Dukes Of Ruin Novels & Stories

"Well, yes. That's for a human's perspective. But for us-a noble or a mythical creature as what human history says-it's natural. We can live for millennia and tens and hundreds of it, not aging. We can even enter eternal slumber if we want to. "But that's not always the case. Sometimes, one can enter a force eternal sleep if they committed a crime that is too grave beyond comprehension and the risk being known to the world is high or they took offense to the humankind that we're supposed to take care." -Cassielle Elise D. Dairen, the daughter of the duke, Clyde Estreno D. Dairen. The unknown duchess.

Duke Essandor had more grey hairs than he did a few months ago. Understanding how much he paled in comparison to the Universe was a cruel blow. Though he didn’t whimper for long, his constant pushing to reach the heights above had taken a toll on him. Currently he was an Above Mortal Realm Wielder. It was good progress in just six months. But the Duke wanted more. For he understood how feeble he was in comparison to the gods. And he wanted to be able to hold his fate in his own hand the next time a storm struck. Alas, this was the next trial and it had come too soon. For he was nowhere near strong enough to stop anything that was happening.

How these people sitting on their throne while watching the bloodshed in front of their eyes? I'm as dirty as them, but I'm more called as a diamond who was thrown in the garbage. I rest my chin on my palm while listening to their screams and the noise coming from the gunshots. Bloodshed, that's what I want. My eyes found Duke Richmond sitting comfortably on his seat while looking straight in my direction. He was tapping his fingers while forming a smile on his lips. I smiled back. That's right Duke, I'm in love with the bloodshed.

I wished people, or any beings that lived in this world, could understand how beautiful their world was, stop the fighting, stop control and just appreciate it. “The Duke will be pieced together this soon, and I will make him suffer for what he did to you,” Creed's guttural growl had me stiffen. I didn’t even want to hear about the Duke anymore. I was over it all. “That is the first step for this war to unravel. Once he tells me who is in charge of the whole rebellion, it will be much easier to put a stop to it.” My heart rate quickened, feeling the heat from his chest. The fire that sat in his torso grew almost too hot to touch.

The Duke put his leg on the ground and stared at me; I felt as if he knew who I was and wanted to kill me. “Good! Good! Let’s destroy this whole world! The world is but an imaginary space. Don’t get fooled you fool!” Momo laughed wickedly. Mimi flew over until only a few inches separated us, she couldn’t move forward maybe because she couldn’t be away from her body. She glared at me, her eyes looking like two holes taking to the void, dark and disappointed. “I didn’t you could be a coward. I am truly disappointed. Do you see the Duke? He is cursed; if you don’t save him, he will burn like a candle quickly and die. Do you want him to die?”

But by the time he realized what he’d said, it was already too late. Duke looked at him wearing that same eyes again. A cold one. “Worry not, Father. I may be weak but I am not dumb.” His son’s firm reply reached his ears. “This here,” Duke showed Raul two furry toys he was holding. “Are my brother’s bed companions. I’m just delivering these to them. May I, then?” “Do what you need to do.” Was all Raul could say as he walked past his 9-year-old son. He stopped his strides after only five steps and then looked back. He saw Duke entering the tent he just came from. “Something is changed in him.” He commented.

Every handshake, every discreet transfer, every careful word now would ripple into their eventual victory over the Wolfe dynasty. Finally, Killian sat back and closed his eyes for a moment. The weight of all he was doing pressed down on him. He wasn’t just moving money or securing people. He was building a shield, a safety net against chaos, against Victor’s rage, against the destruction that had been threatening everyone he loved.

But underneath all of that was the sharper, unfinished ache Richard had left behind—the phantom press of his fingers, the low promise that he could ruin me deeper than his son ever would. I showered longer than necessary, scrubbing until my skin felt raw, as if I could wash both of them off me. It didn’t work. When I looked in the mirror, my lips were still slightly swollen and there was a fresh reddish mark high on the side of my neck that I couldn’t quite hide with my hair. I chose a high-neck sweater anyway.

“You have a duty to your pack. Besides, it’s already decided. There is nothing you can do to stop it, so stop your tantrums.” “Tantrums? You call playing God over my life tantrums”? I asked with disbelief. I turned to my mother. “Mom, please. Tell him this is madness.” My voice broke. She swallowed hard, and this time when she reached out, I allowed her to touch me because I felt like I would crumble if I didn’t use her as an anchor. “Sweetheart, your father won’t change his mind. I tried. The pack is in danger, and we’ve lost three families this month from the last attack. If we don’t secure the alliance…”

“Duke, I’m not here to play games. Your company is on the edge. A single misstep could cost you everything—your shareholders, your reputation… even your position as CEO.” Duke’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I built that empire. I don’t need charity from the Harpers.” Alexandra’s smile widened, just enough to be dangerous. “Charity?” she echoed, voice silk over steel. “I think you’ll find that pride has a very short shelf life when your empire is crumbling.”