What exactly does it mean to be his bride? *** Every year, in each of the seven villages that made up the great Kingdom of Ignas, a Choosing Ritual was conducted. During this Chosing Ritual, one of the ladies in the village would be chosen to be the dreaded Dragon King's Bride. No one knew exactly why the ritual was being performed every year or what happened to the brides that had been chosen in the past. Was he turning them into slaves? Feeding them to his dragon? Or was he... feeding on them? That couldn't be ruled out. After all, there were rumours that the king wasn't like them, that he wasn't human. Yet the question relentlessly troubled the people's heart. What was he using them for?! But they dared not question the King, afraid of what fate daring to go against him would be. Anyways, none of these was Belladonna's business. Although it was her village's turn to produce a bride this year, she was certain she wouldn't get chosen. Why? Well, because she had a plan and she was absolutely certain it wouldn't fail her... or would it?
"How Not To Get Chosen," Belladonna mumbled to herself in her silvery voice, her blue eyes on the cover of the thin black book she had just picked.
It was fairly covered in dust, making the letters on it a little unreadable.
She went down the ladder, then blew the dust off the book which made her cough lightly.
"By Moria Nakuriver," She mumbled the name of the author to herself and instantly shook her head.
This book would be of no help because the author actually ended up being chosen as a bride.
Moria was the daughter of the Village Head of Nakuriver, one of the seven villages that made up the mighty Kingdom of Ignas, which was ruled by the dreaded Dragon King.
When Moria was 18, she had participated in the Choosing Ritual, as the rules had demanded, and had somehow been lucky enough not to be chosen.
That was when she had written this book.
Almost every lady across the kingdom started reading it, so they could be as lucky as she had been. But then she got chosen at 25, and people threw the books out their windows, realizing that even the book couldn't save them from the doom they called a King.
In fact, Moria was the bride that had been chosen last year. Everyone had thought she would be the last bride but no! Something unknown had gone awfully wrong once again, and as usual, it was the next village's turn to produce a bride.
That next village happened to be Inaymi, the smallest and seventh village in Ignas, also the one where Belladonna lived.
Belladonna climbed up the ladder and put the book back in its place. She got down and then continued her search.
As her hands tapped across every book, flipped through some, reading their titles and seeing if they could help, she couldn't stop thinking.
The Choosing Ritual had been in existence for as long as she could remember. Each year, every lady between the ages of 18 and 27 who was neither married nor pregnant was presented during the ritual.
Seven of them would be chosen by the Dragon King as Potential Brides; they would leave with him to the castle, and then after some days or weeks, six would return.
The six that returned usually would have no memories of their days in the castle, while the one who had been chosen as the bride would stay behind, never to be heard of or seen again.
Many said the chosen brides were killed, and some said he fed them to his dragon. Many people came up with different theories of what he was doing with them.
None, good.
The truth was that nobody knew what truly happened to those brides or why the Choosing Ritual existed, to begin with, but no one dared to question the Dragon King.
He was ruthless and powerful, and anyone who fought against him, no matter how slightly, was sure to meet his end in a terrible way.
It was even rumored that the Dragon King was not human.
Truth or not, nobody knew.
They had never even seen his face before. Many suspected that he hid it away because it was hideous and monstrous - because he wasn't human.
Belladonna held the same belief.
She suddenly stopped and looked around the library. The sun was no longer brightly peeping through the window, but it was now golden, signifying the setting of the sun.
The library was now so empty that she could even hear the sound of her own breathing.
She sighed heavily, her legs already getting tired from all the searching, her eyes watering from lack of sleep.
She really needed to rest but she couldn't.
How could she when the Choosing Ritual would soon be upon them?
Everyone in Inaymi was scared right now. If possible, they would run away from the village with their families but they couldn't. The Dragon King's guards would hunt them down and drag them back here. No one had ever escaped from the Kingdom of Ignas and no one ever would.
Belladonna sat down in a chair, feeling absolutely exhausted. She heard the low rumbling of her stomach and she sighed.
For some days now, she hadn't been eating regularly, but how could she eat when there was fire on the rooftop?
Truthfully, she had no need to worry. In three days, she would no longer be qualified to be presented at the Choosing Ritual as a Possible Potential.
Why?
Because she would be getting married!
She smiled to herself, her stomach fluttered with butterflies at the thought of her fiancee.
Lytio.
Lytio was the perfect man in Inaymi and the one everyone wanted.
The 'standard'.
He was humble, handsome, and every other thing anyone could ever want in a man. He was also the first son of the Village Head and the best fisherman their village had.
In fact, sometimes, she wondered why he had picked her.
Lytio was a wonderful man, she had nothing but respect and love for him. So much respect and love that she adored the ground he walked upon.
She, on the other hand, was the weirdest of them all. Not because of anything she did but just because of how she would think. Her ideas were mostly termed ridiculous, even by her own family.
Belladonna normally had her extra curly black hair packed into a low messy bun, while she went through shelves and shelves of the library in her long blue tent gown. She was slim, curvy, with caramel skin, average height with a small, pointed nose and electrifying blue eyes
Those eyes - Lytio said, he loved most about her.
Indeed, she had nothing to worry about.
She wasn't in this library for herself, though; she was here slaving away for her younger sister.
Aniya, her younger sister, was 19, not pregnant and not married. She was obviously qualified for the Choosing Ritual and till that day would come upon them, she would remain qualified.
This had given Belladonna so many sleepless nights; although her wedding preparations had also been doing that, it was mostly her worry for her dear, sweet, and innocent Aniya that had kept her up late so many times.
She was always trying to find a way to pull her sister out of the wretched Possible Potential's list without ruining her sister's reputation in any way.
She had also been praying earnestly that her sister would be saved and not get chosen.
Today, she spent all her time looking for a book that could, perhaps, help Aniya. Sadly, the only one she found was unreliable.
She stood up, ready to leave. She got to the door quickly, the library wasn't a large one.
"Found anything?" The thick, low voice of the librarian stopped her from pressing down the old, heavy doorknob.
She turned and smiled at the old man, who was sitting at his table, a lantern on it and a scroll in his hand.
"Sadly no, but perhaps tomorrow." Her voice was gentle and a tired smile was on her face.
This Librarian was one of the few people that didn't think her weird at all. In fact, the only people who thought her weird were the young ladies in love with her soon-to-be husband.
They all wanted Lytio.
He smiled sadly and adjusted the little glasses that rested on the bridge of his straight, long nose. That nose took up most part of his small wrinkled face.
"I will try and search the register for you."
Then he focused on his scroll.
"That would be lovely. Thank you so much, sir. Goodnight sir."
"Goodnight to you too, child."
With that, Belladonna stepped out.
***
The sky was filled with stars and the big beautiful moon. The breeze blew gently too.
As Belladonna walked through the market in order to get home, the noises of the bargaining traders and customers filled the air. The lit lanterns placed on the tables and hung on stalls, the market women and men as they go about their night trade, the playful voices of children as they ran after one another, everything together made tonight.
Belladonna carefully maneuvered her way through the crowd, trying not to bump into anyone.
The market looked a lot more rowdy today because the closer the Choosing Ritual was, the more tense the villagers became. Right now, majority of the villagers were buying things in preparation for weddings.
Belladonna had passed by a temple on her way here, there was a wedding going on right now.
In fact, her own wedding would be the day after tomorrow. Hers and Lytio's family were so prepared, all they were waiting for was for the day to come.
Finally, she got home.
She knocked on the door but she got no response.
It was strange that her family was not in yet.
She pushed the door, and it slid open easily.
Her heart started hammering in fear.
Her parents were always particular about having the doors locked for safety.
The sitting room was dark. She looked around quickly to see yellow light seeping through the keyhole of the next door.
Then she heard it.
Muffled moans.
The closer she got, the louder the moans.
She could hear the grunts of a man and the high-pitched jargon of a woman?
Aniya?
Was she in danger?
Belladonna's hands got sweaty; she listened carefully and then realized that her cries weren't jargon...
...but a name.
She just couldn't process whose name it was.
She gulped.
With shaky hands, she pushed the door open quickly and her heart dropped.
Everything became quiet except for the moans of these two naked people roughly going at each other in her own bed.
A mate? No way. I already have a husband! *** Being a lone wolf, Zezi decided to chose a mate for herself. She ended up with the Beta of her pack and they had a daughter. They were living happily until an Empire of Vampires who were believed to have been wiped out resurfaced and started attacking the werewolves massively. Her Alpha, the King of all werewolves in Teeland, decided to fight them back but soon realized that the vampires couldn't be defeated. Left with no other choice, he decided to sign their King's Submission Deal. Everything was going according to plan until, Zezi found herself sharing a reckless gaze with the Vampire King - The very King of Darkness.
Being a lone wolf, Zezi decided to chose a mate for herself. She ended up with the Beta of her pack and they had a daughter. They were living happily until an Empire of Vampires who were believed to have been wiped out resurfaced and started attacking the werewolves massively. Her Alpha, the King of all werewolves in Teeland, decided to fight them back but soon realized that the vampires couldn't be defeated. Left with no other choice, he decided to sign their King's Submission Deal. Everything was going according to plan until, Zezi found herself sharing a reckless gaze with the Vampire King - The very King of Darkness.
"Truly, I am dangerous but it is nothing for you to fear." He said, tossing away the head of the vampire he had just yanked out and was still dripping with blood, while he moved closer to her. "Why?" She asked, trying her best to sound bold. "Because I am yours." *** Maybe if someone had showed Ivy what the future would hold if she decided to go to a nightclub a night before her arranged wedding, throw the word 'mine' to the first greek god she sees and have a one night stand with that stupidly rich greek god, maybe she would have just accepted her fate, stayed home and gone to her arranged wedding in the morning to pay up her father's debt. But no fortune teller had warned her and so she did all the above. Now here comes the consequences. Some are bad, some are spicy and some are just mysteriously unexpected.
On Diamant's 14th birthday, the strangest thing happened. A witch had almost killed her while warning her to stay away from the past. Diamant and her grandpa were people who lived on a survival skill of running and hiding from an unknown that relentlessly chased after them and threatened their lives. One night, this skill of Run and Hide met its end at the hands of a war brought upon their village by the mighty King of Alusa, the Dragon Lord. Having lost everything in the war, Diamant is driven by rage and grieve to seek revenge against the King. This is no easy task as she will get entangled in lies, conspiracy, betrayal, love, war and magic. In all these, she discovers there are important questions about her life that only the past has answers to. Will she delve into the past to seek these answers which may cost her everything including her life? Or will she face the present, forgo knowing these answers and live the life she is struggling to build for herself? ********************** Note: This novel contains mature content.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
RATED 18+ (WARNING) - EXPLICIT SCENES. "Strip for me" the beastly alpha called, his voice echoed from his dark cell, causing a shiver to go down her body. She couldn't fight the way her body reacts to him. Her nipples harden from his touch. "I can smell your wetness omega" he mutters, his hands tracing under her skirt till he feels up her wet jeweled folds, causing a hiss from her lips as his fingers push in. He whispers to he ears, a voice filled the dangerous promise "you are mine" .******. Elise Aldermen is the daughter of the Silvernight Pack's chief alpha. She has waited her whole life for her marriage ceremony, hoping it would be the best day of her life. However, she gets the shock of a lifetime when her betrothed coldly rejects her and makes her a slave after finding out her true origins, even though they were already bound. Not Not only is she claimed to be a bastard on her mating day, but she is also disowned and rejected by her pack and mate. Elise's life turns into a nightmare as she is thrown into the dungeons as the cruel alpha's slave, only to be handed off to his greatest beastly champion, who dwells in the dark cells. Elise soon discovers that the beast she is now forced to be marked and bound to is more than a monster; this beastly alpha could also be her fated mate.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
“Gabriel Bryce, how can you stand being so shameless?” Leonica asked, staring daggers at her atrocious husband and his mistress. “This is the house gifted to my by grandmother, yet you dare bring another woman into it? Aren’t you afraid that grandmother would be disappointed with you actions…?” Leonica’s words remained unfinished as an enraged Gabriel swung his hand through the air, smacking his palm clean on her left cheek. Leonica held her throbbing cheek, eyes wide and teary as she stared at her husband who glared down at her ferociously. “The nerves of you to mention my grandmother. You have no right to do so!” He spat, taking a step forward and jabbing his index finger painfully into her shoulder, making her take several steps back. “Bare this in mind, Leonica Romero, if not for the wishes of my late grandmother, I’d much rather be dead than associate myself with somebody like you.” *~*~* *~*~* Leonica Romero has always had a long time crush on Gabriel Bryce, CEO of Bryce Empire and Norway’s Business tyrant. Fortunately, at the request of his Ill grandmother, her family’s long time friend, Leonica gets the chance to marry her beloved. Feeling elated, she abandoned her position and dream job in the Romero household and becomes a humble housewife for Gabriel. However, Three years later, on the day of Gabriel’s grandmother’s funeral, Leonica is stunned speechless when he demands for a divorce, as his ex girlfriend Angelina Fernandez had suddenly returned, proclaiming her undying love for him. But that wasn’t the only shock Leonica received that day. Hours after Gabriel’s declaration for a divorce, Leonica wakes up in the hospital to a shocking news. She was two months pregnant. And Gabriel knew nothing about this!