Darrien; 

I walked down the stairs as the maids bowed their heads in respect of their Lord. After my father's death, I took over as Lord and I have been ruling ever since. It had not been an easy reign so far, seeing as how the whole kingdom as the rogue prince who had betrayed his father, their Lord. 

Lately, I had been facing trouble from my council. They were demanding that I get married and give them a queen as soon as possible so as to give the kingdom a heir and secure the throne. 

I walked down the passage with the intention of going into my garden for a morning walk.

As I was about to head for the garden entrance, a maiden passed me. I had never seen her before, so she was clearly new. I had very few maidens in the palace and I knew each of them by name. They deserved that at least, acknowledgement of their names. This particular maiden was very beautiful. And I couldn't help the attraction I felt towards her.

"What is your name?" I asked her and I almost laughed at how her cheeks turned a bright red. 

She looked pure, and innocent but she was clearly not immune to my charms, after all, I was an attractive male, and the title and wealth was an added advantage.

"Anya," she said and my smile faded immediately. 

Was she trying to mock me! How dare she try to mock me. Who had put her up to this? I knew there was no way in hell Luke would have hired someone named Anya. He knew how I felt about that name. The memories it brought back. 

I grabbed her by her neck and growled at her squirming figure. 

"How dare you! How dare you remind me about her!" I bellowed as my grip on her throat tightened. 

"Forgive me... I don't... I didn't mean to.." she said in between gasps. 

"Who put you up to this?" I asked her as she continued to squirm under my grasp that seemed to tighten by the minute. 

"No... no one, my Lord." she weakly forced out as tears began to roll down her cheeks. 

I looked at her squirming figure and her reddening face as she fought for her next breathe. This girl was innocent.

I released her slowly, embarrassment washing over me. What had I done? 

Did I have so little control over my emotions to the point where the mere mention of Anya's name turned me into an animal?

I walked the girl who was now gasping for air on the floor and knelt down trying to carry her, but she flinched away from my touch almost immediately. Shame washed over me.

"So your name really is Anya?" I asked her and she nodded her head silently, her eyes avoiding mine, for obvious reasons. 

"Forgive me... I... I don't know what came over me. I will compensate you for all the work you have done in this palace, however, your services are no longer required here." I whispered. 

She simply nodded as she stood up, bowed her head and ran away. I had expected her to beg for her job or something of that nature, but I guess she also couldn't wait to leave the palace. I couldn't blame her, who would want to work for a maniac.

I walked back to my room, suddenly feeling like the piece of shit that I was. I would have to do something to make it up to the young maiden. I will pay her so handsomely and I will make sure she never lack until she gets married. That is the least I could do. I sighed in irritation as I walked into my room, and as if my day wasn't shitty enough as it was, someone just had to make it worse.

"I have been waiting for your call" the voice rang out. I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. 

"Who gave you permission to enter my room, Dalia?" I asked still not turning around to face her. 

"Do I need to knock now or ask for permission?" She asked and I almost growled at her in frustration. 

"You've always been required to knock, you're just very disrespectful and ill mannered" I said, this time taking time to take in her appearance.

The little seductress was clad in the tightest dress ever. I couldn't help myself, I was a man after all. A man who had woken up with an early morning boner, and besides, I'm sure this was what she had in mind when she had dressed like this before coming here. 

"You've never complained before" she said her eyes twinkling with mischieve as she ran her hands up and down her body, her fingers fiddling with the zipper that started just around her chest and ended mid-thigh, where the dress ended.

In no time at all, I had her pinned against the wall and my lips were on hers in a hurried kiss. I held the dress just by neckline and I ripped it off of her, the zipper definitely made it easier. I stopped the kiss and groaned when I saw that she was naked underneath. 

"You could've called me if you knew you'd missed me so badly," she said breathlessly. 

I only wished for one thing. That she would shut up and let me finish what I started, well, rather what she started because I was sure as hell that she had come dressed like that for a reason. 

"My father has been asking about the wedding preparations." She said and the sexual heat that was tormenting my body suddenly felt like a cold bucket of water being poured all over my body. My cock instantly deflated.

Way to cure the morning woodsey, right.

I pulled away from her and she looked at me with a frown. 

"Dalia, I have told you times without number to stop this. How can you be talking about a wedding? We are not engaged, hell, we aren't even in a relationship!" 

Her face instantly grew hot and I guess she completely forgot the fact that she was still naked as she began waving her hands around like a maniac as she screamed at me her boobs bouncing all over the place.

"What the fuck do you mean we aren't in a relationship?" 

"I mean exactly that," I replied curtly before sighing and proceeded, “Look Dalia I..." I stopped short as there was a loud pounding on my door. 

"What is it?" 

"Forgive me, my Lord, but your presence is required in the throne room," the voice said. 

I frowned slightly. I was quite sure that I was not expecting anyone today. 

"Why?" I asked. 

"One of the guards outside caught an intruder, so we just suspected that she was a spy from our enemies. She says she needs to speak with you. She..." 

"I'll be right there," I growled before he could finish. 

"Hey, but we are not done talking!" Dalia shrieked as I was about to walk out. 

"My kingdom comes first. I will send a maid with a new dress for you. Leave immediately after. We're done here." I said and walked out of the room and headed to the throne room. I was curious as to what the said girl wanted. Spies definitely never asked to see the Lord when they were caught.

I walked into the throne room and everyone bowed their heads in respect, but I paid very little attention to them. My eyes were glued on her. I could not see her face clearly because a beautiful feisty red mane of hair hindered my view.

I sat down on my throne and looked at her. She stood in front of me with one guard holding her with her hands behind her back. 

"You're human?" I asked as I inhaled her scent and realized that was probably why only one guard was by her side. She was weak in comparison to them. It's either she was a vampire concealing her scent, or she was another species I had never encountered before.

"Yes, my Lord," she answered with her head still bowed down. 

Human then.

But what would I human be doing in a vampire kingdom? Isn't that a death wish?

I was yet to see her face. But I was already enchanted by the red mops of hair that covered her head. It was such a vibrant color and I wondered how her face would look. I felt a strong pull towards her, a very strong pull. One I did not understand, and I definitely did not wish to understand it.

"Release her," I said to the guard and he immediately released her hands and stepped away from her.

"You asked to see me?" I asked her. 

"Yes, my Lord," she answered again and her eyes were still on the floor. 

"Well speak," I said leaning back on my throne, wondering what it was exactly she had to say. 

She lifted her eyes up and looked around the room to the guards and my second in command, Luke, who was in the room with me. Her eyes, God her eyes! Though she seemed nervous as she fidgeted, she remained silent. 

"I will only speak with you..." she paused and hesitated slightly. 

"I will only speak to you in private," she said finally but her voice shook as she said it. 

Luke immediately stood up to protest, but I held up my hand to stop him. 

"Darrien, you can't seriously be considering her request. We don't even know who she is or why she is here" 

I looked at her and this time, her green orbs stared right back at me. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green that seemed to somehow compliment her flowing red hair. She was freaking beautiful. Although her face was bruised, and her lip was busted. 

"Leave us" I demanded.

.