The Vampire King's Contract Bride
y only exit to the street. He had also blo
I scrambled around the store, searching for anyth
across the room. The silver clattered to the ground in a scatter of ringiraw and tortured, broke t
saving him, I had to try. The problem was, I didn't know how. No one had ever tau
ter, upending antiques and reli
s real anymore? I hurled
ing laugh echoed
e closer. Let me give you t
ne I'd heard in my dreams. A large, ice-col
at instant, the Crimson Sigil Ring on
ng. Co
ed, my father lay co
his side, cradling
had been torn to shred
here
t eyes glared back at me. The Crimson Mask-etched into
ice rasped from the mask. "He works fast... Clara
r itself free from my father's flesh, on
ughter from passing pedestr
it was still spring. St
alone with the stench
he voice groaned, calling my na
p!" I s
diance pulsing from my finger. The mask hissed, its grin
onless, the curse
ire always claiming I w
did that Crimson Mask-that bloodstained visage
n at the ring
mson Si
shimmered, clear and alive, as
ful, its form half-veiled in crimson mist. Six wings unfurled like silk dre
ting runes. And at its brow, a sigil pulsed-an ancient mark sha
eler's loupe to examine the ring. He sq
e muttered. "Not a gemstone..
rd. "What kind
brow furrowed.
ked. "
blood-born sigil. The legends say they only awaken in response to forbidden bonds... or unholy conceptions. They
ring. "Was it what drove th
till staring at th
ou and Dad run into
is voice dimmed. "Dad told me not to tell
you really agreed to carry his bloodspawn? Soun
ea
a j
unconsciousness every night. And now that I do know? It's
touches
burned from what he'd already done. My body hadn
h my father
hest cracked open.
kgrave
cursed
d of yours hurt you?" my brother
a small nod. After a long pause, I
where near your room. When he comes, the whole space is sealed with s
f against something like him. Besides, with the blood pact between you two... that makes it consensual in
ated. Then, his eyes lit up. "Wait-he
ck down moments later, pressin
nt to dig a hole and crawl inside: I
crimson. "What
els raw and burning, it's because you're not producing enough... you know. Moisture." He gave me
th
when you pee, that's a urinary tract infection and you'll need
y it down there before things start-or
king!" I covered my
cting a corpse. "Alright, alright. I'm going to check on Dad. He probabl