Andrew has been on the battlefield for eight years defending the kingdom from an empire that refused to leave them alone. Finally, a ceasefire was reached. Returning to a land he has not seen in many years, can he make it a home again? Will those he fought for accept him in their communities? or will he turn his own kingdom into a battlefield?
The throne room was quiet. Normally at this hour, courtiers and administrators would be bussing up and down the halls. However, right now, the King sat on his throne with eight of the kingdom's most elite warriors before him. Over the past fifteen year's these warriors had entered service and risen through the ranks. However, in the last 7 years, they had formed the Dragon Squad and proven themselves to be the top fighters around. Each was dressed in full formal regalia, complete with impressive gold knotwork on their shoulders for rank, having just come in from the public promotion ceremony.
"My gods of war, come forward." Said the king, gesturing to eight.
"With your new rank as of gods of war, you will serve under the supreme commander, and while your terms of required service are up, your rank is beyond your active service. I request you each take charge of a province. You are not responsible for the day-to-day operation, that is still the lord governors. However, in what capacity you see fit, you are in charge of the military forces of your given province. Jackson, as first among the gods of war, I am assigning you to Rhodes. Being in the west, you will have easy access to the capital here but also be able to support Asrana who will be assigned to Warrenton in the Northwest."
"Yes, My lord," said Jackson, bowing and accepting a sealed tube of orders.
"Anika, as second, I am placing you in charge of Placida to the east of the capital. Port Manai and its garrison will be under your purview, but I am sure you will spend much time in Tirana dealing with Lord Reva."
Anika stepped forward and accepted her tube, a look of distaste crossing her face at the mention of Lord Reva.
"Gad, Malachi, and Carter, you three are assigned to the southern provinces of Ruatha, Parcia, and Karth respectively. Hopefully, you can encourage the farmers there to send more food supplies north and avoid too much of the fighting."
"Thank you, my lord," said the three, accepting their orders and stepping back.
"Zev, I give you the unenviable task of dealing with Coutre. It is beautiful coast there, but you are Cutoff from Placida to the south by the Drahgfir mountains. Coordinate with Nash who I am assigning to Ashai."
"Yes my lord." Said Zev.
"Nash, Asrana, step forward." Said the king. "you two will bear the brunt of any hostilities to come. The Empire agreed to six months of ceasefire, but that is already half gone. If things start back up, it will be up to you to defend the walls, and garrisons. Call in aid as you see fit. Asrana, take charge of Warrington province, and Nash, you will have the province of Ashai."
"Yes my lord." They each replied.
"Any questions before I release you to a much deserved time away from the front lines?" asked the king.
It was Anika who stepped forward. "My lord.... Andrew? He was not at the promotion ceremony and was not mentioned..."
The king sighed. "O he was there, don't worry. He saw you each raised to gods of war. However as for the rest... at his request, he was left out. As for where he is now, he is already on his way to the airfield I imagine, where there are planes ready for each of you."
Jackson and Anika glanced uncertainly at each other before bowing formally to the king.
"We serve the kingdom, and we will listen for the command of the supreme commander." The eight gods of war said as they bowed formally, and retreated to pack, and head to the airfield.
After the gods of war departed, a hook-nosed advisor stepped out of the shadows and sneered, "they serve the kingdom and the supreme commander, but how about their king?"
"It is the pledge of the elite dragon brigade and has been since its inception, even when there were no gods of war yet, nor a supreme commander in place," said the king in a tired tone.
"then why have you not ordered it changed?" queried the advisor.
"It is tradition, Freemont, and they have served their terms faithfully. There is no need for you to pick a fight with them," replied the king.
"And DeVos? Will you hold their conscription term upheld?" Freemont pressed.
"They sent us Andrew. He may not have been DeVos blood, but with everything he and the Dragon squad have accomplished, why should we make a fuss about it? If they had not sought him out, the kingdom may not be standing."
Freemont frowned and held up a document. "The man was likely just a street orphan from what my sources say. How is that upholding the conscription decree for 8 years of service of a member of each high family?"
The king glared at his annoying advisor. "I know what the degree says, I signed it and enacted it! The spirit of the law was preserved and the kingdom is better off because of it. Drop it!"
"Yes my lord" Freemont said, stuffing the intelligence page back in his pocket.
After marrying 'into' the Cochan family, Conor's life hit rock bottom, especially after the mysterious death of his mother. He had tried his best, but things didn't get any better. Instead, ironically, his mother-in-law started looking eagerly for a new son-in-law for his wife, Jessica. There was no hope for Conor to turn the tables, it seemed, until one day — Conor's 25th birthday when a lawyer knocked at the door and a long forgotten heirloom from his mother. Something that will change his life forever and start him on the path to glory.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
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?
Caught in a web of betrayal, Nicole's life shatters in a single evening when her mother-in-law, Veronica, sets her up in an elaborate scheme. Blindsided, Nicole faces her husband Taylor's cold rage as he casts her out of his life and home, accusing her of infidelity and theft. As she tries to defend herself, her best friend, Sarah, adds another blow by denying their loyalty. "Please, Taylor, you have to believe me!" Nicole pleads, her voice breaking, but his icy response is a dagger to her heart. "I don't hate you, Nicole," he sneers. "I despise you." When Nicole reveals she's pregnant, she hopes for compassion, but it only fuels Veronica's determination to rid the family of her. After signing the divorce papers, a dejected Nicole wanders alone, where a brutal attack leaves her bleeding, helpless, and desperate to protect her unborn child. Six years later, Nicole returns from the ashes to inflict seven times the pains upon those who humiliated her and left her to die. "I'll make them pay so dearly that they'd regret ever been born!" She declares. This is a story of romance and revenge you don't want to miss!
Becky endured three years of marriage to the cold-hearted Rory. In all that time, she naively reasoned that one day, he'd gradually come to like her. But the second he forced her to kneel down and humiliate herself, she knew she had been wrong about him. This man had no feelings for her at all. So why should she still love him? When Rory gave her the choice between kneeling down and divorcing, she didn't miss a beat and chose the latter. After all, why should she waste her youth on this scumbag? Wouldn't it be nicer for her to just have fun every day with her billion-dollar family fortune?
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...