.

As the man approached her, Blake and Sawyer walked away from there.

"What are you doing here... Mr. Donald?"

"I heard about the bid and saw your name," the man said with a smile. "Forgive me for not answering your letters sooner. I was buried with tons of work."

Hailey smiled, glad that she would be in safe hands.

Just then, a bell tolled somewhere not far from where they stood.

In the main hall, Mikhael Oak ascended the dais and soon the spectators and bidders went quiet. He then began to speak,

"Welcome to this year’s bid. Let us trust Sexton continues to thrive and that your choices grow richer with each passing year. Each groundling has been examined. Their blood tested. You will know precisely what it is worth and what you take."

He then continued, "They have been taught basic skills. The rest may be shaped to your liking. Sexton is always willing to refine what you purchase. Now without delay, let us begin."

Mr. Mortis took over the dais, pulling out a scroll and announced,

"Kevin Reynolds. Blue blood quality, average intellect and fighting abilities."

And soon the bid began, while King Septimus entered the room in the middle of the bid. Seeing him enter, everyone quickly got up and bowed to which he waved his hand for them to sit.

"Six hundred and ten," a vampiress called nonchalantly.

"Six hundred and twenty-five," another called as the numbers continued to climb.

King Septimus said, "Seven hundred," before he took a seat.

A pause followed.

"Any more?" Mr. Mortis asked, his gaze moving across the room. There was an obvious refusal to reach where the king’s hand had already fallen.

"Going once. Going twice. Going thrice... Sold."

The people around clapped, congratulating the king for winning his bid, while Kevin offered a deep bow before he stepped down from there.

One by one, groundlings were called to the dais and the bidding continued with the Elites happy to throw their money.

When Hailey was called, her legs trembled as she made her way up. A nervous smile settled on her lips, though it did little to steady her. Her eyes moved quickly, searching through the crowd, until they found Mr Donald, who offered her a smile.

"Hailey Elliot. Average blood quality. Average intellect and physical abilities," Mr. Mortis announced. The vampires and vampiresses turned their attention to Hailey as they assessed her. "Starting the bid—"

"One shilling."

For a second, Hailey wondered if she misheard it. One shilling? Every other human before her had been bidded at far higher amount, from hundreds of gold coins to some even climbing into the thousands. A murmur of chuckles passed through the hall and heads began to turn.

When she saw who it was, the colour from her face drained.

It was the king.

King Septimus sat looking unbothered.

Her eyes snapped at Mr. Donald. Moments ago, he had stood with confidence. The man now looked pale and he stared at the wall. After hearing how the king had terrorised Ruelle, she doubted she could stomach being near the king. It was one thing to be bought by the prince and a whole other thing to have the king bid on her.

Mr. Mortis cleared his throat and repeated, "Anyone more than one shilling?"

Noticing how no one attempted to bid on her, Hailey turned to Mr. Mortis and blurted, "Can I bid on myself?"

Mr. Mortis stared long and hard at Hailey. He said, "Going once. Going twice. Going thrice. Sold!"

Not far from the main hall, Ruelle walked beside Lucian down the corridor, making their way toward where the bidding was held.

The same time, Mr. and Mrs. Belmont stepped into the same corridor. The Belmont couple were quick to catch sight of Ruelle there. But when their gaze slid to the person beside her, their faces paled.