Battle Of The Brainless

Every Christmas Eve, the heir of the Marco mafia family—Adrian Marco, must follow the family tradition: Draw a name to decide whether he’s allowed to marry me. Because I, Irene Cast, am not mafia-born. Unless he draws the slip with my name on it, he can’t take me as his wife. For four years, Adrian has drawn four times. And not once did he draw my name. I always thought he fought with his family because of me— that he was willing to risk losing his position as the Don, just to choose me. Every time he failed, he held me so tightly and whispered, “It’s okay. There’s always next year.” And I loved him so much it hurt. Hurt enough that I was willing to wait, year after year. This year, I told myself: If he still doesn’t draw my name… I’ll secretly switch the result. I sneaked to the door of Adrian’s study, and heard his younger brother ask: “Don… every year you do draw Irene's name. Why do you pretend you didn’t? Is it because you still can’t let Sera go?” But he simply said, in a flat voice, “Sera needs me for something urgent. Do what you always do: swap Irene’s name for a blank one.” He walked out without looking back. Instead of swapping, he tossed the blank slip into the trash, left the one with my name on the table, and hurried after Adrian. I went inside, picked up the blank slip from the trash, and replaced the one with my name. Watching my own name fall into the garbage. Adrian…I don’t want to wait and marry you anymore. I’ll grant you your choice.

He wakes up at a dungeon to be sold at a slave auction, in the kingdom where demons rule. She is a demoness and princess, the type of individual he seems to hate the most. While humans are enslaved and killed cruelly day and night in this kingdom, an attempt of revolution is brewing in the background. Meanwhile, he finds out a secret about her that can end her entire existence.

I was the last one to find out that Rowan River was going to be a dad. When I arrived at the hospital, I saw him giving orders to his staff. "Don't let the news of the baby leak out. If Angela finds out, she'll definitely come back and cause a scene." I had liked him for ten years, and a year ago, I confessed my feelings to him. At the time, he said, "Wait until you finish school and come back, then we'll be together." I found it laughable. This time, though, I didn't react like before. I didn't yell at him or ask why he had lied to me. Instead, I boarded a plane and left the country, agreeing to marry the guy who had been pursuing me recently. From that moment on, I no longer loved Rowan.

The supernatural creatures of the world have long been governed by The Council, made of representatives of each faction: werewolves, vampires, witches, and fae. The Council’s main goals were to keep the existence of magic from humans and keep any one group from becoming too powerful. Legends of a creature, a hybrid capable of being more than one supernatural creature, have existed as long as the beings themselves. A hybrid would be able to topple The Council, and whichever faction they were loyal to would rule with ease. As such, the purposeful creation of such a creature was forbidden. In 2012, ancient vampire Elias Elhassan found Claire Luna. After years of living in and out of the oncology ward, the 26-year-old was ready for death. Until he approached her and offered her a way to live without the constant pain she had become so accustomed to. 24-year-old Colin Lucin, the youngest, bastard son of the Alpha of the Half-Moon pack, did not want much from life. After a childhood filled with loss and pain, he was more than satisfied to be the pack’s nurse and stay out of the way of his father and eldest brothers. But in order to maintain a long-held pact with a local coven, once every generation, a witch is destined to mate with a wolf of the Alpha line. Thrown into a political battle that neither knows anything about, Claire and Colin are forced to navigate a centuries-old web of lies, torture, and manipulation. Though they are fated to be together, can they trust each other’s words? Can they even survive long enough to find out? Trigger warnings: Depictions of: violence, blood, language, sexual content (to what degree is yet to be decided) Implied: abuse, sexual content

After three miscarriages for Xavier Lowe, I see it—my mother-in-law has three years left, my father-in-law nine years, and my sister-in-law two years. I say nothing. After the third miscarriage, my mother-in-law blames me, calling me a curse who "kills" children. My sister-in-law sneers, saying she almost died in a car crash the year I married Xavier—as if my bad luck dragged her down. My mother-in-law snaps, "She can't even keep a child. It must be because she's cursed!" Xavier just stands there, silent. He doesn't say a single word for me. I know that, deep down, he believes that I bring bad luck. Maybe it's also because he already has someone else—his secretary, Yvette Snyder. His mother has always liked her better, and he clung to her the night I lost my third child. I don't explain because I know the truth will only destroy them faster. On my 28th birthday, I catch a glimpse of my own countdown in the mirror. On that day, I take a leave of absence. I go to the funeral home and pick out an urn—pure white, just like the wedding dress I once wore. Wearing a beautiful floral dress, I text Xavier, asking him to meet me at the lake where we first met ten years ago. I wait from daylight until nightfall as my countdown ticks to zero. I die, and he never shows up.

When Edie Marshall meets a mysterious - and drop-dead gorgeous - man in the woods just outside her small town, she has no idea who he is or where he’s come from.She has no idea why she has such an instant, intense connection with this dangerous-looking man, with his arms full of tattoos and his deep, velvety voice.She has no idea why she trusts him enough to tell him things she’s never told anyone else.And she definitely has no idea that their brief, passionate encounter will lead to her getting pregnant.It’s only then that she learns her “mystery man” from the woods is actually Rafe Fontaine - celebrity, Hollywood royalty, and notorious womanizer.Can she trust her heart - and her baby - to Hollywood’s wildest bad boy?Due to explicit scenes, this steamy romance is rated 18+.The Mystery of You is created by Ember Casey, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Cynthia, a billionaire lawyer renowned for her unyielding advocacy for women's rights, has spent her career fearlessly battling injustice in the courtroom. Her impressive track record of victories has earned her a reputation as a force to be reckoned with, and her name is synonymous with courage and determination. But when her own marriage implodes, Cynthia finds herself in the uncharted territory of being a defendant. The very laws she has spent her career defending seem to be working against her, and she is forced to navigate the treacherous waters of her own divorce. As she struggles to protect her rights and her reputation, Cynthia begins to question everything she thought she knew about the justice system. Is it truly impartial, or are there hidden biases and agendas at play? Can she trust her own lawyers, or are they just looking out for their own interests? As the stakes grow higher and the battle for her rights becomes increasingly intense, Cynthia is forced to confront the darkest corners of her own psyche. What secrets has she been keeping from herself, and from those around her? What lies has she been telling, and what truths has she been avoiding? Can Cynthia emerge from this crucible with her rights intact, or will she become the latest casualty of a system that seems designed to destroy her? Will she be able to reclaim her reputation, or will she be forever tarnished by the very laws she once fought to uphold? The outcome is far from certain, as Cynthia embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery and redemption. Will she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her path, or will she succumb to the crushing weight of her own doubts and fears? Only time will tell.

Summary: Inspector Thomas Bertrand, a methodical and respected police officer, is tasked with investigating a mysterious murder. The evidence seems to point to the assassin being a beautiful and young woman, Isabelle Dufresne. But as soon as he meets her, an irresistible attraction grows between them, a feeling that deeply unsettles him. The battle between his duty to justice and his growing emotions for Isabelle leads him into an intense inner struggle. As the investigation progresses, he discovers that nothing is as it seems and that dark forces are manipulating the truth. His heart and mind are in conflict, and the hidden truth could very well destroy him.

I was once a famous hockey player back in the day, until my knee was broken beyond repair and I could kiss my career goodbye. Now, I am back home, forced to come back. living on the family ranch, being a farmer along with my brothers, all things I swore I would never do... And then I met her, and for the first time since scoring the last time I was on the ice, my life finally has a meaning again. Because one look at her, and all of my pain and misery was gone in one second. And ever since meeting her, my mind has been set on one thing. Chase her, get her and claim her as mine.

Two souls, forged in suffering, would collide in a dance of darkness and desire, testing the limits of love and redemption. Their paths meet when Asher's sister becomes the target of a predator, and Kaidën sees an opportunity for justice. As they navigate their dark worlds, they must confront the demons that haunt them. Will Asher's desire for protection and Kaidën's quest for vengeance spark a twisted romance, or will their shattered reflections destroy them? *** “You killed my mother.” Asher's voice trembled with fury. Kaidën's smile was cold, almost mirthful. “Who gave your sister to her husband who sold her to pay off his debts.” “I watched you murder her in cold blood!” Asher’s fists clenched around the gun he held pointed at the killer, memories of that night flooding back. Kaidën leaned closer, a sinister smile creeping onto his face. "I remember begging you to look away. But you didn’t. Did you enjoy it, Asher? Watching the woman who shattered your world writhe in agony? Or would you prefer to keep that little secret buried deep? Ah, but don’t answer that. Come, help me gather the pieces of your father's remains. It’s time to tidy up this little mess." Asher’s eyes widened in horror, realization crashing over him like a wave. All this time, he had been unaware that he was not only a witness to his father’s murder, but had watched it unfold until the very end, just like he had done that night when he watched his mother’s murder. Nodding, he picked up the severed hand of his father—the same hand that had beaten and broken him until his skin grew numb to pain. ‘Oh, sweet Emily, if only you could see our father now. How the mighty have fallen.’