Prologue

Evie blinked her eyes, feeling the sunlight on her face. What time was it? She sighed sleepily and rolled on her side. Where was her alarm clock... In that moment she realized that she wasn't in her own bed. This wasn't her bedroom. Her eyes widened and she got into a sitting position as fast as she could. She was on a white sofa. What sofa? She got to her feet, but her legs couldn't hold her and she fell back on the sofa. Quickly she looked around and saw that she was in a strange apartment. Strange and expensive apartment. She tried to get up again and this time she succeeded. Out. She needed to get out of here...

"Ah, good morning, sleeping beauty," a familiar male voice hummed cheerfully. "Welcome back to the land of the living."

Evie tensed and turned slowly to look at the man who was walking towards her. Lucien Castle.

"How are you feeling?" he asked politely. "I tried my best to be gentle, but you humans are so very fragile."

Evie's eyes widened and she gasped before she managed to touch her shirt and skirt. She was still wearing all her clothes. Lucien raised his eyebrows.

"Wait, you thought that I meant...? Do you really think so little of me? I'm deeply offended, Evangeline. I think you owe me an apology."

"What..." she murmured. "Why am I here?"

"You really don't remember, do you?"

She blinked few times, trying to understand what he was talking about.

"Remember what?" she was finally forced to ask.

He observed her for a moment before gesturing towards the sofa.

"Perhaps you should sit down."

"No, I don't want to sit down, I want..."

She couldn't finish her sentence when her legs refused to hold her again and she would have fallen if he wouldn't have caught her.

"Woah, woah, easy," he hummed while lifting her up.

The whole room was spinning as he placed her on the sofa.

"What did you do to me?" she murmured.

"I saved your life," he replied. "You're welcome."

She shook her head.

"Why... Why can't I remember..."

"I think you hit your head," he replied. "But don't worry, I gave you my blood."

"What..."

The room was spinning so fast that she needed to close her eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know," she murmured. "I just feel... dizzy."

"Do you want me to call someone? Klaus maybe?"

"Who?"

"Klaus."

She had no idea what he was talking about. She didn't know any Klaus.

"Who is that?" she murmured.

He was quiet for a moment before replying.

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?" she asked, annoyed by his endless questions.

"Nothing, darling. Nothing at all."

She sighed, feeling herself drifting away.

Lucien looked at her for a long while before pulling a blanket over her. He couldn't believe his luck. After all these years, fate had given him a gift like this. Nik's little human toy had completely forgotten him. Lucien's lips curved into a smile. He knew exactly how much this human meant to Nik. Just like Nik had known how much Aurora had meant to Lucien. That hadn't stopped Nik from seducing her. Perhaps it was time for Lucien to return the favor.