Laying in his bed was pure agony with his bride being so close. Vladimir's lips curved a little when he heard her turning sides in her bed while making cute little noises of annoyance, from the past weeks he had noticed that she did that a lot. At least he wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. Sighing heavily he rubbed his hands roughly down his face. All he wanted to do was to rip that damn door open, pull his bride in his arms and kiss her until one of them passed out. But Vladimir couldn't. There was too much history standing between them. And Esmeray was too young to understand his reasonings. She was too young to understand how shamelessly selfish Vladimir could be where she was concerned. His bride was an angel she wouldn't understand why Vladimir betrayed his allies for joy, why he tested his subjects with the temptation of power, why he was called a cunning bastard by everyone. She won't understand why he was known for loving himself and his throne above everything. It
Vladimir stared at his bride like a creep. With her eyes closed her platinum-white lashes were casting a shadow on her cheeks. Her appearance was so unique just like her bloodline. He traced the corner of her eye with his thumb, the eyes he was so obsessed with. Vladimir smiled as her soft snores echoed in the silent room. Esmeray had fallen asleep an hour ago. And since then Vladimir had been staring at her trying to imprint her in his memory. He didn't know why but he was having this quelled feeling of a nearing end. A feeling of this life he was trying to create crumbling to the ground. The feeling was grasping Vladimir's heart like a frost glove and if that wasn't enough his instinct won't stop nagging at him. An unfamiliar feeling of fear was wrapped around his throat like a noose. It made it hard for him to breathe with the constant fear of losing his bride again but this time because of all the things he was keeping from her. For how till she finds out what he had done? Sh
The Room was thrumming with a dark aura filled with tension and fraying nerves of the Vampire Council and the King's elite warriors who had foolishly formed an alliance with the Leader of the Vampire Council. Vampires were cold-blooded beings yet the Vampire Council and their allies were sweating as whores in church. And who wouldn't when two bloodline Vampires were sitting on opposite ends of the long dining table facing each other with resembling indifferent looks. Neither of them looked eager to break the silence that was making it hard for the others present in the hall to swallow. And if that was not enough to wreck everyone's nerves the Vampire King for the first time in the last eighteen years was wearing his Royal Crown. Nobody knew why King Vladimir had stopped wearing it in the first place and they certainly didn't know why the King had decided that today was the perfect day to start wearing it again. Even the creepy sadist Council Leader seemed to be on edge as he regar
With a smile, Esmeray placed the cute Princess tiara on her head which she had received along with the invitation to the dinner held in the Vampire Queen's honour. The tiara's design was floral and embedded with diamonds that were mounted in silver. Which wasn't to her liking. She was more of a Red Gold girl. Esmeray made a mental note to ask Raziel to make her a floral tiara out of Dragon Gold. Raziel was the best in the craft. If wasn't been born a wizard he would have been a Goldsmith. Shaking off her thoughts Esmeray took a deep breath as she smoothed a hand over her black silk dress that reached just below her knees. Its straps were made of a diamond-embedded round chain that made a cross behind her back. She was wearing black lace gloves to hide the scars on her hands. To match her outfit she had picked black stilettos that added a few inches to her height. Esmeray was kind of nervous because she hadn't seen Vladimir in hours. When she woke up he had told her to rest tonight
'Only A Fool Will Challenge An Oracle's Prediction.' "A sorcerer putting a ring on my cousin?" Throwing his head back Igor let out a throaty laugh again. Esmeray stood there soaking in Igor Orlov's statement. Cousins? He was Vladimir's Cousin? Why didn't Vladimir tell her before? But then again Esmeray had never asked him about his family mostly because she was afraid that if she asked him then she will have to share about her family too. And family was a subject Esmeray yearned to bury in her past along with the persistent nightmares that plagued her mind. Up close she could see that Igor had the same green eyes as Vladimir but a shade lighter but besides that, there was nothing familiar between them. Igor was a giant who had a warning written on his forehead in a neon color that the man could break you like a bloody stick if you even dare to greet him. He seemed like a man who ate cute puppies for breakfast. He had a strong jaw hidden behind the veil of a light beard. His nos
~Fairytales weren't meant for monsters.~ The silence in the hall was deafening as everyone tried to see if this was an elaborate joke. It was hard to consider that Esmeray and the witch who had kidnapped the King from the RoyalBall were the same woman. "You are just jealous that I can be a better Queen than you." The stupid brat spat losing her innocent act. Just like her father she did not know when to keep her mouth shut. "Me? The jealous type?" Esmeray gasped dramatically her hand flying to her heart in horror before she admitted with a proud grin. "Absolutely, yes." Leaning down she came nose to nose with Lady Sophia. "I belong to the finest breed of manic territorial women" Esmeray's words should be enough to unnerve any sane person but Lady Sophia was too entitled to apprehend the shimmering rage behind those softly spoken words. "My King's interest in me makes you envious. You might have enchanted him but deep down you know you will always be an outsider, a freak. The Vam
Relief flushed through her the moment Esmeray reached her room. The first thing she did was close the doors before sitting on her bed and going through the Royal Decree that had created such a fuss. The sender's name didn't go unnoticed by her. The summon was issued by her parent's Queendom. Esmeray had a feeling that the reasons for the summon were purposely kept unknown. Seven freaking Monarchs were going to assemble with their armies and successors to a place marked as Neutral Grounds. But Why? Gatherings like these were usually held under a war-like situation. But if there was an upcoming war in the supernatural world then it won't have gone unnoticed by Raziel and Amell. Instinctively the first name in the Decree that caught her attention was the Demon King. Demon King the twisted fucker who was better left in the dark. Even the mention of his name was creepy enough to make Esmeray shudder. But she will deal with him later first she had to find out why the King of Dragons A
"You did this to him?" Amell frowned as he poked his finger into the side of Vladimir's face as if the Vampire was a weird specimen. "Is he dead?" "Can't you say something nice!" Esmeray grumbled swatting his hand away from her poor future husband's face. "I am already freaking out. He proposed to me last night. He can't just randomly decide to die after announcing that we are getting married in two days." "You messed him up pretty bad. Look at all the dried blood around his ears, not to mention his blue lips and the ugly dark circles under his eyes. I won't blame him if he threw your jinx arse out of his castle after waking up." "Amell!" Esmeray growled at the brat determine to drive her crazy. She was positive if Amell did not stop testing her patience she will be so close to committing some kind of bodily violence. "It's alright I know you are stressed." Amell sighed sadly before giving her shoulder a gentle sympathetic squeeze. "But for what it is worth remember if the King di
~Nothing Is Harder On A Soul Than The Smell Of Dreams While They Are Evaporating.~In her desperation, Esmeray looked at Amber. "Save me." Swallowing her pride the broken plea tumbled out of her lips.Amber gave Esmeray an uncertain look as if she wasn't sure how to react. The girl had a bruise forming on her cheek, there was a deep cut on her lower lip that was still bleeding, it was hard not to notice the streaks of drying blood that started from her upper lips and extended to her left cheek, a telltale of a nasty nosebleed. Even with a crown made of the finest gold on her head, the powerless trembling girl looked a world apart from the fierce woman the Vampire King had claimed as his bride and Queen on the altar. "What are you up to Almira?" Amber's voice was visibly startled when her flame-like gaze collided with the Vampire King who was on his knees. The side of his neck was bleeding while he held a sword at his own throat. 'Was the Vampire under an enchantment?' Ignoring the
'When Dreams Turn Into Nightmares.'An icy chill runs down Esmeray's spine. As she took a startled step back but before she could go any further she felt Lord Igor's harsh grip on her arm as he pushed her forward making her stumble into the room. "I kept my word. Here's the witch. Now it's time for you to keep your word and let my cousin go." Igor's words made Almira scoff. "You think I can't see the burning contempt in your soul for this abomination? You would have bought her to me even if I didn't hold the Vampire King hostage." "What do you want?" Esmeray sneered, hating the tremble in her voice. Even if Almira was talking to Igor her eyes were watching Esmeray with such intense curiosity that Esmeray felt like the old witch could see right inside her, see the chaos, the panicked beating of her heart. The fear~ All the sorcerers of the Sacred Land had one thing in common. The sorcerers had seen all the Elders except two. Vincent the Conqueror and Lady Almira. Lady Almira was re
Under the starry sky on the stage set in the middle of the Royal garden Raziel and Amell stared at Esmeray as she had her first dance with the King of Vampires who was now officially her husband. "Do you think we did the right thing?" Raziel asked his brother who was giving him company in the shadows, away from the preying ears and eyes. Raziel swallowed another sip of champagne from the crystal flute that threatened to break in his unforgiving grip, he had too much already but it still was not enough to endure the remaining hours of this ruse. "She is happy." Amell's statement was not enough to push the lingering doubts out of Raziel's mind. "The Vampire is going to admit his trade with Ascian. How do you think it will end up for everyone?" To calm his jittery intuition Raziel disclosed. "He is?" Amell smattered in shock. His eyes bounced between the newlywed couple and his brother. Clasping Raziel's arm in a warning grip Amell hissed under his breath. "Did you force the Vampire
The vast gardens were illuminated with beautiful, soft candlelight, the round tables were covered in white cloth. Arrangements of roses in the darkest shade of red decorate each one, their scent thick in the humid night. The Vampire Kingdom's most prestigious allys and subjects were seated around the long aisle. Standing at the entrance of the royal garden Esmeray could make out the familiar figures of the Queen and King of Wastelands along with the Fey King seated at the front, closest to the altar. Her grandfather Aric King was missing and given his history with Vladimir Esmeray wasn't surprised at his absence. Esmeray belonged to their bloodline but they were nothing more than numerous strangers surrounding her tonight. "I wish Daddy was here. I miss him." Esmeray's voice was barely above a whisper as she felt a pang of longing in her heart. "Who said he is not here? Maybe he is among the stars staring down at you with a smile. He must be proud to see how far his little food fa
"I can't feel my fingers." Esmeray's whining was accompanied by Amell's pained moan. "My back is killing me." After dealing with their end of the trade with the Dragon King the first thing they did was to transfer all the Dragon Gold from Esmeray’s old mansion to the Vampire Castle's secure Walt because it wasn't safe to leave the Gold out there after the Dragon King discovered that Esmeray had it in her possession. You can never trust a Dragon when it comes to Red Gold, they bloody protect it as their firstborn. Esmeray Raziel and Amell were sure once Aidan Draco was done dealing with his Mad Oracle he was going to come after Esmeray. "Did Aidan Draco find his bride?" Vladimir couldn't hold back his curiosity. "We don't know." Amell gave a careless shrug. "How could you not know? It was your trade to help the Dragon King find his bride." Vladimir asked instead of leaving the topic. And if there was anyone else in his place he would have done the same. Dragons were a specie th
Vladimir stared at the Royal attire he had never worn before with a slight curve of his lips. Two hours ago when Esmeray left with the two wizards it occurred to Vladimir that he couldn't just show up at his wedding in his typical formal black dress. So the first thing he did was to call the royal couturier to alter the royal attire that he had never worn in his life. The news of his marriage was made public just an hour ago. His subjects and Kingdom were in uproar at discovering that their King was finally seizing a Queen. Esmeray will be the first woman who will sit on the Vampire Queen's throne after Vladimir's mother's death. Vladimir had chosen the garden as a venue. The preparations outside the castle were on full swings. Vladimir could feel a mix of excitement and eagerness thrumming through his veins as everything started to fall into place on its own. "You are truly marrying her." The mocking sneer followed by the sound of throaty, gruff laughter filling the air pulled V
Esmeray stirred at the feel of the faint touch of cold fingers against her skin. Despite her mind being covered in the thick fog of sleep she moaned at the sparks going off on her skin at a familiar touch. The pointed tips of her ears twitched at the sound of muffled sobs coming from her left, bringing her out of her sleep-hazed state. Esmeray opened her eyes, blinking them rapidly to adjust to the room's low light. The moment her sight focused her eyes fell on Vladimir's face. She frowned at the tears rolling down his face as he stared at her legs. Despair settled at the pit of her stomach as she realized Vladimir was examining her scars. It almost felt like a dream seeing the Vampire King in a trance as his fingers gently traced over the thick scared tissues hidden beneath the ink on her legs. "Do they still hurt?" Esmeray’s heart twisted in knots at hearing the tremble in his voice. Somehow Esmeray knew he was not talking about physical pain. Her wounds had healed a long time
The Fey King was the only Monarch Esmeray hadn't managed to piss off or taunted probably because he was not hostile towards her. By blood, the Fey King was Amber’s grandfather but the man had long ago banished his daughter who was the Rightful Hier to his throne when she had abandoned the Fey Throne by marrying the King of Beasts. But Esmeray didn't know how much of that information was true. "If you know her origin why don't you share it with all of us?" Aric reasoned. The beast residing in his soul wanted to know if the pull it felt towards Esmeray was by blood or because of compulsion. Esmeray exhaled a tiny breath, her chest twisted as she waited for the Fey King to disclose her secret but his next words surprised her. "Knowledge and secret hold power and a wise King never reveals information of his allies." The Fey King offered Esmeray a mischievous smile. "And you are allied with her, darling grandfather." Amber couldn't help but mock the Fey King. She couldn't believe that
"If anyone has a problem with my appearance then they are welcome not to look my way. We are not here to fit in or seek any validation from anyone. So kindly refrain from telling me where I belong or not. The three of us are here just to keep an eye on my groom for protection purposes." Esmeray spoke unfazed by her mother's taunt. "Why do you think the Vampire King needs your protection?" Aric King asked with genuine confusion. It was hardly believable that a man of Vladimir's reputation would need someone's protection. The Vampire was a walking unhinged hazard. "What can I say? It's heartbreaking to admit it out loud that the Vampire won't sleep with me before our marriage so I am forced to protect his dee dee till our wedding night." Esmeray let out with a rueful shake of her head making Aric bit back a smile. "You are making it sound like you are marrying me for my body." Even though his tone was bored Vladimir's cheeks turned flaming red at his little brat's words who was dete