Fangs & First Kisses

Chapter 4

OWEN

"Owen! Get down here!"

Mum's voice cuts through the quiet halls of our castle, sharp and commanding. I let out a groan, already knowing what this is about. Another girl. Another so-called "worthy candidate." Another month of this ridiculous tradition.

I sit up from my bed and glance at the massive windows, where the blackened sky looms over Erebus Nox, our vampire kingdom. The full moon casts eerie silver streaks across my floor, as if mocking me. It's always the same cycle—Mum and Dad parade another girl in front of me, hoping she'll be the one to continue our bloodline. But I don't want any of them.

I don't want any of this.

Dragging myself toward the grand staircase, I peer over the railing. Sure enough, there she is. Valerie.

My childhood friend. Or at least, she used to be. We haven't spoken in years, and now she's standing beside my mother, smiling like she already owns the place.

"Owen, you remember Valerie, don't you?" Mum's voice is sickly sweet, but her eyes are sharp, waiting for my reaction.

"Yeah..." I say, my voice flat.

Mum scowls at my lack of enthusiasm, but she quickly masks it with a proud smile. "She won this month's challenge. She has proven herself strong, capable. Worthy of becoming queen."

My jaw clenches. Of course, she did.

The challenges my parents hold every month are nothing short of barbaric. They gather all the eligible vampire girls—ages one hundred to one hundred fifty, the equivalent of sixteen to eighteen in human years—and force them to compete. The winner earns the right to be my future wife. The others? Well... let's just say most don't make it out alive.

I shift my gaze to Valerie, and sure enough, her white cardigan is stained with blood—proof of the carnage she left behind. She smirks as she takes in the grandeur of the castle, like she's already won.

She thinks I'll be easy to manipulate. She thinks I'll just accept this.

I see right through her.

She's like my parents—ruthless, power-hungry, and willing to spill as much blood as necessary to get what she wants.

A flicker of movement catches my eye, and I turn to see Olivia entering the lobby. My sister. The only one in this house who understands me. She meets my gaze, immediately recognizing the desperation in my eyes. Get me out of this.

Olivia doesn't hesitate. With a polite smile, she steps forward. "Valerie, you must be thirsty after all that... exertion. Let me get you something." She disappears into the kitchen, and within seconds, returns with a glass of fresh cow blood. Valerie, distracted by the offering, turns her attention away from me.

It's my chance.

I start backing away, but before I can slip upstairs, Mum grabs my wrist.

"Where do you think you're going?" she hisses, her pleasant mask slipping. "This is important, Owen. Do you even understand what's at stake here?"

I grit my teeth. Oh, I understand perfectly.

She doesn't care about me. She doesn't care about Olivia. All she cares about is keeping our bloodline pure and strong. She and Dad don't want love, they want a legacy.

Erebus Nox is a kingdom built on ancient traditions. A vampire prince doesn't get to choose his bride. He is assigned one. And once he is married, the bloodline continues, ensuring the kingdom's power remains intact. Love has no place in our world.