The Spectator Bird

There is no Prince Charming in my world. Only beasts who claw and fight their way through the masses to get to the top. I was always told that I was a prize. A treasure to be cherished. My lineage was a desired treasure, a prize worth spilling blood for. Many would stop at nothing to claim the honour of being the one to leave their mark upon me, to impregnate me and forever intertwine our fates. A child born from me would possess a level of power that surpasses anything they have ever experienced or witnessed. I could never fully comprehend it until Ace Ripley came into my life revealing secrets that would forever alter my way of life. He was a man whom I believed to be our sworn enemy and when he takes my virginity, that's when everything changes and this brutal, ruthless man decides that he wants to keep me for himself. His to worship. His to pleasure. His to corrupt. Even if that means going to war with his best friend. My father. --- "She is mine, Nathanial. If you want to keep up this bullshit engagement to my son for her, fine. But come Saturday, I will be the one putting my ring on her finger. I'll be the one who gives you grandchildren, and it will be my name she takes. I will also protect her from everything and anything in this life that tries to fuck with her or hurt her. You've been warned, now you need to accept that is happening and there is no way in hell I am backing down from this.”

She felt like a caged bird. A bird that was meant to fly the high, blue skies, but was trapped like a prized possession for her master to impress others with. Ava is the daughter of a very powerful man in the underworld. Her blood, her family name makes her a tool for others to gain more power. Greedy men want her for her name, not for who she is. Being locked up all her life in her father's house makes her naïve and ignorant of the outside world. Meaning the greedy men have an easy game to play.

Sienna Lewis had been with Sea City’s cold and distant CEO, Zayden Scott, for four years, but he still refused to let his guard down. So, she called her mother. “Mom, you can go ahead and arrange that pilot interview for me now.” On the other end, Helen Bennett sounded shocked. “Really? Didn’t you want to stay in Sea City and get married? You even gave up your dream of becoming a pilot.” Sienna looked at Zayden under the dim lights. He was madly obsessed with that girl and terrified of losing her. She smiled self-deprecatingly. Once she returned to Helmswick, her career would pick up again. From then on, nothing would hold her back. She would be Sienna Lewis, the pilot, again, not some pathetic woman—trapped in a forbidden love affair.

Ilyria Agrio, is the beautiful and headstrong daughter of the most powerful woman in the desert city of Idixat. The night before her arranged marriage to her mother’s business partner, she witnesses him brutally murder her close friend using a strange and unnatural magic. When her mother refuses to believe her, she runs away, determined to seek justice with the Mogul, the benevolent ruler of Idixat. The streets of Idixat can be a cruel place though, especially with the Mogul missing since the last Twin Moon. Ilyria finds shelter with Madame Skia and her companions--but there is a catch. She discovers her own magic--but not how to control it. It is her encounter with the mysterious winged man, the Lightning Bird that truly changes her destiny. But can she trust her own heart? To follow her destiny and find justice, Ilyria must learn to trust her own strength.

Throughout my five-year marriage with Irene Anderson, I never celebrated my birthday. That was because my birthday also was the death anniversary of her childhood friend’s mother, so she had to accompany Zac Reid, her childhood friend, to the cemetery to visit her. Not only that, but she also did not allow me to celebrate my birthday. She did not even allow me to smile. “Please be more considerate towards Zac. He’s very vulnerable on his mother’s death anniversary. Once he feels better, we’ll celebrate your birthday.” Every time my friends asked me carefully if they could celebrate my birthday, I could only force a smile and say, “Forget about it. Let’s do it next time.” It happened year after year, but she never fulfilled her promise. One year, Irene dressed in all black again and prepared herself to attend the memorial. Coincidentally, she saw the birthday cake that my family had specially ordered for me. She instantly grew angry and smashed the cake onto the floor. “You can eat cake at any time; why did you have to choose today? Are you that greedy?” I left the mess behind in the house and secretly followed behind her. In the cemetery, I saw her claiming herself as Zac’s wife and his mother’s daughter-in-law, and I felt exhausted. I walked over and took off my wedding ring. “Irene, let’s get a divorce.”

"You understand what it means for you to be mine, right? "He questions, and I swallow. Never breaking eye contact with him. "No... "I admit with my voice trembling. "If you become mine, "He begins, his tone dropping into a seductive growl that sends shivers down my spine. "You won't just be working for me. Your body will belong to me. I'll do whatever I want with you, whenever I want, and however I want. "He says, and as my back hits the wall my stomach drops. "You're not... planning to sell my organs, are you?" I ask, the words spilling out before I can stop them. "No, David, " "I mean, I'll fuck you whenever, wherever, and however I want. You'll be mine. My personal... plaything. Of course, you'll be taken care of. Shelter, food, Vanessa's bills... Everything. However, your main job will be warming my bed. "He says, and my eyes widen in horror. ***** His job was… ‘simple’. To rob him, and run as far as his resources could take him. He didn't plan to get caught. And even if that was a probability, he never expected to be spared. He never expected Salvatore to spare his life and keep him alive as a boy toy. He also didn't expect his straight self to fall for a man. Especially not one as rough, dangerous, and deadly as Salvatore. Are the feelings reciprocated? Or is David just a toy to Salvatore? This is the question that plagues David as he falls deeper and faster for this dangerous, Italian hot cake. Realizing he would do anything for the unpredictable man he had grown to love. When their dangerous world closes in, David must decide. Will he run, or will he risk everything for the man who could break his heart?