Duke Orion von Hawthorne is feared across Ebonvale-a man of power, ruthlessness, and unshakable control. But beneath his iron rule lies a secret that threatens to destroy everything he has built. He cannot produce an heir. Without one, his legacy will crumble, his enemies will rise, and the Hawthorne bloodline will end with him. But when whispers of a forgotten legend resurface, Orion learns that there is one way to break his curse-claim a Velaryn. The Velaryns were once a race of extraordinary women, their beauty and intelligence unmatched. But their power made them dangerous, and centuries ago, they were hunted to extinction. At least that is what the world thinks. Hidden in the depths of the Dark Forest, rumors circulate about a golden witch, a being that is neither human nor animal, invisible and out of reach. Those who search for her never come back. Resolved to challenge destiny, Orion sets out on his most perilous hunt to date. However, what he discovers is neither a ghost nor a monster. He finds her. A wild girl, covered in golden paint, hidden away in a cave that breathes like a living thing. She is nothing like the obedient women of court, nothing like the delicate noble ladies who kneel before men like him. She is untamed, fearless, and unbroken. And when he takes her captive, she refuses to yield. Sylvara is his greatest challenge. She does not beg. She does not break. She does not bow to his threats. But Orion always wins. As he uncovers the enigma linked to her, he comes to understand she is beyond merely a Velaryn-she harbors a secret that has the potential to either rescue him... or ruin him. She is the final representative of her species, and her mere presence could disrupt the foundations of the kingdom. But Velaryns were never meant to be owned. And as war brews and enemies close in, Orion is forced to question everything he thought he knew. Because the stories never told the full truth about Velaryns. They never warned him what would happen if Velaryn ever loved a man in return. Now, with his legacy, his life, and his heart on the line, Orion must make a choice-claim her and risk losing himself, or let her go and doom his bloodline forever. But what if the real danger is not that he will lose her? What if she was never his to claim in the first place?
"Your Grace, there is no hope."
The words vibrated, pressing against the chest of Orion von Hawthorne as if the edge of a blade prepared to strike. He did not budge, did not flinch, his gloved hands clasped together under chin. Behind the gleaming oak desk, the old doctor stood strained, drops of perspiration collecting at the temple, even as the air turned cold. The fellow was nervous, and well he should.
Orion did not tolerate failure.
"No hope?" he repeated, voice lowered, lethal.
The physician gulped, his Adam's apple prominent. "Not one human woman, Your Grace."
A slow, heavy stillness enveloped them. The dancing flames across the fireplace crackled, casting flickering shadows across the stones, but the flames did little to thaw the ice accumulating in the veins of Orion.
"Not with an adult woman."
So this was it. His penalty. His body had turned against him, just as no enemy had ever managed. He, the strongest warrior in Ebonvale, the one even the royal court feared, could not father an heir.
"And yet," replied Orion, his silver eyes narrowing, "you sound as if there is an exception."
The physician's hands shook. "There. there is a theory, Your Grace."
Orion leaned forward, predatorlike. "A theory."
The physician hesitated, but under scrutiny by Orion, had no choice but to proceed. "Rumors. Documents, lost in scattered writings. It is rumored only a woman from the line of Velaryn may bear the children of one so cursed."
Silence.
Then, slowly, Orion sat back.
Velaryns.
The word by itself had an effect that was primal, as if an old, dormant past had risen to whisper it in his ear.
He had only ever seen one, ever. In his lifetime. Many, many years back. A little girl, no more than ten, dragged by chains down the streets of the capital like an animal. Moonlight pale. Spun silver hair. Violets, wine-stained eyes. Beautiful, even as a child-dreadfully so.
The nobles had bid on her as if she were nothing more than an exotic jewel one collected. Orion's father had avoided the display, considering it below the level of House Hawthorne.
Years later, the woman had disappeared. Some had told stories she had been sent away to marry an eastern king, while others had stated she had been executed so that she would not cause war.
Since then, the Velaryns had become mere legend.
"Continue," Orion commanded.
The physician nodded hastily. "Velaryns are not human women. Their bodies. accommodate. There are records-few, mind you-of noblesmen who could not father children by their wives but did father children by Velaryns." He exhaled, voice dropping further, as if it was dangerous to say these things out loud. "It is rumored that they are nature's cure for those men who would otherwise remain sterile."
A correction.
Orion's fingers tapped out the wood. His father's voice continued to ring out in his head. "A man without an heir is one whose name turns to dust."
He would not permit it.
Orion exhaled, slowly, calmly. "How do I obtain one?"
The physician turned pale. "Your Grace. they disappeared. The last recorded Velaryns had either been captured or had disappeared. Some say that they had been eradicated-"
"Find me one," interrupted Orion.
The physician's lips parted, only to close. He stopped.
Orion smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "You have one month."
The man winced.
"And if you mess it up..." Orion leaned back, tone soothing. "Well. You won't mess it up, will you?"
The physician bowed so hastily that he lost balance. "N-No, Your Grace. I shall try my best."
"Good." Orion waved a hand. "Leave me."
The physician fled. The heavy doors creaked shut, leaving Orion enveloped in silence.
He leaned back, exhaling slowly, while the flickering flames from the flames cast dancing shadows upon the walls.
A child.
An heir.
Something in his chest tightened, but he could not name the emotion. He had committed years-his entire lifetime-to building his empire unshakable. His enemies feared him. His peers looked up to him. No one dared cross the name Hawthorne.
And yet, none of it would matter if there wasn't an heir waiting to inherit power.
The thought sent an unsettling twist through his chest.
No. He would not agree. If there had to be one, he would locate one.
Even if it had meant reducing the earth to ashes.
---
Hours passed. The weather had grown fierce, the wind howling through the fort walls as if an animal roamed the darkness. Rain hammered against the glass, an unrelenting beat against the stillness.
A knock at the door.
Orion did not look up. "Come in."
The door opened, and one figure stepped across the threshold, dressed in a black, well-tailored coat, the silver pin over his chest gleaming. Henry. His best, if not only, soldier. The one who had grown up alongside him, the only one whom he absolutely, unconditionally trusted.
"You called for me, Your Grace?" asked Henry, his voice calm, but his eyes flicking over the untouched glass of whiskey on the desk, the only hint there had ever been an issue.
"I need facts," declared Orion. "Regarding Velaryns."
A beat of silence. Then, slowly, "Your Grace, Velaryns?"
Orion finally looked up. "You heard me."
Henry studied him, then gave a slow nod. "Most are gone. The ones that remain... they do not reveal themselves."
"Then find someone who does," replied Orion.
Henry sighed, moving closer. "Velaryns comprehend what they are. They comprehend that they are hunted, exploited, discarded. They will not reveal themselves to men like us."
"Then I shall cause them to reverence me greater than they reverence the earth."
Henry was very still for an unusually long period. Then, finally, he spoke.
"There is a rumor."
Orion's pulse did not quicken, but an inner quickening occurred. "Go on."
Henry lowered his voice. "Men who venture too deeply into the Dark Forest speak of a creature-a woman covered in gold, untouchable, unseen." He paused. "She is neither human nor ghost. Any who try to approach. do not return."
Orion's grip closed tightly over the edge of the desk.
"And you think this one is a Velaryn?"
"If it is, Your Grace." His expression did not change. "She is the last one."
The last.
Something darkened in the chest of Orion.
The last one. Entombed in a region from which no human had ever emerged.
If she ever did exist, she'd be his.
A sudden clap of thunder broke the air, causing the fort walls to quake. Henry barely flinched, but it gave reason to Orion.
Fate had decided beforehand. Now, all that awaited him was to claim that which was rightfully his.
Kaia Donovan thought she'd escaped the chaos of her past. For years, she lived a quiet life in the bakery her late mother left her, until the day it was sold right out from under her-by her own brother, desperate to settle debts. Her world crumbled as she watched the only piece of her mother's legacy slip away, sold to a mysterious figure: Everett Hudson. Two years later, Kaia has moved on-or so she thought. She's reinvented herself as an artist in the bustling city of Horizon, far from her painful memories. But fate has a way of pulling the strings. When she's thrust into the high-stakes world of art, her abusive boss exploits her talent while hiding her work behind his name. Kaia is a quiet force, though-she bides her time, working in the shadows and avoiding the one thing that still haunts her: Everett Hudson. When a chance encounter leads to her saving a young girl from an assassin's bullet, Kaia is thrust back into Everett's world-and his life. The little girl, Armean, is the daughter of Everett Hudson, and despite Kaia's efforts to distance herself, the girl won't let her go. Their bond deepens, as does the connection between Kaia and Everett, who sees more than just a fleeting attraction in her. The same man who took everything from her now seems to be the one who could help her heal. But the world they live in is dangerous, and secrets about Everett's past and the true reason her bakery was sold begin to surface. As Kaia and Everett are pulled closer into the web of lies, murder, and power, Kaia must decide whether to follow her heart or her survival instinct. The threat of Everett's mafia ties looms large, but so does the attraction that threatens to consume her. She's caught between the man who holds her heart and the shadows of his empire. However, just as Kaia begins to reveal the reality of Everett's history-and her own-the unimaginable occurs. During an intense hug, a familiar voice from her history-one she thought she'd never hear again-resounds in the shadows: "I apologize, Kaia." "However, I had no option." It's her brother. The one who sold her bakery. But there's more-a shocking revelation that will change everything. As Everett reveals a hidden secret of his own, Kaia is left standing at the crossroads of her past and future, unsure of who to trust. As they prepare for a confrontation that could tear their worlds apart, Kaia learns the truth: some legacies can't be outrun... and some loves are destined to collide in the most dangerous of ways. And just as the walls close in, a gunshot rings out. Who is the target? Who will survive? The only thing Kaia knows for sure is that she's not the same girl who used to hide behind her mother's bakery. She's stronger. She's wiser. And now, she's ready to take back everything that was stolen from her. But will it be enough?
Dysis Salmon has spent her life enduring her father's cruelty, a survivor in the shadows of his dark world. Her life, however, takes a terrifying turn when his debts become unmanageable; she is offered as payment to Alexander Levi, the most feared man in the city. Alexander is the untouchable, cold, and cunning ruler of the underworld. To him, Dysis is just another piece in the ruthless game he plays. Yet beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by his past-a past that begins to unravel the moment Dysis enters his life. Trapped in Alexander's opulent mansion, Dysis refuses to be a pawn. There is unquestionably tension between them as a result of her resistance to his authority. She learns, however, that Alexander is a guy who conceals suffering while wielding power as she digs deeper into his world. Dysis has to choose between running away from the guy who terrifies her and risking all to reveal the beast's weak spot as dangerous foes close in and hidden secrets threaten to come to light. Dysis and Alexander find themselves entangled in a perverse dance of power, passion, and treachery in a society where love is viewed as a weakness and trust as a luxury. One issue still stands, though, as the stakes are high and the boundaries become hazy: will they save or destroy one another? **There is a cost to everything. And for Dysis, the cost of freedom may be her heart.**
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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."
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."
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"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."