His Mark

The moment arrived, as if time itself held its breath. He stepped into the moonlight, the full moon gleaming behind the window where she stood. Time seemed to stop for a moment as his solid strides came to a halt. Her eyes widened in fascination. He was glorious. This man could somehow conjure her, pin her to the ground, or make her kneel and melt before him. Was it possible for something so wicked to be so captivating, so impossibly beautiful? Splendid and mesmerizing! No, no, she must be dreaming. 

He stood like a figure carved from midnight itself. His skin, a rich shade of bronze, seemed to glow beneath the light, warm yet untouchable. His jet-black hair, smooth and thick, tumbled in soft waves, with two rogue curls rebelliously framing his chiseled face. His features were etched with perfection, high, sharp cheekbones, a straight nose that cut through the air like a blade, and lips that promised both temptation and restraint. Oh, Gods! She was breathless at the sight of him. But it was his eyes that held her pinned, two pools of golden eyes with red flames shading them, so intense they could freeze the heart or burn it to ash. The very presence of him was a paradox, immortal yet strikingly human, dangerous yet captivating, a walking enigma she could not tear her gaze from.

'He is absolutely dangerous, I'm in trouble.'

On the other side, Ara frowned, not so happy that the prince was a rare scene to behold. A dashing man was an understatement as a compliment. He wasn't the random notorious prince she wanted him to be. He was an intriguing god!

The King grasped Ren's hand, a gesture that should have come from her father. But no one dared to challenge the King's will, and no one spoke for her father either. With a cold finality, the King passed her hand to the prince, who stood like a statue, tall, imposing, and wrapped in a black military royal coat, embroidered with meticulous needlework. His expression was unreadable, a stark contrast to Ren's flustered face, her cheeks flushed deep with embarrassment. She immediately wished she hadn't ogled at him for so long, her nerves bubbling over as she tried to look anywhere but at him.

'Don't look at him, Ren, you fool.' She scolded herself for being so vulnerable.

The pastor droned through the ceremony, his voice barely reaching her as he uttered words like, "May your love bloom tonight and…" But Ren's mind swirled, dizziness and nausea creeping in until his words became nothing more than distant murmurs. The whole thing ended in a blur, yet they insisted she remain on the platform to seal the bond.

The King's expression darkened as he watched the proceedings. He scowled, and a look of revulsion crossed his face as he glanced at the traditions of Thegara.

"Is this really necessary?"

The prince extended his arm toward Ren and looked at the King. "I've accepted all your terms. This is the only thing I demand."

Oh, gods above! His voice was an untiring, priceless melody, she thought. But wait, why hadn't he addressed the King properly? He deliberately omitted 'Your Majesty.'

He paused briefly before meeting her eyes, leaving her breathless. "She will bear my mark for her own good."

Huh?

A mark?

What did that mean? She had expected wine and a kiss. What was this? No one asked a single question or stopped him. She didn't feel the urge to resist his touch or to make her head fly off her shoulders. She could be the first headless bride in history.

On the platform, he moved closer, his eyes piercing through her like sharp fragments of glass. His right hand gripped her slender arm, while his other hand rested on her waist.

A kiss? He was going to kiss her! Oh, damn, why did he suddenly smell so good? Ren stared at his full, dark red lips as his mouth brushed her cheek and lingered at her neckline.

A pit formed in her stomach. A new wave of dread bubbled up from the depths of her core. Not a kiss?

While she was drowning in a trance, his fangs tore into her skin.

He bit her!

'Whyyy? Urgh!'

Sharp pain spiked the marrow of her bones. Her hands instinctively moved up to clasp his vest, though she didn't mean to offend him or push him away, only to steady herself and press down the pain.

He pulled his mouth from her neck, leaving two red dots and a thin streak of blood marking her collarbone. After a moment, he stepped back, his gaze traveling from her heaving chest to her eyes, which were squeezed shut. He narrowed his eyes.

"You didn't faint, doe-eyes," he whispered, a slight hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. But it faded quickly as her eyes fluttered open.

The pain in her neck faded quickly, and with it, some of her fear. Did his bite work like magic?

"My name is Reneira," she said calmly, forcing herself to maintain courtesy rather than panicking and running away like a coward. To her surprise, the hard, expressionless mask he'd worn earlier softened slightly when he heard her voice.

As the ceremony concluded, her husband allowed her a moment to say farewell to her family, but the King refused, insisting they leave before daylight. Ren pouted at this but didn't bother to question his decision. Everyone, except Lora and her aunt, disgusted her. Perhaps even her husband didn't like her, either.

Husband? Uncertainty hit her, her heart might be unable to accept this man.

"Give me your hand, doe-eyes!" He held his arm out for her to clasp, but she hesitated.

"I don't bite!"

But he did, vividly. She blinked her long eyelashes while looking at him. 'No, don't look at him, look away!' She warned herself and glanced back at the palace, where she had spent her most beautiful childhood days, before stepping into hell and living with her stepmother. She was in exile, and her husband was a painfully handsome cage keeper.

"I'm fine." She dismissed his offer and climbed the carriage steps with so much confidence that she forgot her dress would be a problem, and he knew it.

Before she could take another step, her dress caught on her shoes, and she went flying backward. Her eyes met the snicker on her husband's face, and he didn't bother to catch her flailing hands.

Her head hit the ground, and pain wrecked her spine. "Ouch!" she groaned, hearing Ara's giggle from behind. "Sorry, brother-in-law, our sister is clumsy and untamed."

The fall and her sister's stinger both hurt a lot. But then, Ren felt the world spinning. What the heck just happened? She shouldn't have refused his help.

The immortal man before her looked down, his brows creased. "Can you stand on your own?" He wasn't sure if she would want his help, so he preferred to ask. At his words, tears filled her eyes, and then, with a mix of innocence and pride, she shut them.

He ran his long, thick fingers through his hair and knelt before her, enveloping her in his mighty arms. He whispered into her ear, "I know you're awake." He smirked devilishly and then climbed into the carriage.

Cradling her in his arms, he studied her features for nearly two hours, not once pulling his gaze away. He hadn't expected the King to give him his precious niece. It seemed that defeating the vampire King and those lifeless beasts meant so much to him.