Varen appeared satisfied with my decision to align with him. Though I wasn’t entirely sure of the extent of his abilities, a flicker of hope stirred within me, lifting the heavy weight of despair that had plagued me since morning. He was right about one thing—I couldn't afford to remain idle. I needed to solidify my place in the vampire world, not just to be with Hadrian but to ensure my survival. Over the past few weeks, I had grown overly reliant on Hadrian’s power, and that realization ...