MasukI was woken by an icy splash of water that struck my face with startling force, tearing me from the depths of unconsciousness.
“Mom… I’ll wash the dishes later,” I mumbled groggily, my mind still adrift in the remnants of sleep. “Get on your feet before I lose my patience,” an unfamiliar voice barked, its icy edge sending a shiver down my spine. A weary groan escaped my lips as I slowly pried my eyes open and rubbed the sleep from them. In the blink of an eye, the horrifying events of the previous night came rushing back, hitting me like a freight train. I climbed out of the Lamborghini on trembling legs, only to be met by the unforgiving glare of the morning sun. Shielding my eyes with an unsteady hand, I surveyed my surroundings, my pulse quickening. The mansion looming before me was nothing short of colossal. It stood like a silent monarch, cloaked in wealth, mystery, and something far more sinister. The man with those icy blue eyes and glacial azure orbs yanked me deeper into the mansion's lavish halls, my heart hammering as I gawked at the naked throng surrounding us. Muscular men strutted past with thick cocks swinging heavily between their thighs, their heavy balls dangling freely. Voluptuous women lounged on velvet couches, legs spread wide to reveal slick, shaved pussies glistening with arousal, their hard nipples jutting from full breasts. One woman knelt openly before a man, her lips stretched around his veined shaft as she bobbed her head, saliva dripping down his length while he groaned and thrust into her throat. The man with those glacial azure orbs propelled me onward through the opulent corridors until we reached the heart of the grand salon. A burly figure with a scarred jaw sneered as his gaze raked over my exposed form. "Who's this new bitch?" he barked, his thick cock twitching with interest as he stepped closer. Another man interjected sharply, "Don't go near her." His voice carried authority, halting the advance. A tall stranger with crimson irises that burned like embers emerged from the throng, his muscular physique rippling under the ambient light, a heavy shaft swaying between his thighs. "She's our boss's new toy," he declared with a knowing smirk, his hand absently stroking the length of his erection. "I hope she lasts a night in his room." My pulse thundered in my ears as the icy-eyed man tightened his grip on my shoulder, steering me past the murmuring crowd. The crimson-eyed speaker's words lingered, heavy with implication, as we ascended a sweeping staircase toward the private chambers above. He swung open the door to one of the opulent guest rooms and ordered me to remain inside until his boss called for me. I was utterly astonished by the sheer elegance of the room. It felt as though I had been transported to heaven itself. I cautiously opened one of the doors, only to discover an opulent bathroom that was every bit as luxurious as the bedroom. I stood rooted to the spot, utterly mesmerized by the room's breathtaking splendor. It felt as though I had wandered into heaven itself. Drawn by curiosity, I slowly opened one of the doors, revealing a lavish bathroom adorned with exquisite marble and gleaming gold fixtures. "Is this really my bathroom?" I whispered, my eyes wandering around the extravagant space in disbelief. "Are they treating me this well because their vampire boss plans to feed on me soon?" I murmured, a wave of unease settling over me. A foolish little laugh escaped my lips as I shook my head in disbelief. Without giving it a second thought, I undressed and stepped toward the bathroom, still astonished that I was standing in a place this breathtaking. "If I'm truly going to die soon, then I might as well savor whatever moments I have left... and someday reunite with my mother in heaven," I whispered silently to myself. I took my bath, dried my hair, and walked toward the closet, expecting to find something ordinary to wear. To my surprise, the wardrobe was filled with nothing but delicate lingerie, satin sleepwear, and a few daring outfits that looked completely unfamiliar to me. "Was I actually supposed to wear all this nonsense?" I mumbled under my breath, my irritation bubbling beneath the surface. I ignored the unfamiliar clothes hanging in the closet and slipped back into the outfit I had arrived in, choosing familiarity over whatever strange expectations awaited me. I wandered the private chambers, my bare feet padding softly over cool marble. Every door I tried stayed locked tight, the handles refusing to turn. Frustration built until I rounded a corner and collided hard with a solid chest. "Hey there," he said, voice low and smooth. "I am so sorry, I didn't know you were coming," I blurted, stepping back. His green eyes locked on mine, athletic limbs glistening under the soft hallway light. Smooth skin stretched over a lithe frame—slender waist, firm hips, pert ass that curved perfectly. His youthful face held full lips parted slightly, eyes sparkling with something hungry and pale. "Fuck..." The word slipped out before I could stop it. Heat flooded my face. What was I thinking? "Are you lost?" he asked, tone cool and gentle. "Yeah... a little," I managed, voice breathy. He looks very hot and sexy, athletic limbs and smooth skin that gleamed under soft light. His lithe frame invited touch, with a slender waist tapering to firm hips and a pert ass that begged to be gripped. His youthful face held full lips parted in invitation, eyes sparkling with hidden desire. He appeared remarkably young, and judging by his features, I assumed he was close to my age. “I’m Andrew,” he said, offering a calm introduction. “Oh…” I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “I’m Ruby,” I replied. There was something undeniably different about him. Unlike the other men I had encountered earlier, Andrew carried himself with an air of normalcy that felt strangely out of place in this mansion. He was fully dressed, composed, and seemed untouched by the unsettling atmosphere that surrounded everyone else. A question lingered on the tip of my tongue, but I decided not to pry. Sometimes it was better to let sleeping dogs lie “Come with me,” Andrew said, taking my hand as though I were a lost puppy in desperate need of guidance. He guided me through what felt like a labyrinth of endless corridors until we arrived at a secluded wing of the mansion I hadn’t laid eyes on before. “I want you to meet my friends,” he said, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “Hello, everyone,” I greeted them, offering a hesitant smile. “Ruby, this is Lucien,” Andrew said, gesturing toward a young man with mesmerizing emerald-green eyes. “You have remarkably delicate features,” I blurted before I could stop myself. “For a second, I almost mistook you for a girl.” Lucien merely laughed, taking my remark in stride. “And this is Jace,” Andrew continued, motioning toward another young man whose warm brown eyes held a quiet kindness. “Hi…” I said sheepishly. “Hi. You look as though you’ve seen a ghost—” Before he could finish, Andrew swiftly cut him off with a warning look. “And that’s Damian,” he added, inclining his head toward a young man who was completely engrossed in his phone, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. "You haven't introduced yourself to us yet," Jace pointed out. "Oops... my bad," I said with an awkward smile. "I'm Ruby." "Ruby Carlisle." "Who's the boss here?"I asked curiously. “Shhh!” they all hissed in unison, their expressions instantly turning grim. “Be careful,” one of them warned in a hushed voice. “You don’t invoke his name so casually. The walls have ears.” "I guess you're the boss's new toy," Jace remarked with a shrug. "You'll know exactly who he is when you meet him." The words died on my lips as the man with the glacial azure eyes barked my name. Panic seized me in an instant. I didn't dare look back—I simply took to my heels and sprinted toward my room as though the devil himself were on my heels. "Stop right there, the man barked." I stood rooted to the spot as he closed the distance between us, his piercing gaze enough to make my blood run cold. “I instructed you to remain indoors,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “What gave you the audacity to defy my orders?” “I-I… I’m sorry,” I stuttered.RUBY POV I just stood there, completely dumbfounded.“You’re just like your mom,” she said. “Nothing more than a coward who married a human thinking everything was going to end up well… like some fairytale. But look at her. She met her death at the hands of a human.And vampires? They’re no different. Evil. Greedy. Stupid. Way more stupid than humans.”Zyren was already losing it. You could see it in the way his shoulders locked up, the way his hands kept curling into fists.“Then why the fuck are you here?” he yelled. “You manipulated my father and you think that’s going to work on me? You lied. No freaking way. Just get the hell out of here and leave us alone.”She didn’t even flinch. She just kept walking closer to me.“You think getting married to him will spare you the suffering? You must be a child if you think that way. Vampires are the most cunning creatures on earth.Why don’t you come with me? Join me. You can take revenge on the ones who made you suffer… the ones who kille
RUBY POVThere was a woman in her late thirties, wearing the same veiled hat as the one I'd seen earlier. Who is she? How did she know my name? And why did Andrew suddenly look like a boy caught doing something he shouldn't have?I didn't know what to say or how to react to hearing her say my name so easily, but something told me to choose my words carefully. She didn't look ordinary. I didn't need a soothsayer or a seer to tell me her intentions toward me weren't good."Ruby," she said, voice smooth, almost amused. "You look surprised to hear me call you by name, even though we've never met before today."I said nothing. Andrew, surprisingly, said nothing either — didn't step in, didn't try to stop whatever this was from happening."Your aura." She tilted her head beneath the veil. "Not human. Not vampire. Then what, exactly, are you?"She moved closer, the brim of her hat still shadowing her face completely, and reached for my hands. The moment her fingers touched mine, something sh
RUBY POVI was helping prepare for the marriage ceremony when Isolde , one of the slaves, called me into her room."So. You. Tell me more about yourself — how did you end up so fucked up that you landed in Zyren's arms?""Miss, nothing about me is really important," I said, and turned to leave."And who do you think you are, walking out on me? Huh? A princess? Someone from the royal family or what?""I'm sorry, Miss Isolde," I said, bowing slightly."Well, I'm sure you're aware that by noon, me and your master will tie the knot. After that, you'll have no place here — not you, not that stupid family of yours.""Yes, I know, miss," I replied."Nah. You should correct yourself better. I am your master's wife, and very soon, I'll be queen of all vampires." She smiled, clearly pleased with herself."Yes, I know, my queen," I said."Good girl." She looked me over. "So tell me — how did you end up here, and what exactly did you do to make Zyren so glued to you?""I did nothing to Zy— to my
RUBY Three days have passed in a blur, and we've all been busy preparing for Zyren's marriage to Isolde. Though I've had days where I cried, I keep hoping everything goes the way Zyren planned. Cecilia is still locked up in her cell, and her mother hasn't done much either — just quiet and silent in the wing they put her in.Isabella and Ana's master brought them along, and strange faces have been coming in and out of the estate ever since. Zyren's parents haven't set foot in the estate or his private wing, and I'm sure it's because they don't care who he marries — all they want is the vampire throne, the title of Lord. Andrew came two days ago, but he didn't stay long. Just his usual shenanigans, bragging about how he's going to make me his, whether I want him or not.I don't know what to think about me and Zyren anymore. I trust his decisions, whatever plan he has for us. But what if it backfires? What if they actually get married for real? Then I'd have no reason to stay by his sid
“Huh, hey.I called Joel. Hey, are you sure you’re fine ? He studied me for a long moment before speaking. "I'm glad you found your fated mate. Truly. But do you think your father — the elders — are just going to let this slide? Marrying a human instead of a noble vampire could seriously damage your standing for the Lord title." He paused, letting that sink in. "I know you understand what that means. The only reason none of this has escalated faster is because of your blood — pureblood, and not just any pureblood. A bloodline the vampire world hasn't seen in centuries. That's the only leverage keeping the wolves back right now." He crossed his arms. "Marrying her only slows you down further. Gives every rival watching — your father, your brother, Isolde's father, and plenty of others you don't even know exist yet — exactly the opening they've been waiting for." "I know," I said quietly. "But I never wanted the title. Not from the beginning." I looked away, out toward the window.
ZYREN…I left the den without giving Isolde an answer, her offer trailing after me like smoke I couldn't quite shake off. Marry me. The nerve of it, even now, even from behind bars, still trying to bargain her way into a life I'd never wanted her in.I was halfway down the hall when Kai came jogging toward me, and one look at his face told me everything had changed."Boss — it's Ruby. She's awake."I didn't remember moving. One second I was standing in the corridor, the next I was pushing through the door to her room, chest tight with something too big to name — relief and fear tangled together so completely I couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.She was sitting up, propped against a mountain of pillows, pale but awake, her eyes finding mine the moment I stepped inside. Joel was hovering near the window, and the doctor stood at the foot of the bed, quietly packing away his instruments like he'd been waiting for this exact moment to make his exit."Zyren," she breathed.I







