He Fed Me to the Serpents, So I Came Back to Ruin Him

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Transcript

00:00:07I was born to kill serpents, so the Hargroves used me as their perfect shield.

00:00:12In my past life, I entered their cursed hall for Callum, the man I loved.

00:00:17But when the serpent gate opened, he chose Jenna, locked the door, and left me to be devoured.

00:00:23Death gave me one chance to return.

00:00:24I traded my beauty for silver sight, and woke up with a scar no man was supposed to love.

00:00:30But I did not come back for love.

00:00:32I came back to watch Callum's devotion rot, expose Jenna's snake magic, and let the serpents choose their real prey.

00:00:39My name's Rowena Whitmore.

00:00:41In my past life, I loved Callum Hargrove so much that it cost me everything.

00:00:45I knew exactly what Hargrove Hall was, a century-old estate built over a sealed serpent gate, rotting from the

00:00:51inside out with ancient venom.

00:00:52I still walked in, for him.

00:00:54Whitmoster blood ran through my veins, and that blood was born to suppress serpents.

00:00:59So when the curse came for Callum, I threw myself in its path and let the poison tear through me

00:01:03instead.

00:01:04What I did not know, what I never saw coming, was that he and Jenna had already decided how my

00:01:08story would end.

00:01:09The venom spread through my body like fire through dry wood.

00:01:12My flesh began to rot from the inside.

00:01:14I still remember every second of that night.

00:01:16The freezing rain, the iron door, and my bloody hands clawing at the gap in the frame.

00:01:20Callum, please!

00:01:20Just open the door!

00:01:21My nails split down to the quick.

00:01:23Blood smeared the cracks.

00:01:24Still, nothing.

00:01:25Then his voice came through, flat and cold, without even a flicker of hesitation.

00:01:29Shut up.

00:01:30Your screaming is scaring Jenna.

00:01:31I'm not opening this door.

00:01:33You're useful in there, so stay there.

00:01:35Keep those monster snakes inside, even if they eat you alive.

00:01:38From the other side of the door, I could hear Jenna crying softly.

00:01:42Then came Callum's voice again, low and gentle, saying things he had never once said to me.

00:01:47You're safe.

00:01:49I've got you.

00:01:50Nothing is going to touch you.

00:01:51I promise.

00:01:52The lock turned.

00:01:53I will never forget that sound.

00:01:55Callum had one arm around Jenna as he sealed me inside.

00:01:59He left me there to die in the dark, surrounded by serpents, and he never looked back.

00:02:04The pain was beyond anything I had words for.

00:02:06It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out, piece by piece, until even screaming

00:02:10became impossible.

00:02:11When I died, I drifted in silver light, endless, cold, and silent.

00:02:15There was nothing left of me but a thin thread of soul, too broken even to cry.

00:02:19Then a voice fell through the dark like a blade through silk, clear, ancient, and completely

00:02:23without warmth.

00:02:24Child of Whitmore, you died badly.

00:02:28What I offer is not mercy.

00:02:30It is a contract.

00:02:32Give me something, and I will give you what you want.

00:02:36I'll give up my face, my beauty in this life, all of it.

00:02:39In exchange, I want the Lunar Hunt Covenant, the Silver Sight, and one more life.

00:02:43Do you understand what it means to give up your face?

00:02:46I do.

00:02:46Last time, my beauty made it easy for them to use me.

00:02:49I don't need anyone to love my face.

00:02:51I just need to see clearly.

00:02:53Silver light crapped through me like lightning, and I was thrown back into the world of the

00:02:57living.

00:02:58When I opened my eyes, the hissing was gone.

00:03:00The air smelled of incense.

00:03:01I raised a hand to my face and felt it.

00:03:03A scar across my cheek, faint silver light pulsing beneath it like a wire.

00:03:07It was the mark of the covenant, the price Artemis had carved into my skin.

00:03:11I was back.

00:03:12Back to the morning Eleanor Hargreff came to beg.

00:03:15I stood in front of the mirror and traced the scar with my fingers.

00:03:18Then I smiled, but there was nothing warm left in it.

00:03:22I did not come back to love him.

00:03:24I came back from hell to collect what they owed me, one debt at a time.

00:03:36Rowena, please!

00:03:37I'm begging you!

00:03:38You have to save Callum!

00:03:39The old woman dropped to her knees in front of me, clutching the hem of my dress with

00:03:43both hands and crying like she had nothing left.

00:03:46The death mark carved into Callum's forehead was the final outbreak of decades of serpent

00:03:50resentment buried beneath the Hargrove state.

00:03:53As long as it stayed on him, the curse would keep spreading, and every Hargrove tied to this

00:03:58land by blood would carry the same death sentence.

00:04:02Only a Whitmore could even see the mark.

00:04:04Only a Whitmore could remove it.

00:04:07They needed me.

00:04:08That was a fact.

00:04:10But the only reason I was here was to take back what the Hargroves stole from us, the

00:04:13silver arrow of Whitmore.

00:04:15I stood over Eleanor, looking down at her shaking shoulders, and all I could think of

00:04:19was how she used to call me sweetheart while she watched the flames swallow me alive.

00:04:22I slowly pulled my skirt out of her grip.

00:04:25I can't break the Hargrove curse.

00:04:26There was not a single trace of emotion in my voice.

00:04:28I did not owe her that much.

00:04:30Eleanor nor froze.

00:04:31The invitation in her hands crumbled at the edges.

00:04:33Then Callum walked in from the hallway.

00:04:35He was younger than I remembered, sharper and more arrogant, with all that ugly pride

00:04:38still sitting right on the surface.

00:04:39His eyes swept over me and stopped on the scar crossing my face.

00:04:42For one second he went still.

00:04:44The scar was silver, winding across half my cheek and glowing faintly in the morning

00:04:48light.

00:04:49It did not look like an ordinary wound.

00:04:51It looked like something ancient had pressed itself into my skin and left its mark there.

00:04:54His disgust was almost impossible to miss.

00:04:56He turned his face away slightly like he could barely stand to look at it.

00:04:59I noticed.

00:05:00I said nothing.

00:05:02In my past life I had walked through this same door with an untouched face and he had

00:05:05smiled at me so beautifully.

00:05:07Every warm word had been perfectly calculated.

00:05:09Now that I had a scar, the mask slipped at once.

00:05:13That told me everything.

00:05:14He did not need a person.

00:05:16He needed a tool.

00:05:17And apparently he preferred his tools pretty.

00:05:19Callum stepped closer, his voice sharp with disbelief.

00:05:22What the hell is that supposed to mean?

00:05:24We came here in good faith and you won't even give us a reason?

00:05:28You're telling me one curse is too much for a Whitmore?

00:05:31He moved into my space like he was used to people backing down when he did.

00:05:34I only looked at him.

00:05:36Go ahead.

00:05:38Look down on me, Callum.

00:05:39You have no idea that the mark on your forehead is getting darker every day.

00:05:43And the only person in this entire world who can see it, the only one who can take it

00:05:48off you is standing right in front of you while you make that face at her.

00:05:51Eleanor started crying harder.

00:05:54Her hands shook as she pulled a heavy envelope from her coat.

00:05:57The wax seal bore an old dark gold crest.

00:06:01We have nowhere else to turn.

00:06:03Please, just look at this.

00:06:05For the sake of what our families once meant to each other.

00:06:09I almost did not bother.

00:06:11But the moment my eyes touched the seal, my silver sight flared.

00:06:14A pulse of silver light cut through the surface of the wax.

00:06:18And beneath it, clear and understakeable, was the trace of a Whitmore silver arrow.

00:06:25The silver arrow was the most sacred relic of the Whitmore bloodline.

00:06:29The Hargroves had stolen it from us, and it had been lost for generations.

00:06:36I only learned the truth as I was dying in my past life, when it was already too late to

00:06:41do anything about it.

00:06:42Now I knew exactly where it was.

00:06:45That was the real reason I would walk into Hargrove Hall.

00:06:48Not Callum.

00:06:49The arrow.

00:06:51Callum saw me take it, and his whole body relaxed.

00:06:54He lifted his chin slightly, satisfaction spreading across his face.

00:06:58He had already decided I was still hung up on him, that I had finally given in because

00:07:03of old feelings.

00:07:04Then he turned on that warm, reasonable voice.

00:07:07The one that used to make me believe every word.

00:07:09Good.

00:07:10All you have to do is come with us, and suppress the curse.

00:07:14Once I'm better, I'll make sure you're rewarded.

00:07:16The Hargroves take care of people who prove useful to us.

00:07:20He said it like he was doing me a favor.

00:07:22Like I was something he could summon, use, and dismiss whenever it suited him.

00:07:26I looked at him slowly, the way you look at something that does not know it is already finished.

00:07:32I'm going to Hargrove Hall to take back what belongs to the Whitmore family.

00:07:36I was never doing this for you.

00:07:37The smile on his face died, died completely.

00:07:43The next morning, the man had everything packed before I came downstairs.

00:07:47Lady, the carriages are here.

00:07:49He was the boy the Whitmore family had taken in years ago.

00:07:53Quiet, precise, and so still that most people mistook him for cold.

00:07:57Since I came back, he was the only person who looked straight at the scar on my face without

00:08:01flinching or glancing away.

00:08:02Two Harkren carriages were waiting outside.

00:08:05Eleanor had one to herself, and the other was meant for Callum and me.

00:08:09Jenna, who supposedly could not handle the mountain road, was supposed to have her own space.

00:08:14I was about to step into the second carriage when a voice cut across the courtyard.

00:08:18Wait!

00:08:19Callum, I want to ride with you!

00:08:20She ran toward us with her skirts gathered in both hands,

00:08:24her cheeks flushed and her eyes red at the rims, as if she had already been crying.

00:08:28She was the girl the Hargroves had taken in years ago,

00:08:31the orphan daughter of some distant relation.

00:08:33She had grown up inside the estate walls, right beside Callum.

00:08:37Everyone said she was sweet and innocent, the one person Callum protected more than anyone else.

00:08:42She had a white silk scarf in her hands.

00:08:44Before Callum could answer, she was already looping it around his neck and smoothing it down

00:08:49with both palms.

00:08:50The mountain road is freezing.

00:08:52I don't want you getting sick again.

00:08:53Callum did not move away from her hands.

00:08:55In my past life, I thought she was only being kind.

00:08:58This time, my silver sight caught the edge of the scarf the moment it touched him.

00:09:02Faint, dark lines were woven into the silk, forming the exact pattern of a serpent mark.

00:09:06Callum did not see any of it.

00:09:08He was already brushing a loose strand of hair away from Jenna's face.

00:09:11Jenna turned to me with wide, apologetic eyes.

00:09:13Lady Rowena, I hope you don't mind.

00:09:15I won't take up much space.

00:09:16I promise.

00:09:17She did not wait for my answer.

00:09:19She climbed in ahead of me.

00:09:21I watched her settle beside Callum and push me toward the window seat without even looking at me.

00:09:25I said nothing.

00:09:27Jenna, last time I missed every move you made.

00:09:29This time, I'm going to watch every single one.

00:09:33The carriage wound its way up the wet cobblestone road towards the Hargraf estate.

00:09:37There was barely enough room for two people to sit comfortably,

00:09:40and Jenna had made sure she stayed pressed against Callum for the entire ride.

00:09:44Every time the wheels hit a rough patch,

00:09:46she let out a soft, breathy sound and leaned into his shoulder.

00:09:49The timing was perfect.

00:09:50Always within my line of sight, like a little performance stage just for me.

00:09:54Callum, I feel so dizzy.

00:09:56I can barely breathe.

00:09:57She twisted her fingers into the front of his shirt,

00:10:00lifting her eyes just enough to catch the light,

00:10:03looking soft and helpless and miserable.

00:10:05In my past life, watching this would have made me want to shrink into myself and disappear.

00:10:10Now, I only sat still and watched her work.

00:10:12Callum noticed me looking.

00:10:14His expression hardened at once.

00:10:15He tightened his arm around Jenna and turned his face away from me,

00:10:18like even the air on my side of the carriage disgusted him.

00:10:21Rowane, stop staring.

00:10:22Jenna is kind and gentle, not that you would know anything about that.

00:10:25And stop using that face to scare her.

00:10:26Jenna reached over and touched his arm gently.

00:10:28Callum, don't.

00:10:30Lady Rowena probably doesn't mean it.

00:10:32She knows exactly what she's doing.

00:10:33She's had it out for you since the moment she saw you.

00:10:36Maybe she just doesn't like me.

00:10:38It's alright, I'm used to it.

00:10:39That is her problem, not yours.

00:10:40I don't care what she thinks.

00:10:42I did not answer.

00:10:43In my past life, that exchange would have hollowed me out for days.

00:10:47Now I only filed it away.

00:10:48Every word, every dismissal.

00:10:50I was keeping track.

00:10:51At the same time, through the silver sight, I could see what was really happening.

00:10:55Dark energy was seeping from the coral bracelet on Jenna's wrist, winding along Callum's collar

00:11:01and pushing inch by inch into the skin at the back of his neck.

00:11:04She was not dizzy.

00:11:05She was feeding the serpent.

00:11:06Callum, the sweet innocent girl you're so desperate to protect, is poisoning you right

00:11:11now.

00:11:11And you're holding her tighter.

00:11:12He pulled her closer and pressed his cheek against the top of her head, completely blind.

00:11:18By midday, the carriages stopped in front of the Hargreth family's main residence.

00:11:22This was not Hargreth Hall.

00:11:24Not the old estate with the serpent gate buried beneath it.

00:11:27The hall stood deeper inside the grounds, behind a locked inner courtyard that almost never

00:11:31opened.

00:11:31This was only where the family lived.

00:11:33When Jenna stepped down from the carriage, she grabbed the doorbraim, her face going pale,

00:11:37and sagged into Callum's side.

00:11:39I'm fine.

00:11:40Just cold.

00:11:41My legs feel strange.

00:11:42Callum wrapped an arm around her at once.

00:11:44The look he sent me over her shoulder made it clear that somehow this was supposed to

00:11:48be my fault.

00:11:48We passed through the front entrance hall.

00:11:50The moment we crossed the threshold, my silver sight erupted.

00:11:54Dark serpent energy crawled across every wall and ceiling, coiling and shifting like something

00:11:59alive.

00:11:59It hulged at anyone with Hargreth blood, then recoiled the second it touched the silver light

00:12:04of my mark, shrieking back into the cracks.

00:12:06Jenna was walking ahead.

00:12:08I watched her cross the threshold, and I saw the exact moment her shoe came down on the protection

00:12:14line hidden beneath the doorframe.

00:12:16It was not an accident.

00:12:17The movement was too precise.

00:12:19The line snapped.

00:12:20The energy that had been held down broke loose all at once, and a wave of freezing air tore

00:12:25down the corridor like a blade.

00:12:27Oh God!

00:12:28Help me!

00:12:29She stumbled backwards straight into his arms, clean and practiced, like a stage fall.

00:12:33Callum caught her without even looking.

00:12:35One arm locked across her chest, and his first words were for me.

00:12:38Rowena!

00:12:40What the hell are you doing just standing there?

00:12:43You're a Whitmore!

00:12:45You're supposed to handle this!

00:12:48If Jenna gets hurt because of you, I swear you'll answer for it.

00:12:52I raised one hand, a silver seal dropped across the corridor, and the serpent energy shrank

00:12:57back into the walls.

00:12:58The hallway went still.

00:13:00I looked at Callum.

00:13:02You're welcome.

00:13:03I let the silence stretch for a moment.

00:13:05Then I lowered my gaze to the broken line on the floor, before slowly lifting my eyes to

00:13:09Jenna's shoes.

00:13:10You might want to ask how that line broke in the first place.

00:13:14Callum's brow tightened.

00:13:15In his arms, Jenna's eyes filled with tears at once.

00:13:18Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at him, as if she was the one being attacked.

00:13:22Callum looked between us, and clenched his jaw.

00:13:25What exactly are you accusing her of?

00:13:27Nothing.

00:13:28Just giving you advice.

00:13:30While you're in this house, pay attention to what's right in front of you.

00:13:33Then I walked toward the sitting room without looking back.

00:13:40When we settled into the sitting room, Eleanor came in herself with a tray of peach blossom

00:13:44tea.

00:13:45Steam curled slowly from each cup.

00:13:47You must be exhausted after that ride, sweetheart.

00:13:50I made this myself.

00:13:51Drink it while it's hot.

00:13:53It will calm your nerves.

00:13:55She had the warmth turned all the way on.

00:13:57Deep smile lines, a gentle voice, every inch the loving grandmother.

00:14:00Jenna sat beside Callum.

00:14:01She picked up his cup first, blew on it softly, and placed it in his hands.

00:14:05Drink it while it's hot.

00:14:07It'll warm you up.

00:14:08In my past life, I fell for all of it.

00:14:10I drank the tea, and by nightfall, my silver sight was almost blind.

00:14:14The poison had worked slowly and silently the whole time.

00:14:17When I tried to suppress the serpents that night, I kept making the wrong calls, and

00:14:20one of them tore my palm open.

00:14:22I burned with fever for three days straight.

00:14:24And Jenna had been there the entire time, smiling sweetly as she added a spoonful of sugar

00:14:28to my cup.

00:14:29Something sweet makes everything less bitter, Lady Rowena.

00:14:32This time, I looked into my cup through the silver sight.

00:14:34The tea should have been pale amber, but beneath the surface, it was deep crimson.

00:14:37Something small and dark moved along the bottom.

00:14:40I picked up the cup and drank most of it.

00:14:42I let none of it touch me.

00:14:44Under the cover of my sleeve, I pressed two fingers to my wrist and sealed my throat and

00:14:48chest with a silver seal.

00:14:50The poison slammed into the barrier and thrashed like a trapped thing, but it got nowhere.

00:14:54Jenna kept her eyes on my face the whole time.

00:14:56She was waiting for my gaze to blur, waiting for the sight to go dark.

00:15:00When I set the cup down, breathing evenly and looking straight back at her, I saw the

00:15:04corner of her smile crack.

00:15:06Just a twitch.

00:15:07Just one second.

00:15:08But it was there.

00:15:09Lucian picked up his own cup, gave it one slow sniff, then turned and poured the whole

00:15:14thing into the planter beside his chair.

00:15:16Too sweet.

00:15:17Hides the taste of rot.

00:15:19Eleanor's expression flickered.

00:15:21Calatin's eyes sharpened.

00:15:22My grandmother made that tea herself.

00:15:24You want to explain what the hell you're doing?

00:15:26I just did.

00:15:27Lucian looked at him calmly.

00:15:29Callum's face turned ugly.

00:15:30He was about to snap back when Jenna laid a hand on his arm.

00:15:33Callum, don't.

00:15:34We asked them to come here.

00:15:35It's fine, really.

00:15:36She said it in that soft, peacemaking voice.

00:15:39But as she lifted her own cup back to her lips, her eyes slid sideways to me, patient,

00:15:45calculating, waiting to see something that was never going to happen.

00:15:48I looked at her and said nothing.

00:15:50Jenna, I'm just getting started.

00:15:52Next time, I'll make sure you see it coming.

00:15:56The welcome dinner that night was exactly the kind of show the Hargroves loved to put

00:16:00on.

00:16:01Candles stretched down the table.

00:16:03Silver gleamed at every place setting, and there was more food than anyone could finish.

00:16:07Jenna sat to Callum's left, cutting her food with careful, effortless grace.

00:16:11Then she set down her knife, turned to me, and spoke in the softest, most concerned

00:16:15voice she had.

00:16:16Ladies, Rowena, I've been meaning to ask you something.

00:16:19With a scar like that on your face, do people avoid you when you go out?

00:16:23You must feel so lonely.

00:16:25I can't even imagine.

00:16:27Perfectly worded, perfectly gentle, loud enough for every servant in the room to hear.

00:16:31I held my knife and fork and did not respond.

00:16:34Jenna, don't say it like that.

00:16:36She's a guest, you'll embarrass her.

00:16:38In my past life, I had actually been grateful for that.

00:16:40I thought he was standing up for me.

00:16:42Now I could see it clearly.

00:16:44He did not care whether I was humiliated.

00:16:46He just needed me to walk into that hall tomorrow night, and a scene at dinner would make things

00:16:50harder.

00:16:51That sentence was for him, not for me.

00:16:54Jenna's face crumpled at once.

00:16:56Her eyes filled.

00:16:57I didn't mean it that way.

00:16:58I was worried about her.

00:17:00Callum, why are you making it sound like I did something wrong?

00:17:02Her voice broke on the last word.

00:17:04Two tears slipped down her face.

00:17:06And just like that, Callum changed.

00:17:09The hardness left him, and his voice turned low and gentle.

00:17:13I know you didn't.

00:17:14I'm sorry.

00:17:16I shouldn't have said it like that.

00:17:18Lucian set down his silverware.

00:17:20I have a question.

00:17:21Is this how the Hargroves treat guests they begged for help?

00:17:24Every sound at the table stopped.

00:17:26Jenna's tears paused mid-fall.

00:17:28Callum's head snapped up, and the look he gave Lucian was full of real anger.

00:17:32Who the hell do you think you are?

00:17:34Nobody asked for your opinion.

00:17:35Lucian did not move.

00:17:37He only held Callum's gaze and took his time answering.

00:17:40I came with Lady Whitmore.

00:17:41As long as she is here, I have every right to speak.

00:17:45Callum pressed one hand flat against the edge of the table.

00:17:47His jaw tightened, and his face went pale with fury.

00:17:50Rowena, control your people.

00:17:52I set my wine glass down slowly and looked at him.

00:17:55He's right.

00:17:56Callum, I came because your family begged me to save you.

00:17:58I did not come here to be insulted at your dinner table.

00:18:01If you can't understand the difference, I don't need to enter that hall tomorrow.

00:18:05I can leave tonight.

00:18:07Silence fell over the room.

00:18:08Then Callum exhaled through his nose, forced down his anger and ground out the words like

00:18:12they hurt.

00:18:13After dinner, I'll have Chester bring out the legacy book.

00:18:16I picked up my wine glass again and said nothing.

00:18:21Dinner ended, and I asked for the Hargro legacy book, the family's hand-print record dating

00:18:25back to 1840.

00:18:26It dorted how the serpent gate was first sealed, and why.

00:18:29If the silver arrow was hidden somewhere on these grounds, there would be a trace of it

00:18:32in those pages.

00:18:34Callum's face tightened at once.

00:18:36It's a dusty old record book.

00:18:39You're here to deal with the curse, not dig through our family history.

00:18:43If I'm going to suppress what's down there, I need to know what caused it.

00:18:46The answer is in that book.

00:18:47Is that too hard for you to understand?

00:18:48He opened his mouth to argue, and Jenna let out a sharp little cry.

00:18:51Her elbow caught the wine bottle at the edge of the table.

00:18:53It tipped over and spilled half its contents across the tablecloth in a dark red wave.

00:18:56Servants rushed forward, and the moment broke apart.

00:18:59I'm so sorry.

00:19:00I'm so sorry.

00:19:01My hands are so shaky tonight.

00:19:02Callum leaned over and took her hands in his, checking them with a deep frown.

00:19:06You didn't cut yourself.

00:19:07It's just a bottle.

00:19:08It doesn't matter.

00:19:09Then he looked at me sideways, contempt clear in his eyes.

00:19:12All this over one old book?

00:19:13Did you really have to push that hard and scare her like that?

00:19:16What is this, an interrogation?

00:19:18I was not looking at him.

00:19:19Through the silver sight, I watched dark serpent energy pour from Jenna's sleeve

00:19:23and curl around the cabinet where the legacy book was kept like a hand pressing the door shut.

00:19:28She had not dropped the bottle because her hands were unsteady.

00:19:31She had dropped it to keep that cabinet closed.

00:19:33I raised one hand.

00:19:35A silver seal shot across the room and pinned the serpent energy flat against the cabinet doors.

00:19:39Jenna went white.

00:19:39Lucien walked to the cabinet, opened it without asking, and looked calmly at Chester in the corner.

00:19:43Chester, bring out the legacy book.

00:19:45Chester hesitated.

00:19:46Then he lowered his head, took the yellowed leather-valume wooden box inside the cabinet,

00:19:49and held it out with both hands.

00:19:50I took it and opened it.

00:19:51I caught sight of the serpent brand running along the edge of Chester's sleeve.

00:19:54I filed it away.

00:19:57The first several pages of the legacy book had been cut out.

00:20:00Clean cuts.

00:20:01Blade cuts.

00:20:02Nothing old about them.

00:20:04Callum glanced over and dismissed it without missing a bead.

00:20:06It's a 150-year-old book.

00:20:08Pages go missing.

00:20:09That's not suspicious.

00:20:10That's time.

00:20:11Jenna stepped in right on cue.

00:20:14Exactly.

00:20:15Lady Rowena, the Hargroves have been a respectable family for generations.

00:20:19There's nothing to hide here.

00:20:20Don't you think you're reading too much into this?

00:20:22I ignored them both and bent over the torn edges, looking through the silver sight.

00:20:26There it was, buried in the yellowed fringe, the faint silver glow of dried Whitmore blood,

00:20:30ancient and thin.

00:20:31Tangled through it was the serpent energy from the bracelet on Jenna's wrist, the exact same signature.

00:20:36She was the one who had cut out those pages, which meant she had known about the silver arrow all

00:20:40along.

00:20:41I was about to speak when the death mark on Callum's forehead split open.

00:20:45Serpent energy burst through his veins all at once, and the whole study shook.

00:20:49From deep inside Hargrove Hall came a low, grinding sound, like something massive turning in its sleep.

00:20:55Callum's legs buckled.

00:20:57He caught the edge of a shelf, his face white, his teeth clenched, his breath coming in sharp pulls.

00:21:02Eleanor rushed across the room and grabbed my arm.

00:21:05Rowena, please, go tonight.

00:21:07You're the only one who can stop it.

00:21:09Please.

00:21:10I closed the legacy book.

00:21:11I'll enter Hargrove Hall tonight, but I'm going to question the serpent, not break the curse.

00:21:16Get that straight now.

00:21:17Then I turned to Jenna.

00:21:18My voice stayed calm, but every person in the room heard me one more thing.

00:21:22During the ritual tonight, Jenna does not come anywhere near the main hall.

00:21:24Her energy is corrupt.

00:21:25If she gets close, she'll provoke what's down there, and the entire formation will collapse.

00:21:29This is not a request.

00:21:30It's a condition.

00:21:31The study went completely silent.

00:21:33Jenna blinked.

00:21:34Then her head lowered, and tears rolled down her face without a sound.

00:21:39Callum pushed himself up from the shelf, still pale and tight with pain, and turned on me at once.

00:21:45On what grounds?

00:21:47Jenna came all this way because she was worried about me.

00:21:49You don't get to throw her out in the cold just because you hate her.

00:21:51On the grounds that if I walk in tonight, you live.

00:21:58Callum stayed quiet, but it was not over.

00:22:00He steadied himself against the shelf and started again a few seconds later.

00:22:04Even if you have to enter the hall tonight, that does not give you the right to leave Jenna outside

00:22:08alone.

00:22:08She scares easily.

00:22:10What if something happens and you are not there?

00:22:11Are you going to take responsibility for that?

00:22:13Jenna's tears fell faster, but she still reached out and grabbed Callum's sleeve with both hands.

00:22:17Callum, please don't fight with Lady Rowena.

00:22:18This is my fault.

00:22:19I shouldn't have come.

00:22:20You go in and let her do what she needs to do.

00:22:22Don't worry about me.

00:22:23I'll wait outside.

00:22:24I just want you safe.

00:22:25That's all I want.

00:22:26Every word landed exactly where she wanted it to.

00:22:29Callum's chest rose and fell hard.

00:22:31Then he turned all that anger on me.

00:22:33You hear that?

00:22:34She's willing to stand out there alone in the dark just to make things easier for you.

00:22:38What kind of person are you?

00:22:40Jenna stays by the door tonight.

00:22:42No one is stopping her.

00:22:43I looked at them without anger.

00:22:45I was not even surprised.

00:22:47This was the same performance they had put on in my past life.

00:22:51Jenna cried, Callum exploded, and every bit of blame in the room landed on me while they clung to each

00:22:55other.

00:22:56Perfectly timed.

00:22:58Perfectly practiced.

00:23:00I turned toward Hargrim Hall and spoke without looking back.

00:23:05Fine.

00:23:06Then keep your eyes open tonight.

00:23:10Whatever happens, don't come crying to me.

00:23:14Behind me, I heard Callum murmur to Jenna.

00:23:18You're okay.

00:23:19I'm right here.

00:23:20I walked into the dark of Hargmite Hall without turning around.

00:23:23I already knew he would open that door for her when the time came.

00:23:26And the harder he fought to protect her tonight, the worse the backlash would hit him.

00:23:31Midnight.

00:23:32The main hall of Hargrave Hall.

00:23:34The wind howled through the walls like something was trying to claw its way out.

00:23:37The old chandelier swung overhead,

00:23:39its candles throwing long, crooked shadows across the room.

00:23:42The estate had gone still,

00:23:44except for the dull shiver that rolled up from beneath the floor every few minutes.

00:23:48Whatever had been sleeping down there was starting to wake.

00:23:50I stood in the center of the hall and focused.

00:23:53Whitmore blood ignited in my veins.

00:23:55Silver seals poured out of me in rings,

00:23:58spreading across the floor like a net of cold light,

00:24:00pressing the serpent energy back into the walls and stone.

00:24:04Building a formation like this burned through everything I had.

00:24:07Power, focus, and sheer will.

00:24:10But I did not let it show.

00:24:12My hands were steady.

00:24:14My face was calm.

00:24:16Callum stood on the far side of the formation,

00:24:19supported by the old butler.

00:24:21The death mark on his forehead pulsed blood red in the silver light.

00:24:25He was shaking,

00:24:26yet he still looked at me like he was doing me a favor by letting me help.

00:24:30How sure are you about this?

00:24:31I did not look at him, sure enough.

00:24:34A pause.

00:24:35I need more than questions.

00:24:36I need the death mark gone completely.

00:24:38Can you actually do that?

00:24:40I turned and looked at him properly for the first time.

00:24:43Callum, the only reason I'm standing in this room is because the silver arrow is here.

00:24:47Not because of you.

00:24:49Whether that mark comes off at all

00:24:52depends on whether the Hargroves start paying what they owe the Whitmans.

00:24:56We can discuss that later.

00:24:57He wanted to argue.

00:24:59Then the death mark tore at him again,

00:25:01and the sound that left his throat was not one he meant to make.

00:25:04He swallowed it down hard.

00:25:06Palm up.

00:25:07Catch the light from the core of the formation.

00:25:09Whatever you hear, whatever you see, do not move.

00:25:12This creature follows Hargrove blood.

00:25:13If you move, the backlash will bury you,

00:25:15and I will not be able to pull you out.

00:25:16Callum raised his trembling right hand.

00:25:18This time, he said nothing.

00:25:22The last seal fell into place.

00:25:24The stone floor cracked with a deep, grinding boom

00:25:27that rose through the soles of my feet.

00:25:30The eternal flame in its copper lamp guttled,

00:25:32until it was almost gone,

00:25:34and the temperature dropped.

00:25:36So fast, it felt like the walls themselves were breathing out ice.

00:25:39The floor began to shake in small, rapid tremors.

00:25:43White mist bled up through the cracks,

00:25:45spreading low and thick across the ground,

00:25:47catching the faint silver light of my formation.

00:25:50Then, from the center of the mist,

00:25:53she came.

00:25:56A thousand-year-old serpent,

00:25:58white as bone,

00:26:00as large as a river dragon,

00:26:01with golden-slit eyes burning in the dark

00:26:03like two cold fires.

00:26:05Decades of rage, grief, and imprisonment

00:26:08moved through the air around her,

00:26:10like a physical force.

00:26:13The servants screamed.

00:26:16Eleanor collapsed to her knees.

00:26:18Callum made a sound he probably did not mean to make,

00:26:21as the death mark nearly tore itself open

00:26:24under the pressure of her presence.

00:26:26But when those golden eyes swept across the hall

00:26:29and found him,

00:26:30they stopped.

00:26:32She recognized something.

00:26:34The covenant.

00:26:36The silver light around me.

00:26:38Something older than her rage.

00:26:41Althea went still in a way she had not been still in years.

00:26:44Then she lowered her slowly,

00:26:47all the way to my feet.

00:26:49A low, grieving sound came from her throat,

00:26:52like a creature finally standing before the person

00:26:54it had been waiting for.

00:26:56No one in the room could speak.

00:26:58Callum's breathing was loud,

00:26:59raggled, and stunned.

00:27:01He had spent his whole life under the shadow

00:27:03of what she had done to his family.

00:27:06He had never expected to see her bow.

00:27:08I crouched and touched her scales.

00:27:10They were cold, smooth, and faintly luminous.

00:27:14Althea,

00:27:16I need to ask you something.

00:27:17The silver arrow.

00:27:19The one taken from the Whitmore family

00:27:20a hundred years ago

00:27:21and brought into this estate.

00:27:22Where is it?

00:27:23Her whole body convulsed.

00:27:25She reared halfway up,

00:27:26her great tail striking the stone floor.

00:27:29As she pointed deeper into the estate.

00:27:32Somewhere farther in.

00:27:34One more step.

00:27:35One answer.

00:27:36That was all it would have taken.

00:27:40That was when the screaming started outside the hall doors.

00:27:43Callum!

00:27:44Callum, help me!

00:27:45It's going to eat me!

00:27:46Please!

00:27:46Every note was perfectly pitched.

00:27:48Every word landed right at the weakest seam of the ritual.

00:27:52I did not move.

00:27:53But Althea's head snapped up,

00:27:55and her golden eyes flooded red.

00:27:57I turned to Callum.

00:27:59Do you remember what I told you earlier tonight?

00:28:01His hand had already curled into a fist.

00:28:04Something broke behind his eyes when he heard Jenna's voice.

00:28:07He stared at the door, throat working, and then he ran.

00:28:11Callum!

00:28:12That's Jenna!

00:28:13I don't care!

00:28:14He threw the doors open.

00:28:16Jenna crashed into him from the other side,

00:28:18shaking, soaked with tears,

00:28:19and buried her face in his chest.

00:28:21I was so scared.

00:28:22I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

00:28:24I needed to see you.

00:28:26That thing is terrifying, Callum.

00:28:28I couldn't stay out there.

00:28:29The second her foot crossed the threshold,

00:28:32Serpent Energy burst free from her coral bracelet.

00:28:36It came in a dark, thick wave,

00:28:38carrying a resonance that matched Althea's imprisoned resentment.

00:28:44Frequency for frequency.

00:28:46A signal going both ways.

00:28:50Althea felt it.

00:28:52The red in her eyes deepened.

00:28:54Her scales lifted all across her body as she rose higher.

00:28:59And the sound she made was no longer grief.

00:29:02I stood still with my hands behind my back.

00:29:05In my past life, I had thrown myself in front of that rage.

00:29:09I took all of it so they would not have to.

00:29:11Afterward, I burned with fever for three days

00:29:13and nearly died twice before the fever broke.

00:29:16When I woke up, Callum stood beside my bed

00:29:18with Jenna at his side and said,

00:29:20She needs me more than you do.

00:29:21You're tough.

00:29:22You'll be fine on your own.

00:29:24This time, I breathed out slowly and quietly.

00:29:27And I let it happen.

00:29:32Althea hit them like a wave smashing into a wall.

00:29:35The formation shattered.

00:29:37The eternal flame died.

00:29:39The silver seals cracked all at once with a sound like breaking ice.

00:29:45And the core of the ritual collapsed.

00:29:54Calum was thrown backward and slammed into the offering table hard enough to knock it over.

00:29:59He hit the ground, coughing blood.

00:30:02Jenna went down beside him, white-faced, with blood at the corner of her mouth.

00:30:07The ground shook.

00:30:11Serpent Heeks rose from every crack in the stone, growing louder and closer.

00:30:18If the formation stayed broken, the serpents under the estate would come up through the floor.

00:30:25Everyone in this house would die.

00:30:27That included me and Lucien.

00:30:31I pressed my fingers together, like a blade, and cut across my own palm.

00:30:39Silver blood fell onto the extinguished flame.

00:30:42The fire came back like an explosion.

00:30:45Three feet of silver flame roared up from the lamp, flooding the hall in cold light.

00:30:52Althema hit that light and went rigid.

00:30:54The red drained from her eyes.

00:30:56She lowered herself to the floor, pressed her head against my feet, and went still.

00:31:03Breathing, slow and deep.

00:31:05Like something finally put to rest.

00:31:08The hall went quiet.

00:31:13Then Calium dragged himself up from the floor with one arm around Jenna.

00:31:18He looked across the ruined hall at me.

00:31:20Standing in the silver light with blood, still running down my wrist.

00:31:24For one moment, he just stared.

00:31:27Then he opened his mouth.

00:31:29Rowena!

00:31:29You could control that thing the whole time!

00:31:32So why the hell did you just stand there and let it go after Jenna?

00:31:35What is wrong with you?

00:31:38What sick game are you playing?

00:31:41He said it like he was the victim.

00:31:44Like he was not the one who had opened that door.

00:31:47After a direct warning.

00:31:48Like I was not standing in front of him, bleeding to hold the ritual together.

00:31:54I looked down at my palm.

00:31:56The silver blood was already slowing.

00:31:59I did not answer him.

00:32:01In Calium's arms, too quietly for him to notice.

00:32:04Jenna lifted her head.

00:32:06Her face was wet.

00:32:07Her hair a mess.

00:32:08Tears still drying on her cheeks.

00:32:10But from an angle he could not see, the corner of her mouth curved.

00:32:14Less than a second.

00:32:16I caught every bit of it.

00:32:17I almost wanted to laugh.

00:32:19It was the same in this life as it had been in the last.

00:32:23Jenna worked in the dark.

00:32:24Soft and sweet and untouchable.

00:32:27And Calium.

00:32:28Righteous, devoted, completely blind Calium.

00:32:31Picked up every knife she left behind and walked it straight into me.

00:32:35Except this time, I was not the one bleeding out on the floor.

00:32:39This time, I was the one still standing.

00:32:45I stood in the ruined hall.

00:32:47The cold serpent energy still lingering in the air like frost on my skin.

00:32:55Calium's accusation hung between us.

00:32:58Sharp and accusatory.

00:33:00I didn't rush to defend myself.

00:33:03Instead, I raised my hand and let the silver seat flare.

00:33:10Silver light swept over Jenna.

00:33:13Amplifying the dark serpent patterns twisting on her coral bracelet.

00:33:17They projected clearly onto the wall.

00:33:20Rivaling like living shadows.

00:33:25The exact energy that had provoked Althea.

00:33:28The servants gasp.

00:33:30Eleanor's face drained of colour.

00:33:33Jenna's expression crumpled as she threw herself into Calium's arms.

00:33:37Sobbing violently.

00:33:39Calium, I don't know what that is.

00:33:41I really don't.

00:33:44Did Lady Rowish do this on purpose to scare me?

00:33:48Calium pulled her tighter, his voice rising in fury as he glared at me.

00:33:54Rowena, enough!

00:33:56You already hurt her tonight.

00:33:58And now you want to humiliate her in front of everyone?

00:34:00The disbelief hit me hard.

00:34:03Evidence right in front of him and still he chose her.

00:34:06Lucian stepped to my side, his voice like ice.

00:34:09Are you blind?

00:34:11Or has your brain rotted too?

00:34:12You have no right to speak here!

00:34:14I held Lucian back with a hand on his arm.

00:34:16No need to argue with him.

00:34:17Serpent energy recognises its own and so does Althea.

00:34:19Calium, you can keep pretending not to see it.

00:34:21But the formation collapsed tonight because you opened that door yourself.

00:34:23Calium's face stiffened.

00:34:24Jenna cried even harder.

00:34:25I turned away from them.

00:34:26Crouching beside Althea and placing my hand on her head.

00:34:29The great white serpent calmed under my touch, lowering her head like a tamed beast.

00:34:31Everyone saw it.

00:34:32The serpents didn't fear me.

00:34:33They feared the Hargrove.

00:34:37Lucian helped me back to my room.

00:34:39The cut in my palms still seeped silver blood.

00:34:42And the Lunarn Hunt scar on my face burned.

00:34:45Every use of the covenant reminded me of the price I had paid.

00:34:49My face for this power.

00:34:51Lucian banded the wound with careful hands.

00:34:54His touch gentle.

00:34:56As if afraid to break me.

00:34:58Don't cut so deep next time.

00:34:59If I hadn't this entire state.

00:35:02Would have collapsed tonight.

00:35:04That's not your burden alone to carry.

00:35:06I looked up at him.

00:35:08He met my eyes steadily.

00:35:10Never flinching.

00:35:11From the scar.

00:35:13Only seeing me.

00:35:14After my re-rebirth, I had accepted.

00:35:17That trading my beauty meant no man would love me again.

00:35:21Others saw fear or disgust first.

00:35:24But Lucian never did.

00:35:26I pulled my hand away.

00:35:27My voice turning cold.

00:35:30Don't be too good to me.

00:35:31I don't need it.

00:35:33Whether you need it is your business.

00:35:36Whether I do it is mine.

00:35:38Footsteps sounded outside.

00:35:40Callum stood in the doorway.

00:35:42His face dark.

00:35:44Seeing Lupien holding my hand made his expression twist with jealousy.

00:35:49So you have time for your servant to fawn him over you.

00:35:53I smiled coldly.

00:35:54At least he knows who was bleeding.

00:35:56Unlike some people who only held the real culvert while accusing me.

00:36:02Callum's face darkened further.

00:36:04Tomorrow morning, you're coming with me to the family cemetery.

00:36:07I need to know why this serpent clings to the Hargroves.

00:36:10Fine.

00:36:12But Jenna stays behind.

00:36:14You're meddling too much.

00:36:15I said nothing.

00:36:17I knew Jenna would come anyway.

00:36:22Jenna appeared the next day, wrapped in a pale cloak, looking frail as she clung to Callum's side.

00:36:31Callum, I can't let you go alone.

00:36:34Let me come.

00:36:35I promise I won't cause trouble.

00:36:38Callum glanced at me, waiting for protest.

00:36:42I stayed silent.

00:36:44Let her.

00:36:45The closer she gets to the truth, the faster her mask slips.

00:36:50Jenna's eyes flickered before she looked down.

00:36:52We reached the Hargrove Cemetery, where serpent energy coiled around every grave.

00:36:58My silver sight revealed snake bones pressed beneath each male Hargrove tombstone.

00:37:04This was no simple curse.

00:37:06It was a betrayal.

00:37:07What do you see?

00:37:10Your family wasn't cursed by serpents.

00:37:13You used them first, then betrayed them.

00:37:18Jenna suddenly cried out and stumbled,

00:37:20her hand landing precisely on a formation node.

00:37:24Serpent energy erupted.

00:37:28Callum rushed to her.

00:37:31Jenna!

00:37:31I saw dark energy flash between her fingers.

00:37:35In my past life, I thought it was an accident.

00:37:41Now I knew better.

00:37:43Lucian stepped in front of me,

00:37:45and the underground bones recoiled from him,

00:37:48as if terrified.

00:37:50A question stirred in my mind.

00:37:55Who exactly was Lucian?

00:37:58Jenna clung to Callum,

00:38:00claiming her legs had simply given out.

00:38:03He held her protectively,

00:38:05but turned on me in anger.

00:38:09You knew it was dangerous here!

00:38:11Why didn't you clear it first?

00:38:15Did you see her step on the node?

00:38:16Callum paused.

00:38:18Jenna lifted her tear-stripped face.

00:38:23Lady Rowena,

00:38:24I know you dislike me,

00:38:26but I didn't touch any node.

00:38:28I was just scared.

00:38:31Callum's gaze softened toward her immediately.

00:38:35Rowena, enough.

00:38:37Stop pinning everything on her!

00:38:40I didn't argue.

00:38:41I extracted the serpent energy from her palm,

00:38:45and held it suspended in the air,

00:38:48a writhling black thread trying to return to her sleeve.

00:38:53Jenna paled.

00:38:56Still need an explanation?

00:38:58Callum saw it.

00:39:00Everyone did.

00:39:01But after a moment,

00:39:03he muttered.

00:39:05Maybe the node latched onto her.

00:39:07I laughed bitterly.

00:39:08In my past life,

00:39:10I thought he was blind.

00:39:11Now I realized he saw.

00:39:13He just refused to admit it.

00:39:15Lucian spoke softly behind me.

00:39:18He doesn't deserve a single word from you.

00:39:20His words eased some of the cold weight in my chest.

00:39:24I turned back to the graves.

00:39:26Keep digging.

00:39:29Jenna's desperation to interrupt means

00:39:31there's something important down there.

00:39:36I used silver blood on the tombstone.

00:39:39A fragment of memory rose.

00:39:43Centuries ago,

00:39:44Althea had willingly guarded the Hargroves,

00:39:47shielding them and even giving her white scales as a token.

00:39:50They repaid her by stabbing her with the stolen silver arrow while she slept.

00:39:56Turning her into a living lock for the Serpent Gate.

00:39:59She was no monster.

00:40:01She was a betrayed protector.

00:40:05When the vision faded,

00:40:06Callum looked grim.

00:40:09I expected him to ask about Althea.

00:40:12Instead,

00:40:13If she's the living lock,

00:40:16she can still hold the gate, right?

00:40:19I turned slowly,

00:40:21anger flaring.

00:40:23That's all you take from this?

00:40:26The Hugg family cannot fall.

00:40:29I need to know how to save it.

00:40:31His selfishness drained even my rage.

00:40:33In my past life,

00:40:35my pain,

00:40:35my blood,

00:40:36my life had only ever been tools to him.

00:40:39Jenna squeezed his hand gently.

00:40:42Callum,

00:40:42you're just worried about the family.

00:40:44Lady Rowena wouldn't understand your burden.

00:40:46Her voice was soft,

00:40:47but her eyes smiled.

00:40:49Lucian's hand tightened on his sword hilt.

00:40:52Don't rush.

00:40:53Let them dig their own graves deeper.

00:40:57The filthier their words now,

00:40:59the cleaner the reckoning later.

00:41:03Later,

00:41:04Jenna sought me out alone.

00:41:07Her gentle mask dropped completely

00:41:09as she leaned against a cord ziller,

00:41:12twisting her coral bracelet.

00:41:14You must feel so smug right now,

00:41:17making Callum look bad,

00:41:19making everyone doubt me,

00:41:21enjoying yourself.

00:41:23It's nowhere near as entertaining

00:41:26as you feeding serpents

00:41:28while playing the helpless victim.

00:41:31She laughed,

00:41:33her eyes turning venomous.

00:41:34You're much smarter than last time.

00:41:36So you remember too?

00:41:39Jenna didn't answer directly.

00:41:43She stroked the bracelet.

00:41:46Whether I remember doesn't matter.

00:41:49Callum will always believe me.

00:41:52You can shove proof in his face,

00:41:54and he'll still make excuses for me.

00:41:57Her words cut deep,

00:41:58laced with malice.

00:42:00Look at you.

00:42:02Traded your face for power,

00:42:05and still no one loves you.

00:42:08How pathetic.

00:42:10You think I still want Callum's love?

00:42:12Jenna stepped closer,

00:42:13lowering her voice.

00:42:14Of course you do.

00:42:16Once a woman has been loved,

00:42:18she always craves it back.

00:42:20You're just pretending to be clear-headed now.

00:42:22She reached toward my scar.

00:42:25Lucian emerged from the shadows

00:42:26and seized her wrist.

00:42:27Touch her again,

00:42:28and I'll cut off your hand.

00:42:31Jenna winced in pain,

00:42:32but quickly shifted to a pitiful expression

00:42:35as Callum's foot stems approached.

00:42:38Callum!

00:42:39He's trying to kill me!

00:42:46I only wanted to apologize to Lady Rowena,

00:42:49but he suddenly grabbed me.

00:42:51I was so scared.

00:42:53Let her go.

00:42:56Lucian, release her.

00:42:58Rowena, control your people.

00:43:01Don't forget,

00:43:02this is the Hargro estate.

00:43:07I remember perfectly.

00:43:09That's exactly why it's so filthy here.

00:43:25See that?

00:43:26Every time she touches you,

00:43:28your mark deepens.

00:43:29What trick did you pull?

00:43:31Wonderful.

00:43:32She poisons you,

00:43:33and I get blamed.

00:43:34You really are her perfect blade.

00:43:37Lucian stepped beside me.

00:43:40Let's go.

00:43:42Don't waste time on fools.

00:43:46This time, I didn't disagree.

00:43:51Late that night,

00:43:52Chester knocked on my door,

00:43:53holding a lantern with perfect servant deference.

00:43:55Lady Whitmere,

00:43:56the old madam asks if you will enter the hall again tomorrow.

00:43:59Eleanor did the serpent send you, did she?

00:44:00Chester's expression stayed neutral.

00:44:02You're overthinking.

00:44:03I sealed the room with silver seals.

00:44:05Only Lucian and I remained with him.

00:44:07Chester finally looked up.

00:44:09The silver sight lives up to its name.

00:44:11How many years have you hidden in the Hargroves?

00:44:1243.

00:44:13He spoke calmly.

00:44:14The Hargroves think they can control the serpent gate,

00:44:16but those behind it have waited for them to walk into the trap.

00:44:19I asked about the silver arrow.

00:44:21You want the sacred relic.

00:44:23You want the serpent court wants it.

00:44:24Callum wants it to survive.

00:44:26Jenna wants it to open the gate.

00:44:27Everyone is waiting for you to act, Lady Whitmore.

00:44:30Callum, I just saw Chester enter Lady Rowena's room.

00:44:33Are they plotting something?

00:44:36Rowena, what exactly are you doing behind my back?

00:44:43Callum immediately accused me of colluding with the serpent court through Chester.

00:44:50I didn't deny seeking the arrow.

00:44:55It was my goal.

00:44:57He seized on it, turning everyone against me.

00:45:03You were never here to save us.

00:45:06You came for Hargrave possessions from the start.

00:45:10That relic belongs to Whitmore, not Hargrige.

00:45:14Jenna spoke softly.

00:45:17Callum, I've long felt Lady Rowena's hostility.

00:45:22I didn't dare say it before.

00:45:25I feared you'd think me petty.

00:45:28Her eyes reddened again.

00:45:30Callum's disgust towards me deepened.

00:45:33Hand over your silver seals.

00:45:37From now on, any ritual needs my approval.

00:45:41You want to control my power?

00:45:43To manage the gate?

00:45:45This is my home!

00:45:47I have the right to know what you're doing.

00:45:51I summoned a wisp of Althea's white serpent shadow.

00:45:54It coiled around Callum's death mark.

00:45:58He cried out in pain, face paling.

00:46:02You have the right to know this, for example.

00:46:04You're still standing, only because I allow it.

00:46:08Jenna stumbled back in fear.

00:46:11Callum stared at me with a mix of rage and newfound terror.

00:46:15Lucian spoke quietly at my side.

00:46:17She saves you by choice, not obligation.

00:46:21Remember that.

00:46:28Eleanor called a family meeting, summoning all Hargroff branches.

00:46:35It was framed as discussing the gate, but clearly meant to force me to submit publicly.

00:46:42Many saw my scarred face for the first time.

00:46:46Whispers spread.

00:46:47How terrifying the scar was.

00:46:49How no wonder Callum preferred Jenna.

00:46:54I heard every word.

00:46:56In my past life, such talk would have crushed me.

00:47:00Now it was just noise.

00:47:02Eleanor sat at the head, voice heavy.

00:47:06Lady Whittemora, your power is great.

00:47:10But we've seen your emotions are unstable.

00:47:14For the family's safety, the sealing arts cannot remain solely in your hands.

00:47:21Callum didn't intervene.

00:47:24He sat silently, endorsing the ambush.

00:47:29Jenna added fuel.

00:47:33I'm only worried Lady Roeth might resent me.

00:47:36And take it out on the entire Hargroff family.

00:47:40All eyes turned to me.

00:47:42I stood and activated the silver sight.

00:47:45Behind every person, shadows of sacrificed women appeared.

00:47:50Maids, adopted daughters, wives offered as tribute.

00:47:53Those who had mocked my scar dropped to their knees in terror.

00:47:56You wanted to talk safety?

00:47:58Then look at how many lives you've trampled beneath your feet.

00:48:03Jenna's smile finally shattered.

00:48:09Chaos erupted after the ghosts appeared.

00:48:11Some begged me to withdraw the sight.

00:48:13Others accused Eleanor.

00:48:14She paled and instinctively protected the legacy book.

00:48:16I saw it.

00:48:17The sacrifice ledger is inside the book.

00:48:18Eleanor's hand froze.

00:48:19Callum tried to block me.

00:48:20Rowena, don't make this uglier.

00:48:22The ugly one is your family's centuries of blood debt.

00:48:24Jenna clutched her chest, collapsing into a chair.

00:48:27I can't breathe.

00:48:29Callum, I'm so scared.

00:48:30Callum moved to help her, but a white serpent shadow blocked him, staring coldly at Jenna.

00:48:37She stopped aggravating her sobs.

00:48:39I approached Eleanor.

00:48:41Give me the ledger.

00:48:43Eleanor forced a smile.

00:48:45Child, those are old matters.

00:48:47You already died once.

00:48:48Why keep pursuing?

00:48:50I leaned close.

00:48:53Because I died once.

00:48:55I know exactly what being chosen by you feels like.

00:49:00Callum watched with fleeting complexity before Jenna's sobs pulled him away again.

00:49:05My cold laugh deepened.

00:49:09He was never worth it.

00:49:11Callum tried a softer approach that evening, coming to my room with a gentler tone.

00:49:17Roland, we can cooperate.

00:49:20You want the silver arrow?

00:49:23I want the Hargroves to survive.

00:49:25Our goals are clean.

00:49:27I knew what came next.

00:49:29The same fake, fake concern from my past life.

00:49:32I know some words hurt you before, but now isn't the time to dwell on it.

00:49:37Some words?

00:49:38I turned my face so he could see the scar clearly.

00:49:42You mocked my face, protected Jenna as she harmed me, demanded my seals.

00:49:49And you call it some words?

00:49:52Callum frowned.

00:49:53You're too sensitive now.

00:49:55Lucien entered with medicine and overheard.

00:49:58She died once because of you all.

00:50:00And now you call her sensitive?

00:50:02Who do you think you are?

00:50:04Her servant?

00:50:05Guard?

00:50:06Or just the dog she keeps?

00:50:07Lucien remained calm.

00:50:09I can be anything she wants.

00:50:11But you?

00:50:12You're different.

00:50:13How?

00:50:13Even when she bleeds, you only ask why she didn't protect others.

00:50:17The room fell silent.

00:50:19I looked away, no longer wanting to hear Callum.

00:50:23Give me the key.

00:50:24Tomorrow we enter the underground chamber.

00:50:28Callum gritted his teeth and placed the key on the table.

00:50:35The underground chamber lay behind Hargrot Hall.

00:50:39Dust and serpent energy rushed out as the door opened.

00:50:42Whitmore hunting tools, silver blades, short bows, chains, hung on the walls like trophies.

00:50:48My chest tightened.

00:50:50These belonged to my family, displayed as Hargrok spoils.

00:50:54As I approached, the tools hummed in recognition.

00:50:57Several blades tilted toward me.

00:50:59Callum's eyes gleamed with greed.

00:51:02If these can suppress the gate, why not lend them to the Hargroves first?

00:51:07After stealing them for centuries, you still want to borrow more?

00:51:10Jenna followed us in.

00:51:12Seeing the tools respond to me, jealously flashed in her eyes.

00:51:16Impressive.

00:51:18Too bad it all came at the cost of your face.

00:51:21Lucian took a loosened silver blade from the wall and placed it in my hand.

00:51:26They recognize you, not because of your face, but because you are Whitmore.

00:51:32His words settled warmly in my heart.

00:51:34I gripped the blade.

00:51:36Silver light bloomed.

00:51:37All the tools vibrated in univine.

00:51:39Jenna's expression soured completely.

00:51:41What she hated most wasn't my strength.

00:51:44It was that even scarred, I still had someone standing by my side.

00:51:47Deepest in the chamber hung an old painting.

00:51:50The first Whitmore lunar huntress beside a golden-horned white deer.

00:51:54The deer shielded her from serpents.

00:51:57Its antlers wrapped in moonlight.

00:52:00Lucian's face changed when he saw it.

00:52:02He looked away too late.

00:52:04You've seen this painting?

00:52:05No.

00:52:06He answered too quickly.

00:52:07Callum noticed, his expression turning dangerous.

00:52:09Seems your servant knows quite a lot.

00:52:10I stepped in front of Lucian.

00:52:12None of your concern.

00:52:13Callum sneered.

00:52:13Rowena, you'd shield a mere servant from me?

00:52:15Lucian's eyes chilled.

00:52:16I spoke calmly without turning.

00:52:17He is not a mere servant.

00:52:18Lucian fell silent.

00:52:20My own heart stirred unexpectedly at the words.

00:52:22Jenna watched with a light laugh.

00:52:24Lady Rowena is so enviable.

00:52:26Face ruined, yet still so protected.

00:52:29How much of that protection is real, I wonder?

00:52:32At least more than what you stole.

00:52:34Her face darkened.

00:52:36Suddenly, her bracelet glowed.

00:52:38Serpent energy corrupted the tools, turning them against me.

00:52:43Jenna cried out in fake alarm.

00:52:45Callum, watch out!

00:52:46The tools have gone out of control!

00:52:48But excitement burned in her eyes.

00:52:51The tools lunged at me.

00:52:54They heard their silver lament.

00:52:57They didn't want to harm their true owner.

00:53:00Jenna's serpent energy forced them.

00:53:02Callum's first instinct was to shield Jenna.

00:53:05Rowena, control them!

00:53:06Don't let them touch Jenna!

00:53:08I ignored him and summoned the moon's silver bow.

00:53:12Moonlight formed the string.

00:53:15I fired arrows, tearing serpent energy from the blades one by one.

00:53:21They fell obediently at my feet.

00:53:24Each shot burned my scar like a fresh blade cut.

00:53:27Pain seared through me.

00:53:28I grit my teeth and kept drawing.

00:53:30Lucian suddenly grabbed my hand.

00:53:31Enough!

00:53:32Not yet cleared!

00:53:33I said enough, you're hurting.

00:53:34Everyone else fixated on my scar.

00:53:36Fearing, hating, using it.

00:53:37Only Lucian cared if it hurt.

00:53:39This isn't the time for your intimacy.

00:53:40Rowena, continue.

00:53:42Lucian turned on him.

00:53:43Shut your mouth.

00:53:45Callum's face darkened.

00:53:48I released the bowstring, refusing his order for the first time.

00:53:52The rest can wait until I decide.

00:53:54Jenna looked furious.

00:53:55She had wanted to exhaust me.

00:53:57She never expected Lucian could make me stop.

00:54:00Or that I would choose to for him.

00:54:03I followed Jaina into the underground water chath.

00:54:06She stood on the stone steps before the outer serpent gate.

00:54:09Her innocent mask finally debardened.

00:54:11Do you know where the silver arrow really is?

00:54:14I remained silent, gripping the hilt of the silver blade.

00:54:16See the sound echoing coldly off the walls.

00:54:19It's not in the chamber.

00:54:20It's buried in Althea's heart.

00:54:23The first Hargroves used it to nail her into the earth vein.

00:54:26And create this gate.

00:54:28My fingers tightened painfully.

00:54:30The weight of generations of betrayal pressed down on me.

00:54:33Jenna stepped closer, her voice dripping venom.

00:54:36If you want Whitmore's relic back, you'll have to pull the arrow.

00:54:40But the moment you do, the gate opens.

00:54:43Everyone will blame you for destroying Hargrove Hall.

00:54:46Callum will hate you.

00:54:47Eleanor will hate you.

00:54:48They'll say you did it because no one could love your scarred face.

00:54:51The words stung, but not as deeply as they once would have.

00:54:54I met her gaze steadily, the lunar scar on my cheek pulsing with silver light.

00:54:58You still think I care what Callum thinks of me?

00:55:01Jenna's smile faltered for a split second.

00:55:04I continued, my voice low but firm.

00:55:06You're wrong.

00:55:07I didn't come back to prove I'm worthy of love.

00:55:10I came to make sure all of you pay what you owe.

00:55:13Her expression turned ugly.

00:55:15She spat one last barb before leaping deeper into the waterway.

00:55:19You really think Lucian will keep protecting you?

00:55:22Men are all the same.

00:55:24Once he gets tired of looking at that face, he'll leave too.

00:55:28I stood there as her footsteps faded, the cold water lapping at my boots.

00:55:32Her words tried to burrow into old wounds, but Lucian's steady presence in my mind pushed

00:55:36them back.

00:55:37I turned and climbed back to the surface, the truth now clear in my heart.

00:55:41The silver arrow rested in Althea's chest.

00:55:44Back above ground, I found Lucian waiting in the shadows of the hall.

00:55:48His quiet strength grounded me as I told him what Jenna had revealed.

00:55:52He listened without interruption, his eyes never leaving mine.

00:55:56Will you pull it?

00:55:57I have to, but not recklessly.

00:56:00I'll use Callum's blood, Jenna's serpent contract, Chester's serpent court mark, and

00:56:06Eleanor's sacrifice ledger to form a new seal.

00:56:08Lucian studied me carefully.

00:56:10No fear in his gaze, only unwavering resolve.

00:56:13Then we do it.

00:56:15A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

00:56:17You won't ask if I'll turn into a monster?

00:56:20You won't.

00:56:22How can you be so sure?

00:56:23He paused, then stepped closer, and gently re-wrapped the bandage on my palm.

00:56:29Because even when you could have let Callum die tonight, you still saved the entire estate.

00:56:34His words pierced through the armor I had built around my heart.

00:56:37I had hated them all so fiercely, yet I refused to become the destroyer they feared.

00:56:43Lucian saw that in me when no one else did.

00:56:45The scar on my face burned less fiercely in that moment.

00:56:48Tomorrow we go to Eleanor.

00:56:50Good.

00:56:50I lingered in his presence a moment longer, drawing quiet comfort from the way he stood guard

00:56:56beside me, unflinching.

00:57:00Eleanor refused to surrender the sacrifice's ledger.

00:57:02She sat in the main study, cradling her peach blossom tea.

00:57:06Her grandmotherly facade finally stripped away to reveal cold calculation.

00:57:10Rowena, you already know too much.

00:57:13A smart girl knows when to stop.

00:57:15The memories flooded back.

00:57:16Her smiles as she fed me poison.

00:57:19Her indifference as she watched me die.

00:57:22Anger surged through my veins.

00:57:24When you sent me into the serpent gate, in my past life, did you also think I should have

00:57:29stopped?

00:57:30Her hand trembled slightly on the teacup.

00:57:32Do you remember?

00:57:33I remember everything.

00:57:34Your sweet words.

00:57:36The poisoned tea, how you locked me inside without a flicker of remorse.

00:57:40I sealed her teacup with a silver seal.

00:57:44The liquid inside turned black.

00:57:47Serpent shadows thrashing wildly.

00:57:49Lupien stood behind me.

00:57:51His presence a wall of silent fury.

00:57:54Eleanor's composure cracked.

00:57:56What do you want?

00:57:58The ledger.

00:58:07Her mouth opened, but no sound emerged.

00:58:11You lied so many people to their deaths.

00:58:14This mouth of yours deserves rest.

00:58:16I retrieved the ledger from her hidden compartment.

00:58:19Page after page listed women's names.

00:58:21The final entry was my own.

00:58:23Rowena Whitmore.

00:58:25My fingers clenched until my knuckles whitened.

00:58:27This life, I would cross it out myself.

00:58:33Callum learned of the stolen ledger quickly.

00:58:35Instead of confronting Mimi directly, he lured Lupien away and trapped him in the old underground

00:58:41chapel beneath Hargrove Hall, an ancient altar etched with serpent arrays designed to suppress

00:58:46Lunarn Hunt blood.

00:58:48When I arrived, Lucien knelt in the center of the array, covered in wounds, yet his eyes

00:58:51glowed with a faint golden light.

00:58:53Callum stood outside the formation, a silver blade in hand.

00:58:56Don't come closer, Rowena.

00:58:57One more step and he dies for you.

00:58:58Eyes alight with vicious excitement.

00:59:00Lady Rowena, you're so powerful.

00:59:02Choose the silver arrow or him.

00:59:05Lucien looked at me through the pain and shook his head wiltly.

00:59:08Leave me.

00:59:09The plea tore at my chest.

00:59:10In my past life, I had told Callum the same thing, only for him to abandon me.

00:59:14I would not repeat his cruelty.

00:59:15Power erupted from my huntress mark.

00:59:17Silver light shattered the serpent array, inch by inch.

00:59:21Callum paled.

00:59:22You're mad!

00:59:23The Covenant will backlash!

00:59:24That's not for you to decide.

00:59:28I rushed into the formation, grabbed Lucien's hand, and dragged him free.

00:59:33His silver-gold blood touched my pie palm, and the lingering dark energy recoiled as if

00:59:40burned.

00:59:42Lucien's blood was not red.

00:59:44It shimmered with faint silver-gold light.

00:59:46The realization hit me as the serpent arraym's rainness fled from him.

00:59:50Who are you, really?

00:59:51Lucien remained silent for a long moment before answering softly.

00:59:55I promised to stay by the Whitmore heir's side.

00:59:57Promised whom?

00:59:59He didn't reply.

01:00:00But Callum had seen the blood.

01:00:02Greed twisted his features.

01:00:04So he's even more special than you.

01:00:05She laughed cruelly.

01:00:07Callum, if we use him as the new living lock, we won't need Rowena anymore.

01:00:11Callum didn't deny it.

01:00:13Cold fury settled in my chest.

01:00:15Touch him, and I will end the hog-rave bloodline tonight.

01:00:21You care about him that much?

01:00:23So even you can feel fear.

01:00:26I helped Lucien to his feet, my voice steady despite the storm inside.

01:00:31Yes, I fear.

01:00:33I fear him suffering the same fate I did.

01:00:36Being sacrificed by people like you who treat lives as disposable.

01:00:41Lucien glanced at me, emotion flickering in his eyes.

01:00:45I avoided looking back, afraid my own feelings would spill over.

01:00:52Callum and Jenna united against us.

01:00:55They spread rumors that Lucien's non-human aura was the true cause of the gate's instability.

01:01:03Jenna wept publicly, claiming she saw his golden blood and couldn't sleep from fear.

01:01:10Callum played the responsible family head.

01:01:13I don't want to hurt anyone.

01:01:14But for the Hargroves, I must uncover what he is.

01:01:18The hypocrisy made me want to laugh.

01:01:21This was their old game.

01:01:23One crying, the other forced to act.

01:01:26Only now, the knives were aimed elsewhere.

01:01:31I stepped in front of Lucien.

01:01:33Anyone who wants to investigate him goes through me first.

01:01:37Callum's face darkened.

01:01:39Rowena, you'd abandoned the entire Hargrove family's safety for him?

01:01:43I protected him.

01:01:45You don't deserve it.

01:01:46Lady Rowena, have you forgotten Lucien's just an outsider you picked up?

01:01:50An outsider cleaner than you'll ever be.

01:01:53Lucien spoke quietly behind me.

01:01:55You don't have to shield me like this.

01:01:57I want to.

01:02:01The words surprised even me.

01:02:03We retreated to the forest behind the hall.

01:02:06Serpent energy pursued us to the edge but dared not enter.

01:02:11Moonlight filtered through the trees as I tended Lucien's wounds.

01:02:16Why do you remember the past life?

01:02:18He was quiet for a long time.

01:02:21Because when you died, I was there too.

01:02:23My hands stilled on the bandages.

01:02:26I was trapped in the formation.

01:02:27I heard you begging him to open the door.

01:02:30I couldn't break free.

01:02:31I could only watch it close.

01:02:33The memory of that freezing night crashed over me.

01:02:36Not everyone had abandoned me.

01:02:39Someone had tried.

01:02:42My throat tightened.

01:02:44I always thought if I were stronger, you wouldn't have died.

01:02:48That wasn't your fault.

01:02:49But I was still too late.

01:02:50I looked at him, the urge to embrace him nearly overwhelming.

01:02:54Instead, I whispered,

01:02:56This time, you weren't too late.

01:02:58Lucien met my eyes and smiled faintly for the first time.

01:03:02It was small, but it lit up the darkness around us like moonlight on water.

01:03:08My huntress mark began spiraling out of control.

01:03:13Visions of blood deeds and deaths flooded my silver sight.

01:03:20I saw Eleanor dragged by ghosts.

01:03:26Chester devoured by the serpent court.

01:03:30Jenna consumed by her own power.

01:03:34And Callum begging on his knees.

01:03:39Artis's voice echoed in my mind,

01:03:42commanding me to hunt those.

01:03:48Who fed the serpents.

01:03:52I nearly summoned the oath arrow.

01:03:55Lucien seized my shoulders.

01:03:57Rowena, look at me.

01:03:58The silver light and blood blurted my vision.

01:04:01Pain tore through the scar on my face.

01:04:04Move!

01:04:05I need to kill them!

01:04:06Lucien held firm.

01:04:08You can take revenge.

01:04:12But don't give yourself to the Covenant.

01:04:14He cut his own palm and pressed the silver-gold blood against my scar.

01:04:19The divine fury retreated.

01:04:22I could breathe again.

01:04:23You are not the Goddess's Blade.

01:04:25You are Rowena.

01:04:27Tears stung my eyes.

01:04:30He had shown me I could hurt, hate, and still remain myself.

01:04:35I closed my eyes.

01:04:37Don't let go.

01:04:39I will.

01:04:40Chester stole the sacrifice ledger,

01:04:43hoping to trade it to the serpent court for freedom.

01:04:47We tracked him to an old underground room,

01:04:50where he knelt before a black serpent mirror.

01:04:54A pale hand reached out and took the ledger,

01:04:58offering no promise.

01:05:02Executors have no freedom.

01:05:04Only the next order.

01:05:09Chester protested his 43 years of service.

01:05:13The mirror cracked,

01:05:14and dark energy retaliated,

01:05:17rotting his brand.

01:05:24I didn't save him immediately.

01:05:27Lady Whitmore, save me!

01:05:30I can tell you how to close the gate!

01:05:36How many have you helped kill?

01:05:38Let him die.

01:05:40I stabilized the energy

01:05:42in Chester's body with a silver seal.

01:05:46You won't die yet.

01:05:50You'll watch what you served devour you.

01:05:55I reclaimed the ledger.

01:05:57The path to the silver arrow lay clear.

01:06:00The path to the silver arrow clear.

01:06:03Jenna publicly revealed the arrow's location in Althea's heart.

01:06:08She stood in the meeting hall,

01:06:10crying convincingly.

01:06:13If we get that arrow,

01:06:15can the Hargroves be saved?

01:06:18Callum, I don't...

01:06:20want you to die.

01:06:25The branches went wild with desperation.

01:06:28Callum pretended to restrain them,

01:06:30but I saw his agent slipping toward the hall depths.

01:06:34I blocked the entrance.

01:06:36Call them back.

01:06:38Callum stayed silent.

01:06:41Jenna tried to soften it.

01:06:42Lady Rowena,

01:06:44why must you think the worst of Callum?

01:06:46He only wants to save his family!

01:06:49Shut your mouth.

01:06:51I faced Callum directly.

01:06:53Do you want to save your family,

01:06:55or steal my arrow?

01:06:57If it can save the Hargroves,

01:06:59it shouldn't belong only to Whitmore.

01:07:01His true nature stood bare.

01:07:04The man who once wore affection like a mask,

01:07:08now showed his greed openly.

01:07:12I descended into the Earthvein with Lucian,

01:07:15crossled as the strage,

01:07:16and several clansmen forced their way after us.

01:07:19Serpent energy parted before me,

01:07:21and recoiled even more from Lucian.

01:07:25At the core,

01:07:27Althea was pinned to the gate,

01:07:28the silver arrow buried in her heart.

01:07:31She lowered her head,

01:07:33exposing the wound,

01:07:34begging for release.

01:07:36I grasped the arrow's hilt.

01:07:38Lucian stepped protectively behind me.

01:07:41Careful.

01:07:44Callum pressed a silver blade to Lucian's throat.

01:07:47Pull the arrow, Rowena,

01:07:48or he dies.

01:07:52I held the hilt motionless.

01:07:53Blood, silver gold,

01:07:55trickled from Lucian's throat,

01:07:57exciting the gate further.

01:07:58Jenna's eyes lit with greed.

01:08:00Callum,

01:08:01his blood can replace hers.

01:08:03Use him as the new lock.

01:08:04Callum didn't deny it.

01:08:06Choose the arrow or his life.

01:08:09Don't mind me.

01:08:10The familiar cruelty broke something inside me.

01:08:13Why must everyone I cared for

01:08:15become their leverage?

01:08:16Do you know what disgustes me most

01:08:18about you?

01:08:18Callum frowned.

01:08:20You treat other people's sacrifices

01:08:22as natural rights?

01:08:23I released the arrow

01:08:24and slashed my plomb instead,

01:08:27spilling silver blood

01:08:28to summon the debts.

01:08:31Ghosts of sacrificed women rose,

01:08:33their eyes fixed on Callum.

01:08:35This time,

01:08:37judgment fell on the harbourers.

01:08:39The ghosts surrounded Callum.

01:08:42They whispered their names.

01:08:44Wives,

01:08:45maids,

01:08:46daughters,

01:08:47and my past self.

01:08:49He stumbled back,

01:08:50the blade leaving Lucian's throat.

01:08:53I pulled Lucian behind me.

01:08:56Jenna launched for the arrow.

01:08:59Serpent energy from the gate

01:09:01seized her instead,

01:09:03merging with her bracelet.

01:09:06Jenna laughed wildly

01:09:08as she began transforming.

01:09:11Finally my turn.

01:09:13You knew it wanted your body?

01:09:15So what?

01:09:17At least I'll drag you all down with me!

01:09:20She yanked the arrow partially free.

01:09:22Althea screamed.

01:09:24The gate cracked.

01:09:25Jenna, stop!

01:09:26Now you're scared?

01:09:28You protected me only because I was useful!

01:09:33They're mutual betrayal lay exposed.

01:09:36Only I had once believed in their false bond.

01:09:39Lucian took my hand.

01:09:40Rowene, don't watch them.

01:09:42Do what you must.

01:09:43I nodded,

01:09:44stealing myself.

01:09:46The gate's opening caused Hargrove Hall to collapse.

01:09:50Black railed hunts and surged from the ground.

01:09:53Clack Sertman fled,

01:09:54only to be caught by their own ghosts.

01:09:57Eleanor was dragged before the fireplace,

01:10:01forced to confront the ledger.

01:10:03Rowena, save me!

01:10:05I was forced!

01:10:06It was all for the family!

01:10:09That's exactly what you said

01:10:11while watching you die last time.

01:10:14She trembled.

01:10:15I was wrong!

01:10:17You're not sorry.

01:10:20You're just afraid, afraid to die.

01:10:23The ghosts pulled her into silver flames.

01:10:26Chester was devoured by his own masters.

01:10:28I asked Lucian if I seemed cruel.

01:10:31No.

01:10:33They owed you.

01:10:34His words erased my final hesitation.

01:10:37Callum seized the silver arrow

01:10:39and fled toward the main hall

01:10:41to reseal the gate.

01:10:42I chased him

01:10:43to the iron door,

01:10:45the same one from my past life.

01:10:47Move aside, Rowena,

01:10:49and I'll let you go.

01:10:51We can settle the past later.

01:10:53The past?

01:10:54You speak so lightly of it.

01:10:56Jenna screamed for rescue in the distance.

01:10:58Callum barely glanced at her

01:11:00before turning away.

01:11:02He activated the mechanism

01:11:03to crap Lucian and me.

01:11:06Inside, Lucian pushed me aside

01:11:08and shattered the door

01:11:09with explosive silver-gold light.

01:11:11A golden-horned white deer phantom

01:11:13appeared behind him.

01:11:14The serpents recoiled in fear.

01:11:17At last, I understood.

01:11:18Lucian was the sacred beast guardian

01:11:20of the Whitmores.

01:11:22Lucian knelt by the broken door,

01:11:24the deer phantom fading.

01:11:26Callum stared in shock.

01:11:27What are you?

01:11:31Something far cleaner than you.

01:11:33The serpent court envoy

01:11:34emerged, terrified.

01:11:37Moon, dear guardian.

01:11:39You still live.

01:11:41Lupien looked at me with apology.

01:11:43I didn't mean to hide it.

01:11:44We'll settle accounts

01:11:45after we get out.

01:11:47He smiled.

01:11:48I grasped the silver arrow.

01:11:51The huntress covenant

01:11:52fully awakened.

01:11:54Artemis warned of the price.

01:11:57Use mine.

01:11:58No.

01:11:59I'm the guardian.

01:12:00I should pay for you.

01:12:04I already died for others once.

01:12:06This life...

01:12:09I pay for my own choices.

01:12:15The oath arrow formed in cold white light.

01:12:18Jenna, half serpent,

01:12:21charged in hatred.

01:12:22Why can you still stand?

01:12:26Why do you still have someone

01:12:28protecting you like that?

01:12:30Because I never gave myself to you.

01:12:33Lucian shielded me

01:12:34as the deer phantom

01:12:35repelled the energy.

01:12:37Callum begged on his knees.

01:12:38Ro'esh, save me!

01:12:40I was wrong!

01:12:41In the past life,

01:12:42I had no choice!

01:12:43You had choices.

01:12:45Every time.

01:12:46You chose to hurt me.

01:12:48I drew the bow.

01:12:49Artemis demanded

01:12:50a span of lifespan.

01:12:52I accepted.

01:12:53Lupien cried out,

01:12:54but I reassured him

01:12:55with a glance.

01:12:56Don't worry.

01:12:57I still need to settle

01:12:59your secret with you.

01:13:00I released the arrow.

01:13:02It pierced Jenna,

01:13:04the gate,

01:13:05the blood contracts,

01:13:06and buried deep

01:13:08into the earth vein.

01:13:09Silver light exploded.

01:13:12The serpent-thwart passages

01:13:14collapsed.

01:13:15The gate sealed.

01:13:18Althira's wound healed.

01:13:22She placed a final white scale

01:13:24in my palm

01:13:25before dissolving into light,

01:13:27finally free.

01:13:29Jenna lay dying,

01:13:30her body rejecting

01:13:31the serpent energy.

01:13:33I'm not willing.

01:13:34Why did someone like you win?

01:13:37Because I lost once,

01:13:38and I refused to lose again.

01:13:40Her body was consumed,

01:13:42leaving only shattered coral.

01:13:44Callum's death mark vanished,

01:13:45but so did his family's power.

01:13:48He knelt broken in the ruins.

01:13:52Rowena,

01:13:54save me once more.

01:13:57For our past-

01:13:59In the past life,

01:14:00you told me to hold the serpents

01:14:02until I died.

01:14:05I left him there.

01:14:09To face his fate alone.

01:14:14As the hall fully collapsed,

01:14:17Callum chased after me

01:14:18one last time,

01:14:19desperate.

01:14:20Rowish,

01:14:21I was deceived by Jenna.

01:14:23Now I see clearly!

01:14:25You weren't deceived.

01:14:27You chose convenient lies

01:14:28every single time.

01:14:30Lucien stepped forward,

01:14:31blocking Callum's view of me.

01:14:33Don't look at her.

01:14:35You have no right.

01:14:37Callum froze.

01:14:39I allowed the protection,

01:14:40embracing it fully this time.

01:14:45At dawn,

01:14:47Hargrove Hall sank

01:14:48completely into ruin.

01:14:51I stood

01:14:52at a distance,

01:14:55watching the last serpent's stench

01:14:57blow away on the wind.

01:14:59My huntress mark and scar remained,

01:15:03but so did my resolve.

01:15:11Lucien stood beside me.

01:15:13Does it still hurt?

01:15:16Why do you always ask that?

01:15:18Because you always pretend it doesn't.

01:15:20I laughed genuinely

01:15:21for the first time in ages.

01:15:23Lucien,

01:15:24how long have you guarded the Whitmans?

01:15:26Long enough,

01:15:27that I feared I'd always arrive too late.

01:15:29This time you didn't.

01:15:31Rowena,

01:15:32I never loved your face.

01:15:35His gaze held mine,

01:15:37never wavering to the scar.

01:15:41I love that you crawled back from hell

01:15:43to claim your debts,

01:15:44and still chose to save the innocent.

01:15:51I took his hand willingly.

01:15:53Then don't be late again.

01:15:54I won't.

01:15:55We walked away from the ruins

01:15:57together into the morning light.

01:15:59This time,

01:16:02I didn't look back.

01:16:03I didn't look back.

01:16:04I don't know.

01:16:05I don't know.

01:16:07I didn't look back.

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