Catherynne M Valente Books Novels & Stories

The heir he had been so proud of… was someone else's bastard. And his real bloodline—my child—had been indirectly killed by his own hand. How absurd. How tragic. As for Sophia, she had accumulated a massive debt. Back when Renato was still around—and with my quiet support—she had managed to live comfortably. But after I left, the Valentino family declined rapidly. There was no longer any money to help her repay what she owed. Later, after learning the truth, she would tell her creditors, "My sister-in-law is Ellen Costello, the precious heiress of the powerful Costello family!"

My husband was a computer whiz, and he brought me along to work in Valen. Rent in Valen was steep, so we ended up in one of those chaotic, mixed-bag apartment buildings. The place was packed with edgy young girls in trendy Valenese outfits, their lips and tongues covered in piercings. They said Valen's adult entertainment industry was thriving, but after arriving, I realized it goes way beyond that. These people had turned their subculture into an art form, with every twist and challenge pushing the limits of my imagination.

No one answered him because they were all thinking the same thing. If the Belmars had reached the library first... Then the Codex might already be gone. * * * * * They searched methodically. Valkyrie inspected the walls, tapping lightly against the stone with the hilt of her sword. Rynese wandered through the shelves, muttering the strange book titles under his breath. "The First Blood Oath..." "Chronicles of the Eastern Clans..." "Origins of the Moon Throne..." "Who reads this stuff?" he whispered. "You would if your life depended on it," Valkyrie replied without looking up. "Fair point."

He was heartbroken when Xyrra married her mate, Alpha Ryker - Alpha of the Ethereal pack. 2. VALeriya Sinclair - female MC - she is the daughter of Alpha Damien Sinclair of the Night Walkers. “Something” happened which resulted in her being sold to the whorehouse to pay her family’s debt. She received the Goddess Gift from the Moon Goddess Selene which allows her to re-live her life once again starting one week before her 21st birthday.

from the bookshelf nearby. "I'm borrowing this book, Melissa," Valerie said. Dumbfounded, Melissa asked, "Were you not after the bossy CEO romance trope?" "Kieran is himself a bossy CEO, and he dotes on me. I'm living the story myself. Why would I want to read about made-up ones?" Valerie answered. Still in disbelief, Melissa glanced at the economics textbook in Valerie's hand. She felt something was amiss. She stood up and sent the novels back underneath her bed with her foot.

"Partly. But mostly, it’s about you." My stomach tightened. "Shit. I knew it, I just didn't want to accept it." She smiled, then took a slow sip of her tea before setting the cup down carefully. "Tell me, Kayla… have you ever heard of the Valkyries?" I blinked at the sudden shift. "...The warrior women from legends?" Lady Elizabeth leaned forward slightly. "They were not just legends. Once, they were rulers. Protectors. Gods in their own right. They wielded power that few could match, leading armies, shaping kingdoms, and striking fear into those who dared to oppose them."

It was just money in exchange for fun, after all. The sun was already setting, but the heat of love was still raging on. There was an air of lust hanging about. Brochures and promotions for Valentine's Day were abundant, and couples filled the streets. I stopped my car, and the club's manager greeted me. "Alone today, Ms. Croyford?" "Yes. Get me someone young, hot, and down for anything." Before I got married, I would always wine and dine with my clients in this club. It was a good place.

The look on his face when he takes a sip of what he expects to be a rich, velvety red, only to find it’s basically grape-flavored water, is priceless. He takes it all in infuriatingly good stride, barely acknowledging my antics. Until, on the second day, I push just a little too far. I am dusting a bookshelf. Aggressively. I'm practically trying to remove the varnish with my feather duster. Valentine watches from the doorway, his eyes narrowed, that subtle scent of cinnamon growing stronger, a sign of his growing annoyance. “You are not actually dusting, are you?” “Wouldn’t you like to know.” I give a particularly vigorous swipe at a row of books.

But his voice, cold and arrogant, shattered it. "Where are you? Lucy needs a necklace for a banquet. I remember you wore that custom Valentine's piece today. Bring it over quickly." A bitter laugh echoed in my chest, mingling with despair. He killed our child for Lucy Wicker, and now he wanted to take my Valentine's necklace and give it to her? "Do you even remember leaving me alone at the bridal studio?" I asked. Caught off guard, Mike paused for a moment before replying curtly, "Are you seriously holding a grudge over that? Wedding photos can be taken any time. Why are you being so petty?"

She turned to Luna Nymeria with a smile that I now saw for what she was. She bid her goodbyes and walked out of the room. Any sign of presence she showed towards me just completely ended today. We all just sat down while the women began to file out of the room after each other in the next hour. When the last female walked out of the room. I felt half of the tension leave my body. Melanie stood like she's been bottling in the whole world in her belly this entire time. “Valerie spent the night in Zurien’s room with him in it." She rushed out like she couldn't hold it back anymore.