Esmeray gazed at the crystal ring in her hand that had started to turn green which meant that she was close to the center of the Forest of Wonders and even closer to Maeve. Esmeray sighed tiredly as she gazed back at the Vampire who was throwing daggers at her with his forest green orbs. The man looked a second away from throttling her. Her lips curved in a sarcastic smile, many had tried before him yet they had failed. The Vampire was more than welcome to try. The thought had barely crossed her mind and the other thing she knew a portal opened beneath her feet and she got swallowed into it. Pain pierced through her spine as her back hit the ground with a thud, robbing her breath. Fuck! Breathing through her nose Esmeray tried to blink back the tears formed in her eyes. How much damage her mortal body can handle more before it started to break? This was officially the worst mission of her life. What had she done! Getting attracted to your prey was one thing but accidentally relea
Coming out of the portal and stepping back into the Forest of Wonders Esmeray fell on her knees as she panted for breath. From not using any spell from the past months to using her powers to this extent was starting to affect her. She could feel a dull ache in her head that was a promise of a soon upcoming migraine. She was not an immortal yet and her body was not as strong as it should be. Currently, she was using a cloak spell to conceal her scent. A Glamour spell to alter her looks. . . She had created two portals in the last couple of hours and traveled four times through portals which were as exhausting for a young witch as creating a portal. Saving Vladimir from the Lycan King's blow by using a protection spell was just the cherry on the top. Long story short she was exhausted and her body hurt everywhere. But the good thing was that her captive wasn't aware of her fragile state. Esmeray just had to act strong so the Vampire King won't get suspicious. She will have to fake
It was time for them to part. Holding the end of the mystical rope Esmeray stood up and tugged, implying Vladimir to follow her. And to her surprise, Vladimir stood up without a protest. With a heavy heart, Esmeray headed towards the clearing past the trees. The clearing was shaped in a perfect circle with trees surrounding it. The clearing was the center of the Forest of Wonders where the portal to the Sacred Land of Witches was located and this was the last place Esmeray wanted to be in. Memories of her past threatened to rise. . . This was the same ground she had laid on, cried her heart out on. This was the same place the twelve years old Esmeray had sobbed for help. This was the same place she had yelled to the Elders of the Sacred Land of Witches to tell her what her fault was. This was the same place the Elders had discarded the twelve years old girl after using her for their benefit. When Esmeray was thrown out of the Sacred Land of Witches she had spent three nights withou
"Tell me Vampire how did you do it? How did you lure her into going with you?" Maeve gritted, barely keeping herself from losing her temper and lashing out at the cold bastard standing in front of her. If looks could kill Vladimir was sure he would have been six feet under the ground this very moment. But sadly it will take a lot more than hateful looks to take him down. "Tell you what. . .?" Vladimir arched a questioning brow, acting clueless. "The little girl you had abducted this time is my niece Vampire. This isn't a joke. I will skin you alive if I had to, to protect my niece." Maeve hissed. "Sounds like a perfect romantic date to me." Vladimir shrugged, completely unbothered by Maeve's threat. Maeve's fists clenched, she looked livid at Vladimir's remark. For a man who was currently at her mercy, the Vampire was oddly relaxed and the fact irked Maeve. Even with his hands bound he made her feel like he was in complete control of the situation. "Why are you doing this Vampire
~I haven't forgotten nor have I forgiven.~ With heavy steps, Esmeray walked away from the Vampire King. Warmth left her heart with each step that took her away from Vladimir. She hadn’t even known him for a full day but the limited time she had spent with him, had made her feel alive and now while parting ways with him, Esmeray felt like she was fading away in the darkness again. Vladimir's presence had consumed her, she hadn't drifted away for even once in his presence. She didn't feel lost when she was with him. Esmeray hugged herself as she rubbed her hands over her arms while walking aimlessly in the forest, it was just now she noticed how cold this night was. Why hadn't she felt the cold when she had been with that silly Vampire? Why had she felt safe with him? Her job was done then why was she still here? What was stopping her from creating a portal and returning to her rusty mansion? "Have I done the right thing by leaving him at Maeve's mercy?" Esmeray whispered looking u
~You have to have a good heart and good things will come your way.~ Everything happened so fast. . . One minute Vladimir saw Esmeray coming running towards him and the next minute they got swallowed by a portal, journeying through a black abyss for Moon knew how long. When they finally got out of the portal it was more like the portal spit them out as if they tasted bitter. Vladimir grunted as his back hit the rocky ground taking the impact of the fall. He was sprawled there on the ground with the crazy witch laying on top of him as her body shook violently while he tried to catch his breath. "What had just happened?" Vladimir whispered as he stared up at the Moon that was peeking out of the dark clouds that had gathered in the sky. His heart was racing at an alarming speed as he tried to wrap his mind around the situation. Vladimir didn't know how this night that had started with him attending a simple ball had led him to get knocked out by a witch before he got kidnapped, wakin
Soaked in the rain, when Vladimir traced inside his castle carrying Esmeray in his arms he heard several appalled gasps around him that he choose to ignore. To save time Vladimir had traced into the conference room because he knew his good for nothing subjects would be accumulated there to figure out how to save him or how to use this situation to throw him off his throne. These ignorant fools didn't know that there will be no Kingdom or throne without Vladimir. The throne had value because Vladimir sat on it. Not the other way around. "Isn't she the witch who abducted the King?" Someone said in a hushed whisper. Vladimir glanced at Esmeray as the excruciating pain made her tremble in his arms even in her unconscious state which oddly made Vladimir's heart panic. "My King, why are you carrying the witch and why is she reeking of blood? Is she dead?" The council leader stood up from his seat and inquired in an authoritative tone, trying to display the power he thought he had over
Sitting on the chair beside the sleeping witch Vladimir couldn’t help but think why he was keeping the witch in his chamber, his intimate space. Vladimir was a type of mean calculating backstabbing bastard who didn't keep people around if they didn't benefit him. Yet he couldn't find the heart to throw this witch out. From the conversation between Maeve and Esmeray, he had figured that the witch was banished from the Sacred Land of Witches which had made Vladimir think that the witch had no use to him. Until it had occurred to him that the witch had opened a door of new possibilities for him. Before Esmeray, Vladimir had reached a dead end. He had no lead on the Oracle or his bride. Vladimir had been standing in the middle of nowhere with a loaded gun in his hand but without a target to aim at. But now the witch had given him a target. He could feel it in his gut that he was so close to his bride. Closer than he had even been~ Esmeray was a witch who was banished from the Sacred
~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