The Blood Queen Who Walked Away

"I was at the Blood Registry office to reissue my Blood Covenant Certificate with Lord Ethan when the registrar looked up at me and said,“Your Blood Covenant Certificate is forged.”“There is no record of your bond in the vampire consort system.”I froze.“That’s impossible,” I whispered. “I registered my union with Lord Ethan five years ago. Please check again.”The clerk searched once more.“Lord Ethan’s record is here,” he said calmly.“His lawful consort is Ella.”Ella?The name fell like a blade.Before he said it, I still hoped it was a clerical mistake.But Ella… was his childhood companion.In that moment, everything made sense.In five years, he had never marked me.He had publicly acknowledged me as his Blood Queen, letting the entire Coven believe I stood beside him by right.He had given me titles, a throne at his side, and a crown to wear in front of the world.Titles can be announced. Only the Registry makes it law.The certificate he gave me had been nothing but a beautiful lie.The five years I believed were happiness—were nothing more than a carefully forged illusion.An illusion crafted to keep me obedient, grateful, and blind.If none of it was ever truly mine,if even the title of “Blood Queen” was only a performance,then leaving should be easy."