Novels by Nessa

Aria POVI lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The pain in my back made every small movement ache, but at least the dizziness had faded.I had insisted Elara take me to my own chamber instead of staying in Magnus's room. I couldn't stand being there, surrounded by his scent.Elara had gone to get me some food, so I was alone with my thoughts. My mind kept drifting to the maid who promised to get me the receipts. I hoped she was actually on my side and wasn't just setting me up. I couldn't afford to trust the wrong person.My hand drifted to my belly, resting there gently. I was grateful my baby was safe, but now I needed to be more careful. I couldn't let anything happen to them again.A knock came from my door. I sat up carefully, wincing."Come in," I said.The door opened, and Elias walked in. His body was still bandaged, his face lined with worry. He rushed to my bedside, his hands hovering over me like he was afr

Magnus POVI sat in my office, the weight of the day pressing down on me. Adrian and Ossian stood before me, their faces grim as they delivered their findings."Some of the maids and staff are reluctant to speak," Adrian said. "But I've confirmed it from six people. The steward has been whipping them. He's done it to maids, kitchen workers, and stable boys.""For what reasons?" I asked, rubbing my temples."Stealing. Disobeying. And more." Adrian paused, his voice softening slightly. "Is Aria alright?"I looked at him, surprised by the question. Adrian had been suspicious of her from the beginning, yet here he was, asking about her wellbeing."She is," I said slowly. "Why do you ask?"Adrian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't think she's the type who deserves to take a whip to her back. She's going to have scars. I just hope the baby is fine."Ossian interrupted. "Either way, it seems we have a probl

Aria POVMagnus lifted the steward by the throat, the man choking and gasping, his legs dangling uselessly. Magnus wasn't listening to his pleas. His grip was iron, his eyes burning with cold fury.The head maid stumbled forward, her face pale, her voice trembling. "My King... we were punishing the thief."Magnus's eyes snapped to her. He threw the steward hard to the ground. The man hit the stone floor with a heavy thud, gasping for air as he clutched his bruised neck."Since when does punishment involve whipping?" Magnus's voice boomed through the courtyard, echoing off the stone walls. "And you had the audacity to do it in front of a crowd? You must be out of your mind."The head maid shrank back. "My King, she stole an important book. It was the late Queen's-""I don't even let the criminals I execute feel pain," Magnus cut her off, his voice cold and deadly. "But you dared to do this. To my mate."He turned to me, h

Aria POVThey dragged me to my chambers, shoving me through the doorway so hard I stumbled and nearly fell. The steward and head maid entered behind me, their faces cold and triumphant, while soldiers gripped my arms, holding me in place. A crowd had gathered outside the door. Maids, servants, soldiers, all pressing forward, eager to witness my humiliation.I scanned the faces desperately, hoping to see Magnus or even Ossian. They weren't here."Search it," the steward commanded, his voice sharp as a blade.Two soldiers lunged forward, tearing through my belongings with ruthless efficiency. They ripped my clothes from the wardrobe, tossed my few possessions across the floor, overturned the small table. The sound of breaking glass made me flinch.I tried to stay calm, but my heart pounded so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it.I didn't steal any book. I knew that.But as I watched them destroy my room, I caught the

Aria POV"Is this what you're looking for?"My breath caught in my throat. My hands grew sweaty, my heart hammering against my ribs. I forced myself to stay calm, to hide the panic clawing at my chest."What do you want?" I said, my voice carefully steady."Did I mention wanting anything?" the maid asked calmly, her eyes unreadable.I studied her for a moment, my mind racing. "You wouldn't be holding that in front of me if you weren't expecting something in return. It's better if you return it... unless you want trouble."The maid smiled, which caught me off guard. She stepped forward and handed me the papers. I took them, shocked but still wary."You should be careful," she said softly, her voice dropping. "What if one of the steward's or head maid's puppets found this? It wouldn't end well for you."I let out a slow breath, clutching the papers to my chest. "Are you going to tell anyone?""No. But I w

Aria POVI woke to the familiar softness of my bed. I shot up quickly, my heart pounding. How did I get here? I remembered being with Elias last night, falling asleep on his lap. Had someone carried me back?Before I could think further, I heard a sound from the corner of the room. I glanced toward the side and froze.Magnus sat in a chair, his head tilted back, his eyes closed in deep sleep. Even in sleep, he looked tense. His jaw was tight, his hands folded, his brows furrowed. He looked like a man who never truly rested.Had he stayed here all night? Watching over me?I looked down at myself and blushed. I was dressed in sleepwear, a simple, soft nightgown I definitely hadn't been wearing before. My face flushed. Don't tell me he was the one who changed me.Before I could think further, Magnus stirred. His face twisted with tension, his eyes shut tightly. A low, pained sound escaped his throat."No..." he muttered, hi

Rachel POV I stared back at Marcus, who stood by the door, my eyes glistening with tears. He stared back, nervously shifting his weight. "I-I'm sorry for showing up like this-" I didn't let him finish. I crossed the distance between us and pulled him into a hug, letting Lily go so I could hold my brother with both arms. The tears came before I could stop them, soaking into his shoulder. He froze for a moment. Then his arms came around me, holding me tight, his face buried in my hair. Six years. After six years of waiting and wondering, Marcus was here. He was the one who had gotten my daughter back. The one who had come home. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry for leaving you. For all the years I wasted. For everything-" I pulled back, my hands gripping his shoulders. "Stop," I said, my voice trembling. "Stop apologizing. You're here now. That's all that matters." I laughed through my tears. "And thank you for getting Lily. I don't know what I w

Lily POV This was the worst day ever. First, I lost the competition. Then, some smelly man carried me through the trees. Now I was stuck in a dark cave with a bunch of grumpy strangers who wouldn't even give me a blanket. I was going to tell Daddy about this. He would make them sorry. "Who are you people?" Lily demanded, her arms crossed. "I was supposed to be in the competition!" "Shut up, kid," a grumpy man snapped. Lily's face turned red. "You shut up! You smell like wet socks!" The man frowned, his eyes narrowing. The others looked confused. "What kind of kid is this?" one muttered. "She isn't even scared." Lily laughed. "Why would I be scared of you... ugly sock? Mommy will come and beat you up!" The ringleader walked toward her, his voice low and threatening. "If you don't shut that mouth, you won't be seeing Mommy and Daddy again." Lily's mouth snapped shut. She pouted but stayed quiet. Then she sneezed. "I'm cold," she announced. "Can I have a blanket

Rachel POV Next Day The water park sprawled before us like a child's paradise bright slides curving against the sky, pools of water, and the constant sound of laughter and splashing. Leo, Matteo, and Thalia had already disappeared into the chaos, their shouts of joy echoing from the tallest slide. I stayed behind at the shallow pool, watching Lily. She sat at the edge, her small legs dangling in the water, her face scrunched in a familiar pout. "I want to go with Leo," she whined, kicking at the water. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Lily was never content with the easy path. She craved the big adventures, the wild rides, the things that made my heart race for all the wrong reasons. It was exhausting and wonderful. Damien appeared beside me, his hand finding the curve of my waist. We watched her for a moment. A group of children splashed nearby, giggling, inviting her to join. She ignored them completely, her tiny arms crossed, her lower lip out. "Won't you play with

Rachel POV We arrived at the private dock, the sleek white yacht bobbing gently in the crystal-clear water. It wasn't massive but it was elegant, pristine, and unmistakably expensive. Vance had gone ahead to handle the boarding arrangements with the captain. Thomas stood beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the vessel. "I never imagined I'd be on something like this," he murmured. I smiled, linking my arm through his. "Get used to it, Dad. You're family now." He chuckled softly. "I still can't believe it sometimes." Vance waved us forward from the gangway. "All clear. The captain is ready." We stepped onto the ship, rolling our luggage aboard. The interior was stunning-polished teak wood, cream-colored furnishings, and large windows that offered endless views of the ocean. It was intimate, elegant, and clearly designed for private luxury. Alessandro looked around, nodding approvingly. "Lorenzo said I could've used the other ships... but those are for operations only. So we h

Damien POV 4 years later Golden rays passed through the curtains of the main parlour of the manor, creating intricate patterns on the marble floor. The afternoon air was filled with activity-the clicking of servants' footsteps, the sounds of gardening tools, and the hum of cars from the courtyard. Everyone in their own world, busy with their unique lives. But this afternoon, I was pulled out of work by a tiny, bossy, adorable child. "Daddy!!!" I snapped out of my thoughts, finding myself in the tea party Lily had dragged me to. Leo was by my side, twelve now and grown into a gentle, calm preteen, all his toddler features gone. He was smiling as he watched Lily but he was clearly tired of her antics. Right. Lily. My four-year-old daughter. The beautiful child Rachel had carried in her womb for 9 months. "Concentrate, Daddy!" she yelled again as she passed me my supposed meal. Just a tiny plate with dirt and leaves. "I'm... thank you, dear," I said politely. She

Damien POV Two years had passed since Marcus left, and life had been peaceful since. The air was warmer, fuller, alive. Rachel's business had grown further and expanded into many other sectors. Her name-Rachel Owens-had become a reputable brand in the business world. Of course, I was still running the Montrel empire secretly, ensuring it never mixed with Rachel's legitimate businesses and Leo. Speaking of Leo. I was seated on the benches with Alessandro beside me and the other parents. Leo was eight years old now, and he'd taken up some extracurricular activities-mostly following in Matteo's footsteps. Though he seemed to have inherited none of Matteo's musical talent. Matteo sat a few rows ahead, his violin tucked under his chin, playing with the kind of precision that came from years of practice. He was eleven now, tall and composed, his focus absolute. He had his grandfather's intensity, but Alessandro's charm. I watched beside Alessandro as Leo blew into the trumpet