"Why do we need to protect mortals? They're living in the 21st century. They no longer believe in us!" "Because this is our oath." Xue'er, a thousand-year-old white dragon from Long Sheng Jie, is sent to the mortal world to protect it from evil forces. Taking on the name Miracle Watson, she begins her journey on a deadly, recurring mission. However, in a world where mortals no longer believe in the existence of dragons, she finds herself limited, unable to fully use her elemental powers. After saving a mortal from becoming the fourth victim, things turn more complicated as she learns the truth behind her birth. What exactly is going on? Will Miracle be able to complete her mission in the world of mortality? Or will she be the next death of her species?
-Long Sheng Jie, Realm of Dragons-
'But to them, we are creatures that only exist in fairy tales.'
She slashed her tail across the blue sky, shutting out the familiar whisper from distracting her mind.
Higher than the birds could reach, encircled by intricate webs of fluffy clouds, a majestic castle sat on a colossal, floating boulder. Baby plant elves chuckled as they flew above the tiny yellow filaments of magnolias along the verge. Teal seeds of irises glistened in a rhythmic flow, displaying their thousand years of rich nourishment. Into the tranquil ambiance, the silver ferns, Soulless Sonder, released another puff of swirl from the tips of their fronds, steadily increasing the fine networks of divine air floating around.
This was where she lived. A place where she once thought everything was as perfect as it seemed to be...
Until she was exposed to the harsh truth.
She was just a whelp when she first learned about the existence of Ring of Mortality-a transcendent wheel enclosing an electrified azure energy ball, levitating above a luminous golden hemisphere. Her species feared the click of the metal bar centered at the core of the half-circle. They feared being summoned as the next dragon for the recurring mission.
The mission that took her childhood friend away in the last cycle.
With another powerful, thunderous roar across the sky, the white dragon unleashed torrents of fireballs from her gaping maw, sending them hurtling toward the swaying grasses below. One blazing smash after the other. More. She needed to let it out more. The pain for failing to protect her friend.
"Xue'er?"
Qilong's voice from an approaching cloud startled her, tumbling her down to the ground.
"Xue'er! You alright?" The cloud under his feet dispersed at once as he rushed over, shades of concern flashing across his face.
Xue'er retracted her claws, her scales dissolving to make way for her redeveloped skin. The thousand years of cultivation finally proved itself as she flawlessly transformed into a slender, refined lady figure.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Licking the new cut on her elbow, she drifted her gaze to the half-magnolia jade hanging at her pink sash. Her chest ached, remembering who had owned the other half.
As if Qilong could sense the overflowing guilt from her, he rested his hand on her shrunken shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Don't carry the blame with you, Xue'er," he said, taking a step closer. "It was never your fault."
She stared directly into her master's amethyst eyes, showering him with layers of unspoken pain. "How could it not be my fault? It was supposed to be me to go there."
"But you weren't ready." He ended on a cold note.
"Xun wasn't ready either!"
Qilong tucked his hands into his wide, long sleeves and heaved a tired sigh. "Things happen for a reason, Xue'er. You can't stop the rain from falling just because you have an umbrella. You can't change history just because you have a time machine. You can't save Xiao Xun from dying..." he muttered, "just because you wish he could stay"
"Just because I wish he could stay..." Xue'er repeated, her lips trembling. A drop of tear coursed down her pale cheek as the words slapped hard on her face.
"We, dragons, are meant to protect the mortals," Qilong paused, "though they no longer believe in us like centuries ago..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xue'er walked away.
All of a sudden, she turned around, a little too fast that she almost knocked into her master, unaware that he was following her. "Let it be me this time, Master." Xue'er moved back a step. "I think I'm ready."
Qilong twisted the long ends of his grayish brow, giving Xue'er a puzzled look. The dragon-shaped hair stick on his head glistened. "You've never liked mortals."
"You said it's our mission to..." she hissed to continue, "protect."
"Protect?" He lowered his head, gazing deeply into her inner soul through her different-colored eyes-blue and red. "Or is it revenge that you'll seek?"
There was a thin trace of anger laced in his calm, soothing voice.
Xue'er looked away.
"Hatred kills, my dragon." Qilong gently pulled her into his arms and said, "Don't dive into it."
"Mortals... are injudicious, Master. We might be myths to them, but we're real, right here, under their noses," she wept. "Because of their doubts and suspicions, too many of us have died. We can't afford to lose anymore..."
She heard her master sigh. "No matter what it is, the oath has been set. We have to protect them. This is our fate."
"Then let it be me this time, Master," she repeated her request, gasping in between her choky sobs. "I don't want to witness another death of our species, Master." Xue'er broke the hug and placed her hand over her heart. "I promise I'll keep the mortals protected. I'll take care of them just like how-"
'Xiao Xun did.'
Her voice trailed off. She couldn't get her best friend's name out of her throat.
The wind brushed past her teary cheeks like it was trying to offer her a tad of comfort. Pieces of pleated fabric hung at her sash swayed.
And there she stood, waiting for the "yes" from her master.
Qilong parted his lips, but no words said. Fine metallic chains attached to his silver circlet clinked softly as they swept against one another.
"Hmm? Master?" She tugged at his cuff. "You know I'm strong."
"Xue'er, I... I-"
"Ring of Mortality clicked a while ago, Master. The 18th-year tribulation is about to start in their world," she cut in. "There is nobody else who is as ready as me to go there."
"Protecting mortals from Mynheex and fallen angels isn't a child's play. You know exactly what they're hunting for."
"I know it isn't, and that's why it has to be me! I don't know why you've been stopping me from taking up the mission. All I know is that white dragons are powerful, and I'm one of them."
Xue'er simply couldn't figure out why Qilong didn't want her to step into the mortal world. If Xiao Xun hadn't gone in her stead back then, he would still be alive.
"You don't understand. Mortals are living in their 21st century-"
"Most of our friends are gone, Master," Xue'er reminded him of the fact he feared. "It's time to put a stop to Mynheex eating humans' hearts, to fallen angels craving for our pearls, to the tormented deaths of us, to everything."
"But..."
"Our dragons died protecting the worlds. You don't expect me to just watch the cycle end with another death of our species and do nothing."
Seeing how resolute Xue'er was, Qilong didn't say anything else. He flipped his silk robe and waved his hand at another layer of cloud, which then descended to his feet.
"Follow me," he uttered at last.
Born to meet. Fated to love. "Listen to the silence. And you shall find the answer to your heart." When Clover Hon sensed somebody turning on the black van she was hiding beside, she immediately slid in sneakily without giving it much a thought. The only thing she knew was that she gotta escape. She was never going continue being a sex slave. Never! But whose van was it? Did she really escape from trouble?
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her— "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
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."