The Alpha's Bride - Chapter 8 - Talia

CONTENT WARNING:/This novel contains mature themes, explicit sexual content, strong language, and adult situations. Reader discretion is advised./---She ran from the devil who raised her…And married the one who wore a crown.After her parents’ tragic death, Lydia Andreyevna’s life became a nightmare. Stripped of her name, inheritance, and freedom by her uncle—Lord Alexander—she was treated like property and promised to a Count four times her age.Desperate to escape, she fled into the cold night… and straight into blood.A stranger. Wounded. Beautiful. Terrifying.She should’ve left him.But she didn’t.She touched him once—and fate branded her forever.Her uncle caught her the next morning. Her escape failed. But when she begged Queen Olga for protection, the Queen offered her a deadly bargain:Marry the masked Grand Duke of Zolotaria.The king’s hunting dog. The butcher of the East. The devil in a crown.The man feared by kings.The heir to the throne.The same man she once saved.Ivan Romanov.They say he bathes in blood. That he kills without blinking. That he conquered kingdoms with a smile behind a mask. That no one sees his face—and lives.Some call him the devil. Others call him Death’s favorite son.But behind the mask is the same man she found dying in the dark.The same voice that haunted her dreams.The same hands she once held.Now, he’s her husband.Her jailer.Her obsession.She doesn’t know if she’s his prisoner, or his weakness.Cold and untouchable, Ivan doesn’t share his bed. Doesn’t share his secrets. But she sees it—the hunger in his eyes. The pain in his silence. The way he looks at her like she’s the only thing keeping his demons at bay.She should fear him.She should hate him.But the moment she dares to take off his mask… it’s already too late.Because Ivan wants her—her fire, her body, her heart.And in his world, what he wants, he keeps.Even if it means burning down the kingdom.She thought she was running from hell.She ended up in his bed.And the most dangerous thing of all?She doesn’t want to leave.

In her past life, Lu Zhaozhao placed her trust in the wrong people, inadvertently causing the death of the man who deeply loved her.Reborn on the first day she met him, Lu Zhaozhao decisively dragged Song Si Nian to register their marriage. As she busied herself with dealing retribution and slapping faces, she had only one principle regarding her husband, who suffered from emotional expression disorder: to love him.What Lu Zhaozhao did not know was that she was Song Si Nian's only light. His illness made him paranoid and obsessive, yet he dared not reveal his true self to her.But the truth cannot remain hidden forever. When everything about him was laid bare before her, Song Si Nian held her tightly, tears reddening his eyes, and with a timid voice asked while buried in her neck, “Zhaozhao, do you not want me anymore?”

He was a wealthy and mysterious financial backer who had appeared before her when she needed money the most. After the courtship, she took the money and left.

'Hmmmm...so I just have to witness the skill being used to copy it...then I can evolve this skill ten times it's initial power?' Nox was skeptical as he looked at the screen flickering on his retina.I mean, how was something so insane even possible? Copying a skill itself was very bad-assed, and you mean to say he could evolved the copied Skill ten times it's initial power, exponentially surpassing the original owner?Why would the gods let such broken talent even exist?'Well it's just one way to find out...'Luckily just then, he saw two powerfull beings fighting mid air. Their fight sent shockwaves billowing in all directions, causing Nox to take a couple of Steps back.At that moment, he activated his talent...[Mimicry activated!][Target: Cosmic Entity Arkea - Successfully copied Skill “Gravity Manipulation”!][Description: Gravity Manipulation Creates a localized gravity field, slowing enemies within a 5-meter radius by 20% for 5 seconds.][Upgrading Gravity Manipulation 10x!][Ding! You have Awaken Gravitational Singularity!][Description: Gravitational Singularity Creates a singularity that pulls in enemies within a 20-meter radius, dealing 5,000 damage and stunning them for 5 seconds. Allies within the area gain a 30% damage boost for 10 seconds.][Do you wish to keep this skill or bestow it to your Pet?]“No fucking way!” Nox exclaimed in shock. “I-its real!”