ONE (Contains Romance)

"You are my wife, Maxine and I expect you to fulfill your duties."

Maxine's fists were clenched as her eyes were fixed on the copper-red eyes. She remained unfazed despite the half-naked figure in front of her.

"Duke Sullivan, I will like to remind you that I am married to no other than Prince Maverick of Beddington and that whatever happened between us isn't marriage and it's just a contract which is only valid for six months. After six months, I will be freed," she uttered, not even sure of what she had gotten herself into.

What could have made her fall into the hands of a madman who claims to be a vampire? And how on earth was she supposed to cure him when he shows no symptoms of sickness?

She told herself, 'Just for six months and then, you would be free.' She was bound if she liked it or not.

A low smirk appeared on the duke's lips as he said, "And if you refuse to find the cure after six months, you will be dead."

She felt the chills that went through her as those words came out.

Just like she was known to be, a proud woman, she raised her chin and clicked her tongue. She wouldn't show her fear no matter what. "Six months and you will be cured." Nevertheless, there was a tinge of mockery in her words.

Surprising her, suddenly his fingers graced the side of her chin and she couldn't help but swallow. "Since you prove to be a stubborn wife, I would like to restrain you."

"What?" Her brows creased in confusion and curiousness.

"Perhaps, you might change your mind if you don't see your other husband for those six months." He neared her, now she could feel his breath on her forehead, "Maybe then, you would be able to look at no other man but me."

TWO( CONTAINS DECEPTION...GAME)

"I did think about that. But you mistake that only women get swayed by men. Women can be a very deceptive tool, you know?"

'Tool,' Alex smiled as he replied to her but in his mind, 'Of course, you could be that tool.'

Maxine wasn't done with her question. Her brows furrowed as she noticed the King's gaze on her. "What are you trying to say, Your Majesty?"

"You guess right, Lady Maxine." He went back to his seat, his eyes still as he looked into hers, "Do you not think you have been deceived entirely by your groom?"

Trying to dismiss her already, as he was still trying to contain how the young woman knew about the illusion, he said, "Let's call it a deal." Seeing her face turn stiff, he smirked, "I have no choice, however, I will be sad to ruin what would have been your 'wedding night'."

Maxine merely shrugged before she bowed and walked away from the study, her heart bouncing in her ribcage.

The look in the King's eyes, she could not say but there was something amiss and also a tint of lurking danger. She only shrugged as she walked through the passages.

THREE(Contains Gore)

"I want your heart, Lord Philip," Sullivan said, matter-of-factly as if it was the littlest thing one could ever say that did not warrant exaggerated action. "Fresh blood like you, you must have a human heart that has yet to be black, I would love to see it."

Sweats dropped down Lord Philip's forehead as if he were taking a shower. His breathing became ragged as Sullivan tightened his grip on the collars of his coat while his claws slowly dug down his throat but as the claws dug further, the open flesh was closing, healing in the process and tightening his claws that were sucked in. The feeling, Sullivan found it to be pleasurable, and he dug further.

However, he couldn't wait anymore as he thought his head had begun to go heavy, telling him that he was yet to have a good sleep. 

Sullivan slipped his claws into the upper abdomen of Lord Philip and almost immediately his hands escaped different tissues, with cold blood floating at the corners of his fingers before he stopped, feeling his hand on Lord Philip's heart. 

With a pull, he tore the heart from the veins, muscles and all that was binding it and raised it to show others, "Like I speculated it is still fresh red." As he said those words, he neared the heavy organ to his mouth slowly and took a bite, blood dripping on the sides of his lips while some escaped the claws of his hands, staining his sleeves.

He proceeded to chew slowly like he was eating a small piece of cooked meat until he ate the organ completely.

Others' whole attention was fixed somewhere else instead of on the Duke which Sullivan found unbelievable. 

He turned his head to know what had thieved their attention until his eyes balanced on the still-standing Lord Philip whose mouth and eyes were still wide open. He looked at them again and uttered, "Why are you all so stunned? Lord Philip is still alive, is he not?"

When no one uttered anything, even Damien was stunned by the gore that had just taken place in the darkness of the hall, Sullivan turned to Lord Philip, "You should talk, let them know you are still alive."

"I am," Lord Philip uttered with eyes that looked like they were dead. He then bowed to Sullivan, "Thank you, Your Grace, for sparing my life," before sitting down.

***

A/N: This book is participating in an ongoing contest, I hope you all support me.

In the comment section is the picture of the prince. I'm unable to upload the other two because it says the pictures are too large.