Blood Freed (Vampire-Cursed #4)

21. Chapter 21

21

Chapter 21

Soren

Y et again, I’m a prisoner in yet another magical prison. The silver-infused bars burn against my skin, the ancient runes carved into the metal pulsing with magic designed to contain our kind.

My kind. Those afflicted with the Bloodbane.

The truth of it settles like lead in my chest – Lucien had a hand in designing these cells, and he’s prepared them for those who are cursed. Touching the bars hits me with a thirst so powerful that my knees buckle.

How the fuck did he get away with it?

I press my palm against the cold stone wall, searching for any crack in the magical barriers. Nothing. The silence in my mind where Mia’s presence should be feels like an open wound. I’ve grown too accustomed to her warmth, her fierceness bleeding through our bond. Now, there’s only emptiness. It’s ironic. For days, I locked her out. Then, when I finally saw reason and invited her in, she was snatched away from me.

At least she’s out there, safe with her family. They know about the threat Lucien poses. They’re powerful. They stand a good chance. Which is more than could be said for me; one man going up against a megalomaniac with centuries of corruption on his side.

You’re a fool, Soren Daire.

Maxwell’s face flashes in my thoughts – not as I last saw him, beaten down by Lucien’s manipulations, but as he was centuries ago. The night he turned me, his eyes bright with hope for our bloodline’s future. He’d seen something in me worth preserving, worth the risk of passing on our curse. All those years of watching his children succumb to the Bloodbane, and still, he tried to protect us.

The hunger claws at my insides, different now since tasting Mia’s blood. Before, it was a mindless, vague thing that I’d been able to overlook as a side-effect of my age; I’d told myself I’d grown bored of feeding. Now, it’s focused, almost crystal clear. Her blood sings in my veins, calling to something deeper than mere survival.

The wards pulse stronger as dawn approaches. Soon, they’ll open the eastern wall to greet the sunrise. The Sun Trail – a noble death for a traitor. At least, that’s what the Assembly believes.

There’s nothing noble about being burned to a fucking crisp.

The cell door creaks open, and Lucien glides in like he owns the place. Which, I suppose, in a way, he does. His perfectly tailored suit and immaculate appearance seem designed to highlight my current state.

“Comfortable?” His lips curl into that insufferable smirk. “The silver content in these bars is quite precise. Just enough to weaken, not enough to kill. Yet.”

I remain silent, watching him. There’s no point in engaging with his gloating. But of course, Lucien loves the sound of his own voice.

“You know, I’ve spent centuries perfecting this system.” He runs a finger along the rune-carved bars. “Identifying those cursed with the Bloodbane, tracking bloodlines, documenting symptoms. It’s fascinating how shame makes people so…malleable.”

The way he says it makes my skin crawl. How many others has he trapped this way? How many of our kind live under his thumb, terrified of exposure? Desperate for the redemption he promises with witch blood.

“Maxwell was particularly useful in that regard.” Lucien straightens his already perfect cuffs. “Such a protective maker. So desperate to shield his progeny from the stigma. It made him remarkably cooperative.”

My hands clench involuntarily. He notices, of course.

“But the Blackwoods…” His eyes take on a fevered gleam. “They’re something else entirely. Their blood – it’s not just compatible, it’s transformative. The power in their bloodline…” He trails off, lost in his obsession. “Mia’s sister proved that when Drake turned human. But there’s more. So much more potential.”

I think of Mia, of the way her blood sang through my veins, how it cleared my mind instead of clouding it. The way our connection transcended physical bounds.

“You’ve felt it, haven’t you?” Lucien’s voice drops lower. “The difference. The power. Imagine what I could do with that power, properly harnessed. No more hiding our condition. No more shame. I could rule them all.”

“You’re mad,” I tell him, finally responding to his barbs.

The corner of Lucien’s mouth twitches upward, and I realize I’ve given him exactly what he wanted – a reaction.

Damn him.

“Finally. I was beginning to think you’d gone mute.” He circles the cell with predatory grace. “Though I suppose recent developments have given you plenty to think about. Your maker’s death, your impending execution…” His eyes glitter. “Your blood bond with the lovely Mia Blackwood.”

Ice slides down my spine. How could he possibly know about that?

“Oh yes, I know all about your little midnight rendezvous.” Lucien’s voice drips with satisfaction. “Blood magic leaves such distinctive traces. Did you think no one would notice?”

I force myself to remain still, to show nothing on my face, but my mind races.

What else does he know?

“It’s tragic, really.” He examines his nails with false casualness. “Such a waste of a powerful witch.”

“What are you talking about?” I hate the fact that I can’t help rising to the bait.

“The blood bond, dear Soren. Surely you must know what this means?”

“Enlighten me,” I say coldly, already feeling a sinking feeling of dread unfurling in the pit of my belly.

“Well, she’ll die, of course.” He heaves a sigh. “It’s what happens when you tear apart a bond. They always fade so quickly after their blood match dies. A slow, painful decline as the connection withers. Some last weeks, others mere days. I wonder how long Mia will hold on?”

The words freeze the blood in my veins – what little there is left. My knees nearly give way as their meaning sinks in.

Jesus.

“You didn’t know?” Lucien’s eyes widen with mock surprise. “Oh, this is delicious. The noble Soren Daire, so determined to protect his witch by pushing her away, and all along, you’ve been sealing her fate.” He chuckles, the sound echoing off the stone walls. “I couldn’t have planned it better myself.”

“You’re a fucking animal!” I snarl, lunging for him. Lucien steps back from the bars, then begins to laugh.

Fuck, I ever get my hands on him…

But I won’t. I’m going to die.

“Of course, losing Mia would be…unfortunate.” Lucien straightens his jacket, utterly unmoved by my rage. “But there are other Blackwoods. Her sister Kara, for instance. Such raw power there. And Rowan…” His lips curl into a calculating smile. “Well, we’ve all seen what her blood can do. And Drake can’t protect her forever. He’s little more than human now.”

My fingers curl around the silver bars despite the burning pain. The casual way he talks about them like they’re merely resources to be used…

“Did you think Mia was special? That she was the only one who could provide what we need?” He chuckles, the sound grating against my nerves. “The entire bloodline carries the potential. Mia was merely…convenient. Already in captivity, thanks to your loyal service.”

The reminder of my role in her imprisonment feels like a fist tightening in my chest.

“The grandmother too – Evelyn. There’s power there, aged like fine wine.” Lucien paces the length of my cell, ticking off names like items on a shopping list. “And who knows how many other branches of the family tree we might discover? The Blackwood line is vast if one knows where to look.”

I force myself to release the bars, my palms blistered from the contact. “You won’t get near them.”

“No?” His eyebrows rise in mock surprise. “And who’s going to stop me? You’ll be ash by sunrise. The Blood Assembly is firmly under my control. And the witches?” He waves a dismissive hand. “They’re too busy fighting amongst themselves to see what’s coming.”

The worst part is that I can’t entirely disagree with his assessment. I’ve seen how deep his influence runs, how carefully he’s positioned his pieces over the centuries. While I wasted time trying to protect Mia by pushing her away, he was building an empire on our collective shame and fear.

“Your influence can’t reach that far,” I say, struggling to focus through the horror of what he’s revealed about Mia. “Someone will expose you eventually. The witches aren’t stupid – they’ll see through your manipulations.”

Lucien’s laughter echoes off the stone walls, sending a chill down my spine. “You still don’t understand, do you? It’s already done. The vampires?” He spreads his hands. “I have half of them in the palm of my hand. Fear is such a powerful motivator, but then again, so is power. Not all of my allies are afflicted. Some simply appreciate what I’m doing for us.”

“Us?” I sneer. “For you. All of this is for you.”

“I know what’s best for them,” he says, maddeningly smug. He moves closer to the bars, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “And the witches? They’re even easier. Offer them a taste of real power, and they’ll practically beg to help. Look how easily Heath fell into line. Such ambition in that one – all it took was a few promises, a demonstration of what vampire blood could do for his magic.”

My stomach turns as I realize the implications. “Heath can’t be the only one.”

“Finally, you’re catching up.” Lucien’s smile widens. “Morgan Shadowmaster isn’t nearly as incorruptible as his reputation suggests. And he’s not the only elder who’s seen the…benefits of our arrangement. It’s remarkable how many of them are willing to sacrifice a few of their own for greater power.”

The pieces click into place – the suspicious questions during my interrogation, the careful manipulation of evidence. “That’s why Morgan was so eager to handle my questioning.”

“Among other things.” Lucien adjusts his cuffs with meticulous precision. “The Coven Conclave is quite thoroughly compromised, though they don’t realize it yet. By the time they do…” He shrugs elegantly. “Well, it won’t matter anymore.”

As he talks, my enhanced hearing picks up footsteps in the corridor, the steady march of the guard detail.

Lucien hasn’t moved, still watching me with that insufferable smirk. The cell door creaks open, and four guards enter, carrying ceremonial chains etched with the same runes as the bars. Looks like I’m going to get the full treatment. Pity I can’t appreciate it.

“Why are you still here?” I ask Lucien, unable to stop myself. “Don’t you have more important matters to attend to?”

He smooths an invisible wrinkle from his sleeve. “And miss the culmination of centuries of planning? I think not. I stayed for Maxwell’s final moments, too, you know. Such a noble end he chose – the Sun Trail, just like you. Though perhaps with a bit of…encouragement.”

Motherfucker! I knew he’d done it.

My hands clench as the first guard approaches with the chains. The metal burns where it touches my skin, but I refuse to show weakness in front of Lucien.

“Wrists forward,” the guard commands, though his voice wavers slightly. When I meet his eyes, I see a flicker of something – hesitation? Sympathy? He’s young for a vampire, probably turned within the last century.

The chains click into place with ceremonial precision. Each lock must be sealed with a specific incantation, spoken in the ancient tongue. The words feel heavy in the air, laden with power and tradition.

“The accused will kneel,” another guard intones formally.

I remain standing until the burning from the chains forces me down. The young guard moves behind me, and I feel him adjust the chains – loosening them just slightly where they cut deepest. It’s a small mercy but notable.

“The condemned will now be escorted to the Chamber of Dawn,” the lead guard recites. “There to face judgment by the sun’s pure light.”

Lucien’s smile widens as they pull me to my feet. “Shall we begin?”

The guards march me forward, but my mind races faster than my feet can move.

Mia will die.

The thought pounds through my head with each step. Everything I’ve done has just made things worse. God, the irony tastes bitter.

I should have told her everything the moment I understood what was happening between us. Should have trusted her strength instead of trying to shield her. Now she might pay for my arrogance with her life.

“Move!” A shove in the small of my back has me stumbling forward as I hesitate before a stairway. I know what lies beyond those stairs.

I keep my head high, my face impassive – I won’t give Lucien the satisfaction of seeing me break. But inside, I’m frantically searching for any way out of this trap.

How did I miss it?

Probably because I was trying to avoid the bullshit politics our kind is so susceptible to. All those years ignoring Lucien’s machinations – I never saw the full scope of his plan. The way he used our shame about the Bloodbane, turned it into a weapon.

But what if we’ve all been looking at it wrong? The curse that drives us to seek witch blood – it’s not just about survival. The compatibility, the bonds that form…it’s like nature itself is trying to tell us something. Forcing our kinds together, creating connections that transcend the old hatreds.

Not that the revelation helps much now .

The guards’ boots echo against stone as they march me along the corridor. Each step draws us closer to the Chamber of Dawn, where condemned vampires meet their final sunrise. But my chest aches with a pain that has nothing to do with what I’m about to face.

Then I feel it – a flicker through our bond, like candlelight catching in dark water. Mia. She’s reaching for me, her presence both familiar and desperate. The wards that have been blocking our connection are weakening as we move away from the cells, but what good does that do now?

Her consciousness brushes against mine, and for a moment I’m overwhelmed by the force of her emotions – fear, tenacity, love. So much love it nearly brings me to my knees. The young guard steadies me, probably thinking it’s just the silver taking its toll.

Mia, my fierce, beautiful witch.

I want to tell her everything – about Lucien’s plans, about the corruption in both our societies, about how sorry I am for pushing her away. But there’s no time. Dawn approaches, and I can already feel the building’s eastern wards preparing to open.

Instead, I focus all my remaining strength into one clear thought, praying it reaches her through our weakened bond: “Fight this, Mia – find the strength. You can live without me.”

The connection wavers, like a radio signal fading in and out. I feel her protest, her refusal to let me go, but the guards are already turning the final corner. Ahead, I can see the first gray light of pre-dawn seeping through the chamber’s enchanted walls.

Death is waiting.