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 unsettled me. It wasn’t that I doubted him, but I needed to reclaim control over my own life.
Keeping my alliance with Varen a secret from Hadrian didn’t sit well with me. I felt he deserved to know about our meeting and everything that had transpired between Keziah and me. With that resolve, I left my c
