Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 49: Rebellious tigress

Chapter 49: Rebellious tigress

Wearing a beige dress glimmering with stones that didn’t fail to show her curves, Lauren graced the Owens mansion with her face hidden under an elegant white mask.

But even with the mask hiding her beautiful face, her striking sapphire blue eyes were too beguiling to fail to catch a man’s attention.

Lord Owens loved throwing parties several times a year to celebrate the prosperity of his business. Although gambling houses weren’t allowed in the central town in other lands, in Evardin, the King allowed it since Lord Owens was smart enough to offer the royal family a bigger tax.

But some people in the administration weren’t pleased by it, especially the council chief, and Lord Owens was aware of it. So, to avoid the hostility of the high-ranked officials, the lord never dared sent invitations to them and only invited those wealthy families he was acquainted with.

"Do you want to dance, milady?"

Holding a glass of refreshment near the table of desserts while looking for Jasper Owens, a man went to ask Lauren for a dance and she didn’t refuse. If she would just stand in a corner like a wallflower, she wouldn’t catch Jasper’s attention and she didn’t go here to put her efforts in vain.

"I’m sure I have never seen you in Lord Owens’ balls and soirees before. May I know which family you are from?" the man asked in a gentle tone, his sharp set of fangs showing when he spoke, letting Lauren know that he was a vampire.

Even when vampires looked like humans when their eyes weren’t crimson, their teeth structure was different compared to humans and mages. Their fangs looked more prominent and sharper, which allowed Lauren to determine if she was dealing with a vampire or not. After all, it was vampires one should be most cautious in dealing with.

"I don’t live here. I’m just a visiting relative," Lauren lied smoothly.

Jasper Owens who was up on the balcony drinking wine with a friend, noticed the woman wearing a sapphire necklace and white mask. Her auburn hair was done in a complicated updo, and with the seductive dress she wore, most of her creamy shoulders were exposed, and her thin waist and voluptuous bosoms were perfectly shaped by her dress. The sight of it was enough for Jasper to feel the heat of desire.

Although Lauren had never met Jasper met before, she asked Darius to draw a full sketch of the man, so when Jasper stood before her and laid his hand, she immediately recognized his build. She also took note of the scar on his neck which Darius told her about.

"Allow me to dance with you, milady."

Taking Lauren to the dancefloor, Jasper smiled and his eyes flickered to red for a second, proof of his vampire ancestry.

"May I know this beautiful lady’s name?" he asked, his eyes all over Lauren’s face, wondering if he had seen her before. He could only count on his fingers the people he met who had rich blue eyes and hers happened to be much more captivating.

"It is Arianne, sire."

"I’m Jasper," he introduced and Lauren knew that it was really him.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Jasper, or is it Lord Jasper?"

The question brought a smirk to the vampire’s face.

"Unfortunately, I’m not a lord but I’m a son of one. How long have you been living in Evardin? I don’t think we have met before."

"I’m visiting my aunt’s family. I live in Acheron."

When Lauren turned and Jasper caught her back, she noticed the vampire’s necklace looked familiar. She couldn’t fully see its chain because of his inner shirt’s collar, but she could clearly see the gold locket with a black gemstone. The intricate design of the locket was similar to that one Queen Thalia usually wore. They looked very identical for Lauren to be mistaken.

But why did Jasper have the same necklace as the Queen? She remembered how the Queen boasted that she got her necklace customized in the town’s most well-known jewelry shop.

Perhaps was the Queen having an affair with Jasper Owens?

Lauren stared at the man holding her with admiration and lust in his eyes. Although he looked to be a man in his twenties, he could be older than he looked as vampires aged slower than humans but he couldn’t be more than thirty years old. And if the Queen was his lover, why was he here dancing with different women?

No, there was something wrong in here.

"Your necklace’s locket looks unique. Pardon me for being nosy but I am fond of jewelry. May I ask where did you have it customized?" Lauren asked with a sweet smile.

"Ah, this..." Jasper chuckled. "This is a gift from a special woman."

How intriguing.

"A special woman... is this lady the lucky one who holds your heart?" Lauren said with a tone that suggested subtle disappointment so Jasper would think she was curious because she had taken interest in him.

Jasper shook his head, smirking. "No, Arianne. You misunderstood it. She is a family, not my lover."

A family? But Darius just reported this morning that the Queen had no familial ties with the Owens.

Lauren grew confused.

"Let’s stop talking about my necklace, why don’t we talk about you? What does your family do?" Judging the woman’s expensive dress and jewelry adoring her, Jasper believed she must be from a wealthy mage or human family. He didn’t see vampire fangs so she thought she couldn’t be one of his kind.

"My father works in the court."

"I see, so he is a minister in Acheron."

Their dance ended and Jasper was about to invite Lauren for a walk in the garden and do the wicked thoughts occupying his mind while they were dancing when suddenly, someone pulled the woman away from him.

Lauren was taken aback when a strong arm curled to her waist and pulled her from Jasper. Her back hit an ironclad body and when she smelled a familiar manly scent, it didn’t take her a second to guess who was holding her.

"Looks like the rebellious tigress is having fun while her master is not around."