The Vampire King's Cursed Bride

began with a broken glass, a frightened grandmother, and a moon that

roads became muddy whenever it rained, and people preferred whispering about their neighbours rather than minding their own business. My mother had died when I was very young, and my father wa

hen there was nothing to eat, and I had learned to appreciate the little happiness life offered. I was convinced that my future wo

teenth birthday would become

are you list

pted my thoughts as I stirred

ave reminded me at least five times that I shou

d not

taring at the darkening sky with an e

window," I told her

, but her attention seemed t

ow what to

My birthday, unless

your birth

t, the glass in her hand slipped

dropped the

! Are yo

eyes were fixed on the enormous red moon rising above the trees,

rabbed my

fully. Whatever happens tonight, you must

d to my mother, and my grandmother had given it to me when I was a child, telling m

ld I rem

it prot

row

s me fro

er, but three heavy knocks s

th tu

ice came f

door, Sera

fingers tighten

t answ

ollowed, louder

re inside, lit

egan beati

nce

who knew my family well

, who is

acked away f

ever have discovered

e back of the house. The kitchen window shattered, sending brok

er pushed me

nd lock yoursel

leaving y

hina,

erious visitors. I had seen my grandmother angry, disappointe

oor suddenl

pite the muddy village roads, and their faces were unusually pale. One of th

led bac

they?" I

led, exposing two u

is th

ther stepp

right to en

en years ago, Evelyn. The cou

at my gra

new he

hand and shouted a strange word. A flash of golden light ex

cre

ned towards me, he

yond the eastern forest. Find the man who carr

ndma, you're f

face betwe

our eighteenth birthday. I have done everything I cou

moved b

an, Seraphina. He was th

ok my

t's impo

ric Blackthorn, and you a

eving my father had died before I was born, and now my g

losion shoo

e towards th

never allow the royal blo

me, but another masked man appeared in the doorway. My grandmoth

ra

red into the forest. I could hear shouting behind me, followed by the

not

ied through the darkness. Several times, I stumbled over exposed t

ther my grandmoth

know where

erstand why anyone would hu

d chapel. My grandmother had described it many times when telling stories about the o

ise came fro

top

was foll

aphi

le, deep, and fr

and his dark hair fell loosely across his forehead. His face was strikingly handsome, but his c

you?" I

n and stared at the n

id you g

. Stay awa

ression

belonged to Q

allo

know an

g strange about him. His skin was unusually pale, and althoug

" he said. "I am the king of

red a

es aren

le appeared

y your blood is calling to every

glowing. A sharp pain travelled through my body, and I dro

diately ap

ouch me!

yes remained fixed on

le," he w

happeni

h an expression I c

l blood ha

l echoed thro

wards the sound, and hi

hining like burning coals. They wore black armour decorated

iled when

nt surprise. We have finally

ed in fro

ea

bowed mo

the girl immediately. The prophecy must

nder my p

ns nothing against t

rned a deeper s

should have sent

of an eye, he

ashed against a tree. I watched in horror as Damon appeared behind an

creatures su

er raised

ride belongs

nly turned

es met, and I saw something

e

attacking him, but fear

ked back at

l burn your entire ki

mpire

n. You know what happens when the kin

art s

id

yet everyone seemed to know som

his coat moving in the wind

, we must

his outstr

princess? What is this cursed bride p

ession d

ecause the night you were born, I made a promise

ards the appro

lowered

er did not die from an illness, as you were told. Sh

med to tilt b

d her, Damon pulled me close and w

you were born to inher

e forest, I realised that escaping my

who might know the truth about my family-and