โWhat are you doing here? Getโget out!โ She lay back down in a hurry. Water splashed. Most bubbles had popped, leaving a thin layer only. She faced the ceiling instead of him.โYou were taking such a long time.โ His lazy drawl made her body warmer than what the waterโwhich was no longer warmโcould have ever done. She crossed her arms to cover her chest, feeling his eyes on her. โI donโt care. Get out! Iโโ She got flustered.Hearing a whirl, she jerked up, exposing herself again. In the corner of her eyes, the black and slate-gray of his suit formed out of seemingly nothing. The motion had caused the illusion.He had crossed the distance between them, instead of obeying or replying to her demands. She looked up at him towering over her bathtub. His eyes were so hooded they were almost a slit, making him appear cunning. And cruel. Like a snake.โI asked, โwhat are you doing here?โ,โ she said sharply.โI owe you no answer. Youโre going to serve me.โโYou son of aโUgh!โ She yelped as sh
โI did nothing wrong! Please!โ A voice screeched somewhere outside. โLet me go. Please. No. Fuck you!โThe familiar nasal tone made her immediately rush to the nearest window. She put her hands on the glass panels. The scene in the garden confirmed her thought: it was Monica, in two pieces of clothes that barely cover anything, twisting wildly in two guardsโ grips who were hauling her along. โDo you see that?โ The sudden breath into her ear nearly made her jump out of her skin. โImagine the hell sheโd have to go throughโฆโ His lazy drawl suggested he didnโt have a care in the world. โIf only you are not so stubbornโฆโ Monica continued to struggle. They were sending her to the dungeon. This shouldnโt be happening. โLeave my friend alone. She has nothing to do with this.โ She slammed the glass panel in frustration. This was her fault.โWhy?โShe spun around and ended up in his arms. He had been standing too close. She took a step back, which only sent her up against the glass panels. T
She nestled her head into his short, jet-black hair. He had taken away her dignity step by step. She had nothing now. โMa-master,โ she stuttered. โThatโs good. Say that again,โ he encouraged softly. โMaster,โ she repeated. This was where she had truly lost her sense of identity. His hand cradled the back of her head. She felt her being pulled away from him, just enough she could see his face. His lips were red and shiny, painted with her blood. Combined with the pale skin, he looked utterly terrifying, but that face and that body would never lose the seduction they held. Her eyelids became so heavy. Still, she was well aware of his devouring gaze that trailed her face down to her waist, where the robe hung loose. When his eyes returned to her face, she wondered if he was going to tear her apart down to her soul. โTo answer your question,โ he rumbled. โYou may go. You need rest. Before we depart.โ Rest. That felt like a command. She yawned, and the world faded away before sh
Within two short days, since she signed the slave contract, she might have lost her senses. His hushed warning sounded ominous, dangerous, and seductive. She leaned into his touch instead of pulling away when he flopped her down on the leather seat.Her brain still felt foggy when she saw him sitting up and alert across the seat. His fangs protruded along with his claws. His eyes glowed fiercer than ever. A predator encountering something that challenged his power, his stance suggested, and he would be merciless, destroying the rivalry.โWhatโs wrong?โ she asked.His glowing eyes leaped to her sharply as though the answer was within her. โMe? Or are you suggesting Iโm in danger?โ She couldnโt believe she giggled.It was just a weird idea growing in her. Her life was over since she had met Reign. She had ended it for good when she drugged him and put the horrendous spell on him. She had become a criminal, then a blood slave. There was nothing she could do, or rather she would want to
This was nothing to her. Throughout her life, she had unavoidably hurt herself. She even missed those times as odd as it sounded; fighting, hunting, and everything about it. A sadness flicked through her.On his end, his eyes were full of intent—dark and palpable—as he watched her pick up the knife without much hesitation. There was more to this demand of his, wasn’t there? As much as she wasn’t afraid of this amount of pain, she struggled with her earlier idea, again.Sadness and anger battled in her heart. He had handed her an actual weapon, on his own accord. The hilt of the knife in her grip liberated her from the haze of desire and lust he had wrapped her in. She tried to hide the grisly hope so that it would show on her face.She placed the sharp end of the blade on her palm, with
โYou shouldnโt!โ she protested, looking at the headboard. โWhat about my neck, my wrist, there are many places you couldโโ she could not finish her sentence as he gripped her waist tighter.โLook at me!โ Under his command, she peered down at him. They were too close, too pressed together, for her to get a proper look at him, but he was obviously upset.โBeing my blood slave means,โ he began, his tone harsh, โYou must satiate my hunger in whatever, whenever, and however way I would want it to be. You should have read the contract.โShe had a lump in her throat when she admitted she was aware of that.โIโm glad weโve come to an understanding,โ he responded, rather business-like before his fingers resumed their work, trailing the lines of her bras. He was restarting what he had done in the drives prior to this. His touch was gentle and playful, but never gave her what she secretly wanted. He knew what he was doing since he was savoring her whimpers by staring at her face while his fing
The face towering inches above her instantly jerked away. What was she doing so close to her? Danica felt her body and ended up touching laces and fabric so thin. She sat up, too fast, and felt light-headed.She took a deep breath. At least, the bites were healed. โShe woke up, my lord.โโLeave.โHis curt voice was enough to arouse the quite recent memories; blood rushed to her face. As the flight attendant stepped away, Danica looked in his direction to see him in his seat, suited in midnight blueโwith diamonds on his lapels, as usual. Flashbacks of them, naked and intertwining, pounded in her head.โWhat do you think of the dress?โ He looked distracted. She was the opposite. โThis isโฆ not a dress!โ โUm-hm.โโThatโs all youโve to say? Why am I wearing this scrap of cloth? Itโs so sheer like Iโm naked.โ โYouโre not naked.โ He was looking at something concealed in his hands. โDonโt have to tell me what it looks like. It covers you enough,โ He broke his focus on whatever he was hold
Surprised, she gripped the railings with both hands. It was a mob, a mob of vampires and some humans who were trying to keep up with the pace of the former. They were holding up signs, which she could hardly make out in the dim light. The roars became louder as they approached the jet. The stairs quaked underneath her stilettos as the ground vibrated with their thundering footsteps. She tried to understand what was going on: these were protestors, demandingโฆ to kill her. โShe cursed the crown prince!โ โExecute her!โโBehead her!โIn no time, they closed in on the jet, causing her to step back up. They appeared to want more than just to protest. They wanted to punish her themselves as they outstretched their hands, approaching the stairway fast. She could now see the signs: drawings and nasty names, all of which were revolting and horrifying. They had dehumanized her completely. They would tear her apart if they could land their hands on her. Suddenly, the roars died down; they s
When he led her down the stairs, she eyed Marie, who was biting her lips and giving her a conspiratory look. An hour later, she was in his mansion, having lost the crowd at last. Marc and Loyd arrived with Marie, Both whining they would have come sooner if they had known. In the garden, they sat down for dinner, five of them. Reign asked Mr. Hacke to join and the old man cried before he took a seat at the table. โYouโre coming with me back to the kingdom, my darling,โ he announced, in the middle of their noisy chats.โAm I? Why?โ she set down her fork. โAre youโฆgiving me orders? Already?โHe tilted his head, candle lights half-shadowing his face. โIf youโd love to stay behind, of course you can. Iโm not giving you an order. Chaos could break out soon without me or you with the remnants ofโฆโ he halted as though searching for words, โmy enemy. I simply thought youโd agree with me to come along.โShe looked down at her plate.โIโm sorry I brought this up at our engagement dinner.โ He k
โCut!โ the directorโs voice boomed. Nova slumped her shoulders and dared a peek at his direction. This was the 51st take of one single scene and the sunlight was burning her in her voluptuous Snow White costume. This was how a vampire would feel under the sun, she thought sarcastically. โSnow Whiteโs supposed to be sad thinking about her late mother.โ he shook his head. โYou looked freaked the hell out. This is her birthday. She is โlonelyโ. Again!โ Her jaws felt so stiff, almost paralyzed with trying to get into that sad smile the director wanted for hours straight. Before she was ready, the director shouted, โAction!โ She looked at the giant birthday cake and sighed. โHappy 16th Birthday, Princess,โ said the co-actress. She smiled wryly, or tried to. Thankfully, it worked! โCut.โ Director Clark rose from the chair. โGood job, everyone.โ She exhaled in relief, before slumping down into a nearby chair. For todayโs scenes which started at six am in the morning, she had to wake
โWait, Your Highness! Your outfit! How silly of me.โThe woman gestured to her assistants, who gingerly carried what she was going to wear for this evening over to her. She stared at her dress in a daze; it was easily the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. The sleeveless, low-cut dress was neither black nor silver, or both perhaps. It shone whenever it moved in their hands. Delicate forest green laces were sprinkled withโฆdiamonds.She swallowed the urge to refuse it, biting down on her lips not to slip that it was too expensive and she couldnโt accept it. Unlike the other dresses she had received from him, this felt so different. This gorgeous dress was full of his adoration for her; she looked away, blushing at her thought.After she put that on with their help, she stood before the mirror they had removed from her wall. Her lips were a few shades darker than her red hair; her cheeks appeared naturally flushed; and her eyes looked glittering, just like all the jewels over her bod
โWhat is it?โ she questioned, pretending to be angry. โYou have nothing to be jealous of, do you?โโI wouldnโt dare, Your Royal Highness,โ Marc joked. โItโs just, you guys were not even kissing, but the tension was so high. We were afraid you guys might burn down the building.โโYep. Yep,โ Marie agreed vehemently.โYou guys trust him now?โ interrupted Sage. โStop, Sage,โ protested Marc, but the other one continued, โAnd you, you donโt care about her. Why are you even here?โDanica was worried Reign would do something to him and prepared to stand between them.But, he merely responded, โI am starting to regret that I healed you. I probably shouldโve let you crippled for your entire life.โShe spun around and faced him. โYou healed him?!โโYes, my darling,โ he smiled, lighting up the entire apartment, or the entire building perhaps.โThe vampire princeโsorryโking could smile?โ Loyd remarked, sounding dumbstruck.โIโve seen him smile,โ retorted Marc.โIโve seen it on the net too. But, i
Patrons went back to their noisy selves although several were still staring at her. โWho cares if youโre someoneโs fiancee or not?โ he grinned. โBy the way, did he tell you? That I saved his life.โโYeah, Marc is a hero,โ said Loyd, looking at him fondly. โHe saved the vampire kingโs life.โShe took the glass Marie was handing her. โNow that I think about it, yeah, he almost told me about you. I think he was saying, โYour friend...โ when I started screaming about going back.โโYou shouted at him. Now youโre a hero,โ Loyd pitched in. She noticed some tables went silent around her. She ignored them and swallowed. The scene in the throne-room from five months ago replayed in her mind.โThank you, Marc,โ she said seriously. โWhat did you do?โโItโs nothing,โ he sighed. โCompared to what he had suffered. Iโve never met someone likeโฆ your boyfriend. Heโs your boyfriend, right? Excluding Loyd obviously; he is the most amazing. Anyway, I was at the palace gate when the evil vampire king was
After a long, frustrating flight and drive, Danica was finally back in Brickland, Umbre. Along the way, she had yet to meet a single person who did not recognize her as an alleged-criminal-turned-princess. Some stared at her, whispering between one another, and othersโespecially teenage girlsโwould surround her and try to take photographs with her, and of her.โI donโt want you to take my pictures. Please. Please!โNobody gave a damn. They would press their faces next to hers and would take selfies while her face ended up grimacing or contorting. A few would caption their photos and upload them to their social media accounts, right under her eyes.Their hashtags, #withcc, #ccandme #atairport, #milestonemoment, etc., etc. CC meant Cinderella Convict, apparently to someone who practically shouted that to her face. One group of teenage boys even asked her, โAre you hungry now? Do you want to bite me?โโNo. I donโt have bloodlusts.โโReally?โThey looked disappointed while some girls gav
In the wind, his sentinel cloak was flapping. It tickled her calves below her nightdress. The garden below was in pandemonium just like in the tower. She registered all those noises vaguely while she was too aware of the single presence, the male holding her.“We’re going back in,” he warned.In one swift movement, he lifted both of them back into the tower. Once their feet touched the bathroom floor, he stood face to face with her and leaned down gently, cornering her against the half-broken window. Along the ragged window frame, he placed his hands, seemingly unaware the sun was hurting them.She stared when he spoke, unable to take her eyes off of him.“I shouldn’t have let you out of my sight. It was my fault,” he murmu
That did not surprise her. All of Fragorโs followers hardly consider her a princess anymore since they realized what she was for their king: a device. This sentinel must think the same. He must not feel the need to grace her with a response.She left the chair and went to the wardrobes where she had found the blanket, all along feeling a hawk-like gaze on her back. It seemed her remaining few days would be even more suffocating than her previous days. While Eirene hadnโt given a damn about her well-being, she had kept her good company most days.This new personโฆ she sighed, placing the blanket in the far corner where she had found it. She went to the bed and sat down in the middle. There was no scenery to look out. No sunlight. She had wondered how the sun would feel against her skin since the seal on her arm was gone and she was a hybrid. Hours must have passed while she was sitting on the bed and the person at the door had yet to move at all. She got down from the bed to take a bath
Danica did not blink at the word, โthe ritualโ. She did not care what he was going to do with her. Footsteps retreated and footsteps entered while she did not bother getting up from the floor. Pulling up her hood, her new attendant stopped by the bedside; she did not look like an attendant at all.โYou knowโฆโ said Eirene. โI came here to kill you.โโI know,โ she mumbled. โHow do you know?!โ her eyes widened.Danica got up, holding onto the edge of the bed to support herself. Her limbs felt heavy after days of no movement. โI saw you in the crowd the other day.โโYou couldnโt have possibly known myโโโHereโฆโ she looked at her in his glowing eyes. โIโve been a hunter for years. I could at least spot someone who wants to kill me. You probably thought I was a dumb bitch, didnโt you? How convenient you want to kill me. Do it now.โEirene showed her fangs. โNo. I changed my mind. You deserve to live suffering.โโOhโฆโ she breathed, disappointed. โYour father let me in even though he knew I