Lilith's eyes went wide. She stared at Cassian in disbelief.
"Have you gone mad?" Her voice cracked. "She's a vampire! How can you protect her?"
Cassian gave her a cold look. His voice was pure ice.

"She's a vampire. And so are you."
The words shattered her mask of holiness.
Her face went pale, her lips trembling as she tried to form a defense.
"I... I'm different... I'm atoning for my sins. I'm helping people..."
"Atoning?" Cassian cut her off. "Before God, there is no difference between you. You are both creatures of the night. And you both have a chance at redemption."
His gaze left Lilith and fell on me.

Those gray-blue eyes were deep as the sea, but held no personal warmth.
"The only difference is that one chooses evil, and the other chooses good."
Lilith's face twisted in anger. She pointed at me. "She almost lost control! She almost hurt innocent people!"
"Because someone used dark magic to frame her," Cassian's voice grew even colder. "Lilith, go back and copy the Book of Confessions one hundred times. Today, you are the one who has committed evil."

Lilith looked as if she'd been struck by lightning.
To be scolded by the man she desired in front of everyone... it was the ultimate humiliation.
She clenched her jaw, her eyes flashing with venom as she shot me a hateful glare.
"I understand, Father Cassian," she forced herself to say, bowing stiffly. "I will go at once."
She pulled the hood of her cloak tight and hurried away.
A storm of emotions brewed inside me.
I knew my sister had cast the spell. That was her "evil act." She wanted Cassian to purify me, and I wanted to see how he would react.
Just like in my past life, he only punished the wicked. He always left a path for creatures of order, like me.
As Cassian walked past, I couldn't help but stare.
A Knight of the Holy Temple, helping a heretic instead of purifying her. Did he not know vampires were creatures of a thousand lies? The foolish priest.
"Elena," Cassian said, turning to me. "Are you alright?"
His voice was still cool, but there was a hint of concern.
"I'm fine," I answered softly.
"Be careful." He turned to leave. "Someone wants to hurt you."
Watching his retreating back, my heart pounded in my chest.
A bitter ache filled me.
I was the one who should have been walking beside him.
But after the lesson of my past life, I knew I had to stay away.
Even so, the moment he appeared, my heart had betrayed me...
"Hey, vampire." Adrian suddenly appeared in front of me, his amber eyes dangerous. "Weren't you taking me to the tournament? What are you staring at that priest for? One more look and he might blind you with holy water."
"What do you know?" I wrenched my arm free. "Mind your own business, wolf whelp!"
"Whelp?" A fire lit in Adrian's eyes. "Elena, don't forget I'm older than you!"
"Older?" I sneered. "I had lived a thousand years while you were still a thought in your mother's womb!"
"So what?" Adrian's nails began to lengthen, growing sharp. "I could still tear you to pieces!"
Seeing him about to lose control only fueled my own anger.
"Bring it on!" I bared my fangs. "Let's see what this half-breed wolf is made of!"
The tension between us crackled.
Just as Adrian was about to unleash his claws, he froze.
He took a deep breath, and his nails slowly returned to normal.
"Forget it." He turned away. "I'm going to be a king. I don't have time to waste on a petty vampire like you."
He strode off, leaving me standing alone.
I scoffed. This little wolf and his mood swings. One moment, a snarling beast. The next, a retracting kitten.
If not for his royal blood, I would have drained him to the bone.