Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith - Chapter 211: Final hurdle

Rudel Arses, the first born of one of the ‘Three Lords’ of the Courtois Kingdom, is from a corrupted family, but at 5 years old, he saw a dragon in the sky and his dark future as a villain changed. He was considered an idiot, but was that true? How would his effort to become a dragoon change the kingdom?

Warning{Mature Content}Elaine has spent her life being the responsible one. The one who steps in when things are about to fall apart. So when her grandfather arranges a marriage for her younger cousin Ivy to Zane Whitmore a billionaire CEO with a dangerous reputation Elaine does what she has always done. She takes the burden on herself.What begins as a lie meant to protect Ivy quickly turns into a contract Elaine never meant to sign.Zane Whitmore is cold, controlled, and ruthless in both business and life. He doesn’t believe in love, only leverage. When he meets Elaine, he recognizes something he rarely encounters: a woman willing to stand her ground even when she’s afraid. Their agreement is simple. A marriage on paper. Mutual benefit. No emotions involved.As they are pulled deeper into each other’s lives, secrets begin to surface old betrayals, family conflicts, and a past that ties Zane to Elaine’s brother in ways no one is willing to talk about. The lines between obligation and desire blur, and what started as a sacrifice turns into something neither of them can control.In a world where power dictates everything and trust comes at a cost, Elaine must decide if she’s willing to gamble her heart on a man who could destroy her.A story of contract marriage, buried history, and a love born out of defiance rather than choice.(Mature content)Zane’s lips crush to mine, hungrily tasting my mouth and sucking my tongue into his. He moves lower, nipping at my neck, then my boobs, enveloping his lips around a pink nipple.I sigh in pleasure, my hands sliding into his hair and gripping hard as he bites down and then slips his mouth lower.And lower……..My eyes fly open as he shoves my dress up to my waist and pulls my panties to the side. Suddenly, his mouth dives between my thighs, and when I feel his tongue drag up my slit, it’s like an electrical shock and my eyes roll back behind my head.Holy! FUCK!!.

[SLOW BURN ROMANCE. RATED 18: NO RAPE]What if the sort of love you'd wanted and desired, only but a man incapable of love could give it to you–a man who has not the slightest of an idea what the word “Love” meant?.....Vampires coexisted with humans for centuries without either side hunting or killing the other due to a peace treaty. They didn’t feed on human blood for so long either, but that changes when the first vampire auction is held.Six human slaves were sold, and among them included Avelina, a twenty-six-year-old woman.Avelina is sold to an infamous Vampire prince, Draven Delgaard, rumored to have committed heinous acts even amongst his kind.She fears for her life upon their first encounter, but to her utmost bewilderment, Draven Delgaard makes a deal with her.He sought the inheritance of the royal family, but to be qualified, he needed a wife. Since his kinds weren’t available due to his reputation, Avelina was one of the few options left.In exchange for her freedom, she will assist him in obtaining the inheritance. But this royal inheritance can only be acquired through the style of a chess game with other royal opponents. A game of strategy and survival.Should she succeed, her freedom shall be regained and it would be a win-win for both her and Draven. However, she soon realizes that success might come at a very heavy cost.Will Avelina and Draven be able to win the game of chess? Will they secure her freedom and inheritance, or will they fall victim to the dangerous machinations of the royal family?

“As if I’d marry an ugly woman like you!”