Learning about a magnificent, magical treasure, Ethan Draycott-a spiteful tech millionaire with a secret heart-accidentally summons forth Seraphina, the dethroned and cursed queen of the fairies. Having to stay in his universe until she finds her "true love," Seraphina hates depending on Ethan. But when two worlds meet, Ethan's commercial sense and Seraphina's lost magical skill present an interesting team-building challenge. Negotiating corporate backstabbing and the resurgence of long-standing magical enemies, the two learn perhaps that love is the strongest skill of all.
Over the large ballroom, the stunning chandelier in the Harrington Auction House created a kaleidoscope of lighting. Richness and strength permeated the space, the whisper of silence blending with the odd clink of champagne glasses. Ethan Draycott, the youngest billionaire in the software sector, set himself apart from the rest by focusing exclusively on the stage as the gavel of the auctioneer broke against the polished platform set.
Declared the auctioneer, "Lot 47," his voice growing to demand attention, "a rare artifact, believed to be an ancient relic from the late mediaeval period." Starting at a hundred thousand dollars.
Ethan leaned back in his chair and steepled fingers closing his eyes. Among the priceless objects and artwork, the crystalline sphere-hardly lit by the stage lights-seemed out of context. It shimmered with an odd appeal, as though its hidden center was known. Though he lacked superstitious tendencies, something about it captivated him.
Two hundred thousand responded from across the hall.
Ethan hesitated silently then gestured everyone in the room toward "Three hundred."
Ethan's name preceded him not only as a commercial leader but also as a man who hardly made quick decisions among whispers humming through the assembly.
The bidding increased, but Ethan remained cool and masterfully outwitted his rivals with careless certainty. His one million dollar bid silence the crowd by the time the gavel landed.
Ethan glanced at the treasure now resting on the brilliant black desk of his apartment late that evening. Although he concentrated just on the orb, the city's lights swirled across the floor to-celly windows behind him. It pulsed gently, almost invisibly, just as life does.
Always asking questions, he said, "What secrets are you hiding?"
He took it up, the cool surface just warming in his hand. Every square inch of the chamber changed at once. Once closed windows let a blast of wind over the fluttering lights. Ethan stopped, his grasp on the ball tightening as a terrible buzz shot blasted across the field.
Ethan lunched backward to cover his eyes from the blazing artifact. In the middle of his desk stood someone lowering the lamp.
Her golden hair swirled in waves, her airy, piercing, unearthly emerald eyes reflected something. Clung to her body, a robe of bright silver cloth sent an intensity that set the air surrounding her flame.
Her voice sang, melodic and forceful, "Who dares summon me?"
Blinking, Ethan's analytical mind sought out reason. Ask you? I caught myself not calling anyone. Where you presently work, what are you working on and with whom?
Her eyes closed and her countenance changed from wrath to doubt as the woman cast about. She said, almost to herself, "This... This is not my domain." Her eyes stayed on the ball still in Ethan's hands. You as well! You switched on the curse of Orithia!
What? Ethan asked, wriggled, then backed off gently.
She pointed to the sphere and then flowed with the elegance of water. That relic dropped me down here. A mortal folly only could dare to awaken its might.
Ethan's need for control took front stage. "Listen, woman-whatever your identity is-I believe in neither magic nor curses. Would this maybe be an advanced fraud-that is, "
"Scam?," she said, laughing harshly and unpleasantly. "You people are exactly the same anywhere. Not sure the underlying causes of your loss of control. yet, this... She moved with her own hand. There is not any fraud here. You humans slaves; I am Queen of the Fae.
Ethan moved around his business trying to understand her remarks. Standing at her desk, Seraphina exuded royal grace despite her wild look.
"Let me get this straight," Ethan remarked at last. You say you are a fairy queen, cursed and imprisoned inside this sphere, and now you are stuck here thanks to me?
Furious, Seraphina yelled, her tolerance failing.
Ethan, clearly dubious, ran his dark hair between his hands. This is just ridiculous. There is magic nowhere on Earth.
Rising from her with emerald eyes blazing was Seraphina. Then incredibly carefully explain why I am here. Describe why your priceless technology cannot reverse what has been done. She waved over the space, a little power tremor dancing in the air.
Ethan's eyes strayed to his computer screen, black since she arrived. His well controlled life seemed to be spiraling out of control.
At last he said, "Fine," sharply releasing air. "Let's pretend, for arguments sake, you are who you say you are.'" From me, especially regarding what exactly you are looking for?
Her demeanor softened, but little. "I want freedom," her answer was. "This curses links me to your planet till...." She stopped to catch her voice faltering.
Of what?
"Until I find true love," she continued, "the respectful comments seem."
Ethan wrinkled his brow. " sincere love?" That makes sense. I dropped totally for you; this is the part we lead gladly always after. His voice came out as nasty.
Seraphina started to rotate her brushes. Not a fairy tale; I want none of your mortal emotions. Your difficulties are less than those in my cell, hence the curse is not strong.
One could surely feel suspense in the room. Ethan corrected his body and opened his arms. Should you so want it, you will have to fight for freedom. I reject your point of view, hence I reject either actual or otherwise love.
Neither do I trust you, Seraphina shot back. "But it seems that fate rules us whether or not we like it."
For a minute neither talked since their circumstances collapsed on them. Not at all like the city lights flickering outside the glass was the hazy anarchy within the chamber.
At last Ethan yelled out against the hush. " Alright, Princess of the Fae. Let us tackle this from backward. One thing is clear: you have limited power here. We use my approach; my universe is what we know.
Her mouth opened to a contemptuous smile. About that, mortal, we will see.
The strange duo was about to start adventure neither had planned as the clock struck midnight.
The room seemed to be charged. Ethan turned aside and raised his arms. Should you so want it, you will have to fight for freedom. I reject your point of view, hence I reject either actual or otherwise love.
Neither do I trust you, Seraphina shot back. "But it seems that fate rules us whether or not we like it."
For a minute neither talked since their circumstances collapsed on them. Not at all like the city lights flickering outside the glass was the hazy anarchy within the chamber.
At last Ethan yelled out against the hush. "Alright, Princess of the Fae. Let us tackle this from backward. One thing is clear: you have limited power here. We work using my approach; this is my universe.
The mouth of Seraphina expanded to a sardonic smile. "We will find out about that, mortal.
Ethan was not responding; the sphere on his desk started to pulsate angrily and its bland glow darkened red. As a quick pulse of vigor tore across the room, both of them fell.
"What is the devil doing now?" Ethan boomed then corrected himself exactly at the desk.
The face of Seraphina became white, panic widening her eyes. The ball is calling forth still another person. Something.
The penthouse's windows broke outward in a vast flash of light and wind, as though in response. Ethan had shills run down his spine as a loud, guttural scream ripped across the evening air.
Her speech pauses. "whatever you have awaken," remarked Seraphina, "it's not just me."
Savannah Carlisle was marrying a billionaire heir for security, or so she thought. Yet on her wedding night, she finds herself waking next to the wrong twin - and her signature is already tied to the Pennington dynasty's deepest secrets. Now imprisoned in a mansion of lies, Savannah learns that she's been seeded with an heir long before she says, "I do." Her womb isn't hers. Her name has been rewritten. And the man who really possesses her is ringless - he wears her silence. By then, with a fabricated contract, a lost memory, and a media empire built on illusion, Savannah must untangle a legacy where love is leverage, and escape may cost everything, including the child she didn't sign up to bear.
"I was raised to be a queen. But I was sold to be a concubine." Lois Frazer was born a member of House Valtara and grew up believing the throne was her birthright. But on the day of her coronation, Steve Reynolds, a former childhood friend and avowed protector, turns brother with a bloodless coup. Instead of killing her, Steve holds Lois in the palace - but not as a queen. He demotes her status by calling her a concubine, a trophy to be bent to his will and make his claim. But Steve's perverse kind of devotion conceals a deeper, ambivalent hunger - he doesn't just want her throne; he wants her. Unwilling to give up, Lois engineers her own resurrection to power, forging flimsy alliances and using even her captor's affections against him. In a kingdom swirling with political turmoil, forbidden desires and shifting loyalties, will Lois win back the crown - or will she ruin herself and the man who betrayed her?
Vesper Bloodmoon is a princess hidden away from her own kingdom, cursed with the mythic power of the Devouring Moon, the goddess that devours the wolf gods themselves. Both feared and shunned, she is reduced to secrecy until her father's death launches a maelstrom of political ambition, divine wrath and romantic entanglement. As the kingdom's devoted High Priest, Draven Nightfang knows the gods' laws better than anyone, and when he learns the truth about Vesper, their bond could shatter aeons of divine dominion or unleash a fierce power beyond anyone's control. In a world of worship, war, and fate, their love crucibles the one hope-or the final curse-to swallow gods.
"You left us," muttered Lucas, his eyes ablaze with betrayal and fury. "You should have stuck with us." As she stood there in the moonlit clearing during the Bonding Ceremony, her heart broke, and Lucas chose the other girl, casting Anya aside, forever forsaken. Her heart was aflame with pain and resilience as his words resounded through her. The Blackwood Pack was paralyzed by terror as evil Alpha, Elias of Shadowfang, unleashed evil to destroy their beloved home. In the chaos, Anya discovered her unique powers shining like a beacon. Driven to flee her splintering household, Anya sets out for Hidden Sanctuary, a mystical realm of refuge and knowledge. She meets Caleb, a noble warrior of the neutral pack with a mysterious past and a secret ambition. Anya and Caleb try to figure out what they want from each other as they expose secrets that could break their reality, even though they don't completely trust each other. Anya's most trusted confidantes, including her closest friend Lila, betray her, risking their mission. Anya digs into her ancient lineage and the prophecy inextricably tied to her fate. Both occur simultaneously, and both conclude the world. As Elias' wrath intensifies and the fate of every werewolf pack lies in the balance, Anya must harness her power, foster deep bonds, and face her darkest demons. Anya and Caleb have a life-defining decision: will love prevail over the ultimate sacrifice as the final battle approaches? Will Anya overcome her rejection and lead her people to victory, or will betrayal and war swallow them both?
On the cusp of their anniversary, Sophia Blake senses the widening gap between her and her billionaire husband, Julian Sterling. What she thought was the pinnacle of love and security reveals itself as a fragile dream. When she stumbles upon questionable dealings and deep-seated betrayal, it ignites her resolve to break free. In her quest to redefine herself, she embarks on creating a visionary tech startup-"InnoBliss." Meanwhile, Julian struggles to reconcile professional obligations and the emotional distance that has hardened around his heart. A cunning rival emerges, tangling them further in corporate battles. But from heartbreak's embers arise second chances-if both can confront buried feelings, unearth honest intentions, and decide what truly matters.
Lyra, the mortal researcher, hopes her life will run out, so she presents the enigmatic Dragon King Kael as a sacrifice bride. Instead, she discovers that Kael intends not to let her escape; her blood carries the key to an ancient curse that seals dragons to death. Lyra had to choose between the human kingdom that turned on her and a celestial revolution designed to wipe out the planet. Either she would become a puppet in their hands or revolt against gods and dragons to help define her own fate.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
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?"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."