Synopsis/Blurb: In the kingdom of Elthara, magic runs through the bloodlines of its royal family, each member bound to an ancient prophecy. Princess Lyanna, heir to the throne, is burdened with the weight of her kingdom's future. But the weight of her duty becomes even heavier when she meets Kalen, the enigmatic captain of the royal guard, whose secret lineage is tied to the kingdom's oldest enemy. Bound by duty and a destiny neither can escape, Lyanna and Kalen's initial animosity slowly transforms into an undeniable, forbidden attraction. As the kingdom faces a growing threat from the shadows, Lyanna must decide: can she trust the man she is falling for, or is he a pawn in a game of betrayal? With dark magic, long-buried family secrets, and political scheming threatening everything she holds dear, Lyanna must choose between love and duty-and risk everything for a chance at happiness.
The great hall of Elthara's palace was alive with celebration. A sea of nobles glittered in their finest silks and jewels, their laughter echoing off the golden walls. At the center of it all stood Princess Lyanna, a vision of regality in her ceremonial gown, her crown shimmering under the chandelier's light. Today, she was to ascend to the throne-a day of destiny, written in prophecy and sealed in blood.
But beneath the grandeur, Lyanna's heart was heavy.
She gripped the armrests of the throne, her breath unsteady. Around her, the High Priest's chants grew louder, weaving the ancient blessing that would bind her soul to the kingdom. The sacred pendant, a talisman of the royal bloodline, dangled before her as the final rite began. Yet, the sense of unease she'd felt all morning only deepened.
And then, she saw him.
A shadow among the crowd. A man cloaked in black, his face half-concealed by the hood of a royal guard. His eyes locked on hers-an icy blue, filled with intent. For a fleeting moment, she swore she recognized him, though they'd never met.
The crowd's applause drowned out her thoughts as the High Priest raised his arms to anoint her, the pendant glowing faintly in his grasp. But Lyanna's focus remained on the stranger. He moved closer, weaving through the crowd with a predator's grace.
Her instincts screamed at her to act, but before she could, the doors to the hall exploded inward with a thunderous crash.
A wave of masked intruders poured in, swords drawn, their cries of rebellion shattering the celebratory air. Chaos erupted.
Lyanna stumbled back, the sacred pendant tumbling to the floor as the High Priest fell with a cry. In an instant, the stranger in black was at her side, his sword flashing in the torchlight as he cut down an attacker before they could reach her.
"Stay down!" he commanded, his voice a low growl.
Lyanna's pulse raced as she crouched behind the throne. Who was this man? An ally or an enemy? His presence unsettled her as much as the chaos around her.
"You'll have to trust me," he said, pulling her to her feet just as another rebel charged toward them. "If you want to live."
Trust? Lyanna barely knew him. But as the throne room descended into bloodshed and fire, she had no choice.
Gripping his hand, she ran with him into the shadows-leaving behind her crown, her destiny, and the certainty of who she could trust.
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.