"Look at me properly and try to remember." He implored her, his silvery eyes boring into hers. Maya raised her nervous eyes to meet his. Searching her head, she tried to remember where she may have met this man before. As she stared at him, a sense of familiarity began to settle. Those eyes... she'd seen them before. Where has she seen them? One by one, the images came. The pictures from a time she had forgotten. She had helped someone with eyes just like this. Still in his embrace, a daunting realisation began to set in. She'd met this man before. Long before he even dreamed of being a king... **************** A tyrant king conquers a kingdom so he can get married to her forgotten princess. People expect a marriage filled with strife and everything but none of that happens. Instead he treats her right, worships her and kisses the very ground she walks on. Why is that? People wonder. The reason is quite simple. Years ago, the same princess had saved his life from the bitter hands of death when he was betrayed by his half brother, the crown prince of Madonia.
She walked down the makeshift aisle, her hands at her side, her face covered in dried blood and dirt, her clothes torn and dirty, her hair in disarray. The salty, coppery taste in her mouth reminded her of the abuse she has endured earlier this morning and her jaws ached from where she had been hit. But there was a glow in her eyes and she held her head high, her steps regal... Just like the princess she was expected to be.
The air was filled with smoke and roaring blaze of fire rang in her ears, reminding her of the destruction that had befallen her kingdom this morning, her body shaking, she tried to appear calm and collected while her heart pounded in her chest.
People stared at her as she walked down the aisle, gasps and murmurs filled the air. While some watched her with awe, others did with hatred and disgust. She couldn't care less. They weren't her concern.
Instead her eyes were settled on the exquisitely dressed man at the end of the aisle, a gentle smile on his face. Dexter, King of Madonia. The reason her kingdom fell. He was the one she was about to marry. And no, she wasn't forced to do this. She reached the end and took his outstretched hands, letting him pull her to raised pavement. The priest cleared his throat nervously reciting some things.
She could barely listen to him as her eyes watched the man before her. Huge, so huge he was dominating. Dark curly hair and grey eyes that looked silver on sunlit days. Broad shoulders and heavily calloused hands held her soft ones. A scar on right eyebrow and one his lips. The title 'Tryant King' fit him to a tee. This man was a very scary man.
But he was smiling at her and his eyes held the gentlest light. She returned with one of her own, albeit forced.
"You look beautiful today." He murmured, his deep voice making shivers work it's way through her skin. She swallowed, her heart racing even as her eyes stung.
"Thanks for the compliment, your majesty. I apologise I couldn't take care of my appearance more properly." She replied, her voice murmur
"Don't worry, after this ceremony. You'll be wearing the best of clothes and perfumes." He told her. She regarded him for a while before nodding.
"Now, do you, Maya herald, take King Dexter as your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, in wealth and poverty, till death do you part?" The priest asked in a booming voice.
Maya sucked in a shaky breath. "Yes I do." She replied. God, what is she getting into?
"Do you, King Dexter...."
"I do..." Dexter replied, not letting the priest finish.
"W- well, I now pronounce you Man and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest said.
"Finally...." Dexter murmured before leaning in, kissing her lips. He kissed her gently at first, his lips brushing hers but as desire rose, he pulled her in, taking her more possessively, not minding the crowd watching them. He only stopped when Maya pulled away, gasping for air. "We need to finish this... Much later." He told her. He watched her shiver, causing a grin to grow on his face.
Maya held the hands of her new husband, her heart racing. She stared into his eyes, wondering what offence she must have committed to have crossed his path. Her head drew a blank. She couldn't remember anything. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't feel sadness for her falled kingdom.
Nobody clapped, they could only stare in indignation as the king led his new bride away from the burning kingdom he just conquered. But they didn't understand one thing. He didn't conquer the kingdom because he wanted to. He did that so he could get to Maya, the forgotten princess of Gegoria.
But how did it all begin? Surely all villains have origin stories. Well Dexter is no different but his origin story is quite unique. It started many years ago. From a single act of kindness from the woman he now calls his Queen...
"Please help me... I'll do anything. I just want my mother to live." I cried, tears streaming down my face in torrents, my body trembling in fear. Kael stared down at me, his glowering eyes devoid of any emotion and a chill ran down my spine. "Anything, you say?" He asked, pointing the edge of his sword against my neck and I stiffened, refusing to breathe. "Anything... " I whispered, my voice small yet resolute. A corner of his lips quirked up, not quite forming a smile. "How about my slave?l ***** "She was supposed to be his captive, not his salvation. When Aira sneaks into forbidden Lycan territory to save her mother, she is caught and thrown at the mercy of the ruthless Lycan King, Kael Drathlor. In a desperate bargain, she trades her freedom for her mother's life. But as she becomes the king's unwilling companion, Aira discovers a terrifying truth-Kael is cursed, unable to die, unable to feel the mate bond that should tie them together. As dark forces conspire against them and Kael spirals further into self-destruction, Aira must decide: escape and save herself, or risk everything for the beast who might never love her back. In a world where fate is both a gift and a curse, can she break the chains of destiny before it's too late?"
"At this point, I'll be grateful for your pieces." ***** Jessica Franklin is at her wit ends, literally. With two sisters depending on her and a mountain of debts on her neck, she needs a way out before she breaks down. So when she sees an online post of a Billionaire requesting for a bride, she immediately takes it. Devon Reeves just wants to get rid of his clingy ex who's snuck her way back into his life and is disrupting it. Unwilling to go on dozens of blind dates, he puts up a post requesting for a bride and receives numerous responses. Out of the many proposals, Only one sticks out to him. Without thinking too much of it, he accepts it and goes on a date. One look is all it takes got Devon to decide that Jessica is his bride. A contract is signed and the two begin to live like husband and wife. There's just one problem, nobody is accepting of this new arrangement. Plus, the more he gets to know his wife, the more he realizes that she has secrets... Secrets she's running away from and will soon catch up to her.
"You," he growled, glaring at me with hatred in his eyes even as he pinned me to the wall, obstructing my airflow. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you." "I'd like to see you try, Alpha." I spat at him, my voice filled with defiance. He dropped me to the ground before lifting me up as if I weighed nothing and pinning me against his study table, pushing my legs apart. "Oh, you'll see. And by the time I'm done with you, you'll beg for death." He growled against my ears, filling me with fear of what is to come. ***** In a world of false accusations and vengeful rulers, Evelyn's life takes a harrowing turn. Framed for a crime she didn't commit, she faces the wrath of the alpha king. Instead of death, he condemns her to a fate worse than she could have imagined: becoming his personal slave and breeder. As fear grips her, Evelyn must summon her strength to challenge the tyrant's rule and reclaim her freedom. Will she find a way to defy her captor and seek justice, or will she be forever trapped in a life of darkness and despair? What happens when the moon goddess announces that she is his second chance mate? Will she still try to escape him or will she let their bond bloom? A gripping tale of resilience and defiance unfolds in this thrilling journey of survival, betrayal and love.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
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?"
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"