He Fed Me To The Serpents So I Came Back To Ruin Him-Drama FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB

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

00:00:11In 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.

00:00:22Death gave me one chance to return.

00:00:25I 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 Hargrit so much that it cost me everything.

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

00:00:50rotting from the inside out with ancient venom.

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

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

00:00:58So 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, just open the door!

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

00:01:23Blood smeared the cracks.

00:01:24Still, nothing.

00:01:24Then his voice came through, flat and cold, without even a flicker of hesitation.

00:01:29Shut up.

00:01:29Your 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.

00:01:41Then came Callum's voice again, low and gentle, saying things he had never once said to me.

00:01:47You're safe.

00:01:48I've got you.

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

00:02:03The 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 became 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 without warmth.

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

00:02:27What I offer is not mercy.

00:02:30It is a contract.

00:02:31Give 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 living.

00:02:57When 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.

00:03:05Faint silver light pulsing beneath it like a wire.

00:03:07It was the mark of the covenant.

00:03:08The 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.

00:03:19But 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.

00:03:27One debt at a time.

00:03:35Rowena, 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 both

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

00:03:45The 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.

00:04:01Only a Whitmore could even see the mark.

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

00:04:06They needed me.

00:04:08That was a fact.

00:04:09But the only reason I was here was to take back what the Hargroves stole from us,

00:04:13the silver arrow of Whitmore.

00:04:14I stood over Eleanor, looking down at her shaking shoulders, and all I could think of

00:04:18was 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.

00:04:24I 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.

00:04:34He was younger than I remembered, sharper and more arrogant, with all that ugly pride still

00:04:38sitting 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 light.

00:04:48It did not look like an ordinary wound.

00:04:50It 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.

00:05:12That 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?

00:05:27You're telling me one curse is too much for a Whitmore?

00:05:30He 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.

00:05:37Look 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,

00:05:46the only one who can take it off you,

00:05:48is 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.

00:06:04For 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,

00:06:13my 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,

00:06:21was 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,

00:06:31and it had been lost for generations.

00:06:35I only learned the truth as I was dying in my past life,

00:06:39when it was already too late to do anything about it.

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

00:06:44That was the real reason I would walk into Hargrove Hall.

00:06:48Not Callum.

00:06:48The arrow.

00:06:51Callum saw me take it,

00:06:52and his whole body relaxed.

00:06:54He lifted his chin slightly,

00:06:56satisfaction spreading across his face.

00:06:58He had already decided I was still hung up on him,

00:07:01that I had finally given in because of 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,

00:07:12and 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.

00:07:19He said it like he was doing me a favor,

00:07:22like I was something he could summon,

00:07:23use,

00:07:24and dismiss whenever it suited him.

00:07:26I looked at him slowly,

00:07:28the 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.

00:07:35I 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.

00:07:56Since I came back, he was the only person who looked straight at the scar on my face

00:08:00without flinching or glancing away.

00:08:02Two Hargrove 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,

00:08:12was 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!

00:08:18Callum, I want to ride with you!

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

00:08:23her cheeks flushed and her eyes red at the rims,

00:08:26as 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,

00:08:39the 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,

00:08:45she was already looping it around his neck and smoothing it down with both palms.

00:08:50The mountain road is freezing.

00:08:51I 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.

00:09:01Faint dark lines were woven into the silk,

00:09:04forming the exact pattern of a serpent mark.

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

00:09:07He 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.

00:09:20I watched her settle beside Callum and push me toward the window seat without even looking at me.

00:09:25I said nothing.

00:09:26Jenna, last time I missed every move you made.

00:09:29This time I'm gonna watch every single one.

00:09:32The 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,

00:09:39and 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, always within my line of sight,

00:09:52like 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,

00:10:02looking soft and helpless and miserable.

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

00:10:09Now, I only sat still and watched her work.

00:10:12Callum noticed me looking.

00:10:13His 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.

00:10:21Rowena, stop staring.

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

00:10:24And stop using that face to scare her.

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

00:10:28Callum, don't.

00:10:29Lady Rowena probably doesn't mean it.

00:10:31She knows exactly what she's doing.

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

00:10:35Maybe she just doesn't like me.

00:10:37It's alright.

00:10:38I'm used to it.

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

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

00:10:41I did not answer.

00:10:42In my past life, that exchange would have hollowed me out for days.

00:10:46Now I only filed it away.

00:10:48Every word.

00:10:49Every dismissal.

00:10:50I was keeping track.

00:10:51At the same time, through the silver sight,

00:10:53I could see what was really happening.

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

00:10:59winding along Callum's collar

00:11:00and 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,

00:11:09is poisoning you right now.

00:11:10And you're holding her tighter.

00:11:12He pulled her closer

00:11:13and pressed his cheek against the top of her head,

00:11:16completely blind.

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

00:11:22This was not Hargreth Hall.

00:11:23Not the old estate with the serpent gate buried beneath it.

00:11:26The hall stood deeper inside the grounds,

00:11:28behind a locked inner courtyard that almost never opened.

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

00:11:33When Jenna stepped down from the carriage,

00:11:34she grabbed the doorbraim, her face going pale,

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

00:11:38I'm fine.

00:11:39Just cold.

00:11:40My 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

00:11:46that somehow this was supposed to be my fault.

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

00:11:50The moment we crossed the threshold,

00:11:51my silver sight erupted.

00:11:53Dark serpent energy crawled across every wall

00:11:56and ceiling,

00:11:57coiling and shifting like something alive.

00:11:59It hulged at anyone with Hargreth blood,

00:12:01then recoiled the second it touched the silver light of my mark,

00:12:04shrieking back into the cracks.

00:12:06Jenna was walking ahead.

00:12:07I watched her cross the threshold,

00:12:09and I saw the exact moment her shoe came down

00:12:12on the protection line hidden beneath the doorframe.

00:12:15It was not an accident.

00:12:16The movement was too precise.

00:12:18The line snapped.

00:12:19The energy that had been held down broke loose all at once,

00:12:22and a wave of freezing air tore down the corridor like a blade.

00:12:26Oh, God!

00:12:27Oh, God!

00:12:28Help me!

00:12:28She stumbled backwards straight into his arms,

00:12:31clean and practiced, like a stage fall.

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

00:12:35One arm locked across her chest,

00:12:36and his first words were from me.

00:12:38Rowena!

00:12:39What the hell are you doing just standing there?

00:12:43You're a Whitmore!

00:12:44You're supposed to handle this!

00:12:47If Jenna gets hurt because of you,

00:12:49I swear you'll answer for it.

00:12:52I raised one hand,

00:12:53a silver seal dropped across the corridor,

00:12:55and the serpent energy shrank back into the walls.

00:12:58The hallway went still.

00:12:59I looked at Callum.

00:13:01You're welcome.

00:13:02I let the silence stretch for a moment.

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

00:13:07before slowly lifting my eyes to Jenna's shoes.

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

00:13:13Callum'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,

00:13:20as if she was the one being attacked.

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

00:13:24What exactly are you accusing her of?

00:13:26Nothing.

00:13:27Just giving you advice.

00:13:29While you're in this house,

00:13:31pay 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,

00:13:41Eleanor came in herself with a tray of peach blossom tea.

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

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

00:13:49I made this myself.

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

00:13:52It will calm your nerves.

00:13:54She had the warmth turned all the way on.

00:13:56Deep smile lines, a gentle voice,

00:13:58every inch the loving grandmother.

00:14:00Jenna sat beside Callum.

00:14:01She picked up his cup first,

00:14:02blew on it softly, and placed it in his hands.

00:14:04Drink it while it's hot.

00:14:06It'll warm you up.

00:14:07In my past life, I fell for all of it.

00:14:09I drank the tea,

00:14:10and by nightfall,

00:14:11my silver sight was almost blind.

00:14:13The poison had worked slowly and silently the whole time.

00:14:16When I tried to suppress the serpents that night,

00:14:18I kept making the wrong calls,

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

00:14:21I burned with fever for three days straight.

00:14:24And Jenna had been there the entire time,

00:14:26smiling sweetly as she added a spoonful of sugar to my cup.

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

00:14:31This time, I looked into my cup through the silver sight.

00:14:33The tea should have been pale amber,

00:14:35but beneath the surface,

00:14:36it was deep crimson.

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

00:14:39I picked up the cup and drank most of it.

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

00:14:43Under the cover of my sleeve,

00:14:45I pressed two fingers to my wrist

00:14:46and sealed my throat and chest with a silver seal.

00:14:49The poison slammed into the barrier

00:14:51and thrashed like a trapped thing,

00:14:52but 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,

00:14:58waiting for the sight to go dark.

00:14:59When I set the cup down,

00:15:01breathing evenly and looking straight back at her,

00:15:03I saw the corner of her smile crack.

00:15:05Just a twitch.

00:15:06Just one second.

00:15:08But it was there.

00:15:09Lucien picked up his own cup,

00:15:10gave it one slow sniff,

00:15:12then turned and poured the whole thing

00:15:13into the planter beside his chair.

00:15:15Too sweet.

00:15:17Hides the taste of rot.

00:15:18Eleanor's expression flickered.

00:15:20Calatin's eyes sharpened.

00:15:21My grandmother made that tea herself.

00:15:23You want to explain what the hell you're doing?

00:15:25I just did.

00:15:26Lucien looked at him calmly.

00:15:28Callum's face turned ugly.

00:15:30He was about to snap back

00:15:31when Jenna laid a hand on his arm.

00:15:32Callum, don't.

00:15:33We asked them to come here.

00:15:34It's fine, really.

00:15:35She said it in that soft, peacemaking voice.

00:15:38But as she lifted her own cup back to her lips,

00:15:41her eyes slid sideways to me,

00:15:43patient, calculating,

00:15:45waiting to see something

00:15:46that was never going to happen.

00:15:47I 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

00:15:57was exactly the kind of show

00:15:58the Hargroves loved to put on.

00:16:00Candles stretched down the table.

00:16:02Silver gleamed at every place setting,

00:16:04and there was more food

00:16:05than anyone could finish.

00:16:06Jenna sat to Callum's left,

00:16:08cutting her food with careful,

00:16:09effortless grace.

00:16:10Then she set down her knife,

00:16:12turned to me,

00:16:12and spoke in the softest,

00:16:14most concerned voice she had.

00:16:15Ladies, Rowena,

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

00:16:18With a scar like that on your face,

00:16:20do people avoid you when you go out?

00:16:22You must feel so lonely.

00:16:24I can't even imagine.

00:16:26Perfectly worded,

00:16:27perfectly gentle,

00:16:28loud enough for every servant

00:16:30in the room to hear.

00:16:31I held my knife and fork

00:16:32and did not respond.

00:16:33Jenna, don't say it like that.

00:16:35She's a guest,

00:16:36you'll embarrass her.

00:16:37In my past life,

00:16:38I had actually been grateful for that.

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

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

00:16:43He did not care whether I was humiliated.

00:16:46He just needed me to walk

00:16:47into that hall tomorrow night,

00:16:48and a scene at dinner

00:16:49would make things harder.

00:16:50That sentence was for him.

00:16:52Not for me.

00:16:53Jenna's face crumpled at once.

00:16:55Her eyes filled.

00:16:56I didn't mean it that way.

00:16:57I was worried about her.

00:16:59Callum,

00:17:00why are you making it sound

00:17:01like 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,

00:17:07Callum changed.

00:17:08The hardness left him,

00:17:10and his voice turned low and gentle.

00:17:12I know you didn't.

00:17:13I'm sorry.

00:17:15I shouldn't have said it like that.

00:17:17Lucian set down his silverware.

00:17:19I have a question.

00:17:20Is this how the Hargroves

00:17:22treat guests they begged for help?

00:17:23Every sound at the table stopped.

00:17:25Jenna's tears paused mid-fall.

00:17:28Callum's head snapped up,

00:17:29and the look he gave Lucian

00:17:30was full of real anger.

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

00:17:33Nobody asked for your opinion!

00:17:35Lucian did not move.

00:17:36He only held Callum's gaze

00:17:38and took his time answering.

00:17:39I came with Lady Whitmore.

00:17:40As long as she is here,

00:17:42I have every right to speak.

00:17:44Callum pressed one hand flat

00:17:45against the edge of the table.

00:17:47His jaw tightened,

00:17:48and his face went pale with fury.

00:17:49Rowena,

00:17:50control your people.

00:17:51I set my wine glass down slowly

00:17:53and looked at him.

00:17:54He's right.

00:17:55Callum,

00:17:56I came because your family

00:17:56begged me to save you.

00:17:58I did not come here

00:17:59to be insulted at your dinner table.

00:18:00If you can't understand the difference,

00:18:02I don't need to enter

00:18:03that hall tomorrow.

00:18:04I can leave tonight.

00:18:06Silence fell over the room.

00:18:08Then Callum exhaled through his nose,

00:18:10forced down his anger

00:18:11and ground out the words

00:18:12like they hurt.

00:18:12After dinner,

00:18:13I'll have Chester bring out

00:18:14the legacy book.

00:18:16I picked up my wine glass again

00:18:17and said nothing.

00:18:20Dinner ended,

00:18:21and I asked for the Hargro legacy book,

00:18:23the family's hand-print record

00:18:24dating back to 1840.

00:18:25It dorted how the serpent gate

00:18:27was first sealed and why.

00:18:28If the silver arrow

00:18:29was hidden somewhere on these grounds,

00:18:30there would be a trace of it

00:18:31in those pages.

00:18:33Callum's face tightened at once.

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

00:18:38You're here to deal with the curse,

00:18:40not dig through our family history.

00:18:42If I'm going to suppress

00:18:43what's down there,

00:18:44I need to know what caused it.

00:18:45The answer is in that book.

00:18:46Is that too hard for you to understand?

00:18:48He opened his mouth to argue,

00:18:49and Jenna let out a sharp little cry.

00:18:50Her elbow caught the wine bottle

00:18:51at the edge of the table.

00:18:52It tipped over and spilled

00:18:53half its contents

00:18:54across the tablecloth

00:18:54in a dark red wave.

00:18:56Servants rushed forward,

00:18:57and the moment broke apart.

00:18:58I'm so sorry.

00:18:59I'm so sorry.

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

00:19:01Callum leaned over

00:19:02and took her hands in his,

00:19:04checking them with a deep frown.

00:19:05You didn't cut yourself.

00:19:06It's just a bottle.

00:19:07It doesn't matter.

00:19:08Then he looked at me sideways,

00:19:09contempt clear in his eyes.

00:19:11All this over one old book?

00:19:13Did you really have to push that hard

00:19:14and scare her like that?

00:19:15What is this, an interrogation?

00:19:17I was not looking at him.

00:19:19Through the silver sight,

00:19:19I watched dark serpent energy

00:19:21pour from Jenna's sleeve

00:19:22and curl around the cabinet

00:19:23where the legacy book was kept

00:19:25like a hand pressing the doors shut.

00:19:27She had not dropped the bottle

00:19:29because her hands were unsteady.

00:19:31She had dropped it

00:19:32to keep that cabinet closed.

00:19:33I raised one hand.

00:19:34A silver seal shot across the room

00:19:35and pinned the serpent energy

00:19:36flat against the cabinet doors.

00:19:38Jenna went white.

00:19:39Lucian walked to the cabinet,

00:19:40opened it without asking,

00:19:41and looked calmly

00:19:41at Chester in the corner.

00:19:42Chester, bring out the legacy book.

00:19:44Chester hesitated.

00:19:45Then he lowered his head,

00:19:46took the yellowed leather volume

00:19:47of the wooden box inside the cabinet

00:19:48and held it out with both hands.

00:19:49I took it and opened it.

00:19:50I caught sight of the serpent brand

00:19:51running along the edge

00:19:52of Chester's sleeve.

00:19:53I filed it away.

00:19:56The first several pages

00:19:58of the legacy book

00:19:58had been cut out.

00:19:59Clean cuts.

00:20:01Blade cuts.

00:20:01Nothing old about them.

00:20:03Callum glanced over

00:20:04and dismissed it

00:20:04without missing a bead.

00:20:05It's a 150-year-old book.

00:20:07Pages go missing.

00:20:08That's not suspicious.

00:20:09That's time.

00:20:10Jenna stepped in right on cue.

00:20:13Exactly.

00:20:14Lady Rowena,

00:20:15the Hargroves have been

00:20:16a respectable family

00:20:17for generations.

00:20:18There's nothing to hide here.

00:20:19Don't you think you're reading

00:20:20too much into this?

00:20:21I ignored them both

00:20:22and bent over the torn edges,

00:20:23looking through the silver site.

00:20:25There it was,

00:20:26buried in the yellowed fringe,

00:20:27the faint silver glow

00:20:28of dried Whitmore blood,

00:20:29ancient and thin.

00:20:30Tangled through it

00:20:31was the serpent energy

00:20:32from the bracelet

00:20:32on Jenna's wrist,

00:20:33the exact same signature.

00:20:35She was the one

00:20:36who had cut out those pages,

00:20:37which meant she had known

00:20:38about the silver arrow

00:20:39all along.

00:20:40I was about to speak

00:20:41when the death mark

00:20:42on Callum's forehead

00:20:43split open.

00:20:44Serpent energy

00:20:45burst through his veins

00:20:46all at once,

00:20:47and the whole study shook.

00:20:48From deep inside,

00:20:50Hargrove Hall

00:20:50came a low,

00:20:51grinding sound,

00:20:52like something massive

00:20:53turning in its sleep.

00:20:55Callum's legs buckled.

00:20:56He caught the edge

00:20:57of a shelf,

00:20:58his face white,

00:20:58his teeth clenched,

00:20:59his breath coming

00:21:00in sharp pulls.

00:21:02Eleanor rushed across the room

00:21:03and grabbed my arm.

00:21:04Rowene, please,

00:21:06go tonight.

00:21:06You're the only one

00:21:07who can stop it.

00:21:08Please.

00:21:09I closed the legacy book.

00:21:11I'll enter Hargrove Hall tonight,

00:21:12but I'm going to question

00:21:14the serpent,

00:21:14not break the curse.

00:21:16Get that straight now.

00:21:17Then I turned to Jenna.

00:21:18My voice stayed calm,

00:21:19but every person in the room

00:21:20heard me one more thing.

00:21:21During the ritual tonight,

00:21:22Jenna does not come anywhere

00:21:23near the main hall.

00:21:24Her energy is corrupt.

00:21:25If she gets close,

00:21:25she'll provoke what's down there,

00:21:26and the entire formation

00:21:27will collapse.

00:21:28This is not a request.

00:21:29It's a condition.

00:21:30The study went completely silent.

00:21:32Jenna blinked.

00:21:34Then her head lowered,

00:21:35and tears rolled down her face

00:21:37without a sound.

00:21:39Callum pushed himself up

00:21:40from the shelf,

00:21:41still pale and tight with pain,

00:21:43and turned on me at once.

00:21:44On what grounds?

00:21:46Jenna came all this way

00:21:47because she was worried about me.

00:21:48You don't get to throw her out

00:21:49in the cold

00:21:49just because you hate her!

00:21:50On the grounds that

00:21:51if I walk in tonight,

00:21:53you live.

00:21:57Callum stayed quiet,

00:21:58but it was not over.

00:21:59He steadied himself

00:22:00against the shelf

00:22:01and started again

00:22:02a few seconds later.

00:22:03Even if you have to

00:22:04enter the hall tonight,

00:22:05that does not give you

00:22:06the right to leave

00:22:06Jenna outside alone.

00:22:07She scares easily.

00:22:09What if something happens

00:22:10and you are not there?

00:22:10Are you going to take

00:22:11responsibility for that?

00:22:12Jenna's tears fell faster,

00:22:13but she still reached out

00:22:14and grabbed Callum's sleeve

00:22:15with both hands.

00:22:16Callum, please don't fight

00:22:17with Lady Rowena.

00:22:18This is my fault.

00:22:18I shouldn't have come.

00:22:20You go in and let her

00:22:20do what she needs to do.

00:22:21Don't worry about me.

00:22:22I'll wait outside.

00:22:23I just want you safe.

00:22:24That's all I want.

00:22:25Every word landed

00:22:26exactly where she wanted it to.

00:22:27Callum's chest rose

00:22:29and fell hard.

00:22:30Then he turned

00:22:31all that anger on me.

00:22:32You hear that?

00:22:33She's willing to stand

00:22:35out there alone

00:22:35in the dark

00:22:36just to make things

00:22:37easier for you.

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

00:22:39Jenna stays by the door tonight.

00:22:41No one is stopping her.

00:22:42I looked at them

00:22:43without anger.

00:22:44I was not even surprised.

00:22:46This was the same performance

00:22:48they had put on

00:22:49in my past life.

00:22:50Jenna cried,

00:22:51Callum exploded,

00:22:51and every bit of blame

00:22:52in the room

00:22:53landed on me

00:22:53while they clung

00:22:54to each other.

00:22:55Perfectly timed.

00:22:57Perfectly practiced.

00:22:59I turned toward

00:23:00Hargrim Hall

00:23:01and spoke without

00:23:02looking back.

00:23:04Fine.

00:23:05Then keep your eyes

00:23:06open tonight.

00:23:09Whatever happens

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

00:23:13Behind me,

00:23:14I heard Callum murmur

00:23:15to Jenna.

00:23:17You're okay.

00:23:18I'm right here.

00:23:19I walked into the dark

00:23:20of Hargmite Hall

00:23:21without turning around.

00:23:22I already knew

00:23:23he would open that door

00:23:24for her when the time came.

00:23:25And the harder he fought

00:23:26to protect her tonight,

00:23:27the worse the backlash

00:23:28would hit him.

00:23:30Midnight.

00:23:31The main hall

00:23:32of Hargrave Hall.

00:23:33The wind howled

00:23:33through the walls

00:23:34like something

00:23:35was trying to claw

00:23:35its way out.

00:23:36The old chandelier

00:23:37swung overhead,

00:23:38its candles

00:23:39throwing long,

00:23:40crooked shadows

00:23:41across the room.

00:23:42The estate had gone still,

00:23:43except for the dull shiver

00:23:45that rolled up

00:23:45from beneath the floor

00:23:46every few minutes.

00:23:47Whatever had been

00:23:48sleeping down there

00:23:49was starting to wake.

00:23:50I stood in the center

00:23:51of the hall and focused.

00:23:52Whitmore blood

00:23:53ignited in my veins.

00:23:54Silver seals

00:23:55poured out of me

00:23:56in rings,

00:23:57spreading across the floor

00:23:58like a net of cold light,

00:24:00pressing the serpent energy

00:24:01back into the walls

00:24:02in stone.

00:24:03Building a formation

00:24:04like this

00:24:04burned through

00:24:05everything I had.

00:24:06Power,

00:24:07focus,

00:24:08and sheer will.

00:24:09But I did not

00:24:10let it show.

00:24:11My hands were steady.

00:24:13My face was calm.

00:24:15Callum stood

00:24:16on the far side

00:24:17of the formation,

00:24:18supported by

00:24:19the old butler.

00:24:20The death mark

00:24:21on his forehead

00:24:22pulsed blood red

00:24:23in the silver light.

00:24:24He was shaking,

00:24:25yet he still looked at me

00:24:26like he was doing me

00:24:27a favor by letting me help.

00:24:29How sure are you

00:24:30about this?

00:24:30I did not look at him,

00:24:32sure enough.

00:24:33A pause.

00:24:34I need more than questions.

00:24:35I need the death mark

00:24:36gone completely.

00:24:37Can you actually do that?

00:24:39I turned and looked at him

00:24:40properly for the first time.

00:24:42Callum,

00:24:42the only reason

00:24:43I'm standing in this room

00:24:44is because the silver arrow

00:24:45is here.

00:24:47Not because of you.

00:24:48Whether that mark

00:24:49comes off at all

00:24:51depends on whether

00:24:52the Hargroves start paying

00:24:53what they owe the Whitmans.

00:24:55We can discuss that later.

00:24:56He wanted to argue.

00:24:58Then the death mark

00:24:59tore at him again.

00:25:00And the sound

00:25:01that left his throat

00:25:02was not one he meant to make.

00:25:03He swallowed it down hard.

00:25:05Palm up.

00:25:06Catch the light

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

00:25:08Whatever you hear,

00:25:09whatever you see,

00:25:10do not move.

00:25:11This creature

00:25:11follows Hargrove blood.

00:25:13If you move,

00:25:13the backlash will bury you

00:25:14and I will not be able

00:25:15to pull you out.

00:25:15Callum raised

00:25:16his trembling right hand.

00:25:17This time,

00:25:18he said nothing.

00:25:21The last seal

00:25:22fell into place.

00:25:23The stone floor

00:25:24cracked with a deep,

00:25:26grinding boom

00:25:26that rose

00:25:27through the soles

00:25:28of my feet.

00:25:29The eternal flame

00:25:30in its copper lamp

00:25:31guttled

00:25:31until it was almost gone

00:25:33and the temperature dropped.

00:25:35So fast,

00:25:36it felt like the walls

00:25:36themselves

00:25:37were breathing out ice.

00:25:38The floor began

00:25:39to shake

00:25:40in small rapid tremors.

00:25:42White mist bled up

00:25:43through the cracks,

00:25:44spreading low

00:25:45and thick

00:25:45across the ground,

00:25:46catching the faint

00:25:47silver light

00:25:48of my formation.

00:25:49Then,

00:25:50from the center

00:25:51of the mist,

00:25:52she came.

00:25:54Althea.

00:25:55A thousand-year-old serpent,

00:25:57white as bone,

00:25:59as large as a river dragon,

00:26:00with golden-slit eyes

00:26:01burning in the dark

00:26:02like two cold fires.

00:26:04Decades of rage,

00:26:06grief,

00:26:06and imprisonment

00:26:07moved through

00:26:08the air around her

00:26:09like a physical force.

00:26:12The servants screamed.

00:26:15Eleanor collapsed

00:26:16to her knees.

00:26:17Callum made a sound

00:26:18he probably did not

00:26:19mean to make,

00:26:20as the death mark

00:26:21nearly tore itself open

00:26:23under the pressure

00:26:24of her presence.

00:26:25But when those golden eyes

00:26:27swept across the hall

00:26:28and found him,

00:26:29they stopped.

00:26:31She recognized something.

00:26:33The covenant.

00:26:34The silver light

00:26:36around me.

00:26:37Something older

00:26:38than her rage.

00:26:40Althea went still

00:26:41in a way she had not

00:26:42been still in years.

00:26:44Then she lowered

00:26:45her slowly,

00:26:46all the way to my feet.

00:26:48A low,

00:26:49grieving sound

00:26:49came from her throat,

00:26:51like a creature

00:26:52finally standing

00:26:53before the person

00:26:53it had been waiting for.

00:26:55No one in the room

00:26:55could speak.

00:26:57Callum's breathing

00:26:57was loud,

00:26:58raggled,

00:26:59and stunned.

00:27:00He had spent

00:27:01his whole life

00:27:02under the shadow

00:27:02of what she had done

00:27:03to his family.

00:27:05He had never expected

00:27:06to see her bow.

00:27:07I crouched

00:27:08and touched her scales.

00:27:09They were cold,

00:27:11smooth,

00:27:12and faintly luminous.

00:27:13Althea,

00:27:15I need to ask you something.

00:27:16The silver arrow,

00:27:18the one taken

00:27:18from the Whitmore family

00:27:19a hundred years ago

00:27:20and brought into this estate.

00:27:21Where is it?

00:27:22Her whole body convulsed.

00:27:24She reared halfway up,

00:27:26her great tail

00:27:26striking the stone floor

00:27:28as she pointed deeper

00:27:29into the estate.

00:27:31Somewhere farther in.

00:27:33One more step.

00:27:34One answer.

00:27:35That was all

00:27:36it would have taken.

00:27:39That was when

00:27:40the screaming started

00:27:41outside the hall doors.

00:27:42Callum!

00:27:43Callum, help me!

00:27:44It's going to eat me!

00:27:45Please!

00:27:45Every note

00:27:46was perfectly pitched.

00:27:47Every word landed

00:27:48right at the weakest

00:27:49seam of the ritual.

00:27:51I did not move.

00:27:52But Althea's head

00:27:53snapped up

00:27:53and her golden eyes

00:27:55flooded red.

00:27:56I turned to Callum.

00:27:58Do you remember

00:27:59what I told you

00:28:00earlier tonight?

00:28:00His hand had already

00:28:01curled into a fist.

00:28:03Something broke

00:28:04behind his eyes

00:28:04when he heard

00:28:05Jenna's voice.

00:28:06He stared at the door,

00:28:08throat working,

00:28:09and then he ran.

00:28:10Callum!

00:28:11That's Jenna!

00:28:12I don't care!

00:28:13He threw the doors open.

00:28:14Jenna crashed into him

00:28:16from the other side,

00:28:17shaking,

00:28:17soaked with tears

00:28:18and buried her face

00:28:19in his chest.

00:28:20I was so scared.

00:28:21I just wanted to make

00:28:22sure you were okay.

00:28:23I needed to see you.

00:28:25That thing is terrifying,

00:28:27Callum.

00:28:27I couldn't stay out there.

00:28:28The second her foot

00:28:29crossed the threshold,

00:28:31Serpent Energy burst free

00:28:32from her coral bracelet.

00:28:34It came in a dark,

00:28:36thick wave,

00:28:37carrying a resonance

00:28:38that matched Althea's

00:28:40imprisoned resentment.

00:28:42Frequency for frequency.

00:28:45A signal going both ways.

00:28:48Althea felt it.

00:28:50The red in her eyes

00:28:52deepened.

00:28:53Her scales lifted

00:28:55all across her body

00:28:56as she rose higher.

00:28:58And the sound she made

00:28:59was no longer grief.

00:29:01I stood still

00:29:03with my hands

00:29:03behind my back.

00:29:04In my past life,

00:29:05I had thrown myself

00:29:06in front of that rage.

00:29:08I took all of it

00:29:08so they would not have to.

00:29:10Afterward,

00:29:11I burned with fever

00:29:12for three days

00:29:12and nearly died twice

00:29:13before the fever broke.

00:29:15When I woke up,

00:29:16Callum stood beside my bed

00:29:17with Jenna at his side

00:29:18and said,

00:29:19She needs me more than you do.

00:29:20You're tough.

00:29:21You'll be fine on your own.

00:29:23This time,

00:29:24I breathed out slowly

00:29:25and quietly

00:29:26and I let it happen.

00:29:30Althea hit them

00:29:32like a wave

00:29:32smashing into a wall.

00:29:34The formation shattered.

00:29:36The eternal flame died.

00:29:38The silver seals

00:29:40cracked all at once

00:29:41with a sound

00:29:42like breaking ice.

00:29:44And the core

00:29:44of the ritual collapsed.

00:29:47The whole hall convulsed.

00:29:53Callum was thrown backward

00:29:54and slammed into

00:29:55the offering table

00:29:56hard enough

00:29:57to knock it over.

00:29:58He hit the ground

00:29:59coughing blood.

00:30:01Jenna went down

00:30:02beside him

00:30:02white-faced

00:30:04with blood

00:30:05at the corner

00:30:05of her mouth.

00:30:06The ground shook.

00:30:10Serpent Heeks

00:30:11rose from every crack

00:30:12in the stone

00:30:13growing louder

00:30:14and closer.

00:30:16If the formation

00:30:18stayed broken,

00:30:19the serpents

00:30:21under the estate

00:30:21would come up

00:30:22through the floor.

00:30:24Everyone in this house

00:30:26would die.

00:30:26That included me

00:30:27and Lucian.

00:30:29I pressed my fingers

00:30:31together

00:30:31like a blade

00:30:33and cut across

00:30:33my own palm.

00:30:38Silver blood

00:30:39fell onto

00:30:39the extinguished flame.

00:30:41The fire came back

00:30:42like an explosion.

00:30:44Three feet

00:30:45of silver flame

00:30:46roared up

00:30:47from the lamp,

00:30:48flooding the hall

00:30:49in cold light.

00:30:51Althema hit that light

00:30:52and went rigid.

00:30:53The red drained

00:30:54from her eyes.

00:30:55She lowered herself

00:30:57to the floor,

00:30:58pressed her head

00:30:59against my feet

00:31:00and went still,

00:31:02breathing

00:31:02slow and deep,

00:31:04like something

00:31:05finally put to rest.

00:31:07The hall went quiet.

00:31:12Then Calium

00:31:13dragged himself up

00:31:14from the floor

00:31:15with one arm

00:31:15around Jenna.

00:31:17He looked across

00:31:18the ruined hall

00:31:18at me,

00:31:19standing in the silver

00:31:20light with blood

00:31:21still running

00:31:22down my wrist.

00:31:23For one moment,

00:31:24he just stared.

00:31:26Then he opened

00:31:27his mouth.

00:31:28Rowena!

00:31:28You could control

00:31:29that thing

00:31:30the whole time!

00:31:31So why the hell

00:31:32did you just stand there

00:31:32and let it go

00:31:33after Jenna?

00:31:34What is wrong

00:31:35with you?

00:31:36What sick game

00:31:38are you playing?

00:31:40He said it

00:31:41like he was

00:31:41the victim.

00:31:43Like he was not

00:31:44the one who had

00:31:44opened that door

00:31:45after a direct

00:31:46warning.

00:31:47Like I was not

00:31:48standing in front

00:31:48of him,

00:31:49bleeding to hold

00:31:50the ritual together.

00:31:53I looked down

00:31:54at my palm.

00:31:55The silver blood

00:31:56was already slowing.

00:31:58I did not answer

00:31:59him.

00:32:00In Calium's arms,

00:32:01too quietly for him

00:32:02to notice,

00:32:03Jenna lifted her head.

00:32:05Her face was wet,

00:32:06her hair a mess,

00:32:07tears still drying

00:32:08on her cheeks.

00:32:09But from an angle

00:32:10he could not see,

00:32:11the corner of her

00:32:12mouth curved.

00:32:13Less than a second.

00:32:15I caught every bit

00:32:16of it.

00:32:16I almost wanted

00:32:17to laugh.

00:32:18It was the same

00:32:19in this life

00:32:20as it had been

00:32:20in the last.

00:32:21Jenna worked in the dark,

00:32:23soft and sweet

00:32:24and untouchable.

00:32:26And Calum,

00:32:27righteous,

00:32:28devoted,

00:32:29completely blind Calum,

00:32:30picked up every knife

00:32:31she left behind

00:32:32and walked it

00:32:32straight into me.

00:32:33except this time

00:32:35I was not the one

00:32:36bleeding out

00:32:36on the floor.

00:32:38This time,

00:32:40I was the one

00:32:41still standing.

00:32:44I stood in the

00:32:45ruined hall,

00:32:46the cold serpent

00:32:47energy still lingering

00:32:49in the air

00:32:49like frost

00:32:50on my skin.

00:32:54Calum's accusation

00:32:55hung between us,

00:32:57sharp and accusatory.

00:32:59I didn't rush

00:33:00to defend myself.

00:33:01Instead,

00:33:03I raised my hand

00:33:04and let the silver

00:33:05seat flare.

00:33:09Silver light

00:33:10swept over Jenna,

00:33:12amplifying the dark

00:33:13serpent patterns

00:33:14twisting on her

00:33:15coral bracelet.

00:33:16They projected

00:33:17clearly onto the wall,

00:33:19rivaling like

00:33:19living shadows.

00:33:23The exact energy

00:33:25that had provoked

00:33:26Althea.

00:33:27The servants gasp.

00:33:29Eleanor's face

00:33:30drained of colour.

00:33:31Jenna's expression

00:33:32crumpled

00:33:33as she threw

00:33:34herself into

00:33:35Callum's arms,

00:33:36sobbing violently.

00:33:38Calum,

00:33:38I don't know

00:33:39what that is.

00:33:40I really don't.

00:33:43Did Lady Rowish

00:33:44do this on purpose

00:33:45to scare me?

00:33:47Callum pulled her

00:33:48tighter,

00:33:49his voice rising

00:33:50in fury

00:33:51as he glared

00:33:51at me.

00:33:53Rowena,

00:33:53enough!

00:33:55You already

00:33:56hurt her tonight

00:33:56and now you want

00:33:57to humiliate her

00:33:58in front of everyone?

00:33:59The disbelief

00:34:00hit me hard.

00:34:02Evidence

00:34:02right in front of him

00:34:03and still he chose her.

00:34:05Lucian stepped

00:34:06to my side,

00:34:06his voice like ice.

00:34:08Are you blind?

00:34:09Or has your brain

00:34:10rotted too?

00:34:11You have no right

00:34:12to speak here!

00:34:13I held Lucian back

00:34:14with a hand on his arm.

00:34:14No need to argue with him.

00:34:16Serpent energy

00:34:16recognises its own

00:34:17and so does Althea.

00:34:18Callum,

00:34:18you can keep pretending

00:34:19not to see it

00:34:19but the formation

00:34:20collapsed tonight

00:34:20because you opened

00:34:21that door yourself.

00:34:22Callum's face stiffened.

00:34:23Jenna cried even harder.

00:34:24I turned away from them,

00:34:25crouching beside Althea

00:34:26and placing my hand

00:34:27on her head.

00:34:27The great white serpent

00:34:28calmed under my touch,

00:34:29lowering her head

00:34:29like a tamed beast.

00:34:30Everyone saw it.

00:34:31The serpents didn't fear me.

00:34:32They feared the Hargroves.

00:34:35Lucian helped me

00:34:36back to my room.

00:34:38The cut in my palms

00:34:39still seeped silver blood

00:34:41and the Lunarn Hunt

00:34:42scar on my face burned.

00:34:44Every use of the covenant

00:34:45reminded me

00:34:46of the price I had paid.

00:34:47my face for this power.

00:34:50Lucian banded the wound

00:34:51with careful hands,

00:34:53his touch gentle,

00:34:54as if afraid to break me.

00:34:56Don't cut so deep next time.

00:34:58If I hadn't,

00:34:59this entire estate

00:35:01would have collapsed tonight.

00:35:03That's not your burden

00:35:04alone to carry.

00:35:04I looked up at him.

00:35:07He met my eyes steadily,

00:35:09never flinching

00:35:10from the scar,

00:35:11only seeing me.

00:35:13After my re-rebirth,

00:35:14I had accepted

00:35:15that trading my beauty

00:35:17meant no man

00:35:18would love me again.

00:35:20Others saw fear

00:35:21or disgust first,

00:35:23but Lucian never did.

00:35:24I pulled my hand away,

00:35:26my voice turning cold.

00:35:28Don't be too good to me.

00:35:30I don't need it.

00:35:32Whether you need it

00:35:33is your business.

00:35:34Whether I do it

00:35:36is mine.

00:35:36Footsteps sounded outside.

00:35:39Callum stood in the doorway,

00:35:41his face dark.

00:35:43Seeing Lupien holding my hand

00:35:45made his expression

00:35:46twist with jealousy.

00:35:48So you have time

00:35:49for your servant

00:35:50to fawn him over you.

00:35:51I smiled coldly.

00:35:53At least he knows

00:35:54who was bleeding.

00:35:55Unlike some people

00:35:57who only held

00:35:58the real culvert

00:35:59while accusing me.

00:36:01Callum's face

00:36:02darkened further.

00:36:03Tomorrow morning,

00:36:04you're coming with me

00:36:05to the family cemetery.

00:36:06I need to know

00:36:07why this serpent

00:36:08clings to the Hargroves.

00:36:09Fine,

00:36:10but Jenna stays behind.

00:36:12You're meddling too much.

00:36:14I said nothing.

00:36:16I knew Jenna

00:36:17would come anyway.

00:36:21Jenna appeared

00:36:22the next day,

00:36:23wrapped in a pale cloak,

00:36:25looking frail

00:36:26as she clung

00:36:27to Callum's side.

00:36:30Callum,

00:36:30I can't let you go alone.

00:36:32Let me come.

00:36:34I promise

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

00:36:37Callum glanced at me,

00:36:38waiting for protest.

00:36:40I stayed silent.

00:36:42Let her.

00:36:43The closer she gets

00:36:45to the truth,

00:36:46the faster her mask slips.

00:36:48Jenna's eyes flickered

00:36:50before she looked down.

00:36:51We reached

00:36:52the Hargrove Cemetery,

00:36:54where serpent energy

00:36:55coiled around

00:36:56every grave.

00:36:57My silver sight

00:36:58revealed snake bones

00:37:00pressed beneath

00:37:01each male

00:37:02Hargrove tombstone.

00:37:03This was no simple curse.

00:37:05It was a betrayal.

00:37:07What do you see?

00:37:09Your family wasn't

00:37:10cursed by serpents.

00:37:12You used them first,

00:37:13then betrayed them.

00:37:16Jenna suddenly cried out

00:37:18and stumbled,

00:37:19her hand landing

00:37:20precisely on a formation node.

00:37:22Serpent energy erupted.

00:37:26Callum rushed to her.

00:37:29Jenna!

00:37:30I saw dark energy

00:37:32flash between her fingers.

00:37:33In my past life,

00:37:35I thought it was an accident.

00:37:39Now I knew better.

00:37:42Lucian stepped in front of me,

00:37:43and the underground bones

00:37:45recoiled from him,

00:37:46as if terrified.

00:37:48A question stirred in my mind.

00:37:53Who exactly was Lucian?

00:37:57Jenna clung to Callum,

00:37:59claiming her legs

00:38:00had simply given out.

00:38:02He held her protectively,

00:38:04but turned on me in anger.

00:38:07You knew it was dangerous here!

00:38:09Why didn't you clear it first?

00:38:13Did you see her step on the node?

00:38:15Callum paused.

00:38:17Jenna lifted her tear-stripped face.

00:38:22Lady Rowena,

00:38:23I know you dislike me,

00:38:25but I didn't touch any node.

00:38:27I was just scared.

00:38:29Callum's gaze softened

00:38:31toward her immediately.

00:38:33Rowena, enough.

00:38:35Stop pinning everything on her!

00:38:38I didn't argue.

00:38:39I extracted the Serpent energy

00:38:42from her palm,

00:38:43and held it suspended in the air,

00:38:47a rivaling black thread

00:38:49trying to return to her sleeve.

00:38:52Jenna paled.

00:38:55Still need an explanation?

00:38:57Callum saw it.

00:38:59Everyone did.

00:39:00But after a moment,

00:39:02he muttered,

00:39:04Maybe the node latched onto her.

00:39:06I laughed bitterly.

00:39:07In my past life,

00:39:08I thought he was blind.

00:39:10Now I realized he saw.

00:39:11He just refused to admit it.

00:39:14Lucian spoke softly behind me.

00:39:16He doesn't deserve a single word from you.

00:39:18His words eased some of the cold weight in my chest.

00:39:22I turned back to the graves.

00:39:25Keep digging.

00:39:28Jenna's desperation to interrupt means

00:39:30there's something important down there.

00:39:34I used silver blood on the tombstone.

00:39:38A fragment of memory rose.

00:39:41Centuries ago,

00:39:42Althea had willingly guarded the Hargroves,

00:39:46shielding them and even giving her white scales as a token.

00:39:49They repaid her by stabbing her with the stolen silver arrow while she slept,

00:39:54turning her into a living lock for the Serpent Gate.

00:39:58She was no monster.

00:40:00She was a betrayed protector.

00:40:03When the vision faded,

00:40:05Callum looked grim.

00:40:08I expected him to ask about Althea.

00:40:11Instead,

00:40:12If she's the living lock,

00:40:15she can still hold the gate, right?

00:40:17I turned slowly,

00:40:19anger flaring.

00:40:21That's all you take from this?

00:40:24The Hugg family cannot fall.

00:40:27I need to know how to save it.

00:40:29His selfishness drained even my rage.

00:40:32In my past life,

00:40:33my pain,

00:40:34my blood,

00:40:34my life had only ever been tools to him.

00:40:38Jenna squeezed his hand gently.

00:40:40Callum,

00:40:41you're just worried about the family.

00:40:42Lady Rowena wouldn't understand your burden.

00:40:45Her voice was soft,

00:40:46but her eyes smiled.

00:40:48Lucian's hand tightened on his sword hilt.

00:40:50Don't rush.

00:40:51Let them dig their own graves deeper.

00:40:55The filthier their words now,

00:40:57the cleaner the reckoning later.

00:41:01Later,

00:41:02Jenna sought me out alone.

00:41:05Her gentle mask dropped completely

00:41:08as she leaned against a corazilla,

00:41:10twisting her coral bracelet.

00:41:13You must feel so smug right now,

00:41:15making Callum look bad,

00:41:17making everyone doubt me,

00:41:20enjoying yourself.

00:41:22It's nowhere near as entertaining

00:41:25as you feeding serpents

00:41:27while playing the helpless victim.

00:41:30She laughed,

00:41:31her eyes turning venomous.

00:41:33You're much smarter than last time.

00:41:34So you remember too?

00:41:38Jenna didn't answer directly.

00:41:41She stroked the bracelet.

00:41:45Whether I remember doesn't matter.

00:41:48Callum will always believe me.

00:41:50You can shove proof in his face,

00:41:52and he'll still make excuses for me.

00:41:55Her words cut deep,

00:41:57laced with malice.

00:41:59Look at you.

00:42:01Traded your face for power.

00:42:03And still no one loves you.

00:42:06How pathetic.

00:42:08You think I still want Callum's love?

00:42:10Jenna stepped closer,

00:42:11lowering her voice.

00:42:13Of course you do.

00:42:14Once a woman has been loved,

00:42:16she always craves it back.

00:42:18You're just pretending to be clear-headed now.

00:42:21She reached toward my scar.

00:42:23Lucian emerged from the shadows

00:42:25and seized her wrist.

00:42:26Touch her again,

00:42:27and I'll cut off your hand.

00:42:29Jenna winced in pain,

00:42:31but quickly shifted to a pitiful expression

00:42:33as Callum's foot stems approached.

00:42:36Callum!

00:42:37He's trying to kill me!

00:42:44I only wanted to apologize to Lady Rowena,

00:42:47but he suddenly grabbed me.

00:42:49I was so scared.

00:42:51Let her go.

00:42:54Lucian,

00:42:55release her.

00:42:57Rowena, control your people.

00:42:59Don't forget,

00:43:01this is the Hargro estate.

00:43:06I remember perfectly.

00:43:08That's exactly why it's so filthy here.

00:43:17I remember perfectly.

00:43:23See that?

00:43:24Every time she touches you,

00:43:26your mark deepens.

00:43:27What trick did you pull?

00:43:29Wonderful.

00:43:30She poisons you,

00:43:31and I get blamed.

00:43:33You really are her perfect blade.

00:43:35Lucian stepped beside me.

00:43:39Let's go.

00:43:40Don't waste time on fools.

00:43:45This time,

00:43:45I didn't disagree.

00:43:49Late that night,

00:43:50Chester knocked on my door,

00:43:52holding a lantern with perfect servant deference.

00:43:53Lady Whitmere,

00:43:54the old madam asks if you will enter the hall again tomorrow.

00:43:57Eleanor did the serpent send you,

00:43:58did she?

00:43:59Chester's expression stayed neutral.

00:44:01You're overthinking.

00:44:02I sealed the room with silver seals.

00:44:04Only Lucian and I remained with him.

00:44:05Chester finally looked up.

00:44:07The silver sight lives up to its name.

00:44:09How many years have you hidden in the Hargroves?

00:44:1143.

00:44:12He spoke calmly.

00:44:13The Hargroves think they can control the serpent gate,

00:44:15but those behind it have waited for them to walk into the trap.

00:44:17I asked about the silver arrow.

00:44:19You want the sacred relic.

00:44:21The serpent court wants it.

00:44:22Callum wants it to survive.

00:44:24Jenna wants it to open the gate.

00:44:26Everyone is waiting for you to act,

00:44:27Lady Whitmore.

00:44:29Callum,

00:44:29I just saw Chester enter Lady Rowena's room.

00:44:31Are they plotting something?

00:44:35Rowena,

00:44:35what exactly are you doing behind my back?

00:44:42Callum immediately accused me

00:44:44of colluding with the serpent court through Chester.

00:44:48I didn't deny seeking the arrow.

00:44:53It was my goal.

00:44:55He seized on it,

00:44:57turning everyone against me.

00:45:01You were never here to save us.

00:45:04You came for Hargrave possessions from the start.

00:45:07That relic belongs to Whitmore,

00:45:11not Hargrige.

00:45:13Jenna spoke softly.

00:45:15Callum,

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

00:45:20I didn't dare say it before.

00:45:23I feared you'd think me petty.

00:45:25Her eyes reddened again.

00:45:29Callum's disgust towards me deepened.

00:45:31Hand over your silver seals.

00:45:35From now on,

00:45:36any ritual needs my approval.

00:45:39You want to control my power

00:45:41to manage the gate?

00:45:43This is my home!

00:45:46I have the right to know

00:45:47what you're doing.

00:45:49I summoned a wisp of Althea's

00:45:51white serpent shadow.

00:45:53It coiled around Callum's death mark.

00:45:56He cried out in pain,

00:45:58face paling.

00:46:00You have the right to know this,

00:46:01for example.

00:46:02You're still standing,

00:46:04only because I allow it.

00:46:06Jenna stumbled back in fear.

00:46:09Callum stared at me

00:46:10with a mix of rage

00:46:11and newfound terror.

00:46:13Lucien spoke quietly at my side.

00:46:15She saves you by choice,

00:46:18not obligation.

00:46:19Remember that.

00:46:27Eleanor called a family meeting,

00:46:29summoning all Hargroff branches.

00:46:33It was framed as discussing the gate,

00:46:36but clearly meant to force me

00:46:38to submit publicly.

00:46:40Many saw my scarred face

00:46:42for the first time.

00:46:44Whispers spread,

00:46:45how terrifying the scar was.

00:46:47How no wonder Callum preferred Jenna.

00:46:52I heard every word.

00:46:54In my past life,

00:46:55such talk would have crushed me.

00:46:58Now it was just noise.

00:47:00Eleanor sat at the head,

00:47:01voice heavy.

00:47:05Lady Whitmora,

00:47:06your power is great,

00:47:08but we've seen your emotions

00:47:11are unstable.

00:47:12For the family's safety,

00:47:15the sealing arts cannot remain

00:47:17solely in your hands.

00:47:19Callum didn't intervene.

00:47:22He sat silently,

00:47:25endorsing the ambush.

00:47:27Jenna added fuel.

00:47:31I'm only worried Lady Roeth might resent me,

00:47:35and take it out on the entire Hargroff family.

00:47:39All eyes turned to me.

00:47:40All eyes turned to me.

00:47:41I stood and activated the silver sight.

00:47:43Behind every person,

00:47:45shadows of sacrificed women appeared,

00:47:47maids,

00:47:48adopted daughters,

00:47:49wives offered as tribute.

00:47:51Those who had mocked my scar

00:47:52dropped to their knees in terror.

00:47:55You wanted to talk safety?

00:47:56Then look at how many lives

00:47:58you've trampled beneath your feet.

00:48:01Jenna's smile finally shattered.

00:48:07Chaos erupted after the ghosts appeared.

00:48:09Some begged me to withdraw the sight.

00:48:11Others accused Eleanor.

00:48:12She paled and instinctively protected

00:48:13the legacy book.

00:48:14I saw it.

00:48:15The sacrifice ledger is inside the book.

00:48:17Eleanor's hand froze.

00:48:18Callum tried to block me.

00:48:19Rowena, don't make this uglier.

00:48:20The ugly one is your family's

00:48:21centuries of blood debt.

00:48:22Jenna clutched her chest,

00:48:24collapsing into a chair.

00:48:25I can't breathe.

00:48:27Callum, I'm so scared.

00:48:28Callum moved to help her,

00:48:30but a white serpent shadow blocked him,

00:48:33staring coldly at Jenna.

00:48:35She stopped aggivating her sobs.

00:48:37I approached Eleanor.

00:48:39Give me the ledger.

00:48:41Eleanor forced a smile.

00:48:43Child, those are old matters.

00:48:45You already died once.

00:48:46Why keep pursuing?

00:48:49I leaned close.

00:48:51Because I died once.

00:48:53I know exactly what being chosen

00:48:55by you feels like.

00:48:57Callum watched with fleeting complexity

00:49:00before Jenna's sobs

00:49:01pulled him away again.

00:49:03My cold laugh deepened.

00:49:07He was never worth it.

00:49:09Callum tried a softer approach

00:49:11that evening,

00:49:12coming to my room

00:49:13with a gentler tone.

00:49:16Roland,

00:49:17we can cooperate.

00:49:19You want the silver arrow?

00:49:21I want the Hargroves to survive.

00:49:23Our goals...

00:49:24McLean.

00:49:25I knew what came next.

00:49:27The same fake-fake concern

00:49:29from my past life.

00:49:30I know some words hurt you before,

00:49:32but now isn't the time

00:49:34to dwell on it.

00:49:35Some words?

00:49:36I turned my face

00:49:38so he could see the scar clearly.

00:49:40You mocked my face,

00:49:42protected Jenna as she harmed me,

00:49:44demanded my seals.

00:49:47And you call it some words?

00:49:50Callum frowned.

00:49:51You're too sensitive now.

00:49:53Lucian entered with medicine

00:49:54and overheard.

00:49:56She died once

00:49:57because of you all.

00:49:58And now you call her sensitive?

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

00:50:02Her servant?

00:50:03Guard?

00:50:04Or just the dog she keeps?

00:50:05Lucian remained calm.

00:50:07I can be anything she wants.

00:50:09But you?

00:50:10You're different.

00:50:11How?

00:50:11Even when she bleeds,

00:50:13you only ask why she didn't protect others.

00:50:15The room fell silent.

00:50:17I looked away,

00:50:18no longer wanting to hear Callum.

00:50:21Give me the key.

00:50:22Tomorrow we enter the underground chamber.

00:50:26Callum gritted his teeth

00:50:28and placed the key on the table.

00:50:33The underground chamber lay behind Hargrot Hall.

00:50:37Dust and serpent energy rushed out

00:50:39as the door opened.

00:50:40Whitmore hunting tools,

00:50:42silver blades,

00:50:42short bows,

00:50:43chains,

00:50:44hung on the walls like trophies.

00:50:46My chest tightened.

00:50:48These belonged to my family,

00:50:49displayed as Hargrok spoils.

00:50:52As I approached,

00:50:53the tools hummed in recognition.

00:50:55Several blades tilted toward me.

00:50:57Callum's eyes gleamed with greed.

00:51:00If these can suppress the gate,

00:51:02why not lend them to the Hargroves first?

00:51:05After stealing them for centuries,

00:51:07you still want to borrow more?

00:51:08Jenna followed us in.

00:51:10Seeing the tools respond to me,

00:51:12jealously flashed in her eyes.

00:51:14Impressive.

00:51:16Too bad it all came at the cost of your face.

00:51:20Lucien took a loosened silver blade from the wall

00:51:22and placed it in my hand.

00:51:24They recognize you,

00:51:25not because of your face,

00:51:28but because you are Whitmore.

00:51:30His words settled warmly in my heart.

00:51:32I gripped the blade.

00:51:34Silver light bloomed.

00:51:35All the tools vibrated in univine.

00:51:37Jenna's expression soured completely.

00:51:39What she hated most wasn't my strength.

00:51:42It was that even scarred,

00:51:43I still had someone standing by my side.

00:51:45Deepest in the chamber hung an old painting.

00:51:48The first Whitmore lunar huntress

00:51:50beside a golden-horned white deer.

00:51:52The deer shielded her from serpents.

00:51:55Its antlers wrapped in moonlight.

00:51:58Lucien's face changed when he saw it.

00:52:00He looked away too late.

00:52:02You've seen this painting?

00:52:03No.

00:52:03He answered too quickly.

00:52:05Callum noticed,

00:52:06his expression turning dangerous.

00:52:07Seems your servant knows quite a lot.

00:52:08I stepped in front of Lucien.

00:52:10None of your concern.

00:52:11Callum sneered.

00:52:11Rowena, you'd shield a mere servant from me?

00:52:13Lucien's eyes chilled.

00:52:14I spoke calmly without turning.

00:52:15He is not a mere servant.

00:52:16Lucien fell silent.

00:52:18My own heart stirred unexpectedly at the words.

00:52:20Jenna watched with a light laugh.

00:52:22Lady Rowena is so enviable.

00:52:24Face ruined,

00:52:25yet still so protected.

00:52:27How much of that protection is real, I wonder?

00:52:30At least more than what you stole.

00:52:32Her face darkened.

00:52:34Suddenly, her bracelet glowed.

00:52:36Serpent energy corrupted the tools,

00:52:38turning them against me.

00:52:41Jenna cried out in fake alarm.

00:52:43Callum, watch out!

00:52:44The tools have gone out of control!

00:52:46But excitement burned in her eyes.

00:52:48The tools lunged at me.

00:52:52They heard their silver lament.

00:52:55They didn't want to harm their true owner.

00:52:58Jenna's serpent energy forced them.

00:52:59Callum's first instinct was to shield Jenna.

00:53:03Rowena, control them!

00:53:04Don't let them touch Jenna!

00:53:06I ignored him and summoned the moon-silver bow.

00:53:10Moonlight formed the string.

00:53:13I fired arrows, tearing serpent energy from the blades one by one.

00:53:19They fell obediently at my feet.

00:53:22Each shot burned my scar like a fresh blade cut.

00:53:24Pain seared through me.

00:53:25I grit my teeth and kept drawing.

00:53:28Lucian suddenly grabbed my hand.

00:53:29Enough!

00:53:30Not yet cleared!

00:53:31I said enough, you're hurting!

00:53:32Everyone else fixated on my scar.

00:53:34Fearing, hating, using it.

00:53:35Only Lucian cared if it hurt.

00:53:36This isn't the time for your intimacy.

00:53:38Rowena, continue!

00:53:40Lucian turned on him.

00:53:41Shut your mouth!

00:53:43Callum's face darkened.

00:53:46I released the bowstring, refusing his order for the first time.

00:53:50The rest can wait until I decide.

00:53:52Jenna looked furious.

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

00:53:55She never expected Lucian could make me stop, or that I would choose to for him.

00:54:01I followed Jaina into the underground water chath.

00:54:04She stood on the stone steps before the outer serpent gate.

00:54:07Her innocent mask finally debardened.

00:54:09Do you know where the silver arrow really is?

00:54:11I remained silent, gripping the hilt of the silver blade,

00:54:14see the sound echoing coldly off the walls.

00:54:16It's not in the chamber.

00:54:18It's buried in Althea's heart.

00:54:20The first Hargroves used it to nail her into the earth vein,

00:54:24and create this gate.

00:54:26My fingers tightened painfully.

00:54:28The weight of generations of betrayal pressed down on me.

00:54:31Jenna stepped closer, her voice dripping venom.

00:54:34If you want Whitmore's relic back, you'll have to pull the arrow.

00:54:38But the moment you do, the gate opens.

00:54:41Everyone will blame you for destroying Hargrove Hall.

00:54:44Callum will hate you.

00:54:45Eleanor will hate you.

00:54:46They'll say you did it because no one could love your scarred face.

00:54:49The words stung, but not as deeply as they once would have.

00:54:52I met her gaze steadily,

00:54:53the lunar scar on my cheek pulsing with silver light.

00:54:56You still think I care what Callum's thinks of me?

00:54:59Jenna's smile faltered for a split second.

00:55:01I continued, my voice low but firm.

00:55:04You're wrong.

00:55:05I didn't come back to prove I'm worthy of love.

00:55:07I came to make sure all of you pay what you owe.

00:55:11Her expression turned ugly.

00:55:13She spat one last barb,

00:55:14before leaping deeper into the waterway.

00:55:17You really think Lucian will keep protecting you?

00:55:20Men are all the same.

00:55:21Once he gets tired of looking at that face,

00:55:24he'll leave too.

00:55:26I stood there as her footsteps faded,

00:55:28the cold water lapping at my boots.

00:55:30Her words tried to burrow into old wounds,

00:55:32but Lucian's steady presence in my mind pushed them back.

00:55:34I turned and climbed back to the surface,

00:55:37the truth now clear in my heart.

00:55:38The silver arrow rested in Althea's chest.

00:55:42Back above ground,

00:55:43I found Lucian waiting in the shadows of the hall.

00:55:46His quiet strength grounded me

00:55:48as I told him what Jenna had revealed.

00:55:50He listened without interruption,

00:55:52his eyes never leaving mine.

00:55:53Will you pull it?

00:55:55I have to,

00:55:56but not recklessly.

00:55:57I'll use Callum's blood,

00:55:59Jenna's serpent contract,

00:56:01Chester's serpent court mark,

00:56:03and Eleanor's sacrifice ledger to form a new seal.

00:56:06Lucian studied me carefully,

00:56:08no fear in his gaze,

00:56:09only unwavering resolve.

00:56:11Then we do it.

00:56:12A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

00:56:15You won't ask if I'll turn into a monster?

00:56:17You won't.

00:56:19How can you be so sure?

00:56:21He paused,

00:56:22then stepped closer,

00:56:23and gently re-wrapped the bandage on my palm.

00:56:27Because even when you could have let Callum die tonight,

00:56:29you still saved the entire estate.

00:56:32His words pierced through the armor I had built around my heart.

00:56:35I had hated them all so fiercely,

00:56:38yet I refused to become the destroyer they feared.

00:56:41Lucian saw that in me when no one else did.

00:56:43The scar on my face burned less fiercely in that moment.

00:56:46Tomorrow we go to Eleanor.

00:56:48Good.

00:56:48I lingered in his presence a moment longer,

00:56:51drawing quiet comfort from the way he stood guard beside me,

00:56:55unflinching.

00:56:57Eleanor refused to surrender the sacrifice's ledger.

00:57:00She sat in the main study,

00:57:02cradling her peach blossom tea.

00:57:03Her grandmotherly facade finally stripped away to reveal cold calculation.

00:57:07Rowena,

00:57:08you already know too much.

00:57:10A smart girl knows when to stop.

00:57:12The memories flooded back.

00:57:14Her smiles as she fed me poison.

00:57:17Her indifference as she watched me die.

00:57:19Anger surged through my veins.

00:57:21When you sent me into the serpent gate,

00:57:24in my past life,

00:57:25did you also think I should have stopped?

00:57:27Her hand trembled slightly on the teacup.

00:57:29Do you remember?

00:57:30I remember everything.

00:57:32Your sweet words.

00:57:33The poisoned tea,

00:57:35how you locked me inside,

00:57:36without a flicker of remorse.

00:57:38I sealed her teacup with a silver seal.

00:57:41The liquid inside turned black.

00:57:44Serpent shadows thrashing wildly.

00:57:47Lupien stood behind me.

00:57:49His presence a wall of silent fury.

00:57:52Eleanor's composure cracked.

00:57:54What do you want?

00:57:55The ledger.

00:57:57She resisted.

00:57:59I stepped forward and sealed her throat with silver light.

00:58:05Her mouth opened,

00:58:06but no sound emerged.

00:58:09You lied so many people to their deaths.

00:58:11This mouth of yours deserves rest.

00:58:14I retrieved the ledger from her hidden compartment.

00:58:16Page after page listed women's names.

00:58:19The final entry was my own.

00:58:21Rowena Whitmore.

00:58:22My fingers clenched until my knuckles whitened.

00:58:26This life,

00:58:27I would cross it out myself.

00:58:30Callum learned of the stolen ledger quickly.

00:58:33Instead of confronting Mimi directly,

00:58:35he lured Lupien away

00:58:37and trapped him in the old underground chapel

00:58:39beneath Hargrove Hall,

00:58:40an ancient altar etched with serpent arrays

00:58:43designed to suppress Lunarn Hunt blood.

00:58:45When I arrived,

00:58:46Lucien knelt in the center of the array,

00:58:48covered in wounds,

00:58:48yet his eyes glowed with a faint golden light.

00:58:51Callum stood outside the formation,

00:58:52a silver blade in hand.

00:58:53Don't come closer, Rowena.

00:58:54One more step and he dies for you.

00:58:56Eyes alight with vicious excitement.

00:58:58Lady Rowena, you're so powerful.

00:59:00Choose the silver arrow or him.

00:59:02Lucien looked at me through the pain

00:59:04and shook his head wiltly.

00:59:05Leave me.

00:59:06The plea tore at my chest.

00:59:07In my past life,

00:59:08I had told Callum the same thing,

00:59:10only for him to abandon me.

00:59:11I would not repeat his cruelty.

00:59:13Power erupted from my huntress mark.

00:59:15Silver light shattered the serpent array

00:59:17inch by inch.

00:59:18Callum paled.

00:59:19You're mad.

00:59:20The covenant will backlash.

00:59:22That's not for you to decide.

00:59:25I rushed into the formation,

00:59:27grabbed Lucien's hand

00:59:29and dragged him free.

00:59:31His silver-gold blood

00:59:32touched my pie palm

00:59:34and the lingering dark energy

00:59:36recoiled as if burned.

00:59:40Lucien's blood was not red.

00:59:41It shimmered with faint silver-gold light.

00:59:44The realization hit me

00:59:45as the serpent-a-raim's

00:59:46rainness fled from him.

00:59:47Who are you, really?

00:59:49Lucien remained silent

00:59:50for a long moment

00:59:51before answering softly.

00:59:52I promised to stay

00:59:53by the Whitmore heir's side.

00:59:54Promised whom?

00:59:56He didn't reply.

00:59:58But Callum had seen the blood.

00:59:59Greed twisted his features.

01:00:01So he's even more special than you.

01:00:03She laughed cruelly.

01:00:05Callum, if we use him

01:00:06as the new living lock,

01:00:07we won't need Rowena anymore.

01:00:09Callum didn't deny it.

01:00:11Cold fury settled in my chest.

01:00:13Touch him.

01:00:14And I will end

01:00:16the hog-rave bloodline tonight.

01:00:18You care about him that much?

01:00:21So even you can feel fear.

01:00:23I helped Lucien to his feet,

01:00:25my voice steady

01:00:26despite the storm inside.

01:00:29Yes, I fear.

01:00:31I fear him suffering

01:00:32the same fate I did.

01:00:34Being sacrificed by people like you

01:00:36who treat lives as disposable.

01:00:39Lucien glanced at me,

01:00:41emotion flickering in his eyes.

01:00:43I avoided looking back,

01:00:45afraid my own feelings

01:00:47would spill over.

01:00:50Callum and Jenna united against us.

01:00:52They spread rumors

01:00:53that Lucien's non-human aura

01:00:55was the true cause

01:00:57of the gate's instability.

01:01:00Jenna wept publicly,

01:01:02claiming she saw his golden blood

01:01:04and couldn't sleep from fear.

01:01:07Callum played the responsible family head.

01:01:10I don't want to hurt anyone,

01:01:12but for the Hargroves,

01:01:13I must uncover what he is.

01:01:16The hypocrisy made me want to laugh.

01:01:18This was their old game.

01:01:20One crying,

01:01:22the other forced to act.

01:01:24Only now,

01:01:25the knives were aimed elsewhere.

01:01:28I stepped in front of Lucien.

01:01:30Anyone who wants to investigate him

01:01:32goes through me first.

01:01:34Callum's face darkened.

01:01:36Rowena,

01:01:37you'd abandoned the entire

01:01:38Hargrove family's safety for him?

01:01:40I protected him.

01:01:42You don't deserve it.

01:01:44Lady Rowena,

01:01:45have you forgotten Lucien

01:01:46is just an outsider you picked up?

01:01:48An outsider cleaner than you'll ever be.

01:01:50Lucien spoke quietly behind me.

01:01:52You don't have to shield me like this.

01:01:54I want to.

01:01:58The words surprised even me.

01:02:01We retreated to the forest behind the hall.

01:02:04Serpent energy pursued us to the edge,

01:02:06but dared not enter.

01:02:09Moonlight filtered through the trees

01:02:11as I tended Lucien's wounds.

01:02:13Why do you remember the past life?

01:02:16He was quiet for a long time.

01:02:18Because when you died,

01:02:19I was there too.

01:02:21My hands stilled on the bandages.

01:02:23I was trapped in the formation.

01:02:25I heard you begging him to open the door.

01:02:27I couldn't break free.

01:02:28I could only watch it close.

01:02:30The memory of that freezing night

01:02:32crashed over me.

01:02:33Not everyone had abandoned me.

01:02:37Someone had tried.

01:02:39My throat tightened.

01:02:41I always thought if I were stronger,

01:02:43you wouldn't have died.

01:02:45That wasn't your fault.

01:02:46But I was still too late.

01:02:48I looked at him,

01:02:49the urge to embrace him nearly overwhelming.

01:02:52Instead, I whispered,

01:02:53This time, you weren't too late.

01:02:56Lucien met my eyes

01:02:57and smiled faintly for the first time.

01:02:59It was small,

01:03:01but it lit up the darkness around us

01:03:03like moonlight on water.

01:03:05My huntress mark began spiraling out of control.

01:03:10Visions of blood deeds and deaths

01:03:13flooded my silver sight.

01:03:17I saw Eleanor dragged by ghosts.

01:03:24Chester devoured by the serpent court.

01:03:27Jenna consumed by her own power.

01:03:31And Callum begging on his knees.

01:03:36Ardus's voice echoed in my mind,

01:03:39commanding me to hunt those

01:03:45who fed the serpents.

01:03:49I nearly summoned the oath arrow.

01:03:52Lucien seized my shoulders.

01:03:54Rowena, look at me.

01:03:55The silver light and blood

01:03:57blurted my vision.

01:03:58Pain tore through the scar on my face.

01:04:01Move!

01:04:02I need to kill them!

01:04:04Lucien held firm.

01:04:06You can take revenge.

01:04:09But don't give yourself to the covenant.

01:04:12He cut his own palm

01:04:13and pressed the silver-gold blood

01:04:15against my scar.

01:04:17The divine fury retreated.

01:04:19I could breathe again.

01:04:21You are not the goddess's blade.

01:04:23You are Rowena.

01:04:25Tears stung my eyes.

01:04:27He had shown me I could hurt,

01:04:29hate,

01:04:30and still remain myself.

01:04:32I closed my eyes.

01:04:34Don't let go.

01:04:36Don't let go.

01:04:37Chester stole the sacrifice ledger,

01:04:40hoping to trade it

01:04:41to the serpent court for freedom.

01:04:44We tracked him

01:04:46to an old underground room

01:04:47where he knelt

01:04:48before a black serpent mirror.

01:04:52A pale hand reached out

01:04:54and took the ledger,

01:04:55offering no promise.

01:04:59Executors have no freedom.

01:05:02Only the next order.

01:05:06Chester protested

01:05:07his 43 years of service.

01:05:10The mirror cracked

01:05:11and dark energy retaliated,

01:05:14rotting his brand.

01:05:21I didn't save him immediately.

01:05:24Lady Whitmore,

01:05:26save me!

01:05:27I can tell you

01:05:28how to close the gate!

01:05:33How many have you helped kill?

01:05:35Let him die.

01:05:37I stabilized the energy

01:05:39in Chester's body

01:05:41with a silver seal.

01:05:44You won't die yet.

01:05:47You'll watch

01:05:48what you served

01:05:49devour you.

01:05:52I reclaimed the ledger.

01:05:54The path to the silver arrow

01:05:56lay clear.

01:05:57The path to the silver arrow

01:05:59clear.

01:06:00Jenna publicly revealed

01:06:02the arrow's location

01:06:03in Althea's heart.

01:06:05She stood in the meeting hall,

01:06:07crying convincingly.

01:06:10If we get that arrow,

01:06:12can the Hargroves

01:06:13be saved?

01:06:15Callum, I don't

01:06:17want you to die.

01:06:22The branches went wild

01:06:24with desperation.

01:06:25Callum pretended

01:06:26to restrain them,

01:06:27but I saw his agent

01:06:29slipping toward

01:06:30the hall depths.

01:06:31I blocked the entrance.

01:06:34Call them back.

01:06:36Callum stayed silent.

01:06:38Jenna tried to soften it.

01:06:40Lady Rowena,

01:06:41why must you think

01:06:42the worst of Callum?

01:06:44He only wants

01:06:45to save his family.

01:06:46Shut your mouth.

01:06:48I faced Callum directly.

01:06:50Do you want to save

01:06:51your family

01:06:52or steal my arrow?

01:06:54If it can save

01:06:55the Hargroves,

01:06:56it shouldn't belong

01:06:57only to Whitmore.

01:06:59His true nature

01:06:59stood bare.

01:07:01The man who once

01:07:02wore affection

01:07:03like a mask

01:07:06now showed his greed

01:07:08openly.

01:07:10I descended into the

01:07:11earth vein with Lucian,

01:07:12crossled as the strage

01:07:13and several clansmen

01:07:14forced their way

01:07:15after us.

01:07:16Serpent energy

01:07:17parted before me

01:07:18and recoiled

01:07:19even more from Lucian.

01:07:22At the core,

01:07:24Althea was pinned

01:07:25to the gate,

01:07:25the silver arrow

01:07:27buried in her heart.

01:07:28She lowered her head,

01:07:30exposing the wound,

01:07:31begging for release.

01:07:33I grasped

01:07:34the arrow's hilt.

01:07:35Lucian stepped

01:07:36protectively behind me.

01:07:38Careful.

01:07:41Callum pressed

01:07:42a silver blade

01:07:42to Lucian's throat.

01:07:44Pull the arrow,

01:07:45Rowena,

01:07:45or he dies.

01:07:48I held the hilt motionless.

01:07:50Blood, silver gold,

01:07:52trickled from Lucian's throat,

01:07:54exciting the gate further.

01:07:55Jenna's eyes lit

01:07:56with greed.

01:07:57Callum,

01:07:58his blood

01:07:59can replace hers.

01:08:00Use him as the new lock,

01:08:01Callum didn't deny.

01:08:02Choose the arrow

01:08:04or his life.

01:08:06Don't mind me.

01:08:07The familiar cruelty

01:08:08broke something inside me.

01:08:10Why must everyone

01:08:11I cared for

01:08:12become their leverage?

01:08:13Do you know what disgust

01:08:14is me most about you?

01:08:15Callum frowned.

01:08:17You treat other people's

01:08:18sacrifices

01:08:19as natural rights?

01:08:20I released the arrow

01:08:21and slashed my plomb instead,

01:08:24spilling silver blood

01:08:25to summon the debts.

01:08:28Ghosts of sacrificed women rose,

01:08:30their eyes fixed on Callum.

01:08:32This time,

01:08:34judgment fell on the Hargraves.

01:08:36The ghosts surrounded Callum.

01:08:39They whispered their names.

01:08:41Wives,

01:08:42maids,

01:08:43daughters,

01:08:44and my past self.

01:08:46He stumbled back,

01:08:47the blade leaving Lucian's throat.

01:08:50I pulled Lucian behind me.

01:08:53Jenna launched for the arrow.

01:08:57Serpent energy from the gate

01:08:58seized her instead,

01:09:00merging with her bracelet.

01:09:03Jenna laughed wildly

01:09:05as she began transforming.

01:09:08Finally my turn.

01:09:09You knew it wanted your body?

01:09:12So what?

01:09:14At least I'll drag you all down with me!

01:09:17She yanked the arrow,

01:09:18partially free.

01:09:19Althea screamed.

01:09:21The gate cracked.

01:09:22Jenna, stop!

01:09:23Now you're scared?

01:09:25You protected me

01:09:26only because I was useful!

01:09:30Their mutual betrayal lay exposed.

01:09:33Only I had once believed

01:09:34in their false bond.

01:09:36Lucian took my hand.

01:09:37No, when you don't watch them,

01:09:39do what you must.

01:09:40I nodded,

01:09:41stealing myself.

01:09:43The gate's opening

01:09:45caused Hargrove Hall to collapse.

01:09:47Black rail tents

01:09:48insurged from the ground.

01:09:50Clack Sertman fled,

01:09:51only to be caught

01:09:52by their own ghosts.

01:09:54Eleanor was dragged

01:09:56before the fireplace.

01:09:57Forced to confront the ledger.

01:10:00Rowena, save me!

01:10:01I was forced!

01:10:03It was all for the family!

01:10:05That's exactly what you said

01:10:07while watching me die last time.

01:10:11She trembled.

01:10:12I was wrong!

01:10:13You're not sorry.

01:10:16You're just afraid,

01:10:18afraid to die.

01:10:20The ghosts pulled her

01:10:21into silver flames.

01:10:23Chester was devoured

01:10:24by his own masters.

01:10:26I asked Lucian

01:10:27if I seemed cruel.

01:10:28No.

01:10:30They owed you.

01:10:31His words erased

01:10:32my final hesitation.

01:10:34Callum seized

01:10:35the silver arrow

01:10:36and fled toward

01:10:37the main hall

01:10:37to reseal the gate.

01:10:39I chased him

01:10:40to the iron door,

01:10:42the same one

01:10:43from my past life.

01:10:44Move aside, Rowena,

01:10:45and I'll let you go.

01:10:47We can settle

01:10:48the past later.

01:10:50The past?

01:10:50You speak

01:10:51so lightly of it.

01:10:53Jenna screamed

01:10:53for rescue in the distance.

01:10:55Callum barely glanced

01:10:57at her before turning away.

01:10:58He activated the mechanism

01:11:00to crap Lucian

01:11:01and me.

01:11:02Inside,

01:11:04Lucian pushed me aside

01:11:05and shattered the door

01:11:06with explosive

01:11:07silver-gold light.

01:11:08A golden-horned

01:11:09white deer phantom

01:11:10appeared behind him.

01:11:11The serpents

01:11:12recoiled in fear.

01:11:14At last,

01:11:14I understood.

01:11:15Lucian was the

01:11:16sacred beast

01:11:17guardian of the Whitmores.

01:11:19Lucian knelt

01:11:20by the broken door,

01:11:21the deer phantom fading.

01:11:23Callum stared in shock.

01:11:25What are you?

01:11:28Something far

01:11:29cleaner than you.

01:11:30The serpent court

01:11:30envoyed emerged,

01:11:32terrified.

01:11:33Moon deer guardian,

01:11:35you still live.

01:11:37Lupien looked at me

01:11:38with apology.

01:11:39I didn't mean

01:11:40to hide it.

01:11:41We'll settle accounts

01:11:42after we get out.

01:11:44He smiled.

01:11:45I grasped

01:11:46the silver arrow.

01:11:47The huntress covenant

01:11:49fully awakened.

01:11:51Artemis warned

01:11:51of the price.

01:11:54Use mine.

01:11:55No.

01:11:55I'm the guardian.

01:11:57I should pay for you.

01:12:00I already died

01:12:02for others once.

01:12:03This life,

01:12:06I pay for my own choices.

01:12:11The oath arrow

01:12:13formed in cold

01:12:14white light.

01:12:15Jenna,

01:12:16half-serpent,

01:12:17charged in hatred.

01:12:19Why

01:12:19can you still stand?

01:12:23Why do you still

01:12:24have someone

01:12:25protecting you

01:12:26like that?

01:12:27Because I never

01:12:28gave myself to you.

01:12:30Lucian shielded me

01:12:31as the deer phantom

01:12:32repelled the energy.

01:12:33Callum begged

01:12:34on his knees.

01:12:35Ro'esh,

01:12:36save me!

01:12:36I was wrong!

01:12:37In the past life,

01:12:38I had no choice!

01:12:40You had choices

01:12:41every time

01:12:43you chose

01:12:44to hurt me.

01:12:45I drew the bow.

01:12:46Artemis demanded

01:12:47a span of life span.

01:12:48I accepted.

01:12:49Lupien cried out,

01:12:51but I reassured him

01:12:52with a glance.

01:12:53Don't worry.

01:12:54I still need to settle

01:12:55your secret with you.

01:12:56I released the arrow.

01:12:59It pierced Jenna.

01:13:00The gate,

01:13:01the blood contracts,

01:13:03and buried deep

01:13:05into the earth vein.

01:13:06Silver light exploded.

01:13:08The serpent-tort

01:13:10passages collapsed.

01:13:12The gate sealed.

01:13:14Althira's wound healed.

01:13:19She placed a final

01:13:20white scale

01:13:21in my palm

01:13:21before dissolving

01:13:23into light,

01:13:24finally free.

01:13:26Jenna lay dying,

01:13:27her body rejecting

01:13:28the serpent energy.

01:13:30I'm not willing.

01:13:31Why did someone

01:13:32like you win?

01:13:33Because I lost once,

01:13:35and I refused

01:13:36to lose again.

01:13:37Her body was consumed,

01:13:39leaving only

01:13:39shattered coral.

01:13:40Callum's death mark

01:13:41vanished,

01:13:42but so did

01:13:43his family's power.

01:13:44He knelt broken

01:13:46in the ruins.

01:13:49Rowena,

01:13:51save me once more.

01:13:54For our past...

01:13:55In the past life,

01:13:57you told me

01:13:57to hold the serpents

01:13:58until I died.

01:14:01I left him there.

01:14:05To face his fate alone.

01:14:11As the hall fully collapsed,

01:14:13Callum chased after me

01:14:14one last time,

01:14:15desperate.

01:14:16Rowish,

01:14:17I was deceived by Jenna.

01:14:19Now I see clearly.

01:14:22You weren't deceived.

01:14:23You chose convenient lies

01:14:25every single time.

01:14:26Lucien stepped forward,

01:14:28blocking Callum's view of me.

01:14:30Don't look at her.

01:14:31You have no right.

01:14:34Callum froze.

01:14:35I allowed the protection,

01:14:37embracing it fully this time.

01:14:41At dawn,

01:14:43Hargrove Hall sank

01:14:44completely into ruin.

01:14:47I stood

01:14:48at a distance,

01:14:51watching the last serpent's stench

01:14:54blow away on the wind.

01:14:55My huntress mark

01:14:56and scar remained,

01:15:00but so did my resolve.

01:15:07Lucien stood beside me.

01:15:09Does it still hurt?

01:15:12Why do you always ask that?

01:15:14Because you always pretend it doesn't.

01:15:16I laugh genuinely

01:15:17for the first time in ages.

01:15:20Lucien,

01:15:21how long have you guarded the Whitmans?

01:15:23Long enough

01:15:24that I feared

01:15:24I'd always arrive too late.

01:15:26This time you didn't.

01:15:28Rowena,

01:15:28I never loved your face.

01:15:32His gaze held mine,

01:15:34never wavering to the scar.

01:15:37I love that you crawled back

01:15:39from hell

01:15:39to claim your debts

01:15:40and still chose

01:15:42to save the innocent.

01:15:47I took his hand willingly.

01:15:49Then don't be late again.

01:15:51I won't.

01:15:52We walked away from the ruins

01:15:53together into the morning light.

01:15:55This time,

01:15:58I didn't look back.

01:16:00I won't.

01:16:01I won't.

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