The Beauty's Hidden Beast

3rd person POV
The party took place at a large estate complex, rested in the heart of a secluded island.
The hall was lit with dim lights, and a soft melody played in the background as a crowd of well-dressed people mingled and chatted.
The focus was on an impressive man with a sinfully attractive face and a young woman who looked like an angel. The man's arm was wrapped around her waist. His gaze held a warning: Any attempt to get near his beloved would be met with hostility.
Vampires could live for quite a long time, and they often had to change their identities to hide among humans. Mr. Lestat, for example, would attend school, blend into human society, start an enterprise or two, and then accept invitations to private gatherings hosted by human elites.
Mr. Lestat used to be a vicious man who had done many terrible things. Mary, his wife, used to see him as the bad guy who slept around and treated humans like food, looked down on their race, and killed anyone who displeased him. He almost lost her to another man. That's when he realized how much he loved her and how far he would go to keep her.
Lucius was the opposite of him. A refined gentleman, kind, and generous. He never treated humans like an inferior species. He went out of his way to protect Mary and was always there for her when she needed a shoulder to cry on or a friendly ear. It was hard to believe he was a Sinclair.
Behind the public eye, the Sinclairs were the greediest bloodline of Vampires, interested only in obtaining wealth and power. War was their most profitable business, and they did their best to fuel conflicts and have others invest in weapons and military hardware.
It was impossible to track their exact inventory. They would take advantage of the chaos to launder money and smuggle goods.
In other words, the Sinclairs were unafraid to spill blood to obtain their desires. They were greedy and ruthless and wouldn't hesitate to hurt the innocent.
Many thought Lucius was just a harmless heir with no ambition, greed, or desire to lead his clan or expand his influence. Whenever he represented the family, it would seem like he was doing it out of duty.
But looks could be deceiving. Mr. Lestat learned it when he tried to force the other into a corner. He should have known better than to lower his guard around a Sinclair.
He suspected that Lucius used Mary as a catalyst to start a conflict among the most influential families, the key to a war that led to a world crisis. The Sinclairs benefited the most from it after all. They continued to hoard resources and supplies while everyone was busy fighting each other.
But as fast as they rose, as quickly they fell. Their foundation was built on a weak base and was destined to collapse. Instead of claiming dominance as the leading clan, their wealth and influence dwindled with those of the rest.
Their crimes attracted waves of enemies and rivals, and theft was the only explanation for their wealth's disappearance (but was it?).
"Lucius?" Mary widened her eyes in surprise, recognizing a familiar figure who entered the hall with another person by his side. The woman was wearing a mask, so she couldn't see her face, but what caught her attention was the leash in her hand, connected to the collar around another girl's neck.
The purple-haired girl walked before the pair, her eyes darting around the grand hall in wonder and amazement.
Mary's eyes were drawn to her furry ears and outfit. It was a revealing two-piece set, leaving very little to the imagination. The skirt clung tightly to her curves, and the low-cut top showed her cleavage.
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"Mr. Sinclair," the host came to welcome Romeo, his voice trying to hide his surprise. He glanced at the woman, who was still holding a leash in her hand, and couldn't help but shudder at the sight of a girl covered in bruises, wearing a collar, "And..."
"Kitty," the woman called out, and the girl flinched, startled by the sound. "She is hungry," she handed the leash to the host, whispering, "Be a dear and serve her."
The host gulped. His face paled as if he had been told he had been sentenced to death, and he forced himself to nod, taking the leash from her. "Y-Yes."
"Kitty," the woman called the girl again, "I don't trust these people's taste in food. Go pick the best dishes for me."
Rosa's stomach growled in response and gestured to the host as if saying: What are you waiting for? Lead the way!
The Host could only grit his teeth and force a smile, "Please, follow me."
The elites were entitled to do as they pleased, and offending them wasn't worth his life.
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The moment Rosa took her first step, the entire hall fell into a dead silence, their gazes following her.
They could tell from her movements, mannerisms, and attitude that she wasn't used to being a slave. The way she held her head high and looked down on the crowd with disdain was a sign. She was proud, arrogant, and haughty.
It was interesting to see her disregard all the powerful men who showed interest in her and focus on the food. She was used to having people serve her, and she was used to having men worship the ground she walked on.
"I wonder if she will be put up for auction," a man wondered, watching the girl eating the food as if her life depended on it. She was using her bare hands, ignoring the knife and fork. Her appetite was almost animalistic, and it ignited a new kink in him.
Another licked his lips, "I'm sure she'll sell for a high price."
They paid no attention to the masked woman beside Mr. Sinclair. She looked more like his bodyguard than an escort, and wasn't the kind of person they wanted to be involved with.
Rosa listened to the people's conversation while piling the tastiest food on the plate for Yaya. How did people already assume that she was Romeo's female? He barely acknowledged her existence, let alone showed her the affection and devotion, a female should receive.
This strange place had such ugly males, but the females that accompanied them? The Tiger Queen would pale in comparison to their beauty. Even picking up a glass seemed like a graceful dance.
Yet, some males were still unsatisfied with the females by their side, their hungry gazes betraying their desire for Rosa. She found it disgusting, but it also filled her with a dark sense of satisfaction. The fact that not even the most stunning females could measure up to her filled her with a dark thrill.
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Mary's eyes wandered toward the person by Lucius' side. After what happened between them, he always showed up alone, so seeing him with someone else was... odd.
He would usually spot her immediately and approach her, greeting her with a soft, loving smile. This time, he didn't even seem to notice her. He was busy chatting with the masked female happily while looking at the hungry girl, who was still devouring the food.
Did he save the purple-haired girl? Did he find her on his journey and take her under his wing? Mary couldn't help but smile. He was such a softy, always helping those in need.
"I can't believe it," she huffed, her eyes brimming with happy tears, "How could he not tell me he was seeing someone? And he calls himself my friend? Oh, I can't wait to scold him!"
Mr. Lestat held her by the wrist, not letting her take another step, "Stay away from him, Mary."
"Why?" she tilted her head with a pout.
"Just stay away," he pulled her back into his arms, and his grip tightened. Time caused Sinclair's atrocities to fade into the background, but that didn't mean his memory had grown dull. He almost lost everything because of them.
He caught Lucius' smile directed in his direction. It was the same smile. That sweet, pleasant, innocent smile, which hid the sinister truth: yes, I took away everything except your woman, and yes, I could've taken her away too, but I'm too good of a man to do that.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Mary's hand rested on her husband's cheek, making him look down at her, "I'm yours, remember? Only yours. Forever. He could never take me away from you. He knows better than that. You have nothing to fear. I'll show you. Come, let's say hi and clear the air between us. You two can't remain hostile forever." She smiled brightly and grabbed his hand, "Let's go."
The war had ended long ago, and her husband had worked hard to reach his former glory. He was now the leader of a powerful faction and one of the most influential vampires, yet he was still so insecure about her relationship with Lucius.
"Mr. Lestat, how nice to see you again," Romeo extended his hand, greeting the other man with a gesture of peace.
Part of Mr. Lestat wanted to break the man's neck, and the other wanted to crush him into dust. "Mr. Sinclair," he nodded, shaking the man's hand hard, neither willing to yield.
Mary had to step in, or they would be at each other's throat, "Lucius, I didn't expect you to bring a companion."
They both let go and turned toward Mary, the tension easing.
"Mary, you look stunning as always," Lucius complimented her with a polite smile, "Yes, let me introduce you to─" he turned around and realized that the woman by his side had disappeared, "My wife..." His mouth twitched when he saw his Princess walking away, covering her mouth as if yawning in boredom, "Excuse me."
Mary froze.
Wife?
What did he say?
His wife?
The man, who was too good, too noble, and too saintly to have a mate, had a wife?
She blinked, and Lucius was gone.
Mr. Lestat was equally speechless.
Their attention was drawn to the man chasing after the masked female. The tall woman was heading toward the buffet, showing no interest in accompanying him or greeting anyone else. Cold and rude. It was hard to believe Lucius would choose someone like her as his lifetime partner.
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Romeo quickly caught up to Yaya.
"You can't just leave, Princess," he whispered, grabbing her wrist. He succeeded, which wasn't good because she didn't slow down, and he had to jog beside her to avoid being dragged across the floor.
She faked a yawn again, "I can, and I did."
"..." Romeo held back his urge to laugh. She was so adorable.
Yaya had no desire to watch Romeo manipulate his relationship with Mary to gain favor with Lestat, or see him use that alliance as just another rung to climb higher in society and amass even more wealth.
That's how CEE raised him: to see other people's weaknesses and exploit them for the sake of the Empire. His spaceship was an automated factory supplying the Imperial Army. Romeo was responsible for providing everything they needed─from food to weapons─and for that, he needed a constant flow of resources, money, and connections…from more than one world.
"It's a bad habit I can't seem to get rid of," he said, squeezing her wrist. "I'm sorry."
"I have a habit too," she responded, her gaze landing on their hands, "Whenever someone tries to keep me from doing something, I do it anyway."
He smiled, "You're not afraid?"
"Should I be?"
"Maybe?" he chuckled.
"You trust my way of doing things, and I trust yours. Now, go and play the nice guy, and let me have some fun."
They passed by the dancefloor, and he took the opportunity to pull her for a hug, whispering in her ear, "Do I get to punish you? For being a naughty girl and leaving your husband with his ex?"
She wrapped her arm around his waist, her hands wandering south, causing his stomach to clench and butterflies dance. His eyes widened when she pulled a condom out of his back pants pocket.
She played with it between her fingers before she tucked it into her chest pocket, "If you're a good boy, maybe I'll let you try."
He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. It was a bit embarrassing but also arousing. He grabbed her naughty hand and placed it on his cheek, pressing it tightly against his skin, "Cause as much trouble as you want. I'll handle the aftermath, just like the old days," he picked the condom out of her pocket and slid it into his, "And this…better stay safe with me."
"Protect it with your life, then," she paused, "For the boys."
He laughed, his deep voice drawing the eyes of nearby guests. "Will do," he murmured, pulling her even closer. "I'm not ready to let you go," he whispered, his arms tightening, "What am I going to do without you?"
"Survive," she shrugged, and he laughed harder, the sound causing everyone to look their way.
"Go," he smiled, "Before I lose my mind, and do something stupid."
"Didn't I just say something about doing the opposite of what others want?"
"Yes, clear as day," he replied as if accepting his fate, "I'm ready. Give me your best shot, Princess."
She patted his cheek before she left, shaking her head at his foolishness, her mask concealing the grin beneath it.
Romeo tried to rub away the idiotic grin off his face. His cheeks were starting to hurt from all the laughing. But it was impossible not to smile, when his heart was fluttering like crazy.
She was an absolute powerhouse, and people parted ways for her without her even having to slow down. They didn't want to be on her wrong side or end up being used as her rug.
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The few women who eyed Mr. Sinclair retreated their gazes. That man didn't bother to hide how smitten he was. Whoever the masked woman was, he was deeply, madly, head over heels in love with her.
The only one who didn't back away was Mary, "So, you found yourself a lady, huh? She looks pretty tough. Are you going to introduce her to me?"
"Not today," Romeo shook his head.
"Why?"
"I'm not ready to share her."
"...." Mary was silent momentarily, "...Does she know about me? Us?"
"Yes."
"And...?"
"You are a part of my past, and she is the future. You're not going to interfere with that, are you?"
"Me?" Mary pointed at herself, offended, "What do you think of me? A crazy woman who is going to ruin a happy couple?"
"Well, I've seen you do crazy things for love," he teased.
"Hey!" she hit his shoulder, her lips curling into a smile. She missed this─the easygoing atmosphere between them, the teasing, and the jokes.
He glanced at the shoulder, where she had hit him, "Don't do that."
"Or what?" she tilted her head, her tone provocative, "What are you going to do, mister bigshot?"
"I will…" He pointed his pointer at her forehead like a gun, and pressed his thumb on the imaginary trigger, "Bang─"
Mary stumbled back, holding her forehead as Mr. Lestat caught her. Lucius really dared to push her down! Her eyes narrowed at him playfully, and she was about to complain, but stopped, noticing the change in her husband's expression.
Lucius tried to smooth things over with her husband, raising both his hands playfully, "You know I would never do that, right?"
Mary didn't know what had possessed her to turn Lucius down before. After all, he was the best lover a woman could ask for. She blamed it on her younger self, her hormones and her unconditional love for Lestat.
Someone, however, had a different opinion.
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Romeo's POV
Mary didn't reject me because she wasn't attracted to me, but because I wouldn't leave even if she hurt me. I loved her so much that I would stay by her side, even if I were just a second choice.
But Lestat wouldn't. He would leave. And Mary couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
Maybe if I played a little harder to get, I would have had a chance with her.
Maybe if I had been more aggressive, I would have had her.
But the reality was, I didn't.
If that's what love is, then I don't want it.
It was good till it lasted — I couldn't drown one overwhelming emotion with another forever. That's why I didn't hesitate to give her my blessing and returned to my old ways.
I cloaked my sins in colors, but all I had was red, a dark, thick, suffocating red.
The blood of my enemies was red, so I started painting over it with the red hues of love.
My hands were stained with the blood of the innocent, so I bathed in the burning hues of pleasure, hoping the warmth would wash it all away.
The more death I caused, the less I cared. The more I loved, the more I felt empty. I became numb to my actions and feelings, my humanity withering away.
…until a dragon's heart replaced my own.
Fate was a cruel joke, a vicious, twisted, sadistic game.
'Princess,' the word rang in my ears like a playful irony. I saw myself in her, I could relate to her, and it was terrifying. She was the answer I didn't want, the one I never asked for.
Out of all people in the universe, it had to be his daughter.
Her existence was the biggest 'fuck you' from fate, the final blow to my fragile human side.
She began to swim in my sea of crimson as if she owned it, a little black dot against thousands of red drops, each belonging to a different person. Her feet never touched the bottom, and her head never went under.
And how strange it was to be haunted by someone who was still alive,
when the dead used to be my only company.
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
I hope this chapter didn't bore you too much. I'm a sucker for true gentlemen like Romeo, who are ones by choice. 🥹
May all the good second male leads find their happiness with the right one for them, so they can be the main male lead they were always meant to be. Amen. 🙏🏻
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