Zoe Harper, an average girl from the kingdom's outskirts finds herself in the centre of attention when she is selected to wed Crown Prince Alaric in an attempt to bring the divided country together. Alaric's exiled twin brother Rowan, however, interrupts her wedding by claiming she was betrothed to him first. Being thrust into the middle of a perilous power battle, Zoe learns that both princes have personal objectives and that her choice will determine the future of the country. Zoe has to decide between the two princes as loyalty, love, and treachery converge-before the country falls into anarchy.
The peaceful town of Eldermoor was bathed in golden rays as the morning sun hung low in the sky. Twenty-year-old Zoe Harper was occupied at the orphanage, her heart full of hopes. Although she hardly ever recognised it in herself, she was a lady of quiet strength. She was burdened with obligations that many people her age could hardly fathom. A face that was not traditionally attractive but had a warmth that attracted people was framed by her silky brown locks. Her golden-flecked hazel eyes frequently glistened with compassion, particularly when she was among the kids she looked after.
Her slender body suggested the endless energy she put into her daily chores, and despite her life's struggles, she moved with a natural grace.
Wearing a plain cotton dress that was patched here and there but immaculately clean, Zoe had a quiet elegance about her. She braided the hair of tiny Evie, one of the many orphans she had taken in, with gentle movements from her calloused hands from years of hard work. Even the most restless people were soothed by Zoe's voice, which was authoritative but gentle. Despite the harshness of Eldermoor life, Zoe refused to let it define her. Even the slightest things brought her joy, like a child's laughing, the aroma of wildflowers on the wind, or the brilliant colours of the morning sun as it spread across the fields.
But there were scars on her heart. Zoe was brought up by the local matron, who passed away a few years back, after she lost her parents when she was very young. By assuming the responsibility of running the orphanage alone, Zoe dedicated her life to assisting the children who, similar to her, had no other place to turn. Beneath her gentle grin, though, was a silent longing for something more-a life outside of her tiny, struggling village. To her, fate had much more in store than she could have ever dreamed.
The quiet morning was broken by the sound of hooves stomping down the dirt road as she whispered a lullaby beneath her breath. Zoe's fingers stopped mid-braid, and she froze. With a knot in her stomach, she turned to face the voice.
With wide, inquisitive eyes, the kids rushed to the windows and peered out. One of the boys murmured, "Zoe, soldiers!" with a mixture of terror and wonder in his voice.
Zoe's heart pounded as she left the small cottage. As a caravan of royal guards approached, their gleaming armour catching the sunlight, a cloud of dust rose in the distance. A man wearing elaborate silver armour with the royal emblem displayed on his breast stood at the front. "Why would royal guards visit this location?" Then Zoe whispered to herself. A forgotten village, Eldermoor was remote from the capital and the monarchy's worries. She was frightened by the sight of the soldiers.
The leader got off his horse as the convoy stopped in the village square. His piercing blue eyes scanned the assembling crowd with a mix of power and indifference, and he was towering and imposing.
"By decree of King Aldred!" the man announced, his voice booming across the square. "We seek Zoe Harper."
The blood drained from Zoe's face. The peasants whispered to one another as they turned to face her. Why would the guards of the king be searching for her?
Despite her legs trembling, she stepped forward and murmured, "I... I'm Zoe Harper."
The leader drew a sealed scroll from his belt and walked towards her. "You are the bride of the kingdom and have been selected by royal decree to wed Crown Prince Alaric."
She felt the words hit her like a bolt of thunder. Unable to process what she had just heard, she muttered, "What?"
As he observed her surprise, the man's eyes softened a little. "Miss Harper, it is an honour. You have been selected by the royal family for a coupling that will bring harmony to our divided realm. We'll take you to the capital right away.
The crowd's whispers became more audible. Zoe's head whirled. This must have been an error. She was not intended to marry a royal; rather, she was a typical girl from a little village.
"I don't get it," she stumbled. "Why me?"
The man curtly retorted, "It is not our place to question the king's decree." "Gather your belongings. We depart in an hour."
Zoe wanted to object and demand answers, but she was hushed by the guards' authority. She turned to face the youngsters, who were now holding on to one another with confused and scared expressions.
Her voice broke as she said, "I can't leave them." "They depend on me."
After hesitating, the leader pointed to one of his men. "Plans will be put in place to guarantee the orphanage is taken care of. But you have to accompany us."
As Zoe knelt down and gave the kids tight embraces, her heart ached. She assured them that she would return, despite her uncertainty about her ability to do so.
Taking only the necessities, she packed a little bag with a heavy heart. She boarded one of the carriages, her face white but determined, and the villagers watched in silence.
Zoe couldn't help but feel as though everything she had ever known was being taken away from her as the caravan departed. Each mile separated her from the life she had worked so hard to create as the carriage rolled towards the capital, the countryside fading behind her.
She attempted to calm herself inside the carriage. Her head whirled with questions. For what reason had she been selected? Crown Prince Alaric was what kind of man? And what did she really stand to gain from this marriage?
Throughout the trip, the guards were silent and did not respond to her mounting questions. The capital city's shape emerged on the horizon as the sun started to set. Its shining walls and tall spires gave the impression that they were from a different world, one that Zoe had never thought she would be a part of.
As they entered the busy centre of the kingdom through the gates, her stomach churned. The carriage stopped before the royal palace, an enormous gold and marble building. Zoe was escorted out, taking in her surroundings with tentative steps.
A woman with sharp features and a commanding presence came up. She introduced herself as Lady Seraphina. "You'll come with me. You have a lot of preparation to do before your meeting with the prince."
Zoe's protests were disregarded as she was carried away into the palace's maze before she could react. She was surrounded by buzzing servants who were putting on a beautiful gown and doing her hair. When they were finished, she hardly recognised herself.
Her heart raced in her chest while she stood before the grand doors of the throne room. This was it. She had no idea what lay beyond the moment that would forever alter her life.
The figure sitting on the throne caught her attention as soon as the doors opened and she entered the chamber. Crown Prince Alaric was just as powerful and imposing as she had thought he would be. His penetrating eyes seemed to look straight through her, and his dark hair framed a chiselled face.
In an effort to hide her panic, Zoe inhaled deeply. With all the bravery she could muster, she would confront whatever lay ahead.
Velia Angelica Howell's perfect life shattered in a single night when a tragic accident took her parents and left her fiancé in a coma. Just as her world crumbled further with job loss and loan sharks threatening her, Lucas Hernandez, a powerful and enigmatic CEO, made her an offer she couldn't refuse: pretend to be his fiancée to secure a vital business deal. In exchange, Velia would regain financial stability and the means to support her fiancé's recovery. But as their worlds collided, dark secrets emerged, and Velia found herself torn between a love that could heal her and the haunting truths of her past.
Heartbreak is nothing new to Luna Skyheart. She has determined never to trust fate again after five failed mate bonds. Her resolve is put to the test, though, as her sixth bond ties her to the mysterious and formidable Lycan King, King Rex Reign. Luna must choose between rejecting the mate bond once more or risking all for a love that could rescue them all as adversaries emerge, envious rivals plot her ruin, and a prophecy speaks of disaster.
Sophia has always been an outcast in her village, mocked for her strange silver eyes and inability to shift. But when her village is attacked by rogues, a dormant power awakens within her, unleashing her werewolf form for the first time. She learns the truth-she is the last living heir of the Alpha Queen, whose throne was usurped by a treacherous council. Hunted by the new Alpha King and betrayed by those she once trusted, Sophia embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim her legacy. Along the way, she discovers allies, love, and truths that could save or destroy the entire werewolf race.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
In Lothlann Continent, talent in martial arts won cultivators respect. Darren Chu, a mediocre talent in martial arts, was deemed a loser by everyone. His status changed when a fireball fell from the sky and hit him on the head. He cheated death. Empowered with the ability to assimilate other creatures' talent, Darren sought to better himself and seek vengeance against those who had wronged his family, including his little sister. "You will kneel in front of me one day," swore the future lord of martial arts.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."