Thank you so much @MyGiveAFkFairyDied for the Golden Ticket.

*********

Sarah’s expression turned thoughtful as she looked between Rosaline and Xandros.

"I’ll need her blood." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The words had barely left her mouth before the atmosphere changed.

"No."

Xandros’ refusal came instantly...it was cold and absolute.

He had no intention to spill and blood from her, he wanted everything for himself.

Rosaline looked between them.

Sarah rolled her eyes dramatically.

"There it is."

"No."

The witch threw her hands into the air.

"You’re impossible." She said to Xandros knowingly.

"You’re asking for her blood."

"Ten drops." She said showing her ten fingers to Xandros.

"No."

"Two drops." She bargained.

"No." He repeated once again.

Sarah looked ready to start pulling out her hair.

"For the love of all cursed creatures, Xandros, I cannot examine her without blood."

Rosaline hesitated before looking toward him.

"If it will help..."

His gaze snapped toward her immediately.

The intensity behind it startled even Sarah.

"It isn’t necessary."

"Maybe it is."

Xandros’ jaw tightened.....She was yet to understand him and what he wanted

Rosaline stepped closer.

"If there is even a chance it can help me remember something..."

Her voice softened as she looked at him pleadingly.

"...then I want to try." She completed her request.

The forest became quiet.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Seth sighed.

The sound carried the exhaustion of a man who had watched this exact argument happen dozens of times before.

"Your Grace."

Xandros ignored him.

Seth tried again.

"She is asking."

That only made the Duke’s expression darker.

Then an idea formed in Rosaline’s head...she could always persuad him lovingly, then she slowly reached for his hand.

The simple gesture surprised him enough that his gaze lowered briefly.

"I’ll be alright."

A long silence followed.

Eventually, Xandros exhaled.

The sound was quiet.

Reluctant.

Defeated.

"Fine."

Sarah immediately looked victorious.

"Excellent."

Then she paused.

"Wait."

Everyone looked at her.

Sarah then pointed at Xandros.

"You stay over there."

"I am not leaving."

"I didn’t ask you to leave."

Sarah pointed farther away.

"I’m asking you not to breathe directly down my neck while I work."

The inside of the cottage smelled of herbs, old parchment, and smoke.

Shelves lined every wall.

Strange bottles filled with colorful liquids occupied every available space.

Rosaline sat upon a narrow wooden bed while Sarah prepared the ritual.

The witch moved around the room gathering ingredients with practiced ease.

A silver bowl.

Bundles of dried herbs.

Small crystal bottles.

Several things Rosaline couldn’t identify.

None of them looked particularly reassuring.

"I suddenly feel less confident."

"You should."

Rosaline frowned.

Sarah grinned.

"I’m just joking."

Rosaline paused for a minute as she looked at her

"Mostly." Sarah continued.

That wasn’t comforting at all.

Several minutes later, Sarah finished her preparations.

"Lie down."

Rosaline obeyed.

The mattress felt surprisingly soft.

The witch placed a hand against her forehead.

A cool sensation spread through her skin.

Almost immediately, exhaustion flooded her body.

Her eyelids became heavy.

"What are you..."

"Sleep." Came Sarah’s command.

Darkness claimed her before she could finish speaking.

The moment Rosaline fell unconscious, the room changed.

Sarah’s smile disappeared.

Her expression became serious.

Careful because of the beast that waited for his mate.

The witch reached into a drawer and retrieved a small silver blade.

A shallow cut appeared across Rosaline’s palm.

Only enough to draw blood.

Nothing more.

A single crimson drop slid into the waiting bowl.

Then another.

And another.

The scent spread through the room.

Warm and metallic.

Sarah froze.

The witch slowly looked up.

Across the room, Xandros had gone completely still.

His grey eyes had darkened.

The color draining away little by little.

Seth immediately noticed.

"Your Grace."

No response.

Xandros’ attention remained fixed upon the blood.

The scent filled the room.

Wrapped around him.

Tempted him.

Something stirred beneath his skin.

Something hungry.

Sarah swallowed.

"Perhaps..." she began carefully, "you should wait outside."

His gaze shifted toward her.

The witch immediately regretted speaking.

Those eyes were no longer grey.

Red.

Bright red.

Like fresh blood beneath moonlight.

Seth moved instantly.

Positioning himself between Rosaline and the Duke.

Not because he thought he could stop Xandros.

Nobody could.

But because someone needed to remind him.

"Your Grace."

Still no response.

The scent lingered.

Stronger.

Dangerous.

Xandros’ fingers curled slowly.

His fangs had already begun to lengthen.

Sarah’s heartbeat accelerated.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

Far too small.

Then Seth spoke again.

This time more firmly.

"You promised."

Silence.

"You said you would wait until she knew everything."

Xandros remained motionless.

Seth didn’t stop.

"You said you would get her consent first."

The words finally reached him.

A visible struggle crossed his face.

The hunger.

The instinct.

The promise.

For several terrible moments they fought one another....It was hunger versus the promise he made to himself about her.

Then slowly...

Very slowly...

The red began to recede.

His breathing steadied.

The fangs shortened.

The pressure inside the room eased.

Sarah nearly collapsed from relief.

Seth exhaled quietly.

Xandros closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them again, they were grey.

Cold and controlled.

The monster had retreated.

For now.

"Continue." Xandros ordered her.

Sarah had never received a more terrifying order.

Still, she nodded.

Immediately.

The witch approached Rosaline once more.

Earlier, she had carefully cut a small lock of silver-white hair from beneath the sleeping woman’s head....and she saw the displeasure on Xandros face when she did that.

Now she wondered if he really wanted anyone else to touch her at all.

Now she placed it into the bowl.

The strands floated atop the blood.

Sarah uncorked another bottle.

Dark liquid dripped into the mixture.

The contents began to swirl.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

Symbols carved into the bowl ignited with pale blue light.

The room darkened.

The air grew colder.

Sarah whispered words in an ancient language.

The glowing liquid rose into the air.

Twisting, changing and forming shapes.

At first, nothing happened.

Then the vision appeared.

A young woman stood within the light.

Silver hair with familiar features.

The same face.

Yet different.

The woman wasn’t Rosaline.

At least not the Rosaline sleeping on the bed.

Her posture was different.

Her expression sharper.

Colder.

The name slipped from Sarah’s lips before she could stop herself.

"Saline."

The image flickered.

For a single moment, golden eyes opened within the vision.

Ancient.

Powerful.

Wrong.

Then the entire room exploded with light.

Sarah stumbled backward.

The bowl shattered.

Glass scattered across the floor.

The vision vanished instantly.

Silence followed.

Complete silence.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

The witch stared at the empty space where the image had been.

Slowly....

Very slowly ...

She turned toward Xandros.

For the first time since he had known her, Sarah looked genuinely concerned.

"What did you see?" Seth asked quietly.

Sarah swallowed.

Her gaze drifted toward the sleeping Rosaline.

Then back to Xandros.

"I don’t know."

That answer frightened everyone more than if she had known.

Because Sarah always knew something.

Yet now...

She looked completely lost.

And as Rosaline slept peacefully upon the bed, unaware of everything that had happened around her...

The name continued echoing inside Sarah’s mind.

Saline.

Not Rosaline.

Saline.

And somehow...

That frightened the witch more than anything else she had seen in years.

********

Lily had retired to her room shortly after the Duke, Rosaline, and Seth departed from the estate, fully intending to spend the remainder of the morning resting in peace. The mansion felt unusually quiet without her lady’s presence, and for once, she welcomed the silence. After removing her shoes, she settled onto the edge of her bed and let out a long sigh. Yet before she could truly relax, a sharp pain suddenly pierced through her head. It was not the ordinary headache she had occasionally suffered in recent weeks. This one felt as though invisible fingers had reached inside her skull and begun pulling at something hidden deep within. Lily’s breath caught in her throat as her hand immediately flew to her temple. The room around her seemed to tilt slightly. The sunlight pouring through the windows grew unbearably bright, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut.

When she opened them again, the world no longer appeared the same. Every detail around her had become unnaturally clear. She could see the individual threads woven into the curtains hanging beside the window. She could see tiny scratches on the wooden wardrobe standing across the room. Even the distant sounds from outside the mansion reached her ears with alarming precision. Somewhere in the courtyard, a servant dropped a bucket. Farther away, she could hear birds fluttering through the garden trees. Lily froze. Her breathing became shallow as unease crept through her chest. Something was wrong. Very wrong. The headache intensified without warning, sending another wave of agony through her body. She stumbled from the bed and nearly collapsed onto her knees as a cry escaped her lips.

"L-Lady Rosaline..." she whispered weakly, instinctively reaching for the person she trusted most even though Rosaline was nowhere near her.

The pain only worsened.

It spread from her head into her eyes.

A burning sensation followed.

Lily staggered toward the mirror mounted against the wall, desperate to understand what was happening to her. Her reflection stared back immediately, but the sight nearly stopped her heart. Both of her eyes had changed. The familiar brown irises she had seen her entire life were gone. In their place shone brilliant gold. Not a soft golden color. Not amber. True gold. Bright and luminous, glowing with an unnatural light that seemed to pulse beneath the surface. Lily recoiled so violently she crashed into a nearby chair. Terror flooded her veins. She shook her head repeatedly, convinced she was imagining things, but the reflection remained unchanged. The golden eyes stared back at her with an intensity that felt foreign. Ancient. Powerful. For the briefest moment, strange images flickered across her vision. Endless flames. A vast golden sky. Wings larger than anything she had ever seen. Then they vanished before she could understand them.

"No..." Lily whispered, her voice trembling.

The room suddenly spun.

The headache reached its peak.

It felt as though something buried deep within her was awakening after a very long sleep.

A scream tore from her throat.

The sound echoed through the empty chamber before her legs finally gave out beneath her. Darkness rushed forward from all sides, swallowing her vision whole. Her body struck the floor with a heavy thud, but she never felt the impact. By then, consciousness had already abandoned her. She lay motionless upon the cold wooden floor, strands of brown hair spread around her like a shadow. Yet even in unconsciousness, her eyes remained partially open. Deep within those golden irises, a faint light continued to glow. Outside her window, the wind suddenly stirred, rattling the glass as though responding to an invisible force.