Chapter 1

The first time my boyfriend, Jason Calloway, brought me to meet his friends, I wore a scarf to hide the hickeys he'd left the night before.

Halfway through dinner, his only female friend suddenly yanked my scarf off.

"No wonder you're wearing a scarf in this heat, putting on airs. We're all adults here. What haven't we seen? Looks like you and Jason had quite the wild night..."

Jason knew how easily I got embarrassed and quickly tried to cut her off.

But she pulled down her own collar instead.

"See this bite mark? Jason did it. I didn't even bother putting ointment on it afterward. I just left it out in the open, telling everyone Jason's my little lapdog. That's how a woman earns her place!"

Jason frowned, his gaze fixed on the pale, full swell of Vivian Hale's chest, then pulled her hand away, his expression darkening.

"There are people here! Put your clothes back!"

Then he turned to me.

"That's just how my friends are, no filter. Have a few drinks with us and you'll warm up to them."

I watched his hand pressing Vivian's collar closed and let out a cold laugh, pushing my chair back from the table.

"I'll pass on the drinks. If you enjoy being some other woman's lapdog, don't let me stop you."

We Elves never date dogs.

第1章

I turned and walked toward the door of the private dining room.

The room went dead silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Whoa, Jason, your little girlfriend's got quite the temper."

"Seriously, getting jealous over Vivian? She can't take a joke."

Jason's humiliation burned. His expression darkened like a thundercloud.

Hurried footsteps sounded behind me.

He seized my wrist.

"Aria, what the hell is wrong with you?"

His voice was low, thick with impatience and warning.

"Vivian just speaks her mind. She's always hung out with the guys. It was just a joke.

"Do you really have to blow this out of proportion and embarrass me in front of everyone?"

I wrenched my hand free.

An angry red mark bloomed around my wrist.

"A joke?"

I looked at him coldly.

"Who jokes around with bite marks on their chest?

"That bite mark was yours, wasn't it?"

Jason's gaze flickered.

He rubbed his nose without thinking, his go-to tell whenever guilt got the better of him.

"We were playing truth or dare and that was my penalty for losing.

"Everyone was there. It was just for fun. I never touched anything I shouldn't have.

"Can you stop twisting everything into something dirty?"

The private room door swung open again.

Vivian walked out.

She'd pulled her neckline back into place, but now she looked faintly wounded.

"Aria, don't be mad at Jason.

"It's all my fault for being so thoughtless. I should have been more considerate of your feelings."

As she spoke, she looped her arm through Jason's with easy familiarity.

Her chest grazed his arm, as if by accident.

"Jason, go make up with her.

"Otherwise it'll seem like I'm the one ruining your relationship.

"I wouldn't dare come to any more of your get-togethers."

A familiar men's mechanical watch swung from her wrist.

It was Jason's favorite Patek Philippe.

I'd seen him wearing it just yesterday.

Now it dangled from Vivian's wrist.

Jason followed my gaze.

His brow creased, but he didn't push Vivian's hand away.

"Vivian's watch broke. She's coming with me to meet a client this afternoon, so I lent her mine for appearances.

"Don't go making something out of this too."

He sighed and softened his voice.

"Come on. That's enough.

"Come back in, raise a glass to Vivian, say you're sorry, and we'll put this behind us."

I thought I'd misheard him.

"You want me to toast her and apologize?"

Jason stared at me, utterly self-righteous.

"You stormed out and made a scene in front of everyone. How do you think that made Vivian feel?

"She's a girl. She's sensitive. How is she supposed to show her face at group hangouts after this?

"You're my girlfriend. Would it kill you to be the bigger person?"

I looked at the man in front of me.

This was the man I'd defied my clan's Elders for, the man I'd sacrificed half my life force to bind myself to.

The sheer absurdity hit me all at once.

"She stripped in front of everyone to show off your bite mark, and you think she's sensitive?

"Jason, if you're that blind, I'd be happy to donate your eyes to someone who could actually use them."

Jason's face went rigid.

"Aria, watch your mouth!"

Vivian's eyes reddened on cue, tears falling like a switch had been flipped.

"Jason, forget it.

"I'll just go. Don't fight because of me."

She turned to leave, but her steps were suspiciously slow.

Jason caught her arm, right on cue.

"Why would you leave? This is our group's hangout. The outsider is the one who should go."

He turned and fixed me with a hard stare, delivering his ultimatum.

"Aria, I'm giving you one last chance.

"Either go back in and apologize, or find your own way home tonight.

"Walk out that door, and don't ever expect me to bring you around my friends again."

I didn't hesitate for a second. I turned and walked away.

Jason's enraged shout chased me down the hall.

"Aria! If you walk out now, don't expect me to come running after you!"

I didn't even look back.

Outside the restaurant, the cool night air hit my face.

I hailed a cab.

Sitting in the back seat, I pulled out my phone.

On the screen was my message thread with High Elder Theron Vale, head of the Elven Council.

I took a deep breath and began typing.

"High Elder, you were right."

"Human emotions really aren't worth trusting."

"Please walk me through the full process for dissolving the life-sharing bond."

第2章

Theron's reply didn't come until dawn.

"Dissolving the bond requires you to reclaim the Elven artifact you entrusted to him."

"The Silver Leaf Vine bracelet must be severed by your own hand."

"Once the severance begins, your body will endure immense pain."

"Are you certain about this?"

I replied with a single word without hesitation: "Yes."

The bracelet had always been locked in the safe in Jason's study.

He'd said it was the symbol of our love, that it needed to be kept secure, never to be touched by anyone.

Now I saw it for what it was: a shackle he'd used to keep me trapped.

The next afternoon, sunlight glared through the windows.

Jason finally came home.

He reeked of alcohol.

And the rose perfume Vivian always wore.

The two scents mingled into something nauseating.

He tossed a black velvet box onto the bed.

"Alright, I'm not holding last night against you.

"Vivian picked this out as a peace offering for you. She's tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

"Mom's birthday party is tonight. Put this on and come with me."

I didn't look at the box. I met his gaze calmly.

"Where's my bracelet?"

Jason faltered, his hand freezing mid-motion on his tie.

"What bracelet?"

"The Silver Leaf one I gave you.

"Since we're going to a birthday party, I'd like to wear it."

Something unnatural flashed through Jason's eyes, quickly smothered by irritation.

"That bracelet's too plain. It doesn't suit a formal occasion like tonight.

"Vivian picked out this necklace for you. It's a much better match."

He pulled off his tie, tossed it on the couch, and came over to put his arm around my shoulders.

"Be good. Don't be ungrateful. Vivian stayed up drinking with the guys all night just to smooth things over between us.

"She doesn't hold your awful behavior from yesterday against you, and she even went out of her way to pick a gift for you. What more could you possibly want?"

I stepped aside to avoid his touch and reached over to open the box on the bed.

Inside was no necklace.

It was a crude black leather collar.

Dangling from its center was a metal tag engraved with the word "Pet."

It was a dog collar.

I lifted my eyes to Jason. My gaze was ice.

"She picked this out specially, did she?"

Jason rubbed his nose, a flicker of guilt crossing his face, but he doubled down anyway.

"Vivian says the punk style is all the rage right now."

Two years ago, he'd traced his fingers along the nape of my neck after we'd been intimate.

He'd said my skin was so delicate that even pure silver left red marks.

He'd promised me only the finest jewelry, the only kind worthy of me.

Now he thought I deserved a rough leather dog collar.

All to humor Vivian's little game.

I closed the box and dropped it, packaging and all, into the trash can.

"I don't need this garbage."

Jason's temper flared.

"Aria! How long are you going to keep this up?"

Just then, his phone rang.

The screen flashed Vivian's name with a red heart beside it.

He answered immediately, his voice melting into tenderness.

"What's wrong? Is your stomach acting up again?

"Stay put. Did you take your medicine? I'll be right there to take you to the doctor."

He hung up and headed for the door without a backward glance.

At the doorway, he paused.

"Ari, be good. Vivian's all alone right now. I can't just let something happen to her.

"Stay home and do your makeup. I'll take her to the doctor and come right back to pick you up for the hotel.

"And stop being petty about the bracelet. Next month is our anniversary. I'll take you to Paris and get you a custom Cartier set. How about that?"

That was always his way.

Dangling empty promises to cover up his favoritism.

"And just so you don't go out and cause another scene, I'm taking the spare key.

"Stay put and wait for me. And don't give my mother attitude."

Click.

The door locked from the outside.

I stood in the empty apartment, looking at the dog collar in the trash, feeling nothing at all.

I walked to the study.

He'd never told me the combination to the safe.

I tried Jason's birthday. Wrong.

I tried Vivian's birthday.

Beep. The safe swung open.

Inside were stacks of business documents and a few jewelry boxes.

The Silver Leaf bracelet was the one thing missing.

I searched every corner, even the hidden compartment.

The bracelet was gone.

Without it, forcing the bond's dissolution would kill me from the backlash.

My phone screen lit up.

A photo from Vivian.

In the picture, my Silver Leaf bracelet was clasped around her ankle.

第3章

Below the photo came a voice message.

"Aria, Jason said this anklet really complements my skin tone.

"He even knelt down and put it on me himself.

"He promised to make me his date for the gala tonight, so why don't you just stay home and think about what you've done."

I stared at the bracelet on the screen.

How could a sacred artifact of the Elves end up on a human's ankle?

It was the only medium through which the life bond could be dissolved. I had to get it back.

I walked to the window and looked down from the third floor.

An Elven body was far stronger than a human one, but the backlash from the bond's dissolution had already begun.

A dull ache throbbed in my chest, as though a thousand needles were piercing it.

I pushed the window open and swung down the drainpipe with practiced ease.

A jolt of pain shot through my knees on landing.

I ignored it and hailed a cab straight to the hotel.

The banquet hall blazed with light, filled with well-dressed guests.

Jason's mother, Patricia Calloway, beamed as she accepted the guests' congratulations.

Jason stood beside her, champagne in hand, looking every bit the golden heir.

And Vivian was right there, her arm linked intimately through Patricia's.

She wore a purple evening gown.

The very one Jason had promised to have custom-made for my birthday three months ago.

Now that dress was on Vivian.

I pushed open the doors of the banquet hall.

The chatter died for an instant.

Jason saw me, and his face turned livid.

He strode over and seized my arm.

"I told you to wait at home! Who said you could come here on your own?"

I shook his hand off and stared past him at Vivian, who was shrinking behind his back.

"Give me back my bracelet."

Vivian cowered further behind Jason, playing the startled fawn.

"Aria, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Jason shielded Vivian behind him, glaring at me as if I were some deranged troublemaker.

"It's just a bracelet. Are you really going to ruin the party for everyone?

"Vivian said it was pretty, so I let her borrow it for a few days. What's the big deal?

"Can you try being generous for once? Stop clinging to every little thing like a miser!"

Whispers rippled through the crowd, fingers pointing my way.

Patricia marched over, her face tight with disapproval.

"Aria, you have no sense of propriety.

"We watched Vivian grow up. She's practically a daughter to us. It's one bracelet. Do you really think this is appropriate?"

Vivian's eyes glistened right on schedule, tears pooling at the rims.

She walked toward me, red wine in hand.

"Patricia, Jason, don't blame Aria.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have borrowed her things. I didn't mean to upset her this much..."

Before she could finish, her ankle twisted beneath her.

She pitched straight toward me.

The full glass of red wine in her hand splashed with perfect aim across my chest.

Dark red wine soaked through my white blouse in an instant, a humiliating mess.

"Ah! Aria, why did you push me?"

Vivian crumpled to the floor on cue, clutching her ankle and crying out in pain, tears streaming down her face.

Jason's eyes went red. He lunged forward and shoved me hard.

"Are you insane? You actually laid a hand on her, here of all places!"

I wasn't braced for it. My back slammed into the champagne tower behind me.

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass rang through the entire banquet hall.

Jagged shards sliced my arms and back.

Blood mingled with red wine and dripped onto the white marble floor, a shocking sight.

Jason didn't spare me a glance.

He crouched beside Vivian, checking her ankle with frantic tenderness.

"Vivian, are you okay? Did you twist it?"

Vivian nestled against him, sobbing and shaking her head.

But over Jason's shoulder, her eyes found mine, bright with triumph.

My blood dripped to the floor.

Its scent spread through the air.

The Silver Leaf bracelet, sitting quietly on Vivian's ankle, sensed its master's blood.

In the next instant, the silver vine came alive.

It constricted violently, biting into Vivian's flesh.

第4章

"Ahhh!"

Vivian screamed.

"It hurts! Jason, help! This thing is biting me!"

Jason panicked completely. He grabbed at the bracelet, but its razor edge sliced his fingers open.

Vivian abandoned all pretense and clawed desperately at the clasp.

Her nails snapped. Blood streamed freely.

She finally pried the clasp loose.

She flung the blood-streaked bracelet to the ground as if hurling a venomous snake.

"Get it away! Get this thing away from me!"

I fought through the searing pain in my chest and walked over, one step at a time.

I bent down and picked up the Silver Leaf bracelet.

The moment it returned to my palm, its cool touch eased the tide of agony roiling inside me.

Jason rose from the floor and stared at me, fury blazing in his eyes.

He looked at Vivian's mangled ankle, then charged toward me.

Crack!

His palm struck my face in a vicious slap.

"Aria."

Jason loomed over me, his voice heavy with judgment and disappointment.

"How did I never see this side of you, all these sleazy little tricks?

"Get on your knees and apologize to Vivian!"

He was certain I'd rigged the bracelet to hurt her on purpose.

I slowly turned my head back to face him.

He reached for me, about to grab me and force me to my knees.

A drop of blood fell from his nostril without warning.

Jason froze, his hand suspended in midair.

He wiped his nose absently, looked at the smear of red across his fingers, and frowned.

He didn't know he'd once suffered from a fatal blood-wasting syndrome that should have killed him before twenty-five.

It was my life force alone that had kept him alive all this time.

Now I had reclaimed the artifact and severed the bond.

Without the protection of Elven power, his failing body had already begun to crumble.

But he knew none of this.

He pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket, wiped the blood away, and kept his expression cold and arrogant.

"You owe Vivian an explanation for today."

Just then, the banquet hall doors swung open again.

Several tall men with severe expressions walked in.

The man in the lead wore a silver sigil on his chest, the emblem of the Elven Council.

Ignoring the chaos around him, he walked straight to me.

Under the stunned gazes of every person present, he placed one hand over his heart and bowed his head in deference.

"Lady Aria, your car is waiting outside.

"The High Elder says it is time to come home."

I nodded.

Without another glance at Vivian on the floor or the bewilderment on Jason's face, I turned and walked out.

Jason watched the dark-clad strangers, his face shifting before settling back into composure.

"Aria, that's enough.

"You think hiring a few actors to put on a show will make me come begging?

"If you'll just back down right now and apologize to Vivian, I might still put in a good word for you with my mother."

When my steps didn't slow, his tone turned even more arrogant.

"I'm giving you one last chance.

"Walk out that door, and I won't forgive you as easily as I have before."

I didn't even pause. I walked straight through the hotel doors.

Outside, a car waited in the darkness.

An attendant opened the door, and I ducked into the car.

In the last second before the door closed, I heard screaming from the banquet hall.

The gap in the car window was narrowing.

Through it, I saw Jason, who just moments ago had been towering over me with his ultimatums.

He coughed up a spray of blood and collapsed to the floor.

"Drive. Don't concern yourself with him."

The car sped away into the night.