Death Mask Jim Butcher

"Alpha Richard, my Alpha's bride just escaped. Karen is gone." He announced, glaring down at my father like an evil Ogre.  "W-what, how is that possible?" My father stuttered, and for the first time in my life, I saw true fear in his eyes. Karen escaped, the bride to-be. "Guards!" The man continued, his dark, cold, uncanny black eyes flitting towards me.  "Seize the princess. If we can't find Karen, she'll be the replacement." *** On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Andrea's world is turned upside down when her sister, who was set to marry, escapes her impending nuptials. Her father, the pack's leader, makes a fateful decision: Andrea will take her sister's place at the altar. Yet, Andrea's heart already belongs to another, until she finds her lover in bed with another woman. Saddened and enraged Andrea accepts the arranged marriage and a husband she doesn't know with open arms.  As the new bride of Alpha Ronin, she discovers that he, too, is not what he seems. Cold, distant and wanting nothing do to with their marriage, he is not at all the husband Andrea envisioned beside her. Secrets and hidden desires begin to unravel as their journey takes a dangerous turn. As they navigate the treacherous path of deception, Andrea's heartache and Ronin's conflicted feelings bind them together in unexpected ways. Just as the pack's elders, powerful alliances, and envious lovers threaten to tear them apart.  Amidst the turmoil, Andrea faces the challenges of her new role as Luna, determined to break traditions and empower the she-wolves in her pack. Ronin, burdened by a dark history, wrestles with the truth about his past and the uncertain future that lies ahead. But will they be able to protect their newfound love? Or will forces beyond their control rip them apart forever?

When Alina strikes a desperate deal with her father, she enters the forbidden forest—only to be bitten by a venomous creature that should’ve killed her. Instead, she wakes up with fractured memories, a strange mark etched into her skin, and a bond she doesn’t understand… one that ties her to Valerian, the cold, commanding vampire who saved her life—or cursed it. As she recovers among his kind, Alina is forced to navigate the uneasy truce between Lycans and Vampires while uncovering the secrets buried by witches long ago. But the mate bond between her and Valerian grows stronger—and harder to deny. Ancient wars don’t stay buried, and neither do dangerous truths. Torn between loyalty to her pack and the dark pull of the vampire she never chose, Alina must decide what she’s willing to risk… before the blood that binds them becomes her ruin.

Lisa battles to weather or not David is slipping from her hands,But just on look at a man who she couldn't even see completely,got her forgetting that David ever existed how could she when he follows her into her sleep. In her dreams, she isn’t alone. The shadows breathe, the walls whisper, and from the darkness he comes… the masked stranger. His touch is fire, his voice a command she cannot resist. He is dangerous, possessive, and mercilessly addictive. Worst of all, he claims her as his body, heart, and soul while the man she loves sits beside another woman in daylight, pretending she doesn’t exist. Torn between shame and desire, reality and dream, Lisa is forced to ask herself: is the masked stranger only a nightmare… or is he real? And when he whispers “Mine”, will she have the strength to fight—or the hunger to surrender?

On my daughter, Arlene Bale's tenth birthday, I miscarried in a horrific car accident. Before I can even tell my husband, Camden Bale, about my pregnancy, my unborn child has already left me. Devastated, I attempt to call Camden. But after spamming more than a dozen calls, none of them get answered. When I open a social media app, the first thing I see is Camden's first love, Ruth Carroll, celebrating her safe delivery online. The accompanying photo features Camden's tender-looking side profile as he cradles the newborn in his arms. Camden's mother, Patricia Stone, even leaves a long comment there to celebrate the birth of Ruth's baby. "Oh, Ruth! You really are a hero to the Bales! To think that your firstborn is a son who can inherit our family's legacy! That woman who has married into our family for ten years only gave birth to one inferior spawn! "I swear, I will kick that useless woman out sooner or later! Once that happens, you can marry into the Bale family proudly!" With trembling fingers, I click the phone shut. After that, I forcibly get discharged from the hospital and rush home so that I can demand for answers. But that's when my nightmare has just begun. I receive the news of Arlene's unfortunate death. It turns out Camden has left Arlene at home all by herself, which leads to her accidental death. The entire Bale family is too busy celebrating the birth of Ruth's son. No one bothers shedding a tear for Arlene's passing. With hatred brimming in my heart, I fly to another country. Camden Bale, you're the one hurting me from the start till the end. I will make you and your family pay the heavy price.

After the car accident, one of the Johnson sons was dead and the other gravely injured. When my devout, devoted husband woke up in the hospital, he called out, "Dorothy." He claimed that his body then held the soul of his brother, Elias Johnson. I went mad, calling doctors, priests, anyone I could, desperate to bring my husband back. It was not until that night that I overheard his conversation with our son: "Father, you've loved aunt for years. You even kept yourself chaste in your private prayer room, waiting. Now, finally, you can be with her openly." The man in the bed reached out to stroke our son's hair. "If it weren't to stop your mother from destroying her relationship, I wouldn't have married her." I hid in the shadows, still reeling from their words, when I saw what happened after our son left. The husband I had always known, icy, composed, and ascetic to maintain his devout faith for seven years, was then holding his sister-in-law close on that tiny hospital bed, sharing a warmth meant for lovers. The next day, I applied for Jim Johnson's death certificate and burned our marriage certificate. At his grand wedding, I climbed aboard the helicopter sent to fetch me. However, my once-cold husband went mad, chasing after us down several streets, desperate and unhinged.

"Run Athena, run!" the arrogant voice I can hear all over the place. "Or else I devour you. Make you mine. Only Mine. I don't care if you don't love me back. You have no choice. I choose you to be mine!" I run but only the monster voice approaching me. I scream for a help but only his demonic laugh I can hear. Until I stumble. I am about to raise again in my foot but as I lifted my gazed, he was standing in front of me. "I have three words for you. This is only your option. COME WITH ME." @Death Wish Cover is not mine, all respect and praise to the owner. You may also read my other novels: Taming the Dangerous CEO The Devilish Billionaire Fated to Marry the Devil Thank you so much and Enjoy!

My husband, Chandler Rotterdam worked as a researcher developing a new serum. Driven to find a cure for my cancer, he poured himself entirely into the project.  However, on the day of the injection, it wasn’t him who administered the treatment—it was his childhood friend, Pauline Hemsworth.  She had injected an unregulated dose, and I could do nothing but watch as my life slipped away. Even the child growing inside me was not spared.  Meanwhile, Chandler remained by her side.  “If this research succeeds, all the credit goes to you!” Chandler assured Pauline. “She would never blame you if anything happens. She’d be grateful to be the first to receive the drug.”  But the experiment failed. After discovering my death, Chandler lost his mind.

In a world where dragons rule the skies and magic pulses through every heartbeat, the spirit of Queen Zenobia endures. Centuries ago, she sacrificed her life to imprison the dark sorcerer Kal. Now she is reborn as Princess Elena Beaufort, who is unaware of her formidable powers and destiny. As shadows of the past stir and long-hidden truths surface, Elena finds herself thrust into a struggle that could determine the fate of her realm. With allies at her side and enemies lurking in the shadows, Elena must navigate a treacherous path of danger, betrayal, and unexpected love. Will she uncover her true identity in time to protect her loved ones and complete Zenobia's unfinished battle? ---- "A Queen will always turn pain into power" I am ruthless against my enemy, but I wouldn't let anyone dear to me suffer this time. I swore to the heavens, no matter how many lifetimes passes by I will come back to protect my people and my love. I will not let him face the death for me, this time I will be the one protecting him. --- “Lea please….” Liam asked looking at the silent Lea. “Why can’t you be in a relationship with me?” Lea blurted out unconsciously. “Be…Because…I..” Liam stammered. “It's okay you don’t have to answer me,” Lea said and then added, “It's not like I can be in a relationship with you as well at the moment ”. This time it was Liam who was confused by her words and asked “But why?”. “Because I am already engaged to someone else”.

I came home a day early from my business trip and hid in the closet to surprise Eric Carter. At seven, he told the housekeeper to cook several dishes. At nine, he told me hoarsely that he had taken a bath and changed the bedsheets in my room. He was sure that I would love it. I did not believe him because I had heard him moaning in bed with Willow Summers for three hours from the closet. Willow Summers was his childhood sweetheart and my sister. I clicked on a webpage from my cell without hesitation. "Miss Summers, your appointment for creating a fake death has been confirmed. Time of Death: One week later Location of Death: The wedding hall on the top floor of the Century Building Cause of Death: Suicide from jumping off a building!"

Yvette Skye has been diagnosed with depression. She thinks her parents will understand her situation, but all she gets is boundless mockery and doubt. After her affair with her sister’s boyfriend is found out, she dies in an accident. After her death, her biased parents suddenly start to regret their actions.