Novels by Ms. Asmo

EverineThe silence from the surrounding warriors was heavy, a weight that made the heat in my cheeks feel like an actual burn. I had been humiliated. Not just defeated, but stripped—literally and figuratively—of my composure.Gavriel did not gloat with words, at least not initially. Instead, he began to unbutton his charcoal-colored long-sleeve shirt. His movements were slow, as if he wanted everyone to witness the perfectly sculpted muscle beneath the fabric. He stepped toward me, his shadow falling over my frame, and draped the shirt over my shoulders.The scent hit me immediately. It was an infuriatingly pleasant scent. For a split second, the warmth of the garment was a relief, but then the reality of the gesture caught up with me.My rage spiked. I reached up, tore the shirt from my shoulders, and hurled it into the dirt along with my sword. I didn't care about the skin I was showing; I cared about the insult."Women are not suitable as vanguards?" I asked, my voice trembling wi

EverineMy eye twitched—a minor, involuntary betrayal of my composure that infuriated me almost as much as the man causing it.Gavriel Soltharic was, by all objective measures, more handsome than anyone had a right to be. It was a biological offensive. I tried to perform a mental recalibration, forcing myself to remember that the true essence of the creature standing before me was that of a small, vanishing child. I tried to project that image onto him, to see a toddler in oversized armor, but failed miserably.The man standing in front of me was a perfect specimen of masculinity, and he knew it."The one who draws first blood, wins," I stated. My voice was level, carrying the cold authority of a Thorne who had spent years mastering the art of the duel.Beside me, Ersa let out a sharp, audible gasp. She knew I wasn't indulging in a mere exercise. I was serious."It does not matter if that blood comes from a shallow graze or an amputated limb," I added, my gaze never wavering from his

EverineErsa actually chuckled as I stood there, a mud-stained disaster in what had once been very expensive silk. The damp soil was already drying into a crust against my skin, making every movement feel grit-filled and uncomfortable.“Well, he can be quite a lot to handle,” she remarked, her voice dripping with that irritatingly calm empathy.“Quite?” I hissed, wiping a streak of filth from my cheek with the back of my hand. “If I encounter that geriatric phantom again, I shall ensure his next millennium is spent in a state of perpetual irritation. He is a child with the temperament of a senile vulture.”I did not wait for her reply. I marched back into the mansion, my boots squelching with every movement. I spent the next hour submerged in a bath hot enough to simmer a roast, scrubbed until my skin was raw, and emerged feeling somewhat less like a swamp creature and more like a Thorne.With the War Council still closed to me—an intellectual travesty I have yet to forgive—and no oth

EverineFor a full week, I have performed the role of the dutiful, intellectual assistant to Ersa with a level of patience that frankly deserves its own commemorative plaque. I have offered my insights on logistics, scrutinized the supply chains for the upcoming march, and provided tactical commentary whenever the opportunity presented itself. However, the reality of my new, crownless status remains a bitter pill to swallow. I am barred from the War Council.Apparently, the strategic discussions regarding the impending celestial slaughter are reserved exclusively for the Alphas and their Lunas. I am forced to remain on the periphery, an intellectual individual relegated to the role of a highly overqualified secretary. It is an insult to my capabilities, but I have managed to maintain my composure—mostly by redirecting my frustrations into the training grounds.As much as my schedule allows, I have been training with the pack members and their warriors. I find that the weight of a blad

EverineAs my carriage ascended the winding road toward the Alpha’s mansion, I surveyed the town nestled below the hill. It was a hive of frantic, organized chaos—warriors moved in rhythmic formations, their blades catching the light with a grim readiness that signaled the end of peace.However, it was the sky that truly offended my sensibilities. It had deepened into a shade of pink so visceral it looked like an open wound, yet it refused to transition into the darkness of the Bloodmoon. It was a stagnant, intellectual anomaly that grated on my nerves. I found myself wondering why the celestial transition was taking so long; the heavens were apparently as inefficient as the pack’s border patrols.When I finally entered the mansion, the air was thick with the scent of impending doom. I did not bother with the trivialities of an announcement; I marched directly toward Sano’s study.“Everine!”Ersa’s voice was the first to strike me, laced with that predictable, wide-eyed shock that eve

Everine“E-Everine!”The stuttered, clumsy shock on Seraphine’s face was the first thing that greeted me as I crossed the threshold of Thornehill. I could not help but allow a slow, deliberate roll of my eyes to serve as my initial greeting. Here I was, finally deigning to return to my ancestral home, only to be welcomed by the one person whose presence I found entirely unnecessary.My gaze darted immediately toward her midsection, noting the slight, messy bulge that disrupted her otherwise perfect silhouette.“You are pregnant,” I stated. It was not a question; it was an observation.She flinched slightly, her hands instinctively moving to shield the curve of her stomach. Honestly, the girl acted as if I intended to strike her.“Oh, calm yourself, Seraphine. I have not returned for the purpose of a quarrel. I simply wished to return home,” I replied, walking past her without waiting for an acknowledgment. I did not require her permission to enter my own family’s manor.“Where is my b

Arce“Were you able to give the Alpha his refreshments?” Zenith asked as I returned to my seat beside him.“Y-yes.” I lowered myself onto the bench, keeping my attention on Yno as he stepped back into the pit.Something about him seemed amiss. His movements had lost some of their usual precision, and for a brief moment, he appeared unsteady before correcting himself. It was a subtle change, one the spectators might easily overlook, but I knew precisely what had caused it.The Everblue was taking effect.I ought to have been pleased. This was what I had agreed to, after all. I had poisoned his drink so that the challengers might stand a better chance of defeating him, and now the plan was unfolding exactly as intended.Yet, rather than anticipating his defeat, I found myself hoping the next challenger would be dispatched quickly.The first man entered the pit carrying a sword. He was leaner than Yno's previous opponents, but the confidence with which he handled his weapon suggested con

ArceThe crowd cheered as Yno brought down yet another challenger in the center of the pit.I leaned my head toward Zenith sitting beside me, though I kept my eyes on the pit where a man larger than Yno had just stepped in, something I would have thought impossible.“Tell me, what is the purpose of this Dueling, precisely? Is it merely an occasion for your Alpha to demonstrate his strength before the pack?”Zenith chuckled. “You are not entirely mistaken, Princess. However, the Dueling also determines whether an Alpha remains worthy of his position. Should a challenger prove stronger, the reigning Alpha must surrender his title. A leader who cannot defend his place has little right to retain it.”I turned to him, genuinely surprised. “Does this tradition exist in every pack? I understand that your kind has no single ruler, unlike us vampires, but you permit others to challenge their own leaders for their positions every year?”“Not every pack follows the same customs. Some preserve ol

ArceUnfortunately for me, Orpheus and Fallon proved remarkably uncooperative, choosing to disregard my explicit order and trailing behind me like a pair of oversized, obedient guard dogs.I stopped beside a row of wooden shops and turned to face them, folding my arms across my chest.“I believe I have already made it clear that I wish to be left alone.”Orpheus regarded me without the slightest change in expression. “Forgive us, Princess, but we cannot permit you to wander about unaccompanied, at least not while you are in the settlement.”I offered him a pleasant smile that I hoped would convey precisely how little I appreciated his answer.“You two have been breathing down my neck since early morning. What makes your promise of ‘while you are in the settlement’ remotely credible?”Neither man answered. They merely stood before me, silent and unmoving, as though I had asked them to solve some impossibly complicated riddle.I let out a quiet scoff and placed a hand on my hip. “Very w

ArceThe following morning, a knock sounded against my bedchamber door, prompting me to set my porcelain cup of tea upon its saucer.“Princess, Alpha Giovanni has arrived,” a maid announced from the hallway. “She has requested an audience with you.”My lips pressed into a thin line. I had made my position perfectly clear to the servant who visited me last night. I had no intention of cooperating with Alpha Giovanni, and I saw little reason to make an exception simply because she had decided to seek me out in person.I rose from my chair and opened the door, regarding the maid expectantly. “Where are Yno and Zenith?”“They are occupied in the settlement.”“Has something happened?”“Nothing serious, Princess. However, the traditional Dueling is scheduled to take place this evening.”“The Dueling?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.“Yes, Your Highness. It is an annual tradition in which the strongest male warriors may challenge the Alpha for dominance.”“I see.” I considered this for a mom

ArceIt was Zenith who escorted me back to the estate.Yno had remained in the valley, where his warriors were searching for the rogue vampire who had attacked Rhahar. According to the guards, the fugitive belonged to Alpha Giovanni, a leader known throughout the territories for keeping vampires as personal playthings.A rather repulsive habit, though hardly surprising given what I had heard of her.Why the pack tolerated such a woman within their borders was a question I had no intention of entertaining. Their affairs were of no concern to me.I pulled the thick blanket more securely around my shoulders as I stepped out of the carriage and entered the quiet mansion.“You should rest, Princess,” Zen said, turning toward the entrance. “I must return to the town at once. Should the Alpha require further assistance, I would prefer to be there.”“I understand. There is no need to concern yourself with me. I shall be perfectly fine here.”He gave a brief nod and was about to leave when I c

ArceYno’s hands settled firmly on my hips, drawing me closer until my dampness dragged right over the thick head of his length. Every slow grind made my clitoris throb with a desperate heat, and I gasped into his mouth as our tongues slid together in a messy, hungry kiss.His palms were warm against my cold skin as they moved up my back and along my ribs. I found his familiarity rather presumptuous, though I could hardly claim to be discouraging him.With one sharp tug, he tore open the front of my dress, splitting the fabric down the middle until it fell away completely.I was left in nothing but my thin undergarments.His mouth left mine to trail down my throat, each open-mouthed kiss sending sparks straight between my legs.My hand found his shaft, though my initial movements lacked confidence, he wrapped his fingers around mine and guided me—slow, twisting strokes from base to tip, his thumb pressing over the slit so the first sign of his arousal slicked my palm.The wet, squelch