Novels by vera Ujunwa

Alara’s POVLeyla pulled me into the house and up the stairs, her grip on my wrist never loosening for even a second. She dragged me into my bedroom and pushed me inside. I stumbled and fell onto the floor. When I looked up, she was locking the door behind her.“You will stay here until it is time,” she said, standing between me and the only exit. “Do not try to break the window. The glass is too thick. Do not try to hide. We know every corner of this room.”“Why?” I asked, scrambling backward until my back hit the bed. “Why are you doing this? I never did anything to you!”Leyla walked slowly toward me. She looked down at me, not with anger, but with something worse; pity, cold, cruel pity. “It is not personal, Alara. It is necessary. There are debts that must be paid. And you… you are the payment.”“Debts?” I said. “What debts?”“Debts from before you were born,” she said. “A war that started long before you took your first breath. Your father and I… we are just finishing what was s

Alara's POVI thrashed against the gloved hand, but before the shadow could lock me in place, I bit down hard on his palm. He cursed under his breath, loosening his grip just long enough for me to break free.I didn’t wait. I turned and ran as fast as I could, my shoes slapping against the stone path. I heard the window open behind me. I heard my father shout, sharp and angry. But I didn’t stop. I ran through the garden, past the fountains, past the rose bushes that tore at my dress.I reached the back gate, the one that was always locked. I pulled at it, but it wouldn’t move. It was bolted from the outside. I was trapped.“Alara!”My name, not shouted in anger. Spoken low and sharp, right behind me. I turned around, and saw Leyla standing behind me there. She wasn’t running. She wasn’t even out of breath. She stood perfectly still, her face calm, beautiful and terrifying.“Where are you going, little bird?” she asked. Her voice was still soft, but it sent shivers down my spine. “The

Alara POVI sat on my bed for a long time after Elif left. Bait? That was what I was. Not a daughter, not a person. Bait. Something to be dangled in front of an enemy to draw him in.I stood up and walked to the window again. The gardens looked different now, not beautiful, but like a trap. Everything was perfect so that no one would suspect the danger hiding underneath.A knock came at the door. Three soft, slow raps. I knew that knock. It was Kemal.“Come in,” I said.He stepped inside, but he didn’t cross the threshold all the way. He stayed close to the door, like he was afraid to be too close to me. “You need to go out,” he said. “For a walk, In the gardens. Fresh air will do you good.”I looked at him. “Is that an order from my father? Or do you actually think that?”“Your father said you should take some air,” he said. “But I also think about it. Being cooped up in here all day… it isn’t right.”I grabbed my shawl and walked past him into the hall. “Fine. Let’s go, but don’t pr

Alara’s POVI couldn't eat another bite. The food sat on my plate, cold and heavy, matching the sudden, suffocation-like pressure in the room.My father didn't flinch, but the air instantly turned electric. I pushed my chair back and stood up, my pulse hammering in my ears. He didn't even look up at me."I'm finished," I said, trying to force a steady breath into my lungs.“Not so fast,” Leyla said, her voice soft but firm. “Sit a little longer. We haven’t finished talking.”“I want to know what you meant,” I said. “About the purpose I was born for. What are you planning?”My father finally looked at me. His face was calm, but his eyes were hard as stone. “Some things are not for children to understand, Alara. You are nearly a woman now. And with that comes responsibility. Responsibility to this family, to our name, to everything we have built.”“Responsibility doesn’t mean I have to be used,” I said. The words were out before I could stop them.Leyla gasped. “Alara! That is no way to

Alara's POVThe morning sun hit my bedroom window like it always does, bright, warm, and beautiful. But it never touched me. The heavy velvet curtains were pulled just enough to let in light, but never enough to let me see the world outside clearly. I sat up in my large, soft bed and looked around the room. Everything was perfect. Marble floors, silk rugs, furniture that shone like it had never been touched. It was the most beautiful room in the whole mansion. And it felt like a cage.I stood up and walked to the window. My fingers brushed the cold glass. Down below, the gardens stretched out, perfect green grass, flowers that bloomed all year long, fountains that never stopped running. But even from up here, I could see the guards. Two men stood by the gate. Two more walked along the walls. And somewhere, always somewhere close, was Kemal.I pulled on my dress, soft, blue, expensive. It was chosen for me, just like everything else in my life. I ran a brush through my long chestnut ha