Zaina thought she could run from her secrets, but they have finally caught up to her. She's willing to risk her life for those she loves, but even that might not be enough to stop what's coming. Einar has finally let down his guard, but when the woman he trusts takes off in the middle of the night with his people's only hope for a cure, he realizes what a mistake that was. They have been living under the shadow of the same monster for longer than either of them realize. But it's up to them to decide whether that makes them enemies or allies. You've heard it asked, who could ever learn to love a beast? But this time, the question is, could a beast ever learn to love?
Zaina
I never intended to plan my own death.
But then, so much of my life has been beyond my control that it seems only fitting that at least I will have some choice in this.
My eyes flit to a shadow hovering just outside the outer wall of the castle-one I might have missed entirely had I not known he would be waiting for me.
Damian.
The detached boy had turned into a sadistic man, one who had the nerve to call himself my brother just because we were both taken and raised by the same monster. I can't help but be happy that the world will be rid of him soon.
Still, I wouldn't have chosen to meet my end at his side if there were any other way.
I hadn't found one yet, though.
"Do you have the rose?" Damian's voice is barely above a whisper, only audible because he has pressed his head close enough to mine for his dark locks to brush my forehead.
I shudder in revulsion, backing away as I pull the flower out of my pocket.
It is impossible to discern his expression in the shadows of the towering pines, but I can imagine he is glaring at me for my show of disgust. He says nothing, though, he only runs his fingers over the rose in an intentionally suggestive manner, but I know what he is doing.
Aside from taunting me, he is checking it for authenticity, ensuring it isn't the artificial replica he gave me yesterday.
"If you're finished fondling the flower, we should get going." I pluck the rose neatly from his hand, grateful that I took the time to procure the real thing.
"We weren't going anywhere," he says, making a grab for the rose.
"We are," I counter, placing it safely in my cloak pocket. "Unless you'd like to walk to the alchemist's house from here. The only heart that will go unmissed is mine, and he only listens to me. "
Damian can sniff out a lie an ocean away, so I stick closely to the truth.
"I'm sure I'll manage." His tone is as neutral as ever, but I sense impatience brimming under the surface. "You'll be missed."
"My heart is fast." I carefully avoid commenting on his last statement; I avoid thinking about it at all.
Because I certainly will be missed, and so will this rose. I made sure of that when I left a very clear trail of clues, alerting Einar that the one I left behind was a fake.
My thumb absently rubs at the place where my wedding ring has rested for nearly two months. A small indentation remains, serving as a reminder of a life and a marriage that was never truly mine.
When Einar discovers my deception, so soon after our single night together, he will be furious. devastated. But he and his people will be safe, and so will my sisters.
"There is too much at stake for me to entrust this mission to you, Damian, not when you so often let your baser instincts get the better of you." I give him another reason.
"I would never jeopardize Mother's plans," he says with a deadly calm that sends shivers creeping up my spine.
"Then you'll quit wasting time." I stalk off toward the trees, hoping that he will follow me. This is the crux of my plan: that Damian will relent and allow me to come along.
Half a heartbeat later, his footsteps crunch through the snow behind me, and I fight not to sigh audibly with relief. My spirited hestrin' Gideon is tied to a trunk only a few paces away. His handler is the only person who might suspect I am leaving tonight, but I trust Sarah Agnes to keep her silence.
I have no choice.
I heave myself onto Gideon, who is easily twice as tall as the average pony, and Damian slithers in behind me. Gideon shuffles his feet, and I wonder at Damian's acquiescence to my plan until he speaks.
"I can't wait to see what this little rebellion costs you." His voice is a hiss in my ear, Gideon's lumbering steps giving him the excuse he needs to press up against me. "I wonder if it will be as exciting as the last one."
At his words, I see my younger sister lying in a pool of her own blood. I saw Damian's smirk as her last breath left her chest.
Back with the king… for one desert night! Twelve years after Sheikh Tahir almost lost his throne, the woman who betrayed him arrives at his palace gates. Lauren’s request to help her brother is Tahir's chance to—at last—make sense of her betrayal. On one condition: they spend twenty-four hours in the desert…alone. A night at Tahir’s command is more than Lauren bargained for. Any trust left between them is fragile. Yet with every passing hour, the inescapable intimacy empowers Lauren to lay bare the scandalous truth of their past—and her still burning desire for Tahir…
The King (2019), directed by David Michod, is a historical drama following the life of King Henry V of England during the 15th century. The character Hal, portrayed by Timothee Chalamet, began his journey as a drunk, rejecting his role as a royal while dismissing his father completely
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
"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."