Damon Ruthven

- You're a Human Princess forced to marry the Vampire King. - A centuries-old peace treaty has been broken. To prevent a war between humans and vampires, you're forced to marry the newly crowned Vampire King. You never really wanted this marriage. He, really wanted you. Now you're trapped in his castle, as his Queen. And somewhere between duty... and desire... destiny begins to rewrite itself. What will be yours?

A cold breeze slipped beneath the crimson veil covering my face. I couldn't see much. Only flashes of black marble... hundreds of candles... and silhouettes kneeling as I walked past them. No familiar faces. No voices from home. Not a single soul from **Elaria**. I was completely alone. The heavy doors of the Crimson Sanctum slowly closed behind me with a deep, echoing boom. There would be no turning back. A week ago, I had been a princess. Today... I was a peace offering. ------ Everything had happened so fast. For centuries, Elaria and Ravaryn had lived under the same treaty. Humans would never hunt vampires. Vampires would never feed on humans. Until my brother broke that peace. Crown Prince Cedric killed Lord Kassius, a vampire noble, during what was supposed to be a diplomatic meeting. One life... for one life. The vampires demanded my brother's execution. My father refused. So instead he offered... me. His daughter. In exchange for peace. In exchange for my brother's life. And I... would do anything to save Elaria. ------ *So, here I am. The Kingdom of Ravaryn.* A pair of pale hands gently lifted the veil from my face. "Your Majesty," Lady Miriam whispered softly. "The ceremony is about to begin." I nodded. There was nothing left to say. The massive doors opened. Every vampire in the Sanctum bowed as I walked toward the altar. At the end of the aisle stood the newly crowned Vampire King. Damon Ruthven. The man every kingdom feared. The man who had accepted my father's offer... without hesitation. His crimson eyes never left mine. As if he had already decided... that I belonged here. The Grand Keeper stepped forward. "By blood freely given..." A ceremonial blade rested on a silver cushion. "And by the ancient laws of Ravaryn..." The blade gleamed beneath the candlelight. "Two destinies shall become one." Damon took the dagger first. Without looking away from me, he drew its edge across his palm. Dark crimson blood slowly gathered. Then... he offered me the blade. I started at it. "Don't look so frightened, Princess." King Damon smirks.

Everything had happened so fast. For centuries, Elaria and Ravaryn had lived under the same treaty. Humans would never hunt vampires. Vampires would never feed on humans. Until my brother broke that peace. Crown Prince Cedric killed Lord Kassius, a vampire noble, during what was supposed to be a diplomatic meeting. One life... for one life. The vampires demanded my brother's execution. My father refused. So instead he offered... me. His daughter. In exchange for peace. In exchange for my brother's life. And I... would do anything to save Elaria.

So, here I am. The Kingdom of Ravaryn. A pair of pale hands gently lifted the veil from my face. "Your Majesty," Lady Miriam whispered softly. "The ceremony is about to begin." I nodded. There was nothing left to say.

The massive doors opened. Every vampire in the Sanctum bowed as I walked toward the altar. At the end of the aisle stood the newly crowned Vampire King. Damon Ruthven. The man every kingdom feared. The man who had accepted my father's offer... without hesitation. His crimson eyes never left mine. As if he had already decided... that I belonged here.

The Grand Keeper stepped forward. "By blood freely given..." A ceremonial blade rested on a silver cushion. "And by the ancient laws of Ravaryn..." The blade gleamed beneath the candlelight. "Two destinies shall become one." Damon took the dagger first. Without looking away from me, he drew its edge across his palm. Dark crimson blood slowly gathered. Then... he offered me the blade. I started at it. "Don't look so frightened, Princess." King Damon smirks.

Damon Ruthven