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

ArceThis asshole. Just as he was about to open the door, I slammed my hand against it, blocking his way. Bad move—because now I had him cornered. On the damn door.But I didn’t budge.“Allow it, or I won’t let you go,” I said firmly.That made him turn, crouching just enough so our faces aligned. “I wouldn’t mind that,” he whispered, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.I lifted my chin defiantly. “Alright,” I shot back, planting my other hand on the wall beside him, fully caging him in now.That made him straighten abruptly, his back thumping against the door.I arched a brow. Take that, mutt.He only sighed, then suddenly his hands gripped my waist. In one smooth motion, he lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing—like I was some bratty kid.I yelped, caught off guard, as he carried me to the sofa and set me down with infuriating ease.“As much as I’d like to indulge you,” he smirked, “I have a harvest to oversee.” He said before heading to the door, leaving me on the couch,

ArceI hated these mutts with every fiber of my being, and yet someone thought it amusing to play a prank on me. Fine. I would deal with him myself—Lord Hades. Though I wasn’t sure how just yet.But first, I had an Alpha to pursuade.“There’s no way I’ll cower after what happened last night,” I muttered as I stepped out of my room.“What happened last night?” a woman’s voice cut in from behind me.I turned to see the other dog from dinner, her brows lifted in feigned innocence.“Don’t tell me it was about the meat?” she asked sweetly. “If it upset you, I would like to apologize.”“Who are you to apologize?” I spat, crossing my arms and lifting an eyebrow like a blade.She chuckled, a high little sound that only made my skin prickle. Then she tapped my shoulder as if we were old friends. I stared at the touch for a beat, then shot her a cold look. How dare she.“You should loosen up,” she said, laughing again, the note in her voice tinkling at my last nerve. “I thought vampires were ca

ArceThat damn puppy was starting to bare his fangs. Very well. It was time for me to bite back. I had only been taken aback before, that was all.Father had ordered me to kill the Alpha discreetly, but that was impossible for now. The moment he dropped dead, all eyes would turn to me, the outsider, the foreign threat.So I would wait. I would prove myself first, show them I wanted nothing more than to endure this cursed year.With nothing else to do, I decided to take a walk through the halls, memorizing the house’s structure and every turn it offered. When I returned, the Beta had already interfered with my chambers. The coffin was gone, replaced with something more tolerable, a proper bed soft and warm. At the very least, he had spared me the insult of that ridiculous stage set.And then, at last, came dinner.I furrowed my brows at the sight of a woman I had never met, seated beside the largest dog in this pack, already tearing into her meat.“Finally,” he drawled, not even bother

Arce I froze, eyes snapping toward him, my hands instinctively shooting up to grab both his shoulders. I shook him lightly, abandoning the carefully crafted mask of the untouchable princess for one raw second. “What do you mean required there?”The words clawed at my throat. We both knew what it meant. To be required in a man’s bedroom meant only one thing, and it was something I had no experience in.“Sex, of course, princess. I imagine vampires are more than knowledgeable in that area… even a Bloodling like you.” His tone was casual, mocking, as he gently pried my hands off his shoulders.Damn it. I hadn’t even realized I’d touched a dog on my own.“Whatever do you mean?” I shot back, my voice sharp, though the words tumbled out faster than I’d planned. “You mutts are the ones always in heat. Clearly, you’d know more in that area. Fuck.”The curse slipped past my lips before I could stop it. Again, not the image of the untouchable princess I wanted to uphold.“You are indeed still

ArceThe Alpha strode inside as though nothing had happened, as if that vile act had meant less than air to him. But to me? It was far from nothing. His scent still clung to me, thick and revolting, like a stain I couldn’t scrub off fast enough.And did he just call me little bird?I forced myself to still, to compose, to bury the fire in my chest beneath a calm mask. If he wanted indifference, I would give him indifference, venom dressed as poise. With a lift of my chin, I followed after him, mirroring his ease, acting as if his touch hadn’t irked me.The Alpha house was nothing like the lavish castles or glittering manors of the vampires. It lacked the cold opulence of marble and chandeliers, favoring instead a warmth that almost felt… cozy. Despite its towering exterior and grand arches, the inside was far simpler, humble, even.“As you can see, Princess,” the Beta, whose name I had already dismissed as forgettable, droned beside me, “this will be your home for the year. It would b

Arce“I must apologize for the arrangement,” Orion said, his voice smoother than I expected. “Both the Alpha and Beta were occupied with urgent matters to prepare for your arrival.”“Preparing?” I repeated with a dry laugh. “That is what you call it? How utterly predictable. Breaking every tradition, spitting on every rule, and still, you can’t even welcome me properly. Tell me, is your Alpha always this… unprepared? Or is this incompetence reserved for special occasions?”I tried to restrain myself from laughing, though it was difficult with the way Orion’s anger practically radiated off him. It was almost comical, if I squinted, I could imagine steam curling above his head like a boiling kettle.Werewolves were infamous for their tempers, and he was barely holding himself together. The only reason he hadn’t snapped yet was out of reverence for his Alpha, the same Alpha who had so generously handed the vampires a Bloodmoon Duel victory just to claim me.When he didn’t speak, though h