Novels by Karen M

Seraphina.The sound of his voice through the door made my heart leap into my throat. I stood still, my hand still clutching the lapel of the jacket. He was right outside, and Draven Voss didn't take 'no' for an answer."Seraphina," the handle jiggled. "Open it. Now."I took a shaky breath, stepping back from the door. "Go away, Draven. Mom is down the hall. If she wakes up—""Liora took a sleeping pill after we got back. She’s out cold," his voice dropped, "You have five seconds before I get the master key."Compelled by a mix of anger and self-preservation, I unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open just a crack.He shoved his way inside, his massive frame consuming the space of my bedroom, shutting the door behind him. His tie was completely gone now, his collar turned out, his gray hair slightly mussed. His eyes locked onto the jacket still draped over my shoulders."You're keeping it on," he remarked, his voice dangerously soft as he closed the distance between us. "The sc

Seraphina.The bike tore down the roads, wind whipping my hair under the helmet. Leah drove like she had nothing to lose. I kept my arms locked around her waist, the leather of her jacket warm against my skin. My emerald dress bunched up around my thighs, probably ruined, but for once I didn’t care.We pulled into a gravel lot outside a neon-lit diner called “The Midnight Spoon.” Leah killed the engine and swung off first, offering her hand. I took it, legs shaky from the ride and everything else.“Easy, princess. Pie fixes most things. The rest is bullshit anyway.” She grinned, hazel eyes catching the light. Up close under the diner sign, she looked even sharper—strong jaw, short dark hair tousled from the helmet, a faded scar cutting through one eyebrow. Tall, athletic, the kind of effortless sexy that turned heads without trying. A stud, through and through.Inside, the place smelled like coffee and grease. Leah ordered cherry pie for both of us and black coffee strong enough to wa

SeraphinaI wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand and pushed to my feet, ignoring the throb in my ankle. “Always around, huh? That sounds more like a warning than a promise.”He chuckled softly, stepping closer but stopping when I crossed my arms. “Just checking on you, Seraphina. You looked like you needed it. That spin you did—still got the fire, even if your landing’s shaky.”I managed a small smile. “I’m figuring it out. Dancing helps. And yeah, the ankle’s a mess from pushing too hard.”Pulling his hands out of his coat pockets, he offered a smug grin. “You know I'll always be here to take your mind off things. I heard your mother is getting married. Congrats on getting a new daddy.”I rolled my eyes, so hard it practically hurt. “First of all, don't ever say 'new daddy' to me again unless you want a black eye. Second, I don't need you to take my mind off anything.” But despite my sharp tone, the sudden mention of the wedding sent a familiar, heavy knot tighteni

SeraphinaI walked the long hallways of the east wing, looking for Elara. She was a fuse waiting to explode, and her presence at the club and yacht had made one thing terrifyingly clear: She was suspicious of Draven and me. I need to find out what she knew, and why she loathes her own sister’s husband with such a burning intensity.My search ended when I reached the downstairs lounge, voices drifting out into the corridor.I pushed the door open, stepping inside as the aroma of chamomile tea hit me. Mom and Elara sat across from each other, teacups steaming between them. Mom’s shoulders relaxed the moment she saw me, relief flooding her features. “Seraphina, sweetheart. Come join us.”“Am I interrupting?” I asked quietly, my eyes darting between the two of them.“Not at all,” Mom said, though her smile faltered. “We were just going over wedding details. And… about your future stepfather.”Perfect. I settled into the armchair beside her, smoothing my skirt. “Finally, someone who knows

Liora.I stepped between Elara and Seraphina, my hand firm on my daughter’s arm. “That’s enough. Seraphina is my daughter, and she’s not banned from seeing Draven. Whatever you think you saw at the club, you’re mistaken. The lighting there is terrible, and people bump into each other all the time.”Seraphina stood still beside me, her face whitewashed. I can't understand why she seems scared but my heart ached for her—she had always been too fragile for the ruthless scrutiny of high society.Elara’s venomous smile faltered, her sharp eyes darting between Seraphina and me.“Of course. My mistake. It was dark in that corner.”Seraphina stayed quiet, her gaze fixed on the marble floor. I squeezed her arm once, steadying her. “Go on upstairs, sweetheart. Wash up and get some rest. You’ve had a stressful day.”Draven hadn’t moved from his spot near the stairs, his eyes boring holes into Elara’s forehead. He looked ready to snap her neck, and honestly, the protective streak in him was thril

Liora.I lunged forward, my nails digging into the fabric of the woman's shoulder, and wrenched her backward out of the shadows. I wanted to see her face. I wanted to memorize the eyes of the vulture trying to steal what was mine.“Get off my husband.”The woman stumbled, the dim emergency light catching her face.The breath choked in my windpipe.“Seraphina?” My hand dropped as if I’d touched a live wire.My daughter stood before me, her chest heaving. Her dark, wavy hair was a wild, tangled mess around her shoulders, and her lips were swollen, the red lipstick smeared past her lip line.Behind her, Draven didn’t flinch. The heavy silence in the yacht corridor was suffocating.“What is going on here?” My voice shook, pitching higher than I intended. “Draven? Seraphina? Why are you two hidding in the dark like this?”Seraphina swallowed hard, her fingers trembling as she clutched a pair of old pointe shoes against her chest. “Mother... it’s not what it looks like. I—I was having a pan