The grand dining hall was an opulent chamber of decadence and death. Crystal chandeliers cast flickering light over the long table, where vampires reclined on intricately carved chairs, their movements languid and predatory. The pets knelt at their masters' feet, dressed in thin silks that did little to shield them from the chill of the room—or the leering gazes of the vampires.

She sat at Lord Varian's feet, her heart pounding as she stared at the polished marble floor. Her stomach churned at the sounds around her—the laughter, the murmured taunts, the occasional muffled sobs of pets who had displeased their masters.

She didn't dare look up, but she didn't have to. She could hear everything.

To her left, she caught a faint whimper. A younger girl, no more than eighteen, knelt trembling beside her vampire. The man's long fingers trailed up the girl's arm, his nails scraping over her skin like a predator toying with its prey.

When the girl flinched, he chuckled darkly and leaned down, whispering something in her ear that made her eyes widen in fear. Moments later, he yanked her up by the hair and dragged her from the room, his fangs bared in a grin that promised nothing good.

The pet turned her gaze back to the floor, bile rising in her throat. She'd seen it too many times—the way some pets simply disappeared after these feasts. They weren't killed outright; the vampires preferred to savor their suffering first. Some were drained, others broken, their bodies discarded like ruined toys when they no longer served a purpose.

To her right, another vampire had his pet—a pale, waifish boy—pressed against his leg, stroking the boy's hair absentmindedly as though petting an animal. She recognized the vampire: Lady Aveline, the same one who had punished Jake earlier.

Lady Aveline's crimson lips curled into a smirk as she leaned down to whisper something in the boy's ear. He froze, his hands trembling as he clutched at the fabric of her gown.

"She's crueler than most," Lord Varian's voice murmured from above, startling her. She stiffened as his hand slid into her hair, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. "Aveline doesn't like to keep her pets long. A shame, really. They burn out so quickly under her... particular attentions."

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Her gaze flicked to Lady Aveline, whose sharp green eyes glittered with malice as she traced a fingernail along the boy's jawline.

"You're lucky," Varian continued, his voice a silken whisper. "You've lasted longer than most."

Before she could respond, his hand tightened in her hair, pulling her head back sharply. A gasp escaped her lips as he leaned down, his cold breath brushing against her neck.

"You're distracted tonight," he murmured, his tone soft but edged with warning.

"I'm sorry, my lord," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Not good enough," he replied. His lips brushed her skin, and then she felt the sharp sting of his fangs piercing her neck.

The pain was searing at first, radiating down her spine and into her limbs. But as the seconds stretched, the sensation shifted. Warmth flooded her veins, mingling with the ache, leaving her breathless and dazed. She hated how her body betrayed her, how the vampire's bite induced a heady, euphoric haze even as it drained her life.

Her vision blurred, and when she dared to glance up, she saw his eyes. They glowed a deep crimson, like embers in a dying fire, burning with an intensity that made her stomach twist.

"You taste of defiance," Varian murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. "It's intoxicating."

Her fingers curled into fists, her nails biting into her palms as she fought to remain still. She couldn't show weakness. Not here. Not now.

When he finally pulled back, she sagged against his leg, her breaths shallow and uneven. He licked his lips, his eyes still glowing as he regarded her with something between amusement and hunger.

"Good girl," he said softly, stroking her hair as though she were a favored pet. "Now behave, or next time, I won't be so gentle."

The evening dragged on, the air thick with the scent of wine and blood. The vampires grew bolder as the night deepened, their hands wandering over their pets, their whispers turning to cruel laughter.

One pet—a boy barely older than she was—was lifted onto the table, his master pinning him down as the other vampires laughed and jeered. Her stomach churned, and she looked away, her nails digging into her palms.

Her own body trembled as Lord Varian's hand remained on her shoulder, his grip firm but not painful. Yet she knew his kindness was a facade, one he could strip away at a moment's notice.

Through it all, her gaze kept drifting to the slaves who moved around the room, clearing plates and refilling glasses. One of them—1461—stood out, his movements precise but tense. She recognized the quiet anger in his eyes, the barely concealed fire that matched her own.

When their eyes met briefly, a spark passed between them. It was fleeting, but it was enough to remind her that she wasn't alone in this nightmare.

As the feast finally came to an end, Lord Varian stood, pulling her to her feet. Her legs wobbled, but she steadied herself, casting one last glance at 1461 before she was led away.

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