Dominion's strong hold, the planet Isroth, is crawling with soldiers, and worse-the Kinduri. Nova knew her mission was impossible, but hiding the truth of what she really is may be the most critical thing she's ever done.Presented to Cyrillius as the fugitive he's been chasing for lunars, the last thing Nova expected was to be complimented and revered by the man, praised for her work. The destroyer of planets has offered her a job, and it's one Nova can't refuse.She came to Isroth with a goal: kill Cyrillius. But something is wrong. She just...can't. Something is stopping her. Maybe she judged Valen for not being able to leave Cyrillius too harshly. Maybe he truly just can't. Time is ticking. Because the longer it takes her to figure their freedom out, the more sense Cyrillius and Dominion is starting to make.
Oh, slag. Oh, slag. Oh, slag.
I'm stupid. So slam stupid. I've always been reckless. It's always been one of my biggest flaws. I barrel in with my head down and just explode all over everything.
Why the void did I not think of this?
As our ship aims for the gutted, dark planet that is Isroth, my entire body breaks out into a cold sweat.
Cyrillius is galaxy-famous for being the only person who can somewhat control the Kinduri and employ them. He has thousands of them here and on Gara Lune. As Valen said, if they touch me, they're going to know my plan.
If they touch me, they'll know I'm a Nero. And Cyrillius knowing I'm a Nero will be so much worse than him torturing me for plotting his murder.
He'll use me.
Just like he's used Valen.
My heart is threatening to beat clean out of my chest and smack right into the view port window. It's nearly impossible to close my eyes and search for calm.
I needed more training. I may have made up for solars' worth in the three lunars I was on Salypso studying under Zara and Kyril, but I need more.
I don't know if what I'm about to try to do is even possible. But I have to try, or my life is over.
With my eyes closed, I let myself spiral down into my own mind. I reach out into my own brain. I comb through all of my recent memories.
You have to do this, I whisper to myself.
I don't know if this is even possible, myself argues back.
You have to do it.
I find my memories, all the recent ones, like they are books on a shelf. I picture myself taking them, one by one. I take them to a vault in the center of myself. One by one, I set them inside.
I start from the beginning: the day Dominion came to Korpillion. I take the memory of my escape to the Airspace. I take the memory of seeing Valen for the first time. I take the first time I used Neron that day.
I take all my uncertain thoughts and fears about being a Nero, and I put them in that vault. I find my conversations with Valen, and put them inside. I take the time he came to me on The Corsair and the best moments of my life when I was in his arms and my lips permanently promised themselves to his, and I store them away, safe.
I find every moment of my time on Salypso and every second of my training and tuck it away.
I take all the visions I've had of my future with Valen, serving Cyrillius. I place all thoughts of Edan and my plan of killing Cyrillius into the vault.
And I close it all up.
I tell myself not to forget the memories, but to hide them. Where the Kinduri can never find them.
It's as if the past five lunars never happened.
"You okay?"
Edan's voice rips me out of my own mind and my eyes open once more. I find him looking at me with concern in his eyes.
"I'm fine," I say, but I don't think that's really the truth. My voice sounds tinny from the collar locked around my neck and covering my mouth.
"You sure?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. "Because you kind of looked like you were either going to hurl or blow up the entire ship with your mind."
I huff a laugh, shaking my head.
It's just one of the many things I love about Edan Calwin. He says everything straight. "I'm about to march into the heart of Isroth and try to do something impossible. Cut me a little slack if I need two seconds to collect my thoughts."
"Eh," he says, looking at me in this way I can't really describe. "I know that's not what you were really doing, but whatever."
"We are approaching the presidential courtyard," the Frank's voice interrupts whatever bantering Edan and I would have continued with.
Immediately, my eyes go back to the view port.
Where Korpillion is vertical, Isroth is flat and empty. The tallest building I can see for miles and miles can't be more than ten stories high. It sits behind the Presidential Compound and from the blue light that glows through the cracks, I know it's where they keep their Neron core that powers the planet.
Everything is grouped together. I see soldiers' quarters, training facilities, big buildings I know are crop fields, hangars where ships are stored. Beyond that, it is barren nothingness.
And there, just in front of us, is the Presidential Compound. It's a low profile building, no more than three stories tall. It's made out of some kind of black material, but it's difficult to tell if it's stone or wood or synthetic. It sprawls out, huge and hulking.
But everywhere...everywhere, I see evidence of tunnels. They bore into the ground between buildings, dictating how the base was built. I see hangars that have been built on stilts, spanning over gaping maws that drop down into the belly of the planet.
I see people around, but every single one of them is dressed in the Dominion uniform.
There are thousands of soldiers milling about. All dressed in the dark gray uniform of Dominion.
The Bahiri are real and Nova has found them hidden away on an invisible planet. With their help, she’s finally ready to accept what she is: a Nero. She has to train, to learn how to use her abilities, and she’s got years’ worth of catching up to do. Desperate, she’ll push herself—possibly beyond her limits.But learning how to use her abilities not only awakens her capability to control Neron, but her power to see the future. Going to sleep is a nightmare and heaven, all in the same breath. Her future hasn’t changed—it’s still with Valen Nero, standing and ruling by his side. Every morning she wakes, gutted and alone. Her visions of the love between them aren’t real. At least…not yet.Nova is losing her mind. Her heart is fractured, and conflicted into knots. How is she supposed to let him go, to walk away from the galaxy’s second cruelest man, when she knows what kind of love they could have?The time for a choice has come: stay on Salypso where it’s safe, where Cyrillius will never find her. Or take what she has learned as a Nero and try to change her future, and that of the galaxy.
“I…am nothing.” He takes a step forward, shaking his head twice, with absolute conviction. “You’re not nothing, Nova.” In the Eon galaxy, Dominion controls any planet with solid Neron deposits, and Nova just found out they’re coming for hers. Korpillion isn’t supposed to have any Neron—the galaxy’s purest form of energy—but Nova Ainsley has been working with the owner of a secret mine for months, building highly illegal weapons that can wield Neron. She wants off Korpillion, and selling these weapons will buy her and her father a ticket to another planet in the galaxy. Neron is incredible on its own, but there are those who can wield it to their will, granting them the ability to read minds, see the future, and destroy worlds—the Nero. But this is a galaxy where they are ceasing to exist, and Dominion owns the last one in the known universe, using him to take over and destroy billions of lives. An encounter with the last Nero shows Nova her future: it’s with him. She will stand by his side one day, her fingers laced through his, love and adoration in both their eyes, a dark queen to his evil, pawn king. Fate or destiny, Nova will do whatever it takes to change their future, and that of the galaxy.
Nova knew that the galaxy wanted to be rid of Dominion, but she did not expect the immediate bravery that came after she and Valen declared war against Cyrillius. It’s a daily battle to protect Kaelea from his fleets, but leaders, soldiers, and publicists from planets near and far have come to aide in the fight. Best of all, Nova has reunited with her family.But this undertaking isn’t without its trials. Most of the galaxy still doesn’t trust Valen. With decades of rumors and witnessed actions, it will take an incredible act of risk to prove he’s changed. Until then, the weight of leadership falls squarely upon Nova’s shoulders. She’s never been trained to be a leader, but the entire galaxy is watching her. Failure is not an option.In the end, they don’t win this war until three things are decimated: Isroth, The Dominion, and Cyrillius. It’s time for Nova to build her most powerful weapon yet.
It’s been rumored about in bedtime stories for decades. Nova has seen it in her visions. It’s too dangerous to get within a league of. But those aboard Deliverance have arrived at Glorra Quin Lune, the planet Cyrillius stole Nova from.Everything is uncertain. How will they land on a planet entirely engulfed in Neron? How could anyone survive that blast? What will they find if they make their way to the surface? And will it change everything Nova knows about herself? It’s time for her to confront the past she was too young to remember, and try to save the family she can’t recall.Cyrillius has now lost two Nero and he made the mistake of telling Nova his plan. He’s on his way to the Frozen Kingdom to come claim a new child. It’s time to take care of him once and for all. Justice is going to taste sweet.
Nova and Valen barely escaped Isroth with their lives and now they’ve crash-landed on an empty planet—no people, no tools to fix their ship. Nova has spent her life building and creating mechanics, but this is the most advanced vessel in the galaxy, and she can’t figure out what’s wrong with it. But maybe the crash was a blessing in disguise. They’ve seen their entire lives together, but this is the first real time they’ve ever had with one another. This is their chance to see if their future is worth fighting for, and if there is anything between them besides attraction and fate. On this empty planet, there is no fighting, no war, no conflict. Their days and nights are filled with uncertain glances, soft touches, and life-altering vows.What was once never a question is now a serious consideration: do they even want to fix the ship, or is this the beginning of a brand new, perfect life?
Dominion has Nova’s face and Reena’s name—Cyrillius will use and kill them if they’re caught. But being on the run in space isn’t so bad, Nova’s always wanted a different life, and she’s got it now. It started with a rumor, that the Bahiri still exist—peaceful worshipers of the Nero and Neron. After what happened on Korpillion, Valen told Nova to find them, and to stay away from him. So that’s where the wanted crew aboard The Corsair is headed, across the entire galaxy to the G sector. Nova wants answers about what she did and how it’s possible. She’s in denial. About what she might be. About where her heart lies. She knows Valen Nero is a bad man, so why is he the only one who fills the hollowness in her chest? Why does she ask him to keep his promise: I will come for you, Nova. And when he does, she’ll learn the truth about him, and what happened to shape him into the man he is today.
Eliza Greer was abandoned by her mother, raised in an orphanage, and sold to the Burns family at 19. Even though she marries Mason Burns, the other people in the Burns family look down on her for her poor identity and want to try every way to bully her. Unexpectedly, they all failed. Eliza's hidden identities are gradually revealed in one incident after another, which astonishes everyone.
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!"
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
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.
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."