Novels by Ivy Hart

The morning sun slipped weakly through the shutters. Dust floated in the pale light. The cottage smelled faintly of smoke and pine, but Selene couldn’t breathe it in. Her chest felt tight.She lay tangled in her blanket, skin hot with sweat, heart racing. The dream still clung to her golden eyes, a whisper in her ear, the heat of a body that had never touched her. She pressed her hand hard against her chest, trying to calm her heartbeat. It didn’t work.Her skin burned like she had a fever. Every move made her aware of her own body the fast pulse, the restless ache in her stomach, the echo of his voice deep inside her mind. She bit her lip until she tasted blood, but it didn’t help.“Selene?”The voice made her jump.Nyra stood by the door, arms crossed, a worried frown between her brows. Her dark eyes scanned Selene her flushed cheeks, shaking hands, the sweat on her skin.“You’re burning up,” Nyra said.Selene pulled the blanket closer and sat up. “It’s nothing. Just a bad dream.”N

The cottage was too quiet.Nyra slept soundly, her breathing soft in the dark. The fire had gone out hours ago, but Selene couldn’t sleep. She lay awake, her blanket tangled around her legs, her skin burning like fire was trapped beneath it.She turned over. Then again. Curled up. Stretched out. Nothing helped.Her body wouldn’t calm down.It wasn’t the air. Or the bed.It was him.She saw his golden eyes whenever she closed hers. She heard his voice in her head: Not yet.Selene pressed her wrist to her chest. He had grabbed her there during the ritual. There was no bruise, but she could still feel the heat of his hand like it was burned into her skin.Her breath shook.She hated how her body reacted the restless ache, the heat crawling lower. Shame burned through her. She tried to fight it, pressing her thighs together, whispering, “No,” into the dark.Nyra moved in her sleep, mumbling. Selene froze until her cousin settled again. Then she lay back down, staring at the ceiling. The

The market smelled of wet dirt, roasted meat, and fear.Selene kept her hood low and walked through the narrow lane. The crowd was busier than usual. Wolves shouted at each other, buying herbs, bread, and fish. Chickens clucked in cages. Children ran between the stalls, laughing.It looked like a normal morning on the surface.But whispers filled the air.“They say the heir looked at her.”“No one looks him in the eye no one but her.”“She’s marked. The goddess already chose her.”Selene’s stomach tightened. She gripped her basket until her fingers hurt and kept walking. The words weren’t spoken to her directly, but people kept turning their heads. Too many eyes followed her.She stopped at a bread stall and gave the baker’s wife a few coins. The woman handed her a loaf but didn’t look up.“Thank you,” Selene said quietly.The woman didn’t reply.Selene walked away fast, heart pounding. The whispers followed her through the crowd.At the end of the square, an old woman sat selling dri

The gates slammed shut behind her.Selene ran down the narrow road, her cloak flying around her legs. Drums and howls still echoed from the fortress. Her lungs burned, but she didn’t stop.Not while his voice still followed her in her mind.Not yet.The words clung to her like smoke. She rubbed her wrist where he had held her. There was no bruise, no mark but she could still feel him there.His golden eyes haunted her. His blood-covered body. Every time she blinked, she saw him again.She joined the crowd of villagers leaving the fortress before the gates closed for the night. No one looked at her. Good. She pulled her hood lower and moved quickly.But inside, she was shaking.Her stomach twisted. Her heart raced. Each step away from the fortress should have made her feel safe, but instead, the fear grew heavier in her chest.The road curved into darkness. Forests stretched on both sides. The cool air smelled of pine and wet earth. She breathed deeply, trying to wash the fortress out

Her chest tightened. Heat filled her stomach, mixed with fear so strong it made her dizzy. She tried to pull her hand away, but his grip stayed firm gentle, yet impossible to escape.People were staring now. Heads turned. Whispers spread through the wolves.Who was she? Why was the heir talking to a cloaked girl?Selene’s stomach twisted. She needed to get out.She pushed his wrist again, harder this time, but it was like trying to move stone. He didn’t stop her struggle he just watched, golden eyes shining as if reading every small movement, every breath.“Careful,” he said softly. “If you fight too much, I might think you want me to chase you.”Her heart jumped. The way he said it it sounded like a warning and a promise.Selene took a deep breath. She needed space, shadows, anything to hide before he dragged her into the open and pulled her hood away.She twisted sharply, breaking free. The hood dropped lower over her face as she disappeared into the crowd.The wolves surrounded her

The night smelled of smoke and blood.Selene Duskbane pulled her hood down and walked quietly into the outer courtyard of Veyrath Fortress.The towers were tall and black, reaching for the full moon. The walls were burned from old fires. Torn flags hung from the castle walls. The place felt alive, like it was pressing down on her chest.She knew she should not be here.Poor wolves like her were not allowed on ritual nights. The Moon Fire Ceremony was only for noble wolves the rich and powerful ones. But she couldn’t stop walking forward.The guards were drunk, sitting by barrels of mead. They laughed loudly. Selene moved past them quietly, like a shadow.The courtyard was full of noise and light.Strong warriors stood bare-chested, their skin shining with oil. Young nobles wore thick furs and shiny jewelry. Some wolves shouted and howled at the moon. Torches burned in a perfect circle around a ring of stone in the center.Smoke filled the air. It smelled of spice and heat. Priests in