Chapter 4

Sure, she was compatible—just slightly shorter than those two queens. She had every muscle line she needed, and at nearly six-foot-three, she had overwhelming presence for someone just over five-foot-seven like me.

I really don't get it. Already turned into a vampire, and still so sensitive about pride.

I was rolling my eyes internally, but I could only try to please her verbally. After all, avoiding immediate trouble was the first rule of survival.

"No, that's not what I meant! I just... I'm afraid of pain, really no other meaning!"

Hearing this again, she almost ground her teeth to dust, looking like she wanted to tear me apart. And she really did bite down on my neck and shoulder.

That moment I almost suffocated.

Because I knew the process of being marked as a blood slave for the first time was extremely painful. I hadn't expected her to be so casual about it.

Just when I thought I was about to become a mindless lower-class blood servant, she suddenly released her bite.

There were only shallow teeth marks on my shoulder, no broken skin.

She almost growled my name through clenched teeth. "Mason, even in the apocalypse, your mouth is still so infuriating!"

Huh? I'd never told her my name. Even though I used to be a human survivor squad leader, I shouldn't be famous enough for all vampires to know me.

Meeting those cold eyes with a familiar feeling, a face that was both austere and refined gradually overlapped with the vice-commander before me...

Wait...

I jolted up and practically threw my arms around her, my voice carrying exaggerated emotion. "Luna? Is that you? I never thought I'd meet you here! This is great—you'll protect me, right?"

I heard her mocking snort by my ear. "Mason, that's not what you said before."

Ugh... yeah, that was a bit fake.

Before her transformation, she was a senior in the Finance department named Luna. She was also the city's freestyle fighting champion.

Back then, I bragged to people that someone like Luna—that skinny type—I could knock her down with one punch. I mocked her, saying she looked weak, that I wouldn't want her even if she threw herself at me.

It was just sour grapes—because I'd confessed to her once and got rejected cleanly and decisively. That scene was humiliating.

Right now, I wanted to find a hole to crawl into. I thought I'd calculated everything, but I ended up choosing my nemesis. We were already at odds when we were human. Now that she'd become a vampire and I'd fallen into her hands, could I expect anything good?

But... I never had the chance before. Now "sleeping with her" wouldn't be a loss, right? That's what I was secretly thinking.

But in reality, she clearly hated me. She looked at my "ready to die" expression with mockery, then unceremoniously pulled me off the bed and tossed me onto the carpet.

"I need someone to handle chores. Hope you know your place, or you can go be a public blood—"

"—bag instead. Trust me, you don't want that."

She looked down at me coldly, arms crossed.

I quickly got up and knelt, trying to salvage the situation. "No, no! I'll behave! Luna—uh, Commander Shadow, I was young and stupid back then. Please forgive me!"

"You're still young and stupid now." She walked to the window, gazing at the blood-red sky. "But you're right about one thing. Compared to those queens, I'm your best bet for survival."

Her tone softened slightly. Maybe the old Luna was still in there somewhere.

"In three days, the clans will hold a gathering. Queen Aquila wants to show off her new territory. You'll serve drinks." She glanced back at me. "Try not to embarrass me."

"I won't! I promise!"

She waved dismissively. "There's a servant's room next door. Get out."

As I scrambled to leave, her voice stopped me.

"Mason."

"Yes?"

"That friend of yours, Julian." Her eyes glinted with something unreadable. "He won't last a month with Queen Inferna. She goes through companions like tissues."

A chill ran down my spine, but not from fear—from satisfaction.

"That's his choice," I said quietly.

Luna's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Smart answer. Now get out."