Romans de J.V.Noel

Lillium RooseveltThe apartment door clicked shut behind me, the faint hum of the city seeping through the walls like a distant heartbeat. I held the gift bag in my hand, the paper rustling softly, but the moment I stepped in, it wasn’t the bag that caught my attention.Dominus was there. Sitting on the kitchen counter, one leg casually bent, the other dangling, his hands resting on either side of him. His gaze was distant, almost haunted, like he was carrying the weight of a thousand thoughts in that still frame. The usually commanding aura he exuded seemed tempered by something heavier tonight.“Dominus…” I breathed, closing the door quietly behind me. My steps were cautious, almost hesitant, as I approached him. The floorboards creaked under my weight, betraying my worry.I reached out instinctively, placing a hand on his forehead. “You’re burning up or something?” I asked, concern threading my voice.He blinked at me, then let out a s

James FletcherI leaned against the edge of the sleek steel table in the IT room, arms crossed, as the hum of computers and the quiet chatter of the hired techs filled the space. Screens glowed like tiny suns in the dim light, each one a portal to someone’s private world, and tonight, that world belonged to Lillium Roosevelt.I watched them move—fingers flying over keyboards, eyes scanning lines of data, servers humming—but I couldn’t focus. My mind kept flashing back to what I had seen earlier: Adam, my Boss, a storm unleashed. Every curse, every shout, every fragment of anger directed at Lu… it burned into my memory like fire on steel.He had cursed the only person he’s ever truly loved like no one else ever would. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. My chest tightened just thinking about it. The penthouse had been a battlefield, and I had been a silent witness, helpless to stop the damage.I rubbed my temples, trying to push the images awa

Sebastian "Iris" SmithThe café had emptied, leaving the clatter of cups and the faint murmur of street traffic outside as the only companions to my thoughts. I sat alone at the small table, the recorder lying in front of me like a little black heart I wasn’t sure I could handle.I stared at it, my thumb brushing its cold surface, the voice inside repeating words that made my stomach twist. “Do you love him?”… “Love? Please. I’m only in it for the money.”I should have felt satisfaction. Triumph. Yet, nothing like that came. Instead, a weight settled on my chest, pressing me into the chair. I realized, with a sudden clarity, that Lu—my “target,” my pawn—wasn’t the same as the rest. Too clean, too untainted. Too… good.I wanted to shove the recorder away, smash it, throw it into the river if I could. But I couldn’t. Not yet.A shiver ran down my spine—a presence that wasn’t mine. I stiffened.“Everything is going according to plan

Adam LewistonThe city lights blurred past the car window, streaks of gold and red bending with the curves of the avenue. I sat back, hands folded over my lap, James’s steady driving the only sound apart from the faint hum of the engine.And yet, I couldn’t quiet the thoughts circling my mind, sharp and relentless. Lu. Lillium. My fiancé. The one person I should have known inside out, yet every detail I thought I had seemed suddenly fragile, like sand slipping through my fingers.Was he… connected to Augustus? Lupinos? That man today—the heir to the White Lutos throne—he looked exactly like Lu. No, not just like him… identical. My chest tightened at the memory, the image of that smile, that same way his eyes seemed to linger on me for just a beat too long.I ran a hand down my face, pressing my fingers into my temple. Was it possible? Could Lu really be tied to the most powerful empire in existence, a secret I’d never been told? My mind raced, jum

Lillium Roosevelt The café had thinned out as the afternoon wore on. Outside, the sun dipped low, streaking the sky with soft apricot light that spilled through the tall windows. The city noise blurred into a hum beyond the glass, leaving Iris and me in our little pocket of calm.He stirred the last of his espresso, lazy circles of the spoon clicking against porcelain. His gaze dropped suddenly to my hand resting on the table. For a beat, he didn’t say anything—just tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly like he was lining up a shot.Then he smirked. “That’s new.”I blinked, following his line of sight. The ring glinted under the light, simple yet unmistakable. My chest tightened.“You’re married?” he asked, too casually to be casual.“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Not married.”His brow arched. “Engaged, then?”I hesitated, then sighed, a faint smile tugging at me. “Yeah. Recently engaged.”

Dominus VaneThe city burned gold. That dying light of afternoon, where shadows stretch long and the air feels heavy with secrets, poured through Lu’s apartment window. I stood there, motionless, cigarette in hand, the smoke curling toward the pane as I stared at the building opposite.I should’ve been thinking of my next move. Of how I would tell Lu the truth—that he owes more than he could ever imagine, that his name isn’t clean, not with the chains I’ve seen bound around it. But the words…they stuck like grit in my throat. How do you tell someone you’ve known since they were barely grown that the life they’ve fought for is shackled to someone else’s debt?The knock broke the silence. A single rap against the door—measured, sharp, deliberate. Not the kind of knock that asked permission.I flicked the cigarette into a glass of water and turned. My chest tightened as I crossed the apartment, every step heavy with the knowledge of who had sent it.

Present Day Twenty-third of December, New York City TYLER Just as the snow kept falling on the ground, Miles and I decided to take a walk around the park. Even in the cold weather, we couldn't resist the beauty of the winter wonderland surrounding us. The trees were dusted in snow, their branches hanging low under the weight of the sparkling flakes. The lakes were frozen over, a sheet of ice reflecting the sunlight as it peeked through the clouds. And in the distance, we could see people skating on the frozen water, their laughter echoing through the frosty air. "It's been a while, Miles," I said, trying to break the silence as we walked side by side, our footsteps leaving imprints in the freshly fallen snow. Miles looked at me and smiled, his teeth slightly visible under his scarf. "Yeah, it has," he replied, his voice warm and familiar. I couldn't help but be taken aback by his mesmerizing smile, his hazel eyes still holding the same sparkle that I remembered. We had been tog

MILES Prom night had been one of the most unforgettable nights of my life. I had spent months preparing for it, getting the perfect suit, finding the perfect date, and convincing my parents to let me go. But what made that night truly unforgettable was not the glitz and glamour of the prom, but the decision that Tyler and I made afterwards. Tyler and I talked about our plans. We wanted to go on a trip together, just the two of us, and create unforgettable memories. At first, we had planned to go somewhere foreign, someplace exotic and romantic. But we began to realize that he would soon be heading off to college and may not have the chance to travel together again. So, we decided to change our plans and go somewhere meaningful instead. At my Grandfather's hometown. Tyler loved the idea and we began planning our trip immediately. As we shared our plans with our families, they were overjoyed and my parents suggested that we make it a family trip. At first, I was hesitant, thinking i

MILES As I stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. It was prom night, and I had been looking forward to this moment for weeks. My black suit and red bowtie were perfectly tailored, and my black hair was styled to perfection. I couldn't help but smile at my reflection, feeling confident and beautiful. But as I gazed into the mirror, I couldn't help but wonder if my boyfriend would be just as impressed. We had been together for a month now, and I had always made an effort to look my best for him. But tonight was different, tonight was special. I wanted to make sure he knew just how much he meant to me. I took a deep breath and straightened my tie, adjusting the bowtie so that it sat perfectly in place. I smoothed out my hair and took one last look at myself before turning away from the mirror. It was time to meet my date and start our night. As I stood there in my room, surrounded by the familiar walls and

EMILY As we all sat down at the dinner table, I couldn't help but notice how grumpy Dad's expression was. His brows met, and there was anger and frustration in his eyes. He must be having a bad day today. "How was your day?" my mom asked as she handed the mashed potatoes to Dad. Dad took a deep breath before answering, his voice low and gruff. "It was a long day," he said, his jaw clenched. "I had to deal with a lot of stuff at work, and then I lost 3-star players off my team." I could feel my eyes rolling in my head before he even finished the sentence. Meredith caught my reaction and let out a chuckle. She must have gotten my humor because she knew exactly what was coming. As we began eating our dinner, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust listening to Dad's empathetic way of sharing about his day. He was talking about how difficult it was to lose his three best players, how it was going to affect our chances in the tournament, and how he was struggling to find new playe

JESSICA The morning light crept into my room, casting a pale glow over the familiar scene of my bedside table, cluttered with books and papers, and my rumpled bedcovers. But nothing could dispel the darkness that had settled in my heart. My mind raced with thoughts of betrayal and hurt as I read the latest news on my phone. My father's affair with my best friend, Sophie, was no secret anymore. It was all over the school's website, splashed across the screens of every device within reach. And it wasn't just the embarrassment and shame that cut deep; it was the knowledge that my flesh and blood had betrayed me, that he had chosen his desires over our family's well-being. But that wasn't even the worst part. As if the stab to my heart wasn't enough, the article also revealed that my mother's struggles with insanity had become so severe that she could no longer keep up the pretense of normalcy. I felt like I was drowning in a tidal wave of pain and anger, unable to escape the crushing

JESSICA As the night descended, the shadows grew long and dark, casting an eerie glow over everything as the streets were adorned with streetlamps, save for the distant hum of crickets and the occasional barking of dogs. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I drove my car towards my aunt's Wedding Anniversary Party, while the memory of my mother's recent conversation with that psychiatrist still lingered in my mind. I sighed to calm myself, the air around me seemed to shift and ripple like a heat mirage on a summer day. The tension in my shoulders eased ever so slightly as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the cool night air wash over me. When I opened my eyes again, everything looked different - the neon lights of the city seemed brighter, the sounds of traffic more distant, and the stars above twinkled like diamonds scattered across the velvet blackness of the sky. It was then that I knew something was off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.