Bloodbound Destiny

A Deal with the Devil

Evelyn sat against the cold stone wall, her wrists aching from the weight of the iron shackles. Every breath she took was shallow, laced with exhaustion and fear. Her mind raced, searching for an escape, but every possibility ended in the same bleak truth—she was trapped. The vampire prince had made it clear: she belonged to him now.

The heavy doors groaned open. She tensed, expecting Lucian, but instead, Viktor entered, his piercing red eyes studying her with detached amusement. He moved with the same eerie grace as Lucian, but there was a calculating sharpness in his gaze, like he was sizing her up.

"You survived the night," he remarked, shutting the door behind him. "Impressive."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Viktor smirked. "Considering Lucian’s usual temperament, yes. He’s not known for his patience or mercy, especially with humans."

She swallowed, refusing to show weakness. "Why are you here?"

He crouched in front of her. "Lucian will see you soon. But before that, I want to know—do you understand what’s happening to you?"

Evelyn scoffed. "I was kidnapped, chained up, and told I’m supposed to break some ridiculous curse. I think I understand plenty."

Viktor chuckled. "Not quite. Lucian doesn’t just need your blood. He needs your suffering."

Her stomach twisted. "What does that mean?"

Before Viktor could answer, the doors swung open again, and the air in the chamber turned heavy. Lucian strode in, his presence suffocating. His gaze locked onto Evelyn, unreadable yet intense.

"Leave us," Lucian commanded.

Viktor hesitated for only a moment before inclining his head and exiting. The doors slammed shut, sealing her inside with the vampire prince.

Lucian approached, his movements slow, deliberate. "You will make a deal with me, Evelyn."

She lifted her chin defiantly. "I already did. And I regret it."

Lucian’s lips twitched in amusement. "Then let’s make things more interesting."

Evelyn clenched her fists. "I doubt there’s anything you could offer me that would make me trust you."

Lucian’s eyes darkened. "I don’t need your trust. I need your obedience."

She glared at him. "What else do you want from me?"

Lucian exhaled slowly, his crimson gaze locked onto hers. "Your blood alone is not enough. The curse weakens with every drop, but to fully break it, I need more than that."

She swallowed. "More?"

His smirk returned. "You will serve me. Not as a guest. Not as a bride. But as my personal attendant."

Evelyn blinked. "Your… what?"

"You will be at my beck and call. You will prepare my chambers, tend to my needs, and most importantly, be ready whenever I require your blood. You will not eat unless I allow it. You will not sleep unless I permit it. And you will kneel when I command it."

Her stomach dropped. "You want me to be your slave."

Lucian tilted his head slightly. "If that is the term you prefer."

Her fists trembled. "And if I refuse?"

Lucian’s smirk vanished, his jaw tightening as his eyes darkened. His posture stiffened, and a flicker of something dangerous crossed his face—a warning, a silent promise of consequences. The amusement drained from his expression, leaving behind only an unsettling coldness. "Then I will find someone else. And I will make sure your family suffers in your place."

Evelyn’s breath caught. "You wouldn’t—"

Lucian moved in a flash, standing directly in front of her. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating. "Wouldn’t I?" His voice was quiet, more terrifying than if he had shouted. "You think I haven’t torn apart families before? That I would hesitate to do it again?"

A sharp chill ran through her, freezing her body in place. She wanted to fight back, to scream, but the sheer force of his power pressed down on her like an invisible weight. He didn’t need to raise his voice or make a grand display of his strength. He was terrifying simply by being.

"You will obey," Lucian continued, his tone slow, deliberate. "Because if you don’t, you will learn firsthand just how ruthless I can be."

Evelyn’s heart pounded. A wave of dizziness washed over her as the room seemed to close in, the air thick with unspoken threats. Her chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe, as if the very walls were pressing in on her. Her fingers curled into fists, the cold sweat on her palms betraying the fear she refused to voice. Her mind screamed at her to resist, but her body betrayed her—her hands shook, her throat dried up, and her breaths came in short, uneven gasps.

For the first time since she had been taken, she truly understood just how powerless she was.

Her voice was hoarse when she finally found the courage to speak. "There has to be another way."

Lucian’s gaze flickered with amusement. "Do you think you’re in a position to negotiate?"

She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms as she fought against the inevitable. "I am not an object."

Lucian smirked. "No, you are not. You are a means to an end."

Evelyn forced herself to take a deep breath, though the air still felt too thick, too oppressive. "And what happens when your curse is broken? What happens to me then?"

Lucian tilted his head slightly, as if considering his answer. "That depends entirely on you." A shadow flickered in his gaze, something unreadable lurking beneath the surface. "Some captives prove useful beyond their initial purpose. Others... simply fade away."

She hated how vague that was. How little control she had. But she knew she had no choice. He had made that clear.

After a long silence, she gritted her teeth and muttered, "Fine. I’ll do it."

Lucian stepped closer, tilting her chin up with two fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Say it properly."

Her blood boiled with fury, but she forced the words out. "I will serve you."

Lucian’s smirk returned, victorious. "Good. Then from this moment on, you are no longer just a captive. You are mine to command."

As he stepped away, Evelyn felt nausea twist in her stomach. She had just agreed to something far worse than being a prisoner.

She had just agreed to be a slave to the devil himself. How had it come to this? Her mind replayed every moment, every choice that had led her here, and yet, no matter how much she fought, she had always been cornered. There had never truly been a way out.

And there was no turning back.