Tarnished Embers Book Novels & Stories

He waved her off. Still the woman lingered. She stood her ground, proud in her stance. “I’m sure your pathetic ranks couldn’t stand against my clan. None of you could.” Donte was in her face. He could feel the heat of her trembling breaths. “Chimeras that flaunt their abilities are no more abominations than the ones that shun immortals with greater power.” The ruby red of his eyes flickered with such darkness. “We prefer to avoid war. We welcome outcasts with open arms, and give sanctuary to the injured. You are neither, nor are you fit enough to be our mate. Leave." His nostrils flared as he menaced over her.

His voice was rough with emotions. Bitterness, misery, and anguish made his eyes turn darker. "No! Why would I want you hurt? Listen, I..." I started to touch his arm but he shrugged me violently away from him like a rag doll, I lost my balance, crashing hard against the floor. I was sobbing louder and openly but it wasn't from the pain of the sudden fall, the salty tears kept pouring. And suddenly, anger flared inside of me. He didn't trust me, he didn't want to listen either, how could he so easily assume that I would try to leave when he already ruined me so severely that I couldn't see myself with any other but him. He had touched every part of me, including my soul which I had sought t

“I’m tying up loose ends. That’s what family does, isn’t it? Protects its legacy. We’ve wiped every trace of your existence—no name, no records, no past. To the world, you don’t exist. Why keep you alive, when you are invisible to the world?” My blood turned cold, but I refused to let him see the fear creeping up my spine. I straightened my shoulders, keeping my gaze locked on his. “You’re a coward, Kirill,” I spat, “Hiding behind your poisons and chains. You couldn’t even finish me off face-to-face. You all are losers and always will be losers” I laughed bitterly.

I leaned in, tilting my chin up defiantly, prepared to take the hit. “Oh, go on, Ember. Hit me,” I taunted, my voice a low, dangerous murmur. “I’ll tell Alpha Thane everything. I’ll let him know how his ‘precious’ Ex-Luna is back to ruin our lives—and maybe even to harm me or my child.” I lowered my gaze to my tummy, rubbing it gently and lovingly, a sneer curling up on my lips before averting my gaze back to her. At that moment, Ember froze, her hand still raised but trembling. The fire in her eyes shifted, replaced by a simmering fury.

“I, Levana Mckenna, accept your rejection.” I fell to the ground just as I heard the mate bond snap. Beta had been secretly monitoring my unexplained blackouts with a sense of concern and understanding. His decision to keep this information to himself assures me of his loyalty and compassion. Even though I had been absent minded during the meeting, I still remembered that the blood moon day was tonight. Alessandro POV

His breath hitched, and for a long moment, the night held them — two souls who had clawed their way through hell to find heaven in each other’s arms. And then he whispered, his voice low but sure: “Darkness. Demons. Damnation. That’s what I was made of once. which Tainted my Desires” “But I’ve learned something, Castelle… even tainted hearts can crave light. Even the damned can choose redemption.” Castelle’s eyes shimmered. “And the demons?” Kane smiled faintly, glancing down at their children sleeping soundly at her side. “The demons,” he said softly, “learned to bow to love.”

Red splatters stained the stovetop, my apron, and, worse, my mood. She barely flinched. “Oh, oops. My bad. Brad was just telling me about this villa in..…” “Kimberly,” I said, breathing through my nose so I wouldn’t snap. “You burned dinner.” “It’s not burned, it’s… caramelized,” she said with a breezy wave of her hand, already drifting back toward the living room with her phone. The next day it was the rice, blackened solid to the pot while she paced around the kitchen mid–FaceTime call, gesturing like she was giving a TED Talk.

She answered her husband as she said, "Yes, a piece of wood or coal that is not burning, but is still red and hot after a fire has died." "What about Flame?" "The glossy part of the fire, cuddly bear," Saavi replied pulling Dhruv's nose. "What importance does an Ember hold to the Fire, love?" Dhruv waited for his love to answer who in reply said to him, "Ember ignites the fire and in its absence, the flame dies." "Exactly, just like that, you are important to me. You are the ember to my flame and without you, I will die." Saavi smiled as a happy tear when left her eye she confessed, "I love you, Dhruv. You are The Ember To My Flame."

"I can see it all. The binding ritual. The sacrifice. The way you smiled at me, Dain, right before you drove the blade in." Another tremor shook the building, stronger than before. Books fell from shelves in the outer room, and somewhere distant, I heard the crash of falling debris. This place wouldn't stand much longer if whatever was happening continued to escalate. Ember turned suddenly, and for a heart-stopping moment, I thought she'd sensed my presence. But her eyes looked through me, focused on something only she could see. The memories flooding through her transformed her face—grief, rage, and determination battling for dominance in her expression.

My palms press into the carpet, clawing for stability, wishing for this to be a dream. The cemetery blurs. My father's hand hovers near my shoulder, trembling as much as mine, but I shake him off. If he touches me, I'll break. If anyone touches me, I'll shatter into dust and blow away. So I stay cemented in place, heaving and choking on my tears, until everything around me falls hushed. And the shock on everyone's face falls away into darkness. The darkness that welcomes me. The darkness that is now my home.