LIOR POV
I woke to the scent of silver chains and my father's disappointment.
"Finally." Lord Crestfall's voice was cold as winter stone. "I was beginning to think the wolf's corruption had claimed you permanently."
I tried to sit up, but chains held me flat against stone that reeked of old blood and older magic. The punishment chamber. Deep beneath House Crestfall's stronghold where failures were... corrected.
"Father, I—" My voice came out hoarse, wrong. "The bite. It wasn't—"
"Wasn't what?" He moved into view, ancient vampire with red eyes that held no warmth. "Wasn't treachery? Wasn't you dropping your blade for the wolf-child? Wasn't you letting him claim you with his corrupted blood?"
"He didn't claim me. I bit him—"
"And his blood bit back." My father's hand gripped my jaw, forcing me to meet his gaze. "I can smell it. Wolf-essence in your veins. Lycan heat burning where vampire cold should be. You're not pure anymore, Lior. You're tainted."
