This Tender Land

Heartbroken billionaire Austin Colby vowed never to fall in love again after betrayed by his fiancee and older brother but his fate becomes entwine with the daughter of his sister's killer and Austin is determined to protect her even at the expense of his own life.

"Hate was the only thing between us—until it wasn’t." -ISLA- Revenge is my birthright. Ever since the fire that claimed my brother and shattered my family, I’ve rebuilt the Moreau empire from the ashes. But every brick I’ve laid, and deal struck has come with one goal in mind: uncovering the truth behind that night. Ciaran Valente is the man I’ve hated since I learned how to hate. Infuriating, cruel, and too clever for his own good, he thrives in darkness, just like I do. But when the ghosts of my past tie his family to my brother’s death, my hatred becomes the least dangerous thing between us. Because Ciaran doesn’t just step into my world—he consumes it. He sees through my armor, breaks down my defenses, and dares to turn my pain into something far more dangerous than vengeance: desire. But love doesn’t exist for people like us. Only power. Only lies. And when the masks come off, one truth will destroy us both. -CIARAN- Isla Moreau is my personal form of torment. Sharp-tongued, calculating, and as untouchable as ice. I’ve craved breaking her for years—not just to prove I could, but because there’s nothing more tempting than watching a queen fall. But Isla isn’t a game. She’s fire wrapped in steel, and she hides secrets even darker than my own. When the past collides with the present, revealing the cracks in our perfect façades, I discover something I didn’t think I was capable of: obsession. She consumes me—mind, body, and soul. But while I want to own her, she wants vengeance. While I crave her surrender, she wants the truth. And in the end, we’re not just enemies. We’re fated to ruin each other.

Evelyn’s ancestors made a deal with demons to save their land in the human realm. But to pay off the debt Evelyn is forced into slavery in another realm where vampires, faeries, witches, and werewolves are very real. She was supposed to be starting her career, not falling in love with vampires and dark magic. And not only has she given up her life, against her will, as an IOU to a clan of vampires but she also finds out that not everything in her life is what it seemed to be...

The wife of a renowned designer thought I was not good enough to be seen with her. So, when the award ceremony came, she brought along her young, handsome secretary, someone who suited her image much better. I did not argue or make a scene. I ignored the secretary's quiet provocations and stayed perfectly calm. My wife, taken aback by how 'sensible' I had become, must have thought I had finally given up on her. For the first time, she did not sneer or mock me. Instead, she spoke gently for once, and told me to stay home and wait for her. She even promised a 'big surprise' for my birthday. I lowered my eyes and nodded, hiding the heaviness inside. She did not know that today, I was walking away for good.

Conned by Francis Slade, I sold my kidney to raise funds for his failed investment. And the house was bought with all my savings. But now, it had become their love nest. "Ms. Lane, you look like you were rolling around in a mud pit. What happened to you?" Whitney Jones smiled smugly. My already injured body trembled with anger when I saw her smug expression. Forcing myself to remain calm, I answered, "This is my home. What are you doing here?" In response, Francis glared at me angrily. "Whitney caught a cold, so I invited her over to take a hot shower. Can't you even tolerate such small acts of kindness?" Whitney had accidentally stepped on blood that was flowing from my leg. She instinctively grabbed Francis out of fear. With a trembling voice, she told him, "Francis, I think she's injured." I knew Francis thought I was just trying to gain his sympathy again. "Alright now, Whitney will be sleeping in your room tonight. Once you're done with the act, go clean yourself up and set up a bed for her." If she was after my room, she could have it. If she was after the man who never loved me, she could have him.

Nightmare Land is a place unlike any other, where the rules of reality no longer apply. Portal, a character created by an author, has no memory of how he arrived in this strange realm, but he knows one thing: he was made to manage the author's books and handle the chaos they created. For years, he kept the books under control, but one day, when trying to portal back to where he belonged, his portals inexplicably took him to the Nightmare Realm—and refused to let him out. Now, trapped in this twisted land with only fragments of his past, Portal must navigate its dangers, using his ability to summon friends and characters from other books to help him survive. Communication with the author is rare, but when they can speak, they guide him through the trials he must face. In Nightmare Land, he meets new allies—the other Nightmare Lords. These former subjects of the Nightmare Master, each with their own deadly abilities, are also fighting for freedom through a series of brutal Trials. Portal must join forces with them, facing challenges that will test their will and strength. As he battles alongside them, he begins to regain his memories, unlocking the truth about his past, his purpose, and the dark forces that bind him to this world. To escape, he must uncover the secrets of the realm and survive the trials—or be trapped forever.