In the kingdom of Aeryndor, Princess Liora, a brave and independent young woman, crosses paths with a mysterious and cunning gumiho named Taejin. Initially at odds, their fiery encounters evolve into an unexpected romance as they uncover secrets that bind their fates.
In the kingdom of Aeryndor. The streets are lively with merchants, peasants, and nobles going about their day. But inside the grand castle, a somber mood lingers. King Eldrin, ailing from a mysterious illness, lies in bed as healers struggle to find a cure.
Princess Liora, his only daughter, bursts into the chamber. Her determined expression hides her fear.
"Father," she says, taking his hand, "I will find the cure. You must hold on."
The court healer approaches.
"Your Highness, the only remedy is the moonflower, a rare plant that grows deep in the Eldermist Forest. But the forest is cursed-no one who ventures in returns."
Liora's resolve hardens.
"Then I'll be the first."
----
With her trusted horse and a small satchel of supplies, Liora rides to the edge of the Eldermist Forest. As she dismounts, the atmosphere shifts-the air is heavy, the trees dark and foreboding. She tightens her grip on her sword, muttering to herself,
"You can do this."
As she ventures deeper, eerie sounds fill the air-whispers, rustling leaves, and the distant howl of a fox. Suddenly, she hears a low growl behind her. Turning, she sees a man with piercing amber eyes leaning casually against a tree.
"You're brave, little princess," he says, his voice smooth and teasing. "Or foolish."
Liora draws her sword.
"Who are you? Show yourself!"
The man smirks. In a flash, he transforms into a massive fox with nine shimmering tails. Liora's eyes widen, but she doesn't back down.
"A gumiho," she whispers. "Stay back!"
Taejin, the gumiho, chuckles and shifts back into his human form.
"This is my forest, human. Trespassers aren't welcome."
"I'm not leaving without the moonflower," Liora snaps.
"Well then," Taejin replies, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "you'll have to go through me."
---
Taejin lunges, and Liora barely deflects his attack. Despite his playful demeanor, his strength is overwhelming. Liora fights back fiercely, her skill surprising him. The two trade blows-Taejin using his supernatural agility and tails, while Liora relies on her wits and training.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Taejin says, dodging a swing of her sword. "But you're out of your depth."
"I've faced worse than you," Liora retorts, slashing at him again.
Finally, Taejin knocks the sword from her hand and pins her against a tree with one of his tails. For a moment, they're inches apart, their eyes locked.
"You're not like the others," Taejin murmurs, intrigued. "Most humans run screaming by now."
Liora glares at him.
"And you're not as terrifying as the stories claim."
Taejin laughs, releasing her.
"I'll let you go this time, princess. But if you return, I won't be so kind."
As he disappears into the shadows, Liora retrieves her sword, her heart racing.
"We'll see about that," she mutters, determination burning brighter than ever.
---
Back at the castle, Liora studies a map of the forest. Her hand hovers over the location of the moonflower.
"I'm not giving up," she says to herself. "No matter what."
Meanwhile, Taejin watches her from a distance, perched on a tree branch just outside the castle walls. A sly smile plays on his lips.
"This is going to be interesting."
---
Zara and Tyler-Gen Z's golden couple-were living the dream: wealth, passion, and a marriage that looked perfect from the outside. But behind the luxury was suspicion, betrayal, and heartbreak. When secrets explode and love is tested, their shocking divorce becomes the headline of the year. Will healing draw them back together-or is the end truly the end?
Three years of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman—lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love—until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
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?
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"