The Vampire King's Contract Bride

university tram stop

s stepping in as our class advisor now. Says we're spr

ond this was your fault. That perv Jack always gave you creepy loo

er a wea

b?" Sophie frowned, glancing down at

ed from emb

ack hurt, everything down there was sore and swollen. No normal

iddle-aged woman suddenly stormed

ore-don't pretend he didn't fall for it! He's dead now, and everyone's trashing him like he deserved it! M

Jack's family again. Seriously,

eek like a perfume factory exploded! So what if Clara's beautiful and conf

ed for Sophie, grabbing her clothes like she meant t

ad stood up for me-I couldn't just

police!" I yelled, prying at one

ssive came rolling at u

learly and

e divider like a monster on the loose. I had seen stories li

ammed into the shrieking middle-aged woman behind us, sendin

ared at each ot

divine in

meone. No one would believe it unle

a faint red glow flickering

were already

dragged her out of the crowd

oose tire, a perfect arc, a perfe

this

he d

t sight of the pendant around my neck. The Crimson

y," I lied quickly, tuckin

she knew my life involved blood pacts, spirits, and a

ting at the etching on the back. "It

ood f

alled him that once. That

that?" I asked

with ancient sigils," Sophie said proudly. "I've been around that

on Lord o

me before... som

at the counter. The man had placed something wrapped in brittle waxed parchment on

g this cursed junk!" my brother sn

ing it. I left at dawn just to make it here before

ck velvet bridal heels, adorned with garnet beads and faint traces of gold embroidery in a twis

e aura of something long dead still clinging to them. They reminded me too much of that b

ut feeling these bridal relics weren't gifts from him at all-

r said coldly, finally forcing the man out the door. "W

e Great-Grandf

eave you unguarded. Told me to stay and watch the shop. An

who's watch

d to the kitchen, he leaned against

our spooky vampire husb

Go call Dad and ask if

y three hours away by bus, maybe four if you counted the van ride

ticed my brother pacing the livin

cursed unde

d?" I asked,

d the family house-no one's seen him,"

rang en

us at times, but he ne

e chimed with

ad-he'd sent

while I hit the voice message button. "Dad

in-no r

w something

ran into his room and came back

he garage and climbed into the pas

along, he'll murder me," my br

me. Just let me come," I said,

dn't

r a hundred kilometers away, along a stretch of h

"Do you think... maybe the mask is controlling him again? Maybe

not the kind of man to give in without a fight.