Eleanor's lips clamped shut as she swallowed hard, the reality hitting her like a wave. She had almost forgotten that her blood was coveted by every being in existence, not just vampires. Her grandmother's words echoed in her mind..
"Phoenix blood is rare and exotic, a treasure even those who don't live on blood can't resist."
Memories of her childhood flooded back.. her father's grim tales of phoenixes selling their blood on the black market for gold and gems, and the whispered stories of phoenixes captured and enslaved, never to be seen again.
Now, she was the last one left... and the weight of that realization filled her with fear.
Her eyes wandered to Ares, who was watching her with an intense, calculating gaze. It was as if he could read her thoughts, and for a moment, she thought he might speak up to calm her fears.
