Novels by Ali

PearlThe sunlight hit my face from the window, causing my eyes to flutter open. My vision was still blurry and my eyes crusty. I stretched my legs before sitting up. Slowly, I opened my eyes and realized that I was hugging that prick. Not only was I hugging him, but one of my legs was on top of him. He was holding my hand while he slept.I quickly got up from his side and crawled into the corner of the room. What the actual moon curse, did I just cling to him while I was asleep? Why do I always do this? Why do I hug him like he’s my pillow? Ahh, this is so annoying. I need to do something about this habit of mine.That’s when I noticed he was staring at me with a huge smile on his face. Oh no, don’t tell me he was staring at me this entire time. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize he was awake, and now he was looking at me.I cleared my throat and tried to avoid eye contact with him. “Good morning,” I said in a soft voice.He smiled while lying on his side, his palm su

As the door swung open, a mysterious man dressed in grey entered the room. His face was hidden behind a mask, and his cold eyes locked on Demyan. I instinctively moved into a corner, my body tensed. I didn’t want to attract attention—something about this man felt dangerous.Demyan, on the other hand, stood completely still, his expression unreadable. But I knew something was wrong. His usual calm demeanor was gone. Today, his entire posture changed—as if he had come face-to-face with a nightmare. The tension in the room was so heavy, it made it hard to breathe.He stepped forward and spoke, his tone sharp. “What brings you here at this time?”The masked man smirked beneath the fabric. “You won’t get away so easily, Demyan. I’ll make sure you pay for what you’ve done.”The man began to approach, but then, suddenly, a voice rang out from outside. Demyan’s eyes darted toward the window. I followed his gaze—and in that blink of an eye, the masked man was gone. Vanished. Like smoke.“What

PearlWe had finally found a cabin. I was cold, and my entire body was soaked. My clothes clung to my skin, and I kept rubbing my arms for warmth like a shivering kitten lost in the rain. Demyan was walking ahead of me, confidently leading the way like he was some heroic knight on a mission—which, knowing him, he probably imagined he was.He suddenly turned back and faced me, pulling out his knife with a swift motion. My eyes widened, and before I could say a word, he placed the blade gently on his lips and whispered, “Shush.”That one word made my heart skip a beat. Why do you sound so dramatic, Demyan? Are we in a war movie now? I looked around frantically, half-expecting someone to jump out of the bushes with a sword. My fingers were trembling, and not just from the cold.He stepped toward me with that ever-so-slight smirk of his, his voice dropping to a whisper as his lips neared my ear. “Don’t be scared, kitten. I’m here for you, and I will protect you.”Oh no. Not the kitten aga

PearlI could hear his voice—it was Demyan who saved me. My body was so weak I couldn't move, but I could feel him taking off my clothes. No, no, this is bad! If he takes off my clothes, he’ll know I’m a girl—not a guy—and that would be dangerous for me. I grabbed his hand tightly and slowly opened my eyes. He looked so worried, his hair soaking wet and dripping. After seeing me wake up, he laid down beside me. He looked just as exhausted—his eyes closed while he lay there—and I turned to face him, clutching my clothes tightly.For a moment, I forgot I was pretending. Just lying there beside him, soaked and tired, I almost let myself believe I was just a normal boy... not a girl with a secret that could ruin everything.He risked his life to save me. Who does that for a stranger?“Why did you risk your life for me? You don’t even know me well—we’ve only met a few times,” I said in a soft voice, staring into his eyes.“I don’t know. I just couldn’t let you die like that. I’d have regre

DemyanI stood in the tall shadowed hall of our ancestral manor, cloaked in midnight-blue velvet and silver. The walls were lined with ancient tapestries worn by age, and candlelight danced across heirlooms of war and peace. Outside, the forest slept under a steel-gray sky, and I could faintly hear the wind racing through the trees. I am calm, I told myself. Years of training had taught me to wear calm like a second skin, each flicker of fear cooled by duty. On the marble hearth, embers smoldered quietly; each flicker was a heartbeat in the silence.A soft rustle announced Sirek ’s arrival as he stepped into the hearthlight. The former Gamma’s broad shoulders and graying jaw were unmistakable even in the dim light. He bowed once, quietly. “My prince,” he said, tone respectful but edged with concern. “The scouts from the northern forest have brought news.” Despite myself, I felt a flicker of pride that he brought news directly to me. I gestured to a stone bench by the hearth and Sirek

Pearl POVThe competition was going to begin. The boys stood behind me and I was holding the totem like my life depended on it—because it really did. I took baby steps forward, terrified to enter that dark forest, knowing deep down that the death god himself was probably waiting for me in there, licking his chops.The bullies had huge smirks plastered on their faces, and their leader kept staring at my totem like a starving beast watching its prey. I could feel their hungry gazes and quickly hid the totem under my sleeve. Thankfully, my uniform had long sleeves. This totem was my baby now—I had to protect it at all costs from those predators.I peeked behind me. Killian, Demyan, and Rowan stood there looking like they had zero fear in the world. Rowan was yawning, like he’d rather take a nap than participate in a game where we might die. Demyan’s eyes were locked on me—not blinking, not moving, just staring—as if he could read my soul. I made a face.“Don’t stare at me like that,” I