Calantha, a weak vampire princess, knows all too well the fate that awaits her; a life of servitude as a blood bag or a loveless marriage... just like her parents, but when her kingdom faces a shortage of humans to feed on, she's cast aside like a sacrificial lamb, forced into marriage with a neighbouring kingdom. *** When Calantha, a vulnerable vampire princess is sacrificed to appease an ancient dragon, she discovers a dark secret: her blood holds the power to unbind the beast. Maybe it's just a 'Calantha' thing to be used as a sacrifice... But one thing is clear, she won't back down without a fight!
Calantha's point of view:
"I, king Tharius of Eldrador, hereby announce the engagement of my daughter, Calantha, to Arin Valois, crown prince of Valotoria."
The grand hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on me making my heart sink in my chest. I feel like a trapped animal as my father's words echoed in my mind. I thought back to the days I strived so hard just to escape my ex-fiancé Lyrien.
He was a cheat, but at least, I know him. The devil I have known for years is better than an angel I just met. But now I am nothing but a pawn on my father's chess board, the board serving as father's political game and I'm about to be discarded. My life is a mess.
I remembered the long night I spent pleading to father, begging him to reconsider the betrothal, to show mercy upon me but to no avail.
A part of me thinks he will agree since I am his only female child. But it is a far-fetched dream, his selfish desires and the kingdom's is more important than mine, than my freedom. He saw me as a tool, a means to secure an alliance with Valotoria. My protest fell on deaf ears, and now I stood before the entire court, forced to accept this fate.
"If only I had known, if only I had known it would end like this," I whispered to myself, "I would have followed Lyrien, no matter how treacherous he was, even if he is just a son of a Viscount."
Hot tears threatened to escape my eye as I gazed at the end of the wall where father sat on his humongous throne.
Arin, the stranger I was about to marry, standing a few feet at the side of the throne platform. His piercing onyx eyes seem to bore into my soul and maybe it's just my imagination but there's no warmth or kindness there. Just a calculated gaze, assessing me like a prized possession.
The agreement between Eldrador and Valotoria was clear; I was to be traded for a steady supply of human slaves. My father's words still haunted me.
"You are just a useless weak daughter." And he's right because I'm aware ... .I'm weak when compared to other female vampires and he's right for the second time because my only value lay in my ability to secure an alliance.
And as the court erupted into loud cheers and congratulations, I felt the last support holding my crumbling world crack.
Now, I'm trapped, bound to a fate I never wanted, but a part of me already knew it's inevitable. Arin's gaze on me never wavered. I wonder if he felt the same sense of obligation I felt or if he has ever felt trapped.
The ceremony moved in a blur with father's voice booming in the hall at regular intervals, outlining the terms of the agreement and conversing with his ministers.
I was to leave for Valotoria immediately, to begin my new life as Arin's bride. I know other girls would have been happy and grateful for getting engaged to a crown prince but I don't want to end up in a loveless marriage like father and mother but a part of me knows it's inevitable. The thought sent shivers and a feeling of dread down my spine.
Arin's grip on my arm was firm but soft as we exchanged vows, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt like a prisoner shackled to this stranger, this fate.
The cheers and applause faded into the background as I whispered my consent,my heart heavy with resignation.
The moment the ceremony ended, Arin released my hand, and I felt a fleeting sense of freedom but it was short-lived as he turned to me and said:
"We depart for Valotoria at dawn. Be prepared.....Calantha."
The last straw holding me together finally snapped and I stared at my father who was seated on his throne talking with a man whose beard almost reached the floor with a hateful gaze.
My eyes shifted to the second throne beside father's throne on which mother is seated, her skin as pale as snow; father had sucked her almost dry again. My fingers clenched my gown tightly.
I can't blame her, she has no power over it, she's also a pawn. I exhaled as Arin walked away, making me face the crowd alone.
I forced a smile on my face, pretending to be the obedient daughter I've always been, the willing bride I'm about to pretend to be, but inside, I'm screaming.
My heart rebelling against this fate, this life I never chose and everything as I finally moved, my head raised high and my back straight.
When broke and desperate Olivia tried to hack her way out of financial hell, she didn't expect to land in the lap of luxury - or the crosshairs of a ruthless mafia boss. Enzo's got a reputation for being merciless, but Olivia's got skills that could make her a valuable asset... or a dangerous liability. Kidnapped and thrust into a world of crime and deception, Olivia must navigate the dark side - and her own twisted desires. Who knows that a game of cat and mouse can lead to more secrets waiting to be unraveled?
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
BOOK 1- BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE BOOK. MATURE THEMES 18+ The book may contain s!xual scenes, sudden instances of possessiveness, mild violence. Sydney Morgan and Gavin Reed, high school sweethearts, had been married for over a decade. Five years of their relationship were filled with unconditional love; however, in the next six years, this changes drastically between them when Sydney takes advice from her best friend, Gavin's first love. When Sydney loses her baby, Gavin is left broken and vulnerable in the hands of his first love. She convinces him to divorce Sydney, and when he does, Sydney loses it and nearly gets hit by a car, but then the talk of the town, Gavin's rival, and CEO's son, hiding behind a facàde, comes to her rescue.