When the wild lighting was invoked by an unknown person, it throws the secret world of the Ànjanu– Guardians of the five portals to hell upside down. Mikel Adele, an Ànjanu prince who thought himself human was brought into the secret ancient war between demons and the watchers. But this time, it may not remain secret because the watchers themselves are picking sides and the wild lightning will claim its master. Adike Coldbreaker, the heir to one of the powerful portal watches will face her greatest challenge yet and also answer the question of what happened fourteen years ago when her mother died. Love and war power and ambition. What will happen to the human world if the wild lighting isn't tame? When the Watch Lord themselves take to the sky and fight with fire and ice, air and earth.
Adike Coldbreaker raised her hand, forming Ice daggers, not perfectly made but sharp enough to kill. She threw it at her opponent, who raised her two hands palm close to her chest – forming an ice shield that shattered as the dagger collides with it.
Adike's best friend – Bukola, gave her a feral grin, eyes glowing ice blue as she uses her Watcher power, she turned in her drawn duel circle, doing a series of fast frost dances that she brings to an end by slamming her two hands on the ground. The ice-covered floor turn to pure solid frost that shoots sharp ice crystals, fast and deadly towards Adeke's direction, she took a deep breath, feeling the ice that is her birthright move in her veins. Eyes glowing like two small ice stars, she brought her right hand down, the iced floor shuddered, the force of the power make the ice crystals broke, sending them back.
The force of it sent Ola falling backward, even with her ice shield. She lay there a minute, groaning. Adike flung back her black braid, giving her grinning friend a hand up.
"One of these days, an going to win one of our duels," Ola said, removing her training leather gauntlet. She was clad in the black training armor, her black hair weave in a watcher's braid.
"Maybe when the ice Castle melts " She replied. Which is the truth. You were either born with the watcher's blood or you are not and if you were born weak you can only hope to attain perfection in the Arts of the elements.
Adike was born strong in the Arts of the ice element. The strongest, except of course her father, The West Watcher Lord.
"You shouldn't have used so much of your power, my lady." Yina the captain of her guard– it's made up of him and Bukolasince there's no need for many guards in the ice Castle. "You should reserve as much as you can in case there's more enemy."
"There's no enemy here cap." Ola gave him faked puzzled look.
"You know what am talking about Bukola." He said sharply. "If it's in real battle her ladyship must be conscious of her power usage, not use brute force.
Even though she tried not to feel hurt by his words, she feel the stings. It's the truth after all. She did use brute force more than the perfect precision that most watchers use.
She was saved from replying by the arrival of a page boy, who bows deeply at her.
"His grace requests the presence of her leadership in his study." He said, voice squeaking. Adike smiled at him, his face blushed blue, hardly noticeable with his ebony black skin. Adike knows from experience that her father did not "request" but rather a command.
She moves from the training ground, walking into the castle proper, the castle is built for its beauty but also for defense. Made of white stone and ice, its three towers standing proudly with the west flag flying at the top.
The keep inner walls are made of frost sleet that glows soft blue, Only the West lord can make that kind of ice. She moves swiftly through the corridors that lead to her father's study, the guards at the walls straighten and salute at the sight of her. She acknowledged them absently, her mind on what her father wants her for, it must be serious if it's the study she was called to. Her father only use the study for important things, far from the court eyes.
Two watchers guard the door to the study. The most loyal of them. They wore the west watcher uniform, which is made of half metal armor and blue leather. They wore one short sword and daggers at their waist, in case they run out of power in a fight. They gave her a nod, eyes hard – the watchers bow to no one, only their lord. The
She entered with her friend and guard. The study was surprisingly sparse, made so by her father. The walls and bookshelves are painted blue, ice crystals glow softly from their hanging place in the ceiling.
She bowed, her companions following. Her father's back was turned towards her, he was a powerful man, tall and muscular, with a face carved from ice, his black blad head shines from the light of the crystal.
"Father?" She knows from the temperature If the room that her father was angry, watches lords had worst tempers. He turned to her, eyes glowing brightly, it looks as if blue orbs had been plug Into a tall shadow. she shuddered, her father can be terrifying if he so chooses.
"He had been found." Her father's voice is iron.
Ola in a salute post gave her a puzzled look, it took a few seconds for what her father said to penetrate. Her heart rate speeds up, found, that change things for them, for the whole realm of watcher guardians.
She looked at her father. He was conflicted with the new situation, that much she can tell. She had been training since to read faces for their hidden secrets. She had to since she's the heir and future watch Lord of the west. Why is the conflicted?
"He was found in my domain, west of the human realm."
Now she knows why her father was having concerns since the Demon portal is in the human world and each portal is given to the five watch lords to guard and protects. This is bad news for the west, both in the human realm and the one and five realm – the name of the home of Ànjanu since it's one realm divided into five different domains– East, West, North, South and the Central, capital and royal seat of the king.
"What are we going to do?" She asked quietly.
Her father gave a short laugh. "Do? There's nothing to do but send watchers to bring him home"
"Shouldn't the rest of the council know?" Her father gave her an unreadable look for a while before losing a big breath, he sat in one of the two chairs there. "The council is turned Adike, the North want him for sure, but East and South? They are keeping their opinions to themselves.
She gave her father a pointed look. He smiled at her, touching the blue wolve that is etched into the cloak he wore, he didn't need the cloak of course anyone from the west doesn't fear the cold elements – it moves in their veins. But her mother sews the cloak, she had put detailed attention in it, she can see their crest –the howling wolve.
"We are the family of the wolves, Adike, loyal to the end."
"You will go and bring him." Her father said. His voice is now that of a watch lord – commanding. "Nobody will think it odd that the heir to the west watch is visiting the outposts of the human realm. Take your guards with you, I will be in the capital, am calling a council for him.
She wanted to argue, but to what end? Not now, she'd find him later. She bow, her guards giving him sharp salute.
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?
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
He told her to call him Daddy. Not because he earned it, but because he fucking owned her. The moment she signed that contract, she stopped being a woman with dignity and became his filthy little plaything. His holes to use. His mess to ruin. He didn't just fuck her, he rewired her. Stripped her clean of boundaries and filled her with sin. Every punishment made her scream. Every game dragged her deeper into his twisted world. And the way he praised her... Good girl. She should've run the first time he said it. But Daddy doesn't let his toys leave. He breaks them until they beg to stay. ** Mia's life changed the night she let a stranger ruin her. One night. She never expected to see him again. Until she walked into her new job... and her boss turned around. Ace.Her one-night sin in a thousand-dollar suit. Only this time, he wasn't asking her to be his assistant. She was to be his wife.
A twist of fate bound Allison to Derek in marriage-she, a powerful heiress with countless hidden identities; he, the city's most admired man, now lying silent in a coma. For three years, Allison used her unmatched medical skills to heal him, all while quietly falling in love. But when Derek's long-lost love returned from abroad, he handed Allison divorce papers without a second thought. Resolved to stop chasing shadows, Allison signed the papers and turned her back on love-rising to fame as a dazzling force in business, medicine, and more. Only when she stood high above the world did Derek finally see her worth. He knelt before her, eyes brimming with regret. "Will you take me back?" he whispered.
"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."