Chapter 1
Jinx Rainbite, the adopted prince of the Fairy Kingdom, was quite the wild card.
With his happy-go-lucky exterior, mischievous grin and love for a good prank, Jinx was rarely predictable. He enjoyed making people laugh, especially when he could get away with a little trouble. However, beneath his cheerful personality lay a colder, more distant side, one that emerged whenever he found himself surrounded by strangers.
There was also a secret buried deep within his bloodline. A heritage so extraordinary that, if revealed, it could shatter everything the world believed to be true.
For now, however, Jinx had more immediate concerns.
Standing before his bedroom mirror, he adjusted the collar of his favourite suit. The black fabric fitted him perfectly, decorated with delicate gold embroidery that shimmered in the morning light. He smoothed his hair and examined his reflection.
Not bad.
He wondered why he had been asked to dress so formally, but knowing his parents, he suspected they had something planned.
A knock never came.
His bedroom doors swung open, revealing the King and Queen of the Fairy Kingdom.
Jinx turned towards them, raising an eyebrow.
“Mother. Father. To what do I owe this lovely surprise?”
His father, the king, folded his hands behind his back. His expression was unusually stern.
“We have something important to discuss with you, boy.”
Jinx’s smile faltered.
Oh, wonderful. This couldn’t possibly be good.
“You are arranged to get married, boy,” the king announced bluntly.
Silence.
Jinx blinked.
Once.
Twice.
“What?”
“Your betrothal has been arranged with the Crown Imperial Princess of the Vampire Empire,” his mother explained, attempting to sound reassuring.
Jinx stared at his parents as though they had just announced the end of the world.
“You’re joking.”
Neither of them laughed.
His expression twisted into disbelief, quickly followed by irritation.
“You cannot be serious.”
“This marriage is important for the relationship between our kingdoms,” the king replied. “You will understand when you’re older.”
“I’m twenty-one, Father!”
“And you will behave like a prince.”
Jinx let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh.
“Oh, absolutely splendid. I’m going to marry a complete stranger because the royal family says so. How romantic.”
Before either parent could respond, he stormed towards the door.
“Jinx, we are not finished discussing this!”
“Well, I am!”
He slammed the door behind him.
For a moment, the royal couple stood in silence.
Meanwhile, Jinx marched down the corridor, his wings twitching with agitation.
An arranged marriage.
To a vampire princess.
A stranger.
He could already imagine the endless formal dinners, suffocating royal expectations and painfully dull conversations.
Whatever this princess was like, Jinx was certain of one thing.
He was going to hate her.
And if the universe had any sense of humour, she would probably hate him, too.
Little did he know just how right he would be.
