Chapter One: Marked.

PROLOGUE

As the first rays of sunlight illuminated the courtyard, the midwife valiantly fought to keep the young woman alive, her determination unwavering in the face of the challenging delivery.

"Ma'am, you've got to dig deep and push with all your might!" the midwife pleaded with the nearly lifeless lady. Nina felt her strength ebbing away, but she knew she couldn't give up, not when her precious baby's life hung in the balance. Though the weight of despair threatened to consume her, she summoned every ounce of resilience she had left.

In the midst of the pain and exhaustion, memories flooded Nina's mind. She couldn't help but recall Cyprus, the man who had abandoned her, leaving her heartbroken and alone. His final words echoed in her ears, a bitter reminder that life rarely grants us our deepest desires. Yet, in that moment, as she fought for her child's future, she found a newfound strength within herself.

And then, with a primal scream that pierced the air, the baby girl made her grand entrance into the world, her cries filling the courtyard. The midwife cradled the newborn gently, her face glowing with joy. "You've done it, ma'am. It's a beautiful baby girl," she announced, her voice brimming with pride.

Nina managed a wistful smile, her weakened body trembling with both exhaustion and a profound sense of love. With tender hands, she caressed the baby's tiny forehead. "Blair... Let her be called Blair," she whispered, her voice barely audible. And in that bittersweet moment, Nina peacefully surrendered to the eternal slumber, knowing that her daughter would carry her legacy forward.

The dawn had brought both life and loss, weaving a tapestry of emotions that would forever shape the destiny of Blair and those who would come to know her.

CHAPTER ONE: MARKED

"Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our brightest blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks"

-Samuel Johnson.

"Wait...your neck...those marks...fangs...did I...?" Marcus asked the maid standing in front of his room as soon as he caught sight of her neck his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, you did! You bit me! As if forcing yourself on me wasn't enough. Despite my cries and pleas for you to stop, you...you..." Blair couldn't hold back her emotions any longer. Her eyes welled up with tears, and bitterness choked her throat.

"That's enough. It was just a mistake. Now get the hell out of my room," Marcus coldly stated.

Blair's jaw dropped, unable to believe his callous response.

Marcus stared at the stained sheets and the weeping maid before him.

"What the hell happened last night?" he muttered to himself.

He recalled losing control completely after she had served him tea. "Who knows if this was her plan all along... she must have spiked it... after all, who wouldn't want to share a bed with the Prince?" he thought to himself.

"That's enough. It was just a mistake. Now get the hell out of my room," he snapped at her.

"Obviously, I wasn't in my right mind, or I would never have slept with a mere servant. Who knows what you put in my tea last night to make me lose control like that?" he accused.

She was already in tears, but he didn't seem to care.

Blair couldn't believe he was saying all these things to her. "There must have been something about that tea last night, but it definitely wasn't my doing. No girl wants something like this to happen," she thought to herself.

She wanted to speak, but the words refused to come out. Her throat felt tight with bitterness, and tears blurred her vision.

Suddenly, he started moving closer to her. What was he doing? She kept stepping back until her back hit the door.

Their bodies pressed against each other, and she could feel her heart racing. He reached out and stroked her hair, then grabbed her neck slightly. "Not a word about what happened last night to anyone, or else you'll be in danger," he whispered in her ear. Blair had never felt so terrified in her life.

He finally released his grip on her neck and moved away. She coughed, trying to regain her composure despite the fact that he had only grabbed her slightly. "Softie," he muttered to himself amused by her weakness. She brushed her hair over her shoulders, and he muttered to himself again, "Nice hair." He had always liked it long and blonde.

Blair had never let her hair down before. As a maid, she wasn't allowed to do so.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Those captivating emerald eyes and the mark on her shoulders below her neck held his gaze.

Images flashed in his mind of the previous night, when he had sunk his fangs deep into her flesh. His tooth twitched as he stared at the mate mark. It was so tempting, but he quickly looked away.

"You heard me, and I never want to see you again," he said firmly.

She turned to leave the room, but he couldn't resist adding one more thing. "And those marks on your neck... you might want to hide them," he said quietly. She left without uttering a word.

Blair let out a sigh of relief.

"Why was I crying? What did I expect him to do? Marry me?" she muttered to herself as she made her way out of the room.

"And these marks... I have to hide them. The way he stared at them was so unsettling," she thought, her voice filled with unease.

Quietly, she made her way to the maids' quarters without attracting any attention. It was already dawn, so she quickly got ready and headed to the garden to start her chores.

Last night was actually intense. Let me take you back to the previous night and fill you in on all the drama that unfolded. Chief Silas, who happens to be Marcus' uncle and the king's younger brother, is one ambitious dude when it comes to the throne. He's got his eyes set on it and would stop at nothing to secure it for his son, Prince Zack.

So, what did Chief Silas do? Well, he hatched this wicked plan to poison Marcus' drink and ensure his demise. He didn't do it himself, though. He sent his personal bodyguard to carry out the dirty work. To make matters worse, he even threatened poor Madam Eunice, the head maid, to make sure she adds the poison to Marcus' regular evening tea.

Out of fear and under duress, Madam Eunice complied with Chief Silas' demands. Can you believe it? She added the mixture she was given unknowingly to Blair, one of the maids, and sent her to deliver the tea to Prince Marcus that very evening. It's like something out of a crazy movie!

Oh wow, things took an unexpected turn, didn't they? After Blair delivered the tea to Prince Marcus, she found him in a vulnerable state as he was mourning the anniversary of his late mother's passing. It was a really emotional day for him.

Blair, being the caring person she is, sat with Marcus for a while as he sipped on his tea. It's interesting to hear that Marcus, who is usually portrayed as arrogant and cold-hearted, showed a different side of himself in that moment. It just goes to show that people can surprise us with their hidden depths.

Now, here's where it gets even more intriguing. Remember that mixture Chief Silas wanted to use as poison? Well, it turns out it had some unintended effects on Marcus. Instead of harming him, it somehow caused him to mistakenly mark Blair as his mate. Talk about a plot twist!

"Blair... Blair!" Lyka called out, waving her hands in front of Blair's face. Startled, Blair dropped the pruning knife.

Lyka had been trying to get Blair's attention for a while now, but Blair was lost in her thoughts. Lyka was Princess Olivia's personal maid, known for being nosy and talkative.

"I've been calling your name for a while now, Blair. You seem tired... are you okay?" Lyka asked, concerned.

Blair forced a smile. "I'm fine... I just didn't get enough sleep, I guess," Blair replied, knowing she couldn't share what she was going through with Lyka.

"Are you sure? What's that scarf around your neck?" Lyka inquired, always trying to poke her nose into other people's business.

"Anyway, that's not important. The madam has sent for you," Lyka stated.

"Oh my God!" Blair exclaimed, realizing she had completely forgotten. The head maid had sent her to deliver the tea last night, and she must have been wondering why Blair hadn't returned.

"Oh no... what do I tell her now?" Blair whispered to herself, quickly leaving the garden to meet the head maid in the kitchen.

"Good morning, ma'am," Blair greeted Madam Eunice with a respectful bow. Madam Eunice, an older woman in her sixties, turned around with a serious expression.

Blair noticed Madam Eunice's neatly packed gray hair in a bun, which accentuated her facial features. Her caramel skin, slightly wrinkled face, pointed nose, and a mole just above her lips.

"Why didn't I hear from you last night?" Madam Eunice asked, her tone stern.

"Ma'am..."

"Did you serve the prince the tea I gave you last night?"

"Yes, I did, ma'am."

"Alright, that's fine. Go check on him this morning."

"Check on him? How, ma'am?"

"Oh, I mean it's your turn to clean his room. Go do that now."

"But, ma'am..."

"No 'buts,' Blair. Do as you're told!"