He Fed Me To The Serpents, So I Came Back To Ruin Him ✅ FULL HD [Eng Sub]

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Transcript

00:00:09I was born to kill serpents, so the Hargroves used me as their perfect shield.

00:00:14In my past life, I entered their cursed hall for Callum, the man I loved.

00:00:19But when the serpent gate opened, he chose Jenna, locked the door, and left me to be devoured.

00:00:25Death gave me one chance to return.

00:00:26I traded my beauty for silver sight, and woke up with a scar no man was supposed to love.

00:00:32But I did not come back for love.

00:00:34I came back to watch Callum's devotion rot, expose Jenna's snake magic, and let the serpents choose their real prey.

00:00:41My name's Rowena Whitmore.

00:00:43In my past life, I loved Callum Hargrove so much that it cost me everything.

00:00:47I knew exactly what Hargrove Hall was, a century-old estate built over a sealed serpent gate, rotting from the

00:00:53inside out with ancient venom.

00:00:54I still walked in, for him.

00:00:56Whitmuster blood ran through my veins, and that blood was born to suppress serpents.

00:01:01So when the curse came for Callum, I threw myself in its path and let the poison tear through me

00:01:05instead.

00:01:06What I did not know, what I never saw coming, was that he and Jenna had already decided how my

00:01:11story would end.

00:01:11The venom spread through my body like fire through dry wood.

00:01:14My flesh began to rot from the inside.

00:01:16I still remember every second of that night, the freezing rain, the iron door, and my bloody hands clawing at

00:01:21the gap in the frame.

00:01:22Callum, please, just open the door!

00:01:23My nails split down to the quick, blood smeared the cracks, still nothing.

00:01:27Then his voice came through, flat and cold, without even a flicker of hesitation.

00:01:31Shut up.

00:01:32Your screaming is scaring Jenna.

00:01:33I'm not opening this door.

00:01:35You're useful in there, so stay there.

00:01:37Keep those monster snakes inside, even if they eat you alive.

00:01:40From the other side of the door, I could hear Jenna crying softly.

00:01:44Then came Callum's voice again, low and gentle, saying things he had never once said to me.

00:01:49You're safe.

00:01:51I've got you.

00:01:52Nothing is going to touch you, I promise.

00:01:54The lock turned.

00:01:55I will never forget that sound.

00:01:57Callum had one arm around Jenna as he sealed me inside.

00:02:01He left me there to die in the dark, surrounded by serpents, and he never looked back.

00:02:06The pain was beyond anything I had words for.

00:02:08It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out, piece by piece, until even screaming became impossible.

00:02:13When I died, I drifted in silver light, endless, cold, and silent.

00:02:17There was nothing left of me but a thin thread of soul, too broken even to cry.

00:02:21Then a voice fell through the dark like a blade through silk, clear, ancient, and completely without warmth.

00:02:26Child Whitmoyer, you died badly.

00:02:30What I offer is not mercy.

00:02:32It is a contract.

00:02:34Give me something, and I will give you what you want.

00:02:38I'll give up my face, my beauty in this life, all of it.

00:02:41In exchange, I want the Lunar Hunt Covenant, the Silver Sight, and one more life.

00:02:45Do you understand what it means to give up your face?

00:02:48I do.

00:02:48Last time, my beauty made it easy for them to use me.

00:02:51I don't need anyone to love my face.

00:02:53I just need to see it clearly.

00:02:55Silver light crapped through me like lightning, and I was thrown back into the world of the living.

00:02:59When I opened my eyes, the hissing was gone.

00:03:02The air smelled of incense.

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

00:03:05A scar across my cheek.

00:03:07Faint silver light pulsing beneath it like a wire.

00:03:09It was the mark of the covenant.

00:03:11The price Artemis had carved into my skin.

00:03:13I was back.

00:03:14Back to the morning Eleanor Hargreff came to beg.

00:03:17I stood in front of the mirror and traced the scar with my fingers.

00:03:20Then I smiled.

00:03:21But there was nothing warm left in it.

00:03:24I did not come back to love him.

00:03:26I came back from hell to collect what they owed me.

00:03:30One debt at a time.

00:03:38Rowena, please!

00:03:39I'm begging you!

00:03:40You have to save Callum!

00:03:41The old woman dropped to her knees in front of me, clutching the hem of my dress with both

00:03:45hands and crying like she had nothing left.

00:03:48The death mark carved into Callum's forehead was the final outbreak of decades of serpent

00:03:52resentment buried beneath the Hargrove state.

00:03:55As long as it stayed on him, the curse would keep spreading, and every Hargrove tied to this

00:04:00land by blood would carry the same death sentence.

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

00:04:06Only a Whitmore could remove it.

00:04:09They needed me.

00:04:10That was a fact.

00:04:12But the only reason I was here was to take back what the Hargros stole from us, the silver

00:04:16arrow of Whitmore.

00:04:17I stood over Eleanor, looking down at her shaking shoulders, and all I could think of was how

00:04:21she used to call me sweetheart while she watched the flames swallow me alive.

00:04:24I slowly pulled my skirt out of her grip.

00:04:27I can't break the Hargrove curse.

00:04:28There was not a single trace of emotion in my voice.

00:04:31I did not owe her that much.

00:04:32Eleanor nor froze.

00:04:33The invitation in her hands crumbled at the edges.

00:04:35Then Callum walked in from the hallway.

00:04:37He was younger than I remembered.

00:04:38Sharper and more arrogant, with all that ugly pride still sitting right on the surface.

00:04:41His eyes swept over me and stopped on the scar crossing my face.

00:04:44For one second, he went still.

00:04:47The scar was silver, winding across half my cheek and glowing faintly in the morning light.

00:04:50It did not look like an ordinary wound.

00:04:53It looked like something ancient had pressed itself into my skin and left its mark there.

00:04:56His disgust was almost impossible to miss.

00:04:58He turned his face away slightly like he could barely stand to look at it.

00:05:01I noticed.

00:05:02I said nothing.

00:05:04In my past life, I had walked through this same door with an untouched face, and he had

00:05:07smiled at me so beautifully.

00:05:09Every warm word had been perfectly calculated.

00:05:12Now that I had a scar, the mask slipped at once.

00:05:15That told me everything.

00:05:16He did not need a person.

00:05:18He needed a tool, and apparently he preferred his tools pretty.

00:05:21Callum stepped closer, his voice sharp with disbelief.

00:05:25What the hell is that supposed to mean?

00:05:26We came here in good faith, and you won't even give us a reason?

00:05:30You're telling me one curse is too much for a Whitmore?

00:05:33He moved into my space like he was used to people backing down when he did.

00:05:36I only looked at him.

00:05:38Go ahead.

00:05:40Look down on me, Callum.

00:05:41You have no idea that the mark on your forehead is getting darker every day, and the only person

00:05:46in this entire world who can see it, the only one who can take it off you, is standing right

00:05:51in front of you while you make that face at her.

00:05:53Elinor started crying harder.

00:05:56Her hands shook as she pulled a heavy envelope from her coat.

00:06:00The wax seal bore an old, dark gold crest.

00:06:03We have nowhere else to turn.

00:06:05Please, just look at this.

00:06:07For the sake of what our families once meant to each other.

00:06:11I almost did not bother.

00:06:13But the moment my eyes touched the seal, my silver sight flared.

00:06:17A pulse of silver light cut through the surface of the wax, and beneath it, clear and understakable,

00:06:23was the trace of a Whitmore silver arrow.

00:06:27The silver arrow was the most sacred relic of the Whitmore bloodline.

00:06:31The Hargroves had stolen it from us, and it had been lost for generations.

00:06:38I only learned the truth as I was dying in my past life, when it was already too late

00:06:43to do anything about it.

00:06:44Now I knew exactly where it was.

00:06:47That was the real reason I would walk into Hargrove Hall.

00:06:50Not Callum.

00:06:51The arrow.

00:06:53Callum saw me take it, and his whole body relaxed.

00:06:56He lifted his chin slightly, satisfaction spreading across his face.

00:07:00He had already decided I was still hung up on him, that I had finally given in.

00:07:05Because of old feelings.

00:07:06Then he turned on that warm, reasonable voice.

00:07:09The one that used to make me believe every word.

00:07:12Good.

00:07:12All you have to do is come with us, and suppress the curse.

00:07:16Once I'm better, I'll make sure you're rewarded.

00:07:18The Hargroves take care of people who prove useful to us.

00:07:22He said it like he was doing me a favor.

00:07:24Like I was something he could summon, use, and dismiss whenever it suited him.

00:07:29I looked at him slowly.

00:07:30The way you look at something that does not know it is already finished.

00:07:34I'm going to Hargrove Hall to take back what belongs to the Whitmore family.

00:07:38I was never doing this for you.

00:07:40The smile on his face died, died completely.

00:07:45The next morning, the man had everything packed before I came downstairs.

00:07:50Lady, the carriages are here.

00:07:51He was the boy the Whitmore family had taken in years ago.

00:07:55Quiet, precise, and so still that most people mistook him for cold.

00:07:59Since I came back, he was the only person who looked straight at the scar on my face without flinching

00:08:03or glancing away.

00:08:05Two Harkron carriages were waiting outside.

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

00:08:11Jenna, who supposedly could not handle the mountain road, was supposed to have her own space.

00:08:16I was about to step into the second carriage when a voice cut across the courtyard.

00:08:20Wait!

00:08:21Callum, I want to ride with you!

00:08:22She ran toward us with her skirts gathered in both hands, her cheeks flushed and her eyes red at the

00:08:28rims, as if she had already been crying.

00:08:30She was the girl the Hargroves had taken in years ago, the orphan daughter of some distant relation.

00:08:35She had grown up inside the estate walls, right beside Callum.

00:08:39Everyone said she was sweet and innocent, the one person Callum protected more than anyone else.

00:08:44She had a white silk scarf in her hands.

00:08:46Before Callum could answer, she was already looping it around his neck and smoothing it down with both palms.

00:08:53The mountain road is freezing. I don't want you getting sick again.

00:08:56Callum did not move away from her hands.

00:08:58In my past life, I thought she was only being kind.

00:09:00This time, my silver sight caught the edge of the scarf the moment it touched him.

00:09:04Faint dark lines were woven into the silk, forming the exact pattern of a serpent mark.

00:09:08Callum did not see any of it.

00:09:10He was already brushing a loose strand of hair away from Jenna's face.

00:09:13Jenna turned to me with wide, apologetic eyes.

00:09:16Lady Rowena, I hope you don't mind. I won't take up much space, I promise.

00:09:19She did not wait for my answer.

00:09:21She climbed in ahead of me.

00:09:23I watched her settle beside Callum and push me toward the window seat without even looking at me.

00:09:28I said nothing.

00:09:29Jenna, last time I missed every move you made.

00:09:31This time I'm gonna watch every single one.

00:09:35The carriage wound its way up the wet cobblestone road towards the Hargrath estate.

00:09:39There was barely enough room for two people to sit comfortably.

00:09:42And Jenna had made sure she stayed pressed against Callum for the entire ride.

00:09:47Every time the wheels hit a rough patch, she let out a soft breathy sound and leaned into his shoulder.

00:09:51The timing was perfect.

00:09:52Always within my line of sight.

00:09:54Like a little performance stage just for me.

00:09:57Callum, I feel so dizzy.

00:09:58I can barely breathe.

00:10:00She twisted her fingers into the front of his shirt, lifting her eyes just enough to catch the light, looking

00:10:05soft and helpless and miserable.

00:10:07In my past life, watching this would have made me want to shrink into myself and disappear.

00:10:12Now I only sat still and watched her work.

00:10:14Callum noticed me looking.

00:10:16His expression hardened at once.

00:10:17He tightened his arm around Jenna and turned his face away from me.

00:10:20Like even the air on my side of the carriage disgusted him.

00:10:23Rowena, stop staring.

00:10:24Jenna is kind and gentle.

00:10:25Not that you would know anything about that.

00:10:27And stop using that face to scare her.

00:10:28Jenna reached over and touched his arm gently.

00:10:30Callum, don't.

00:10:32Lady Rowena probably doesn't mean it.

00:10:34She knows exactly what she's doing.

00:10:35She's had it out for you since the moment she saw you.

00:10:38Maybe she just doesn't like me.

00:10:40It's alright, I'm used to it.

00:10:41That is her problem, not yours.

00:10:43I don't care what she thinks.

00:10:44I did not answer.

00:10:45In my past life, that exchange would have hollowed me out for days.

00:10:49Now I only filed it away.

00:10:50Every word, every dismissal.

00:10:52I was keeping track.

00:10:54At the same time, through the silver sight, I could see what was really happening.

00:10:57Dark energy was seeping from the coral bracelet on Jenna's wrist, winding along Callum's collar and pushing inch by inch

00:11:04into the skin at the back of his neck.

00:11:06She was not dizzy.

00:11:07She was feeding the serpent.

00:11:09Callum, the sweet, innocent girl you're so desperate to protect, is poisoning you right now.

00:11:13And you're holding her tighter.

00:11:14He pulled her closer and pressed his cheek against the top of her head, completely blind.

00:11:20By midday, the carriages stopped in front of the Hargreth family's main residence.

00:11:24This was not Hargreth Hall.

00:11:26Not the old estate with the serpent gate buried beneath it.

00:11:29The hall stood deeper inside the grounds, behind a locked inner courtyard that almost never opened.

00:11:33This was only where the family lived.

00:11:35When Jenna stepped down from the carriage, she grabbed the doorbraim, her face going pale, and sagged into Callum's side.

00:11:41I'm fine.

00:11:42Just cold.

00:11:43My legs feel strange.

00:11:44Callum wrapped an arm around her at once.

00:11:46The look he sent me over her shoulder made it clear that somehow this was supposed to be my fault.

00:11:50We passed through the front entrance hall.

00:11:52The moment we crossed the threshold, my silver sight erupted.

00:11:56Dark serpent energy crawled across every wall and ceiling, coiling and shifting like something alive.

00:12:01It hulged at anyone with Hargreth blood, then recoiled the second it touched the silver light of my mark, shrieking

00:12:07back into the cracks.

00:12:09Jenna was walking ahead.

00:12:10I watched her cross the threshold, and I saw the exact moment her shoe came down on the protection line

00:12:16hidden beneath the doorframe.

00:12:18It was not an accident.

00:12:19The movement was too precise.

00:12:21The line snapped.

00:12:22The energy that had been held down broke loose all at once, and a wave of freezing air tore down

00:12:27the corridor like a blade.

00:12:29Oh God!

00:12:30Help me!

00:12:31She stumbled backwards straight into his arms, clean and practiced, like a stage fall.

00:12:36Callum caught her without even looking.

00:12:37One arm locked across her chest, and his first words were for me.

00:12:40Rowena!

00:12:42What the hell are you doing just standing there?

00:12:45You're a Whitmore!

00:12:47You're supposed to handle this!

00:12:50If Jenna gets hurt because of you, I swear you'll answer for it.

00:12:54I raised one hand, a silver seal dropped across the corridor, and the serpent energy shrank back into the walls.

00:13:00The hallway went still.

00:13:02I looked at Callum.

00:13:04You're welcome.

00:13:05I let the silence stretch for a moment.

00:13:07Then I lowered my gaze to the broken line on the floor, before slowly lifting my eyes to Jenna's shoes.

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

00:13:16Callum's brow tightened.

00:13:18In his arms, Jenna's eyes filled with tears at once.

00:13:21Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at him, as if she was the one being attacked.

00:13:24Callum looked between us and clenched his jaw.

00:13:27What exactly are you accusing her of?

00:13:29Nothing.

00:13:30Just giving you advice.

00:13:32While you're in this house, pay attention to what's right in front of you.

00:13:35Then I walked toward the sitting room without looking back.

00:13:42When we settled into the sitting room, Eleanor came in herself with a tray of peach blossom tea.

00:13:47Steam curled slowly from each cup.

00:13:49You must be exhausted after that ride, sweetheart.

00:13:52I made this myself.

00:13:53Drink it while it's hot.

00:13:55It will calm your nerves.

00:13:57She had the warmth turned all the way on.

00:13:59Deep smile lines.

00:14:00A gentle voice.

00:14:01Every inch the loving grandmother.

00:14:02Jenna sat beside Callum.

00:14:04She picked up his cup first, blew on it softly, and placed it in his hands.

00:14:07Drink it while it's hot.

00:14:09It'll warm you up.

00:14:10In my past life, I fell for all of it.

00:14:12I drank the tea.

00:14:13And by nightfall, my silver sight was almost blind.

00:14:16The poison had worked slowly and silently the whole time.

00:14:19When I tried to suppress the serpents that night,

00:14:21I kept making the wrong calls, and one of them tore my palm open.

00:14:24I burned with fever for three days straight.

00:14:27And Jenna had been there the entire time, smiling sweetly as she added a spoonful of sugar to my cup.

00:14:31Something sweet makes everything less bitter, Lady Rowena.

00:14:34This time, I looked into my cup through the silver sight.

00:14:36The tea should have been pale amber, but beneath the surface, it was deep crimson.

00:14:40Something small and dark moved along the bottom.

00:14:42I picked up the cup and drank most of it.

00:14:44I let none of it touch me.

00:14:46Under the cover of my sleeve, I pressed two fingers to my wrist and sealed my throat and chest with

00:14:51a silver seal.

00:14:52The poison slammed into the barrier and thrashed like a trapped thing, but it got nowhere.

00:14:56Jenna kept her eyes on my face the whole time.

00:14:58She was waiting for my gaze to blur, waiting for the sight to go dark.

00:15:02When I set the cup down, breathing evenly and looking straight back at her,

00:15:06I saw the corner of her smile crack.

00:15:08Just a twitch.

00:15:09Just one second.

00:15:10But it was there.

00:15:11Lucian picked up his own cup,

00:15:13gave it one slow sniff,

00:15:15then turned and poured the whole thing into the planter beside his chair.

00:15:18Too sweet.

00:15:19Hides the taste of rot.

00:15:21Eleanor's expression flickered.

00:15:23Callatin's eyes sharpened.

00:15:24My grandmother made that tea herself.

00:15:26You want to explain what the hell you're doing?

00:15:28I just did.

00:15:29Lucian looked at him calmly.

00:15:31Callum's face turned ugly.

00:15:32He was about to snap back when Jenna laid a hand on his arm.

00:15:35Callum, don't.

00:15:36We asked them to come here.

00:15:37It's fine, really.

00:15:38She said it in that soft, peacemaking voice.

00:15:41But as she lifted her own cup back to her lips,

00:15:44her eyes slid sideways to me, patient, calculating,

00:15:48waiting to see something that was never going to happen.

00:15:50I looked at her and said nothing.

00:15:52Jenna, I'm just getting started.

00:15:54Next time, I'll make sure you see it coming.

00:15:58The welcome dinner that night was exactly the kind of show the Hargroves love to put on.

00:16:03Candles stretched down the table.

00:16:05Silver gleamed at every place setting, and there was more food than anyone could finish.

00:16:09Jenna sat to Callum's left, cutting her food with careful, effortless grace.

00:16:13Then she set down her knife, turned to me, and spoke in the softest, most concerned voice she had.

00:16:18Ladies Rowena, I've been meaning to ask you something.

00:16:21With a scar like that on your face, do people avoid you when you go out?

00:16:25You must feel so lonely. I can't even imagine.

00:16:29Perfectly worded, perfectly gentle, loud enough for every servant in the room to hear.

00:16:33I held my knife and fork and did not respond.

00:16:36Jenna, don't say it like that. She's a guest, you'll embarrass her.

00:16:40In my past life, I had actually been grateful for that.

00:16:43I thought he was standing up for me. Now I could see it clearly.

00:16:46He did not care whether I was humiliated.

00:16:49He just needed me to walk into that hall tomorrow night,

00:16:51and a scene at dinner would make things harder.

00:16:53Later, that sentence was for him, not for me.

00:16:56Jenna's face crumpled at once. Her eyes filled.

00:16:59I didn't mean it that way. I was worried about her.

00:17:02Callum, why are you making it sound like I did something wrong?

00:17:05Her voice broke on the last word. Two tears slipped down her face.

00:17:09And just like that, Callum changed.

00:17:11The hardness left him, and his voice turned low and gentle.

00:17:15I know you didn't. I'm sorry.

00:17:18I shouldn't have said it like that.

00:17:20Lucian set down his silverware.

00:17:22I have a question. Is this how the Hargroves treat guests they begged for help?

00:17:26Every sound at the table stopped.

00:17:28Jenna's tears paused mid-fall.

00:17:31Callum's head snapped up, and the look he gave Lucian was full of real anger.

00:17:35Who the hell do you think you are? Nobody asked for your opinion!

00:17:38Lucian did not move.

00:17:39He only held Callum's gaze and took his time answering.

00:17:42I came with Lady Whitmore. As long as she is here, I have every right to speak.

00:17:47Callum pressed one hand flat against the edge of the table.

00:17:50His jaw tightened, and his face went pale with fury.

00:17:52Rowena, control your people.

00:17:54I set my wineglass down slowly and looked at him.

00:17:57He's right. Callum, I came because your family begged me to save you.

00:18:00I did not come here to be insulted at your dinner table.

00:18:03If you can't understand the difference, I don't need to enter that hall tomorrow.

00:18:07I can leave tonight.

00:18:09Silence fell over the room.

00:18:10Then Callum exhaled through his nose,

00:18:12forced down his anger and ground out the words like they hurt.

00:18:15After dinner, I'll have Chester bring out the legacy book.

00:18:19I picked up my wineglass again and said nothing.

00:18:23Dinner ended, and I asked for the Hargro legacy book,

00:18:26the family's hand-brett record dating back to 1840.

00:18:28It doored it how the Serpent Gate was first sealed, and why.

00:18:31If the Silver Arrow was hidden somewhere on these grounds,

00:18:33there would be a trace of it in those pages.

00:18:36Callum's face tightened at once.

00:18:39It's a dusty old record book.

00:18:41You're here to deal with the curse, not dig through our family history.

00:18:45If I'm going to suppress what's down there, I need to know what caused it.

00:18:48The answer is in that book.

00:18:49Is that too hard for you to understand?

00:18:51He opened his mouth to argue, and Jenna let out a sharp little cry.

00:18:53Her elbow caught the wine bottle at the edge of the table.

00:18:55It tipped over and spilled half its contents across the tablecloth in a dark red wave.

00:18:58Servants rushed forward, and the moment broke apart.

00:19:01I'm so sorry.

00:19:02I'm so sorry my hands are so shaky tonight.

00:19:04Callum leaned over and took her hands in his, checking them with a deep frown.

00:19:08You didn't cut yourself.

00:19:09It's just a bottle.

00:19:10It doesn't matter.

00:19:11Then he looked at me sideways, contempt clear in his eyes.

00:19:14All this over one old book?

00:19:16Did you really have to push that hard and scare her like that?

00:19:18What is this, an interrogation?

00:19:20I was not looking at him.

00:19:21Through the silver sight, I watched dark serpent energy pour from Jenna's sleeve

00:19:25and curl around the cabinet where the legacy book was kept like a hand pressing the door shut.

00:19:30She had not dropped the bottle because her hands were unsteady.

00:19:34She had dropped it to keep that cabinet closed.

00:19:36I raised one hand.

00:19:37A silver seal shot across the room and pinned the serpent energy flat against the cabinet doors.

00:19:41Jenna went white.

00:19:42Lucian walked to the cabinet, opened it without asking, and looked calmly at Chester in the corner.

00:19:45Chester, bring out the legacy book.

00:19:47Chester hesitated.

00:19:48Then he lowered his head, took the yellowed leather volume wooden box inside the cabinet,

00:19:51and held it out with both hands.

00:19:52I took it and opened it.

00:19:53I caught sight of the serpent brand running along the edge of Chester's sleeve.

00:19:56I filed it away.

00:19:59The first several pages of the legacy book had been cut out.

00:20:02Clean cuts.

00:20:03Blade cuts.

00:20:04Nothing old about them.

00:20:06Callum glanced over and dismissed it without missing a bead.

00:20:09It's a 150-year-old book.

00:20:10Pages go missing.

00:20:11That's not suspicious.

00:20:12That's time.

00:20:13Jenna stepped in right on cue.

00:20:16Exactly.

00:20:17Lady Rowena, the Hargroves have been a respectable family for generations.

00:20:21There's nothing to hide here.

00:20:22Don't you think you're reading too much into this?

00:20:24I ignored them both and bent over the torn edges, looking through the silver site.

00:20:28There it was, buried in the yellowed fringe, the faint silver glow of dried Whitmore blood, ancient and thin.

00:20:33Tangled through it was the serpent energy from the bracelet on Jenna's wrist, the exact same signature.

00:20:38She was the one who had cut out those pages, which meant she had known about the silver arrow all

00:20:42along.

00:20:42I was about to speak when the death mark on Callum's forehead split open.

00:20:47Serpent energy burst through his veins all at once, and the whole study shook.

00:20:52From deep inside Hargrove Hall came a low, grinding sound, like something massive turning in its sleep.

00:20:58Callum's legs buckled.

00:20:59He caught the edge of a shelf, his face white, his teeth clenched, his breath coming in sharp pulls.

00:21:05Eleanor rushed across the room and grabbed my arm.

00:21:07Rowene, please, go tonight.

00:21:09You're the only one who can stop it.

00:21:11Please.

00:21:12I closed the legacy book.

00:21:14I'll enter Hargrove Hall tonight, but I'm going to question the serpent, not break the curse.

00:21:19Get that straight now.

00:21:20Then I turned to Jenna.

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

00:21:24During the ritual tonight, Jenna does not come anywhere near the main hall.

00:21:27Her energy is corrupt.

00:21:28If she gets close, she'll provoke what's down there, and the entire formation will collapse.

00:21:31This is not a request.

00:21:32It's a condition.

00:21:33The study went completely silent.

00:21:35Jenna blinked.

00:21:37Then her head lowered, and tears rolled down her face without a sound.

00:21:42Callum pushed himself up from the shelf, still pale and tight with pain, and turned on me at once.

00:21:47On what grounds?

00:21:49Jenna came all this way because she was worried about me.

00:21:51You don't get to throw her out in the cold just because you hate her!

00:21:53On the grounds that if I walk in tonight, you live.

00:22:00Callum stayed quiet, but it was not over.

00:22:02He steadied himself against the shelf and started again a few seconds later.

00:22:06Even if you have to enter the hall tonight, that does not give you the right to leave Jenna outside

00:22:10alone.

00:22:10She scares easily.

00:22:12What if something happens and you are not there?

00:22:14Are you going to take responsibility for that?

00:22:15Jenna's tears fell faster, but she still reached out and grabbed Callum's sleeve with both hands.

00:22:19Callum, please don't fight with Lady Rowena.

00:22:21This is my fault.

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

00:22:23You go in and let her do what she needs to do.

00:22:24Don't worry about me.

00:22:25I'll wait outside.

00:22:26I just want you safe.

00:22:27That's all I want.

00:22:28Every word landed exactly where she wanted it to.

00:22:31Callum's chest rose and fell hard.

00:22:33Then he turned all that anger on me.

00:22:36You hear that?

00:22:37She's willing to stand out there alone in the dark just to make things easier for you.

00:22:41What kind of person are you?

00:22:42Jenna stays by the door tonight.

00:22:44No one is stopping her.

00:22:45I looked at them without anger.

00:22:47I was not even surprised.

00:22:49This was the same performance they had put on in my past life.

00:22:53Jenna cried, Callum exploded, and every bit of blame in the room landed on me while they clung to each

00:22:58other.

00:22:58Perfectly timed.

00:23:00Perfectly practiced.

00:23:02I turned toward Hargrim Hall and spoke without looking back.

00:23:08Fine.

00:23:08Then keep your eyes open tonight.

00:23:12Whatever happens, don't come crying to me.

00:23:17Behind me, I heard Callum murmur to Jenna.

00:23:20You're okay.

00:23:21I'm right here.

00:23:22I walked into the dark of Hargmite Hall without turning around.

00:23:25I already knew he would open that door for her when the time came.

00:23:29And the harder he fought to protect her tonight, the worse the backlash would hit him.

00:23:33Midnight.

00:23:34The main hall of Hargrave Hall.

00:23:36The wind howled through the walls like something was trying to claw its way out.

00:23:39The old chandelier swung overhead, its candles throwing long, crooked shadows across the room.

00:23:45The estate had gone still, except for the dull shiver that rolled up from beneath the floor every few minutes.

00:23:50Whatever had been sleeping down there was starting to wake.

00:23:53I stood in the center of the hall and focused.

00:23:55Whitmore blood ignited in my veins.

00:23:58Silver seals poured out of me in rings, spreading across the floor like a net of cold light,

00:24:03pressing the serpent energy back into the walls in stone.

00:24:06Building a formation like this burned through everything I had.

00:24:10Power, focus, and sheer will.

00:24:12But I did not let it show.

00:24:15My hands were steady.

00:24:16My face was calm.

00:24:19Callum stood on the far side of the formation, supported by the old butler.

00:24:23The death mark on his forehead pulsed blood red in the silver light.

00:24:27He was shaking, yet he still looked at me like he was doing me a favor by letting me help.

00:24:32How sure are you about this?

00:24:33I did not look at him, sure enough.

00:24:36A pause.

00:24:37I need more than questions.

00:24:39I need the death mark gone completely.

00:24:40Can you actually do that?

00:24:42I turned and looked at him properly for the first time.

00:24:45Callum, the only reason I'm standing in this room is because the silver arrow is here.

00:24:50Not because of you.

00:24:52Whether that mark comes off at all depends on whether the Hargroves start paying what they owe the Whitmans.

00:24:58We can discuss that later.

00:24:59He wanted to argue.

00:25:01Then the death mark tore at him again.

00:25:04And the sound that left his throat was not one he meant to make.

00:25:07He swallowed it down hard.

00:25:08Palm up.

00:25:09Catch the light from the core of the formation.

00:25:11Whatever you hear, whatever you see, do not move.

00:25:14This creature follows Hargrove blood.

00:25:16If you move, the backlash will bury you and I will not be able to pull you out.

00:25:18Callum raised his trembling right hand.

00:25:20This time, he said nothing.

00:25:24The last seal fell into place.

00:25:26The stone floor cracked with a deep, grinding boom that rose through the soles of my feet.

00:25:32The eternal flame in its copper lamp guttled until it was almost gone and the temperature dropped.

00:25:38So fast it felt like the walls themselves were breathing out ice.

00:25:42The floor began to shake in small, rapid tremors.

00:25:45White mist bled up through the cracks, spreading low and thick across the ground, catching the faint silver light of

00:25:51my formation.

00:25:53Then, from the center of the mist, she came.

00:25:58A thousand-year-old serpent, white as bone, as large as a river dragon, with golden-slit eyes burning in

00:26:05the dark like two cold fires.

00:26:08Decades of rage, grief, and imprisonment moved through the air around her, like a physical force.

00:26:15The servants screamed.

00:26:18Eleanor collapsed to her knees.

00:26:20Callum made a sound he probably did not mean to make.

00:26:23As the death mark nearly tore itself open under the pressure of her presence.

00:26:29But when those golden eyes swept across the hall and found him, they stopped.

00:26:35She recognized something.

00:26:37The covenant.

00:26:38The silver light around me.

00:26:40Something older than her rage.

00:26:43Althea went still in a way she had not been still in years.

00:26:47Then she lowered her slowly, all the way to my feet.

00:26:51A low, grieving sound came from her throat, like a creature finally standing before the person it had been waiting

00:26:57for.

00:26:58No one in the room could speak.

00:27:00Callum's breathing was loud, raggled, and stunned.

00:27:03He had spent his whole life under the shadow of what she had done to his family.

00:27:08He had never expected to see her bow.

00:27:10I crouched and touched her scales.

00:27:13They were cold, smooth, and faintly luminous.

00:27:17Althea.

00:27:18I need to ask you something.

00:27:20The silver arrow.

00:27:21The one taken from the Whitmore family a hundred years ago and brought into this estate.

00:27:25Where is it?

00:27:26Her whole body convulsed.

00:27:27She reared halfway up, her great tail striking the stone floor.

00:27:31As she pointed deeper into the estate.

00:27:35Somewhere farther in.

00:27:36One more step.

00:27:38One answer.

00:27:39That was all it would have taken.

00:27:42That was when the screaming started outside the hall doors.

00:27:46Callum!

00:27:46Callum, help me!

00:27:47It's going to eat me!

00:27:48Please!

00:27:49Every note was perfectly pitched.

00:27:50Every word landed right at the weakest seam of the ritual.

00:27:54I did not move.

00:27:55But Althea's head snapped up, and her golden eyes flooded red.

00:28:00I turned to Callum.

00:28:01Do you remember what I told you earlier tonight?

00:28:04His hand had already curled into a fist.

00:28:06Something broke behind his eyes when he heard Jenna's voice.

00:28:10He stared at the door, throat working, and then he ran.

00:28:13Callum!

00:28:14That's Jenna!

00:28:15I don't care!

00:28:16He threw the doors open.

00:28:18Jenna crashed into him from the other side, shaking, soaked with tears, and buried her face in his chest.

00:28:24I was so scared.

00:28:25I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

00:28:27I needed to see you.

00:28:29That thing is terrifying, Callum.

00:28:30I couldn't stay out there.

00:28:32The second her foot crossed the threshold, Serpent Energy burst free from her coral bracelet.

00:28:38It came in a dark, thick wave, carrying a resonance that matched Althea's imprisoned resentment.

00:28:46Frequency for frequency.

00:28:48A signal going both ways.

00:28:52Althea felt it.

00:28:54The red in her eyes deepened.

00:28:56Her scales lifted all across her body as she rose higher.

00:29:01And the sound she made was no longer grief.

00:29:05I stood still with my hands behind my back.

00:29:08In my past life, I had thrown myself in front of that rage.

00:29:11I took all of it so they would not have to.

00:29:14Afterward, I burned with fever for three days and nearly died twice before the fever broke.

00:29:18When I woke up, Callum stood beside my bed with Jenna at his side and said,

00:29:22She needs me more than you do.

00:29:24You're tough.

00:29:24You'll be fine on your own.

00:29:26This time, I breathed out slowly and quietly.

00:29:29And I let it happen.

00:29:34Althea hit them like a wave, smashing into a wall.

00:29:37The formation shattered.

00:29:40The eternal flame died.

00:29:42The silver seals cracked all at once.

00:29:45With a sound like breaking ice.

00:29:47And the core of the ritual collapsed.

00:29:51The whole hall convulsed.

00:29:56Callum was thrown backward and slammed into the offering table hard enough to knock it over.

00:30:02He hit the ground, coughing blood.

00:30:04Jenna went down beside him, white-faced, with blood at the corner of her mouth.

00:30:10The ground shook.

00:30:13Serpent Heeks rose from every crack in the stone, growing louder.

00:30:19And closer.

00:30:20If the formation stayed broken, the serpents under the estate would come up through the floor.

00:30:28Everyone in this house would die.

00:30:30That included me and Lucien.

00:30:33I pressed my fingers together, like a blade and cut across my own palm.

00:30:41Silver blood fell onto the extinguished flame.

00:30:44The fire came back like an explosion.

00:30:48Three feet of silver flame roared up from the lamp.

00:30:51Flooding the hall in cold light.

00:30:54Althema hit that light and went rigid.

00:30:56The red drained from her eyes.

00:30:59She lowered herself to the floor.

00:31:01Pressed her head against my feet.

00:31:03And went still.

00:31:05Breathing, slow and deep.

00:31:08Like something finally put to rest.

00:31:11The hall went quiet.

00:31:15Then Calium dragged himself up from the floor with one arm around Jenna.

00:31:20He looked across the ruined hall at me.

00:31:23Standing in the silver light with blood, still running down my wrist.

00:31:26For one moment, he just stared.

00:31:29Then he opened his mouth.

00:31:31Rowena!

00:31:32You could control that thing the whole time!

00:31:34So why the hell did you just stand there and let it go after Jenna?

00:31:38What is wrong with you?

00:31:40What sick game are you playing?

00:31:43He said it like he was the victim.

00:31:46Like he was not the one who had opened that door.

00:31:49After a direct warning.

00:31:51Like I was not standing in front of him.

00:31:53Bleeding to hold the ritual together.

00:31:56I looked down at my palm.

00:31:59The silver blood was already slowing.

00:32:02I did not answer him.

00:32:03In Calum's arms, too quietly for him to notice.

00:32:07Jenna lifted her head.

00:32:08Her face was wet.

00:32:10Her hair a mess.

00:32:11Tears still drying on her cheeks.

00:32:13But from an angle he could not see,

00:32:15the corner of her mouth curved.

00:32:17Less than a second.

00:32:18I caught every bit of it.

00:32:20I almost wanted to laugh.

00:32:21It was the same in this life as it had been in the last.

00:32:25Jenna worked in the dark.

00:32:27Soft and sweet and untouchable.

00:32:29And Calum.

00:32:31Righteous, devoted, completely blind Calum.

00:32:33Picked up every knife she left behind and walked it straight into me.

00:32:37Except this time,

00:32:38I was not the one bleeding out on the floor.

00:32:42This time,

00:32:43I was the one still standing.

00:32:47I stood in the ruined hall.

00:32:49The cold serpent energy still lingering in the air like frost on my skin.

00:32:57Calum's accusation hung between us.

00:33:00Sharp and accusatory.

00:33:02I didn't rush to defend myself.

00:33:05Instead,

00:33:06I raised my hand

00:33:08and let the silver seat flare.

00:33:12Silver light swept over Jenna,

00:33:15amplifying the dark serpent patterns twisting on her coral bracelet.

00:33:19They projected clearly onto the wall,

00:33:22rivaling like living shadows.

00:33:27The exact energy that had provoked Althea.

00:33:30The servants gasp.

00:33:32Eleanor's face drained of colour.

00:33:35Jenna's expression crumpled

00:33:37as she threw herself into Calum's arms,

00:33:39sobbing violently.

00:33:41Calum, I don't know what that is.

00:33:43I really don't.

00:33:47Did Lady Rowish do this on purpose to scare me?

00:33:51Calum pulled her tighter,

00:33:53his voice rising in fury as he glared at me.

00:33:56Rowena, enough!

00:33:58You already hurt her tonight,

00:34:00and now you want to humiliate her in front of everyone?

00:34:03The disbelief hit me hard.

00:34:05Evidence right in front of him,

00:34:07and still he chose her.

00:34:08Lucian stepped to my side,

00:34:10his voice like ice.

00:34:11Are you blind?

00:34:13Or has your brain rotted too?

00:34:15You have no right to speak here!

00:34:16I held Lucian back with a hand on his arm.

00:34:18No need to argue with him.

00:34:19Serpent energy recognises its own,

00:34:21and so does Althea.

00:34:22Calum, you can keep pretending not to see it,

00:34:23but the formation collapsed tonight

00:34:24because you opened that door yourself.

00:34:25Calum's face stiffened.

00:34:27Jenna cried even harder.

00:34:28I turned away from them,

00:34:29crouching beside Althea

00:34:30and placing my hand on her head.

00:34:31The great white serpent calmed under my touch,

00:34:32lowering her head like a tamed beast.

00:34:34Everyone saw it.

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

00:34:36They feared the Hargroves.

00:34:39Lucian helped me back to my room.

00:34:41The cut in my palm still seeped silver blood,

00:34:45and the Lunarn Hunt scar on my face burned.

00:34:48Every use of the covenant reminded me

00:34:50of the price I had paid.

00:34:51My face for this power.

00:34:54Lucian banded the wound with careful hands,

00:34:57his touch gentle,

00:34:58as if afraid to break me.

00:35:00Don't cut so deep next time.

00:35:02If I hadn't,

00:35:03this entire estate

00:35:04would have collapsed tonight.

00:35:06That's not your burden alone to carry.

00:35:08I looked up at him.

00:35:10He met my eyes steadily,

00:35:13never flinching from the scar,

00:35:15only seeing me.

00:35:17After my re-rebirth,

00:35:18I had accepted

00:35:19that trading my beauty

00:35:21meant no man would love me again.

00:35:24Others saw fear or disgust first,

00:35:26but Lucian never did.

00:35:28I pulled my hand away,

00:35:29my voice turning cold.

00:35:32Don't be too good to me.

00:35:34I don't need it.

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

00:35:38Whether I do it is mine.

00:35:40Footsteps sounded outside.

00:35:43Callum stood in the doorway,

00:35:44his face dark.

00:35:47Seeing Lupien holding my hand

00:35:49made his expression twist with jealousy.

00:35:52So you have time for your servant

00:35:54to fawn him over you.

00:35:55I smiled coldly.

00:35:56At least he knows who is bleeding,

00:35:59unlike some people

00:36:00who only held the real culvert

00:36:03while accusing me.

00:36:04Callum's face darkened further.

00:36:07Tomorrow morning,

00:36:07you're coming with me

00:36:08to the family cemetery.

00:36:10I need to know why this serpent

00:36:11clings to the Hargroves.

00:36:13Fine.

00:36:14But Jenna stays behind.

00:36:16You're meddling too much.

00:36:18I said nothing.

00:36:20I knew Jenna would come anyway.

00:36:24Jenna appeared the next day,

00:36:27wrapped in a pale cloak,

00:36:29looking frail as she clung

00:36:31to Callum's side.

00:36:33Callum,

00:36:34I can't let you go alone.

00:36:36Let me come.

00:36:38I promise I won't cause trouble.

00:36:40Callum glanced at me,

00:36:43waiting for protest.

00:36:44I stayed silent.

00:36:46Let her.

00:36:47The closer she gets to the truth,

00:36:49the faster her mask slips.

00:36:52Jenna's eyes flickered

00:36:53before she looked down.

00:36:55We reached the Hargrove Cemetery,

00:36:57where serpent energy

00:36:59coiled around every grave.

00:37:01My silver sight revealed snake bones

00:37:03pressed beneath each male

00:37:05Hargrove tombstone.

00:37:07This was no simple curse.

00:37:09It was a betrayal.

00:37:10What do you see?

00:37:12Your family wasn't cursed by serpents.

00:37:15You used them first,

00:37:17then betrayed them.

00:37:20Jenna suddenly cried out and stumbled,

00:37:23her hand landing precisely

00:37:24on a formation node.

00:37:26Serpent energy erupted.

00:37:30Callum rushed to her.

00:37:33Jenna!

00:37:34I saw dark energy flash

00:37:36between her fingers.

00:37:38In my past life,

00:37:39I thought it was an accident.

00:37:43Now I knew better.

00:37:45Lucian stepped in front of me,

00:37:47and the underground bones

00:37:49recoiled from him,

00:37:50as if terrified.

00:37:52A question stirred in my mind.

00:37:57Who exactly was Lucian?

00:38:01Jenna clung to Callum,

00:38:03claiming her legs

00:38:04had simply given out.

00:38:06He held her protectively,

00:38:08but turned on me in anger.

00:38:11You knew it was dangerous here!

00:38:13Why didn't you clear it first?

00:38:17Did you see her step on the node?

00:38:19Callum paused.

00:38:20Jenna lifted her tear-stripped face.

00:38:26Lady Rowena,

00:38:27I know you dislike me,

00:38:29but I didn't touch any node.

00:38:31I was just scared.

00:38:33Callum's gaze softened

00:38:35toward her immediately.

00:38:37Rowena, enough.

00:38:39Stop pinning everything on her!

00:38:42I didn't argue.

00:38:43I extracted the serpent energy

00:38:45from her palm,

00:38:47and held it suspended in the air,

00:38:51a writhling black thread

00:38:53trying to return to her sleeve.

00:38:56Jenna paled.

00:38:59Still need an explanation?

00:39:01Callum saw it.

00:39:02Everyone did.

00:39:03But after a moment,

00:39:05he muttered.

00:39:08Maybe the node latched onto her.

00:39:10I laughed bitterly.

00:39:11In my past life,

00:39:12I thought he was blind.

00:39:14Now I realized he saw.

00:39:15He just refused to admit it.

00:39:18Lucian spoke softly behind me.

00:39:20He doesn't deserve a single word from you.

00:39:22His words eased some of the cold weight in my chest.

00:39:26I turned back to the graves.

00:39:29Keep digging.

00:39:31Jenna's desperation to interrupt means

00:39:34there's something important down there.

00:39:38I used silver blood on the tombstone.

00:39:42A fragment of memory rose.

00:39:45Centuries ago,

00:39:46Althea had willingly guarded the Hargroves,

00:39:49shielding them

00:39:50and even giving her white scales as a token.

00:39:53They repaid her by stabbing her

00:39:55with the stolen silver arrow while she slept,

00:39:58turning her into a living lock for the Serpent Gate.

00:40:02She was no monster.

00:40:04She was a betrayed protector.

00:40:07When the vision faded,

00:40:09Callum looked grim.

00:40:12I expected him to ask about Althea.

00:40:15Instead,

00:40:16if she's the living lock,

00:40:19she can still hold the gate, right?

00:40:21I turned slowly,

00:40:23anger flaring.

00:40:25That's all you take from this?

00:40:28The Hugg family cannot fall.

00:40:31I need to know how to save it.

00:40:33His selfishness drained even my rage.

00:40:36In my past life,

00:40:37my pain,

00:40:38my blood,

00:40:38my life had only ever been tools to him.

00:40:42Jenna squeezed his hand gently.

00:40:44Callum,

00:40:45you're just worried about the family.

00:40:46Lady Rowena wouldn't understand your burden.

00:40:48Her voice was soft,

00:40:50but her eyes smiled.

00:40:52Lucian's hand tightened on his sword hilt.

00:40:54Don't rush.

00:40:55Let them dig their own graves deeper.

00:40:59The filthier their words now,

00:41:01the cleaner the reckoning later.

00:41:05Later,

00:41:06Jenna sought me out alone.

00:41:10Her gentle mask dropped completely

00:41:12as she leaned against a cord ziller,

00:41:14twisting her coral bracelet.

00:41:16You must feel so smug right now,

00:41:19making Callum look bad,

00:41:21making everyone doubt me,

00:41:24enjoying yourself.

00:41:26It's nowhere near as entertaining

00:41:29as you feeding serpents

00:41:31while playing the helpless victim.

00:41:34She laughed,

00:41:35her eyes turning venomous.

00:41:37You're much smarter than last time.

00:41:38So you remember too?

00:41:42Jenna didn't answer directly.

00:41:45She stroked the bracelet.

00:41:49Whether I remember doesn't matter.

00:41:52Callum will always believe me.

00:41:54You can shove proof in his face,

00:41:56and he'll still make excuses for me.

00:41:59Her words cut deep,

00:42:01laced with malice.

00:42:03Look at you.

00:42:05Traded your face for power,

00:42:07and still no one loves you.

00:42:10How pathetic.

00:42:12You think I still want Callum's love?

00:42:14Jenna stepped closer,

00:42:16lowering her voice.

00:42:17Of course you do.

00:42:18Once a woman has been loved,

00:42:20she always craves it back.

00:42:22You're just pretending to be clear-headed now.

00:42:25She reached toward my scar.

00:42:27Lucian emerged from the shadows

00:42:29and seized her wrist.

00:42:30Touch her again,

00:42:31and I'll cut off your hand.

00:42:33Jenna winced in pain,

00:42:35but quickly shifted

00:42:36to a pitiful expression

00:42:37as Callum's foot stems approached.

00:42:40Callum!

00:42:41He's trying to kill me!

00:42:48I only wanted to apologize

00:42:50to Lady Rowena,

00:42:51but he suddenly grabbed me.

00:42:53I was so scared.

00:42:55Let her go.

00:42:58Lucian,

00:42:59release her.

00:43:01Rowena, control your people.

00:43:03Don't forget,

00:43:05this is the Hargro estate.

00:43:10I remember perfectly.

00:43:12That's exactly why

00:43:13it's so filthy here.

00:43:27See that?

00:43:29Every time she touches you,

00:43:30your mark deepens.

00:43:31What trick did you pull?

00:43:33Wonderful.

00:43:34She poisons you,

00:43:36and I get blamed.

00:43:37You really are her perfect blade.

00:43:39Lucian stepped beside me.

00:43:43Let's go.

00:43:45Don't waste time on fools.

00:43:49This time,

00:43:49I didn't disagree.

00:43:54Late that night,

00:43:55Chester knocked on my door,

00:43:56holding a lantern

00:43:56with perfect servant deference.

00:43:57Lady Whitmere,

00:43:59the old madam asks

00:44:00if you will enter

00:44:00the hall again tomorrow.

00:44:01Eleanor did the serpent

00:44:02send you, did she?

00:44:03Chester's expression

00:44:04stayed neutral.

00:44:05You're overthinking.

00:44:06I sealed the room

00:44:07with silver seals.

00:44:08Only Lucian and I

00:44:09remained with him.

00:44:10Chester finally looked up.

00:44:11The silver sight

00:44:12lives up to its name.

00:44:13How many years

00:44:14have you hidden

00:44:14in the Hargroves?

00:44:1543.

00:44:16He spoke calmly.

00:44:17The Hargroves think

00:44:18they can control

00:44:18the serpent gate,

00:44:19but those behind it

00:44:19have waited for them

00:44:20to walk into the trap.

00:44:21I asked about

00:44:22the silver arrow.

00:44:24You want the sacred relic.

00:44:25The serpent court wants it.

00:44:27Callum wants it to survive.

00:44:28Jenna wants it

00:44:29to open the gate.

00:44:30Everyone is waiting

00:44:31for you to act,

00:44:31Lady Whitmore.

00:44:33Callum,

00:44:33I just saw Chester

00:44:34enter Lady Rowena's room.

00:44:36Are they plotting something?

00:44:39Rowena,

00:44:39what exactly

00:44:40are you doing

00:44:40behind my back?

00:44:46Callum immediately accused me

00:44:48of colluding

00:44:49with the serpent court

00:44:50through Chester.

00:44:53I didn't deny

00:44:54seeking the arrow.

00:44:58It was my goal.

00:44:59He seized on it,

00:45:01turning everyone

00:45:02against me.

00:45:05You were never here

00:45:07to save us.

00:45:09You came for

00:45:10Hargrave possessions

00:45:11from the start.

00:45:12That relic belongs

00:45:14to Whitmore,

00:45:15not Hargrige.

00:45:17Jenna spoke softly.

00:45:19Callum,

00:45:21I've long felt

00:45:23Lady Rowena's hostility.

00:45:25I didn't dare

00:45:26say it before.

00:45:28I feared you'd

00:45:29think me petty.

00:45:30Her eyes reddened again.

00:45:33Callum's disgust

00:45:34towards me deepened.

00:45:36Hand over

00:45:36your silver seals.

00:45:40From now on,

00:45:41any ritual

00:45:41needs my approval.

00:45:44You want to

00:45:45control my power

00:45:46to manage the gate?

00:45:48This is my home!

00:45:50I have the right

00:45:51to know

00:45:52what you're doing.

00:45:53I summoned

00:45:54a wisp of Althea's

00:45:55white serpent shadow.

00:45:57It coiled

00:45:58around Callum's

00:45:59death mark.

00:46:01He cried out

00:46:02in pain,

00:46:03face paling.

00:46:04You have the right

00:46:05to know this,

00:46:06for example.

00:46:07You're still standing

00:46:08only because I allow it.

00:46:11Jenna stumbled

00:46:11back in fear.

00:46:13Callum stared at me

00:46:15with a mix of rage

00:46:15and newfound terror.

00:46:17Lucien spoke quietly

00:46:18at my side.

00:46:20She saves you

00:46:21by choice,

00:46:22not obligation.

00:46:24Remember that.

00:46:31Eleanor called

00:46:32a family meeting,

00:46:33summoning all

00:46:34Hargroff branches.

00:46:38It was framed

00:46:39as discussing

00:46:40the gate,

00:46:40but clearly meant

00:46:41to force me

00:46:42to submit publicly.

00:46:45Many saw my scarred face

00:46:46for the first time.

00:46:48Whispers spread.

00:46:50How terrifying

00:46:51the scar was.

00:46:52How no wonder

00:46:53Callum preferred Jenna.

00:46:56I heard every word.

00:46:58In my past life,

00:46:59such talk

00:47:00would have crushed me.

00:47:02Now it was just noise.

00:47:04Eleanor sat at the head,

00:47:06voice heavy.

00:47:09Lady Whitmora,

00:47:11your power is great,

00:47:13but we've seen

00:47:14your emotions

00:47:15are unstable.

00:47:17For the family's safety,

00:47:19the sealing arts

00:47:20cannot remain

00:47:21solely in your hands.

00:47:24Callum didn't intervene.

00:47:27He sat silently,

00:47:29endorsing the ambush.

00:47:32Jenna added fuel.

00:47:35I'm only worried

00:47:37Lady Roweth

00:47:37might resent me

00:47:38and take it out

00:47:40on the entire

00:47:41Hargroff family.

00:47:43All eyes turned to me.

00:47:45I stood

00:47:46and activated

00:47:46the silver sight.

00:47:48Behind every person,

00:47:49shadows of

00:47:50sacrificed women

00:47:51appeared,

00:47:52maids,

00:47:53adopted daughters,

00:47:54wives offered

00:47:55as tribute.

00:47:56Those who had

00:47:56mocked my scar

00:47:57dropped to their

00:47:57knees in terror.

00:47:59You wanted to

00:48:00talk safety?

00:48:01Then look at

00:48:02how many lives

00:48:03you've trampled

00:48:04beneath your feet.

00:48:06Jenna's smile

00:48:07finally shattered.

00:48:12Chaos erupted

00:48:13after the ghosts

00:48:13appeared.

00:48:14Some begged me

00:48:14to withdraw the sight.

00:48:15Others accused

00:48:16Eleanor.

00:48:16She paled and

00:48:17instinctively protected

00:48:18the legacy book.

00:48:19I saw it.

00:48:20The sacrifice ledger

00:48:20is inside the book.

00:48:21Eleanor's hand froze.

00:48:22Callum tried to block me.

00:48:23Rowena,

00:48:24don't make this uglier.

00:48:25The ugly one

00:48:25is your family's

00:48:26centuries of blood debt.

00:48:27Jenna clutched

00:48:28her chest,

00:48:29collapsing into a chair.

00:48:30I can't breathe.

00:48:31Callum,

00:48:32I'm so scared.

00:48:33Callum moved

00:48:34to help her,

00:48:34but a white serpent

00:48:36shadow blocked him,

00:48:37staring coldly

00:48:38at Jenna.

00:48:39She stopped

00:48:40aggravating her sobs.

00:48:42I approached

00:48:43Eleanor.

00:48:44Give me the ledger.

00:48:45Eleanor forced

00:48:46a smile.

00:48:48Child,

00:48:48those are old matters.

00:48:49You already died once.

00:48:51Why keep pursuing?

00:48:53I leaned close.

00:48:56Because I died once,

00:48:58I know exactly

00:48:59what being chosen

00:49:00by you feels like.

00:49:02Callum watched

00:49:03with fleeting complexity

00:49:05before Jenna's sobs

00:49:06pulled him away.

00:49:07again.

00:49:08My cold laugh

00:49:09deepened.

00:49:12He was never worth it.

00:49:14Callum tried

00:49:15a softer approach

00:49:16that evening,

00:49:17coming to my room

00:49:18with a gentler tone.

00:49:20Roland,

00:49:21we can cooperate.

00:49:24You want

00:49:24the silver arrow?

00:49:25I want the

00:49:26Hargroves

00:49:26to survive.

00:49:27Our goals

00:49:28are clean.

00:49:30I knew what came next.

00:49:32I knew what came next.

00:49:32The same fake,

00:49:33fake concern

00:49:33from my past life.

00:49:35I know some words

00:49:36hurt you before,

00:49:37but now isn't the time

00:49:38to dwell on it.

00:49:39Some words?

00:49:41I turned my face

00:49:42so he could see

00:49:43the scar clearly.

00:49:44You mocked my face,

00:49:47protected Jenna

00:49:48as she harmed me,

00:49:49demanded

00:49:50my seals.

00:49:51And you call it

00:49:52some words?

00:49:54Callum frowned.

00:49:56You're too sensitive

00:49:57now.

00:49:57Lucien entered

00:49:58with medicine

00:49:59and overheard.

00:50:00She died once

00:50:02because of you all.

00:50:03And now you call

00:50:04her sensitive?

00:50:05Who do you think

00:50:06you are?

00:50:06Her servant?

00:50:08Guard?

00:50:08Or just the dog

00:50:09she keeps?

00:50:10Lucien remained calm.

00:50:12I can be anything

00:50:13she wants.

00:50:13But you?

00:50:14You're different.

00:50:15How?

00:50:16Even when she bleeds,

00:50:17you only ask

00:50:18why she didn't

00:50:19protect others.

00:50:20The room fell silent.

00:50:21I looked away,

00:50:23no longer wanting

00:50:24to hear Callum.

00:50:26Give me the key.

00:50:27Tomorrow we enter

00:50:28the underground chamber.

00:50:31Callum gritted

00:50:32his teeth

00:50:33and placed

00:50:34the key

00:50:34on the table.

00:50:38The underground chamber

00:50:40lay behind

00:50:40Hargrok Hall.

00:50:41Dust

00:50:42and serpent energy

00:50:43rushed out

00:50:44as the door opened.

00:50:45Whitmore hunting tools,

00:50:46silver blades,

00:50:47short bows,

00:50:48chains,

00:50:49hung on the walls

00:50:49like trophies.

00:50:51My chest tightened.

00:50:52These belonged

00:50:53to my family,

00:50:54displayed as

00:50:55Hargrok spoils.

00:50:56As I approached,

00:50:57the tools hummed

00:50:59in recognition.

00:51:00Several blades

00:51:00tilted toward me.

00:51:02Callum's eyes

00:51:03gleamed with greed.

00:51:05If these can suppress

00:51:06the gate,

00:51:07why not lend them

00:51:08to the Hargroves first?

00:51:10After stealing them

00:51:11for centuries,

00:51:11you still want

00:51:12to borrow more?

00:51:13Jenna followed us in.

00:51:15Seeing the tools

00:51:16respond to me,

00:51:17jealously flashed

00:51:18in her eyes.

00:51:19Impressive.

00:51:21Too bad it all came

00:51:22at the cost

00:51:23of your face.

00:51:24Lucien took

00:51:25a loosened silver blade

00:51:27from the wall

00:51:27and placed it

00:51:28in my hand.

00:51:29They recognize you,

00:51:30not because

00:51:31of your face,

00:51:32but because you

00:51:34are Whitmore.

00:51:34His words settled

00:51:35warmly in my heart.

00:51:37I gripped the blade.

00:51:38Silver light bloomed.

00:51:40All the tools

00:51:40vibrated in univine.

00:51:42Jenna's expression

00:51:42soured completely.

00:51:44What she hated most

00:51:45wasn't my strength.

00:51:46It was that even scarred,

00:51:47I still had someone

00:51:48standing by my side.

00:51:50Deepest in the chamber

00:51:51hung an old painting.

00:51:53The first Whitmore

00:51:54lunar huntress

00:51:55beside a golden-horned

00:51:56white deer.

00:51:57The deer shielded her

00:51:58from serpents.

00:52:00Its antlers

00:52:00wrapped in moonlight.

00:52:02Lucien's face

00:52:03changed when he saw it.

00:52:05He looked away

00:52:06too late.

00:52:07You've seen this painting?

00:52:08No.

00:52:08He answered too quickly.

00:52:10Callum noticed,

00:52:10his expression

00:52:11turning dangerous.

00:52:12Seems your servant

00:52:12knows quite a lot.

00:52:13I stepped in front of Lucien.

00:52:14None of your concern.

00:52:15Callum sneered.

00:52:16Rowena, you'd shield

00:52:17a mere servant from me?

00:52:18Lucien's eyes chilled.

00:52:19I spoke calmly

00:52:19without turning.

00:52:20He is not a mere servant.

00:52:21Lucien fell silent.

00:52:22My own heart stirred

00:52:23unexpectedly at the words.

00:52:25Jenna watched

00:52:25with a light laugh.

00:52:26Lady Rowena

00:52:27was so enviable.

00:52:29Face ruined,

00:52:30yet still so protective.

00:52:32How much of that protection

00:52:33is real, I wonder?

00:52:35At least more

00:52:36than what you stole.

00:52:37Her face darkened.

00:52:38Suddenly,

00:52:39her bracelet glowed.

00:52:41Serpent energy

00:52:42corrupted the tools,

00:52:43turning them against me.

00:52:45Jenna cried out

00:52:46in fake alarm.

00:52:48Callum, watch out!

00:52:49The tools have gone

00:52:50out of control!

00:52:51But excitement

00:52:52burned in her eyes.

00:52:53The tools lunged at me.

00:52:57They heard their

00:52:58silver lament.

00:53:00They didn't want

00:53:01to harm their true owner.

00:53:02Jenna's serpent energy

00:53:04forced them.

00:53:05Callum's first instinct

00:53:06was to shield Jenna.

00:53:07Rowena!

00:53:08Control them!

00:53:09Don't let them

00:53:10touch Jenna!

00:53:11I ignored him

00:53:12and summoned

00:53:13the moon's silver bow.

00:53:15Moonlight

00:53:16formed the string.

00:53:17I fired arrows,

00:53:20tearing serpent energy

00:53:21from the blades

00:53:21one by one.

00:53:23They fell obediently

00:53:25at my feet.

00:53:27Each shot burned my scar

00:53:28like a fresh blade cut.

00:53:29Pain seared through me.

00:53:30I grit my teeth

00:53:31and kept drawing.

00:53:32Lucian suddenly

00:53:33grabbed my hand.

00:53:34Enough!

00:53:35Not yet cleared!

00:53:36I said enough,

00:53:36you're hurting.

00:53:37Everyone else

00:53:37fixated on my scar,

00:53:38fearing, hating,

00:53:39using it.

00:53:40Only Lucian cared

00:53:41if it hurt.

00:53:41This isn't the time

00:53:42for your intimacy.

00:53:43Rowena, continue.

00:53:44Lucian turned on him.

00:53:46Shut your mouth.

00:53:48Callum's face darkened.

00:53:51I released the bowstring,

00:53:53refusing his order

00:53:54for the first time.

00:53:55The rest can wait

00:53:55until I decide.

00:53:57Jaina looked furious.

00:53:58She had wanted

00:53:59to exhaust me.

00:54:00She never expected

00:54:01Lucian could make me stop

00:54:03or that I would

00:54:04choose to for him.

00:54:06I followed Jaina

00:54:07into the underground

00:54:08water chath.

00:54:09She stood on the stone steps

00:54:10before the outer serpent gate.

00:54:12Her innocent mask

00:54:13finally debardened.

00:54:14Do you know

00:54:15where the silver arrow

00:54:16really is?

00:54:16I remained silent,

00:54:18gripping the hilt

00:54:18of the silver blade,

00:54:19see the sound echoing

00:54:20coldly off the walls.

00:54:21It's not in the chamber.

00:54:23It's buried

00:54:24in Althea's heart.

00:54:25The first Hargroves

00:54:27used it to nail her

00:54:28into the earth vein

00:54:29and create this gate.

00:54:31My fingers tightened painfully.

00:54:33The weight of generations

00:54:34of betrayal

00:54:35pressed down on me.

00:54:36Jaina stepped closer,

00:54:37her voice dripping venom.

00:54:39If you want Whitmore's relic back,

00:54:41you'll have to pull the arrow.

00:54:43But the moment you do,

00:54:45the gate opens.

00:54:46Everyone will blame you

00:54:47for destroying Hargrove Hall.

00:54:49Callum will hate you.

00:54:50Eleanor will hate you.

00:54:51They'll say you did it

00:54:52because no one could love

00:54:53your scarred face.

00:54:54The words stung,

00:54:55but not as deeply

00:54:56as they once would have.

00:54:57I met her gaze steadily,

00:54:59the lunar scar on my cheek

00:55:00pulsing with silver light.

00:55:01You still think I care

00:55:02what Callum thinks of me?

00:55:04Jenna's smile faltered

00:55:05for a split second.

00:55:06I continued,

00:55:08my voice low but firm.

00:55:09You're wrong.

00:55:10I didn't come back

00:55:11to prove I'm worthy of love.

00:55:13I came to make sure

00:55:14all of you pay what you owe.

00:55:16Her expression turned ugly.

00:55:17She spat one last barb

00:55:19before leaping deeper

00:55:20into the waterway.

00:55:22You really think Lucian

00:55:23will keep protecting you?

00:55:25Men are all the same.

00:55:27Once he gets tired

00:55:28of looking at that face,

00:55:29he'll leave too.

00:55:31I stood there

00:55:31as her footsteps faded,

00:55:33the cold water

00:55:33lapping at my boots.

00:55:35Her words tried

00:55:35to burrow into old wounds,

00:55:37but Lucian's steady presence

00:55:38in my mind

00:55:39pushed them back.

00:55:39I turned

00:55:40and climbed back

00:55:41to the surface,

00:55:42the truth now clear

00:55:43in my heart.

00:55:43The silver arrow

00:55:44rested in Althea's chest.

00:55:47Back above ground,

00:55:48I found Lucian

00:55:49waiting in the shadows

00:55:50of the hall.

00:55:51His quiet strength

00:55:52grounded me

00:55:53as I told him

00:55:54what Jenna had revealed.

00:55:55He listened

00:55:56without interruption,

00:55:57his eyes never leaving mine.

00:55:59Will you pull it?

00:56:00I have to,

00:56:01but not recklessly.

00:56:03I'll use Callum's blood,

00:56:04Jenna's serpent contract,

00:56:06Chester's serpent court mark,

00:56:08and Eleanor's sacrifice ledger

00:56:10to form a new seal.

00:56:11Lucian studied me carefully,

00:56:13no fear in his gaze,

00:56:14only unwavering resolve.

00:56:16Then we do it.

00:56:17A small smile tugged

00:56:19at my lips despite everything.

00:56:20You won't ask

00:56:21if I'll turn into a monster?

00:56:23You won't.

00:56:24How can you be so sure?

00:56:26He paused,

00:56:27then stepped closer,

00:56:28and gently re-wrapped

00:56:30the bandage on my palm.

00:56:32Because even when you

00:56:33could have let Callum

00:56:34die tonight,

00:56:35you still saved

00:56:36the entire estate.

00:56:37His words pierced

00:56:38through the armor

00:56:38I had built around my heart.

00:56:40I had hated them all

00:56:41so fiercely,

00:56:43yet I refused

00:56:44to become the destroyer

00:56:45they feared.

00:56:46Lucian saw that in me

00:56:47when no one else did.

00:56:48The scar on my face

00:56:49burned less fiercely

00:56:50in that moment.

00:56:51Tomorrow we go to Eleanor.

00:56:53Good.

00:56:53I lingered in his presence

00:56:54a moment longer,

00:56:56drawing quiet comfort

00:56:58from the way

00:56:58he stood guard beside me,

00:57:00unflinching.

00:57:02Eleanor refused to surrender

00:57:04the sacrifice's ledger.

00:57:05She sat in the main study,

00:57:07cradling her peach blossom tea.

00:57:08Her grandmotherly facade

00:57:09finally stripped away

00:57:11to reveal cold calculation.

00:57:13Rowena,

00:57:13you already know too much.

00:57:15A smart girl knows

00:57:17when to stop.

00:57:18The memories flooded back.

00:57:19Her smiles as she fed me poison.

00:57:22Her indifference

00:57:23as she watched me die.

00:57:24Anger surged

00:57:25through my veins.

00:57:27When you sent me

00:57:28into the serpent gate

00:57:29in my past life,

00:57:30did you also think

00:57:32I should have stopped?

00:57:33Her hand trembled

00:57:33slightly on the teacup.

00:57:35Do you remember?

00:57:35I remember everything.

00:57:37Your sweet words.

00:57:38The poisoned tea,

00:57:40how you locked me inside

00:57:41without a flicker of remorse.

00:57:44I sealed her teacup

00:57:45with a silver seal.

00:57:47The liquid inside

00:57:48turned black.

00:57:49Serpent shadows

00:57:50thrashing wildly.

00:57:52Lupien stood behind me.

00:57:54His presence

00:57:55a wall of silent fury.

00:57:57Eleanor's composure cracked.

00:57:59What do you want?

00:58:00The ledger.

00:58:02She resisted.

00:58:04I stepped forward

00:58:06and sealed her throat

00:58:07with silver light.

00:58:10Her mouth opened,

00:58:11but no sound emerged.

00:58:14You lied so many people

00:58:15to their deaths.

00:58:16This mouth of yours

00:58:18deserves rest.

00:58:19I retrieved the ledger

00:58:20from her hidden compartment.

00:58:22Page after page

00:58:22listed women's names.

00:58:24The final entry

00:58:25was my own.

00:58:26Rowena Whitmore.

00:58:27My fingers clenched

00:58:29until my knuckles whitened.

00:58:31This life,

00:58:32I would cross it out myself.

00:58:36Callum learned

00:58:36of the stolen ledger quickly.

00:58:38Instead of confronting

00:58:39Mimi directly,

00:58:40he lured Lupien away

00:58:42and trapped him

00:58:43in the old underground chapel

00:58:44beneath Hargrove Hall,

00:58:46an ancient altar

00:58:47etched with serpent arrays

00:58:48designed to suppress

00:58:49Lunarn Hunt blood.

00:58:50When I arrived,

00:58:51Lucien knelt in the center

00:58:52of the array,

00:58:53covered in wounds,

00:58:54yet his eyes glowed

00:58:55with a faint golden light.

00:58:56Callum stood outside the formation,

00:58:57a silver blade in hand.

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

00:59:00One more step

00:59:00and he dies for you.

00:59:01Eyes alight

00:59:02with vicious excitement.

00:59:03Lady Rowena,

00:59:04you're so powerful.

00:59:05Choose the silver arrow

00:59:07or him.

00:59:08Lucien looked at me

00:59:08through the pain

00:59:09and shook his head wiltly.

00:59:10Leave me.

00:59:11The plea tore at my chest.

00:59:13In my past life,

00:59:14I had told Callum

00:59:14the same thing,

00:59:15only for him to abandon me.

00:59:16I would not repeat

00:59:17his cruelty.

00:59:18Power erupted

00:59:19from my huntress mark.

00:59:20Silver light shattered

00:59:21the serpent array

00:59:22inch by inch.

00:59:23Callum paled.

00:59:25You're mad.

00:59:26The covenant will backlash.

00:59:28That's not for you to decide.

00:59:30I rushed into the formation,

00:59:33grabbed Lucien's hand

00:59:34and dragged him free.

00:59:36His silver gold blood

00:59:37touched my pie palm

00:59:39and the lingering dark energy

00:59:41recoiled as if burned.

00:59:45Lucien's blood was not red.

00:59:46It shimmered with faint

00:59:48silver gold light.

00:59:49The realization hit me

00:59:50as the serpent array

00:59:51and the rainness

00:59:52fled from him.

00:59:53Who are you, really?

00:59:54Lucien remained silent

00:59:55for a long moment

00:59:56before answering softly.

00:59:57I promised to stay

00:59:58by the Whitmore heir's side.

00:59:59Promised whom?

01:00:02He didn't reply.

01:00:03But Callum had seen the blood.

01:00:05Greed twisted his features.

01:00:06So he's even more special than you.

01:00:08She laughed cruelly.

01:00:10Callum, if we use him

01:00:11as the new living lock,

01:00:12we won't need Rowena anymore.

01:00:14Callum didn't deny it.

01:00:16Cold fury settled in my chest.

01:00:18Touch him

01:00:20and I will end

01:00:21the hog rave bloodline tonight.

01:00:24You care about him that much?

01:00:26So even you can feel fear.

01:00:29I helped Lucien to his feet,

01:00:30my voice steady

01:00:31despite the storm inside.

01:00:34Yes, I fear.

01:00:36I fear him suffering

01:00:38the same fate I did.

01:00:39Being sacrificed by people like you

01:00:41who treat lives as disposable.

01:00:44Lucien glanced at me,

01:00:46emotion flickering in his eyes.

01:00:48I avoided looking back,

01:00:50afraid my own feelings

01:00:52would spill over.

01:00:55Callum and Jenna united against us.

01:00:58They spread rumors

01:00:59that Lucien's non-human aura

01:01:01was the true cause

01:01:02of the gate's instability.

01:01:05Jenna wept publicly,

01:01:07claiming she saw his golden blood

01:01:09and couldn't sleep from fear.

01:01:13Callum played the responsible family head.

01:01:15I don't want to hurt anyone,

01:01:17but for the Hargroves,

01:01:19I must uncover what he is.

01:01:21The hypocrisy made me want to laugh.

01:01:24This was their old game.

01:01:26One crying,

01:01:27the other forced to act.

01:01:29Only now,

01:01:30the knives were aimed elsewhere.

01:01:34I stepped in front of Lucien.

01:01:36Anyone who wants to investigate him

01:01:38goes through me first.

01:01:40Callum's face darkened.

01:01:41Rowena,

01:01:42you'd abandoned the entire

01:01:43Hargrove family's safety for him?

01:01:46I protected him.

01:01:48You don't deserve it.

01:01:49Lady Rowena,

01:01:51have you forgotten Lucien

01:01:52is just an outsider you picked up?

01:01:53An outsider cleaner than you'll ever be.

01:01:56Lucien spoke quietly behind me.

01:01:58You don't have to shield me like this.

01:02:00I want to.

01:02:04The words surprised even me.

01:02:06We retreated to the forest behind the hall.

01:02:09Serpent energy pursued us to the edge,

01:02:12but dared not enter.

01:02:14Moonlight filtered through the trees

01:02:16as I tended Lucien's wounds.

01:02:18Why do you remember the past life?

01:02:21He was quiet for a long time.

01:02:23Because when you died,

01:02:25I was there too.

01:02:26My hand stilled on the bandages.

01:02:29I was trapped in the formation.

01:02:30I heard you begging him to open the door.

01:02:32I couldn't break free.

01:02:34I could only watch it close.

01:02:36The memory of that freezing night

01:02:37crashed over me.

01:02:39Not everyone had abandoned me.

01:02:42Someone had tried.

01:02:45My throat tightened.

01:02:47I always thought if I were stronger,

01:02:49you wouldn't have died.

01:02:50That wasn't your fault.

01:02:52But I was still too late.

01:02:53I looked at him,

01:02:54the urge to embrace him nearly overwhelming.

01:02:57Instead, I whispered,

01:02:59this time,

01:02:59you weren't too late.

01:03:01Lucien met my eyes

01:03:03and smiled faintly for the first time.

01:03:05It was small,

01:03:06but it lit up the darkness around us

01:03:09like moonlight on water.

01:03:11My huntress mark began spiraling out of control.

01:03:16Visions of blood deeds and deaths

01:03:18flooded my silver sight.

01:03:23I saw Eleanor dragged by ghosts.

01:03:29Chester devoured by the serpent court.

01:03:33Jenna consumed by her own power.

01:03:37And Callum begging on his knees.

01:03:42Artis's voice echoed in my mind,

01:03:45commanding me to hunt those

01:03:51who fed the serpents.

01:03:55I nearly summoned the oath arrow.

01:03:58Lucien seized my shoulders.

01:04:00Rowena, look at me.

01:04:01The silver light and blood

01:04:02blurted my vision.

01:04:03Pain tore through the scar on my face.

01:04:07Move!

01:04:08I need to kill them!

01:04:09Lucien held firm.

01:04:11You can take revenge.

01:04:14But don't give yourself to the covenant.

01:04:17He cut his own palm

01:04:19and pressed the silver-gold blood

01:04:21against my scar.

01:04:22The divine fury retreated.

01:04:24I could breathe again.

01:04:26You are not the goddess's blade.

01:04:28You are Rowena.

01:04:30Tears stung my eyes.

01:04:32He had shown me I could hurt,

01:04:35hate,

01:04:35and still remain myself.

01:04:38I closed my eyes.

01:04:40Don't let go.

01:04:42I will.

01:04:43Chester stole the sacrifice ledger,

01:04:46hoping to trade it to the serpent court

01:04:48for freedom.

01:04:50We tracked him to an old underground room,

01:04:53where he knelt before a black serpent mirror.

01:04:57A pale hand reached out

01:05:00and took the ledger,

01:05:01offering no promise.

01:05:05Executors have no freedom.

01:05:07Only the next order.

01:05:11Chester protested his 43 years of service.

01:05:15The mirror cracked,

01:05:17and dark energy retaliated,

01:05:19rotting his brand.

01:05:27I didn't save him immediately.

01:05:30Lady Whitmore,

01:05:31save me!

01:05:33I can tell you how to close the gate!

01:05:38How many have you helped kill?

01:05:41Let him die.

01:05:42I stabilized the energy

01:05:45in Chester's body

01:05:46with a silver seal.

01:05:49You won't die yet.

01:05:53You'll watch what you serve

01:05:54to devour you.

01:05:57I reclaimed the ledger.

01:06:00The path to the silver arrow lay clear.

01:06:03The path to the silver arrow clear.

01:06:06Jenna publicly revealed

01:06:08the arrow's location

01:06:09in Althea's heart.

01:06:11She stood in the meeting hall,

01:06:13crying convincingly.

01:06:16If we get that arrow,

01:06:18can the Hargroves be saved?

01:06:21Callum, I don't...

01:06:23want you to die.

01:06:28The branches went wild

01:06:30with desperation.

01:06:31Callum pretended to restrain them,

01:06:33but I saw his agent slipping

01:06:35toward the hall depths.

01:06:37I blocked the entrance.

01:06:39Call them back.

01:06:42Callum stayed silent.

01:06:43Jenna tried to soften it.

01:06:45Lady Rowena,

01:06:47why must you think

01:06:48the worst of Callum?

01:06:49He only wants to save his family!

01:06:52Shut your mouth.

01:06:54I faced Callum directly.

01:06:56Do you want to save your family

01:06:58or steal my arrow?

01:07:00If it can save the Hargroves,

01:07:02it shouldn't belong only to Whitmore.

01:07:04His true nature stood bare.

01:07:07The man who once wore affection

01:07:09like a mask

01:07:11now showed his greed openly.

01:07:15I descended into the Earthvein

01:07:17with Lucian,

01:07:18crossled as the strage,

01:07:19and several clansmen

01:07:20forced their way after us.

01:07:22Serpent energy parted before me

01:07:24and recoiled even more

01:07:26from Lucian.

01:07:28At the core,

01:07:29Althea was pinned to the gate,

01:07:31the silver arrow buried in her heart.

01:07:34She lowered her head,

01:07:36exposing the wound,

01:07:37begging for release.

01:07:39I grasped the arrow's hilt.

01:07:41Lucian stepped protectively behind me.

01:07:44Careful.

01:07:47Callum pressed a silver blade

01:07:48to Lucian's throat.

01:07:50Pull the arrow, Rowena,

01:07:51or he dies.

01:07:54I held the hilt motionless.

01:07:57Blood, silver gold,

01:07:58trickled from Lucian's throat,

01:08:00exciting the gate further.

01:08:01Jenna's eyes lit with greed.

01:08:03Callum,

01:08:04his blood can replace hers.

01:08:06Use him as the new lock.

01:08:07Callum didn't deny it.

01:08:09Choose the arrow

01:08:10or his life.

01:08:12Don't mind me.

01:08:13The familiar cruelty

01:08:14broke something inside me.

01:08:16Why must everyone I cared for

01:08:18become their leverage?

01:08:19Do you know what disgust is me most about you?

01:08:21Callum frowned.

01:08:23You treat other people's sacrifices

01:08:25as natural rights?

01:08:26I released the arrow

01:08:27and slashed my plomb instead,

01:08:30spilling silver blood

01:08:31to summon the debts.

01:08:34Ghosts of sacrificed women rose,

01:08:36their eyes fixed on Callum.

01:08:39This time,

01:08:40judgment fell on the Hargreeves.

01:08:42The ghosts surrounded Callum.

01:08:45They whispered their names.

01:08:47Wives,

01:08:48maids,

01:08:49daughters,

01:08:50and my past self.

01:08:52He stumbled back,

01:08:53the blade leaving Lucian's throat.

01:08:56I pulled Lucian behind me.

01:08:59Jenna launched for the arrow.

01:09:02Serpent energy from the gate

01:09:04seized her instead,

01:09:06merging with her bracelet.

01:09:09Jenna laughed wildly

01:09:11as she began transforming.

01:09:14Finally my turn.

01:09:15You knew it wanted your body?

01:09:18So what?

01:09:20At least I'll drag you all down with me!

01:09:23She yanked the arrow partially free.

01:09:25Althea screamed.

01:09:27The gate cracked.

01:09:28Jenna, stop!

01:09:29Now you're scared?

01:09:31You protected me

01:09:32only because I was useful!

01:09:36Their mutual betrayal lay exposed.

01:09:39Only I had once believed

01:09:40in their false bond.

01:09:42Lucian took my hand.

01:09:43Rowene,

01:09:44don't watch me.

01:09:45Do what you must.

01:09:46I nodded,

01:09:47stealing myself.

01:09:49The gate's opening

01:09:51caused Hargro Hall to collapse.

01:09:53Black railed hunts

01:09:54and surged from the ground.

01:09:56Claxertmen fled,

01:09:57only to be caught

01:09:58by their own ghosts.

01:10:00Eleanor was dragged

01:10:02before the fireplace.

01:10:04Forced to confront

01:10:05the ledger.

01:10:06Rowena, save me!

01:10:08I was forced!

01:10:09It was all for the family!

01:10:12That's exactly what you said

01:10:14while watching you die last time.

01:10:17She trembled.

01:10:18I was wrong!

01:10:20You're not sorry.

01:10:23You're just afraid,

01:10:24afraid to die.

01:10:26The ghosts

01:10:27pulled her into silver flames.

01:10:29Chester was devoured

01:10:30by his own masters.

01:10:31I asked Lucian

01:10:33if I seemed cruel.

01:10:34No.

01:10:36They owed you.

01:10:37His words erased

01:10:38my final hesitation.

01:10:40Callum seized

01:10:41the silver arrow

01:10:42and fled toward

01:10:43the main hall

01:10:44to reseal the gate.

01:10:45I chased him

01:10:46to the iron door,

01:10:48the same one

01:10:49from my past life.

01:10:50Move aside, Rowena,

01:10:52and I'll let you go.

01:10:54We can settle

01:10:55the past later.

01:10:55The past?

01:10:57You speak so lightly of it.

01:10:59Jenna screamed

01:11:00for rescue

01:11:00in the distance.

01:11:02Callum barely glanced

01:11:03at her before turning away.

01:11:05He activated the mechanism

01:11:06to crap Lucian

01:11:07and me.

01:11:09Inside,

01:11:10Lucian pushed me aside

01:11:11and shattered the door

01:11:12with explosive

01:11:13silver-gold light.

01:11:14A golden-horned

01:11:15white deer phantom

01:11:16appeared behind him.

01:11:18The serpents

01:11:18recoiled in fear.

01:11:20At last,

01:11:21I understood.

01:11:21Lucian was the

01:11:22sacred beast

01:11:23guardian of the Whitmores.

01:11:25Lucian knelt

01:11:26by the broken door,

01:11:27the deer phantom

01:11:28fading.

01:11:29Callum stared

01:11:30in shock.

01:11:31What are you?

01:11:34Something far

01:11:35cleaner than you.

01:11:36The serpent court

01:11:37envoity emerged,

01:11:38terrified.

01:11:40Moon deer guardian,

01:11:42you still live.

01:11:44Lupien looked at me

01:11:45with apology.

01:11:46I didn't mean

01:11:47to hide it.

01:11:47We'll settle accounts

01:11:48after we get out.

01:11:50He smiled.

01:11:51I grasped

01:11:52the silver arrow.

01:11:53The huntress covenant

01:11:55fully awakened.

01:11:57Artemis warned

01:11:58of the price.

01:12:00Use mine.

01:12:01No.

01:12:02I'm the guardian.

01:12:03I should pay for you.

01:12:07I already died

01:12:08for others once.

01:12:09This life,

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

01:12:18The oath arrow

01:12:19formed in cold

01:12:20white light.

01:12:22Jenna,

01:12:22half serpent,

01:12:24charged in hatred.

01:12:26Why

01:12:26can you still stand?

01:12:30Why do you still

01:12:31have someone

01:12:32protecting you

01:12:32like that?

01:12:33Because I never

01:12:34gave myself

01:12:35to you.

01:12:36Lucian shielded me

01:12:37as the deer phantom

01:12:38repelled the energy.

01:12:40Callum begged

01:12:41on his knees.

01:12:42Ro'esh,

01:12:43save me!

01:12:43I was wrong!

01:12:44In the past life,

01:12:45I had no choice!

01:12:46You had choices

01:12:48every time.

01:12:49You chose to hurt me.

01:12:51I drew the bow.

01:12:52Artemis demanded

01:12:53a span of lifespan.

01:12:55I accepted.

01:12:56Lupien cried out,

01:12:57but I reassured him

01:12:59with a glance.

01:12:59Don't worry.

01:13:00I still need to settle

01:13:02your secret with you.

01:13:03I released the arrow.

01:13:05It pierced Jenna,

01:13:07the gate,

01:13:08the blood contracts,

01:13:10and buried deep

01:13:11into the earth vein.

01:13:13Silver light exploded.

01:13:15The serpent-tort

01:13:16passages collapsed.

01:13:19The gate sealed.

01:13:21Althira's wound healed.

01:13:25She placed a final

01:13:27white scale in my palm

01:13:28before dissolving

01:13:29into light,

01:13:30finally free.

01:13:32Jenna lay dying,

01:13:33her body rejecting

01:13:34the serpent energy.

01:13:36I'm not willing.

01:13:38Why did someone

01:13:38like you win?

01:13:40Because I lost once,

01:13:41and I refused

01:13:42to lose again.

01:13:43Her body was consumed,

01:13:45leaving only

01:13:46shattered coral.

01:13:47Callum's death mark

01:13:48vanished,

01:13:48but so did

01:13:49his family's power.

01:13:51He knelt broken

01:13:52in the ruins.

01:13:55Rowena,

01:13:57save me once more.

01:14:00For our past...

01:14:02In the past life,

01:14:03you told me to hold

01:14:04the serpents

01:14:05until I died.

01:14:08I left him there.

01:14:12To face his fate alone.

01:14:18As the hall fully collapsed,

01:14:20Callum chased after me

01:14:21one last time,

01:14:22desperate.

01:14:23Rowish,

01:14:24I was deceived by Jenna.

01:14:26Now I see clearly.

01:14:28You weren't deceived.

01:14:30You chose convenient lies

01:14:32every single time.

01:14:33Lucien stepped forward,

01:14:35blocking Callum's view

01:14:36of me.

01:14:37Don't look at her.

01:14:38You have no right.

01:14:40Callum froze.

01:14:42I allowed the protection,

01:14:43embracing it fully

01:14:45this time.

01:14:48At dawn,

01:14:50Hargrove Hall

01:14:51sank completely

01:14:52into ruin.

01:14:54I stood

01:14:55at a distance,

01:14:58watching the last

01:14:59serpent's stench

01:15:00blow away on the wind.

01:15:02My huntress mark

01:15:03and scar remained,

01:15:07but so did my resolve.

01:15:14Lucien stood beside me.

01:15:16Does it still hurt?

01:15:19Why do you always ask that?

01:15:21Because you always

01:15:22pretend it doesn't.

01:15:23I laughed genuinely

01:15:24for the first time in ages.

01:15:26Lucien,

01:15:28how long have you

01:15:29guarded the Whitmans?

01:15:30Long enough,

01:15:30that I feared I'd

01:15:31always arrive too late.

01:15:32This time you didn't.

01:15:34Rowena,

01:15:35I never loved your face.

01:15:39His gaze held mine,

01:15:41never wavering

01:15:42to the scar.

01:15:44I love that you

01:15:45crawled back from hell

01:15:46to claim your debts

01:15:47and still chose

01:15:49to save the innocent.

01:15:54I took his hand

01:15:55willingly.

01:15:56Then don't be late again.

01:15:58I won't.

01:15:58We walked away

01:15:59from the ruins

01:16:00together into

01:16:01the morning light.

01:16:02This time

01:16:05I didn't look back.

01:16:06I didn't look back.

01:16:06I don't know.

01:16:08I didn't look back.

01:16:09I can't do that.

01:16:10I didn't look back.

01:16:11I was not a fool.

01:16:11You may think it was a huge

01:16:12thing.

01:16:13I can look back!

01:16:13I'll be sabia who I'm

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