The Handmaid's Tale Graphic

Someone is killing unmarked souls, and Ru Roberts is the only one that can stop them. That's a bit of a problem, though, since she has no idea she's a Keeper. Adopted as a small child, Ru knows next to nothing about her birth parents. Her new mom insists she was given up because she "ruins everything." Hence, her name-Ruin. Yet, Ru has managed to make a life for herself in the small town of Reaper's Hollow, working as a fourth grade teacher, which she loves. If it wasn't for her inability to touch anything electrical without starting a fire, she'd be the happiest girl in Upstate New York. That is, until the charming and devastatingly handsome Cutter Michaels moves into the classroom across the hallway and starts filling her head with all sorts of unbelievable fantasies. He claims she is the lost Keeper, the daughter of a half-angel and a half-demon, and she is the only one who can help him locate three portals the Reapers, as in Grim Reaper, are using to ferry souls away to the Underworld. Ru knows he's lost his mind, and yet she finds herself being sucked into his delusions more and more each day. The fact that he can shoot blue fire out of his hands might have something to do with that. Once she begins having strange dreams where she comes face to face with Thanatos, the most powerful Reaper of all, Ru begins to think there might be more to Cutter's story than she's been giving him credit for. Will joining Cutter lead her to find her biological parents and discover the powers coursing through her veins, or will Thanatos claim her for his own?

On the run from her adoptive father for five years after being sold to the Russian mafia, Lianna took refuge in the states. She thought New York City was a safe place for her, that it was her ticket out of the mafia world. Little did she know that it’s swarming with people much vile than the place escaped from. This city will pull her deeper into the underworld. ~~ "I'm not her." He stood up from his chair abruptly that it fell behind. It took him three strokes until he was holding my neck, lifting me, and pinning me on the wall as he choked me. He breathes the smoke in my face but I was losing air in my lungs to inhale it. "I've searched for you and you're giving me this crap?" he hissed in my face. "Try something else, Alexa, or I'll bury you alive." He let go of my neck, I gasped for air as my lungs took all the air it needed. It's better if he ends my life anyway. I thought to myself. "Where is it?" he asked as he stood beside the table. "Where is what?" He lifts a tattered knife in his hand as he walks slowly to where I stood now. "I'll carve my name in your chest if you don't stop acting dumb, Alexa." He traced the neckline of my dress with his knife. The pointed cold blade sent shivers all over my being. "Where did you bury my father!?" ~~ [Mature Content] Photo credits to Nikola Jovanovic

A Collection of Love Stories! Have you ever met someone who became the focus of your love? Have you ever been passionate to the point of obsession? Have you ever felt desire for somebody? Here's a collection of stories about the people who were confused on what they felt for each other. Read about their Heart's Desire!

I staggered as cold realization dawned on me. The man I just married in Erica's name, my handsome prince charming, is none other than the Royal wolf emperor, Richard Ferguson, the monster that killed my family and burnt my pack to ashes. ***** Rona Campbell was the only child of Alpha Briar of the Flame Blood wolf pack. She was the future of the pack whom everyone doted on. On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, the Royal wolf emperor, the overlord of werewolves, Richard Ferguson attacked her pack with the intention to exterminate their tribe. Her mother managed to smuggle her away and she was instructed to run to her mate's land for refuge. However, he rejected and tried to kill her. Filled with confusion and pain at the series of betrayal and misfortunes, she managed to escape, only to be kidnapped by slave traders. After narrowly escaping from them, she finds herself in the palace of an Alpha king, where everyone thinks she is their princess Erica, who looks exactly like her. She was sent to marry a man only to discover that her new fiancee was the Royal wolf emperor who killed her parents. Finding herself in the camp of her enemies, she embarks on the ruthless path of revenge, while ensuring that her identity as an imposter is not discovered. However, things were easier said than done as further complications arose. She finds herself in a web of mystery, entangled by hate, lies, conspiracies and betrayals. Love blooms between the two couples further confusing Rona. However, the quest for vengeance and Richard's suspicions towards her threatens their bond.

*Excerpt* “You don't understand, Xavier," I take a step back, “Brandon will find me. He always does. And when he finds me this time, he'll kill you. As much as I want to be free of him, this isn't the way.” “I'll protect you–” “You're not listening to me. I'm not worried about me. If he catches us, he'll just punish me but he won't kill me. I'm too important to him. But you…” My throat closes up as I turn to leave, but Xavier grabs me by the elbow as I push back the door. I turn to look at him, my heart aching for us. There's a cold indifference in his eyes though, and for the first time ever, I'm scared of what he's capable of. “We can do this the hard way or the easy way, Audrey. All I know is that I'm not leaving you here.” *** Audrey Watson has been scared of dreaming about a better life, because as the saying goes, dreams are for losers. But Xavier came to the scene as her knight, albeit one with rude behavior. This was it, her better life. Or so she thought. Little did she know that this was basically a new chapter of hard decisions and regrets. They always say that when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade out of them. But what if life gives you bitter kola instead? How do you go about making it into something sweet? Find out more about Audrey and Xavier's journey in this captivating novel.

Powerless in a family of Necromancers, Ezra has struggled to fit in his whole life. Going off to a normal college life seemed like the perfect place to escape the harsh realities of home. But when the girl he's had a crush on since they were eight is forced into an arranged marriage with another, darker, Necromancer family, Ezra returns and does the only thing he can to save her - he volunteers to take the test that will name him a full Necromancer, and her betrothed - if he survives. During the test, Ezra learns he isn't as powerless as he thought. Secrets and hidden truths are revealed that are all connected to the Reinhardt family, all of whom were thought to have been killed by the Necromancer's worse enemy, the Witches. Witches that are hell-bent on ridding the world of the 'black arts' With the help of an unlikely ally and a raven familiar, Ezra has the power to save the girl he loves and his kind, too, if he can master it in time.

Emory Chavére returned home to answer her Alpha's call, arriving at the very edge of a war threatening the survival of the wolves. The key to ending this conflict lies in fulfilling the prophecy of the goddess Aworyn, uniting the warring factions of Lycans and Wolves through a sacred marriage. Refusing to be a pawn in a senseless game, Emory chooses to flee. This decision, however, sets in motion a sequence of events that triggers the prophecy of the Last Hunter. On the eve of the Hunter's Moon, the original instigators of the war resurface. As the prophecy unravels, she finds herself caught in a web of discoveries, alliances, and betrayals. Now the future of all species hangs in the balance, and Emory's existence is inextricably linked to the outcome. Will Emory be able to end the centuries-old war between the gods and dragons, or will she be consumed by the chaos of the conflict? Only time will tell.

This book is authored by Dripping Creativity. “Stay away, stay away from me, stay away,” she shouted, over and over. She kept shouting even though it seemed she had run out of things to throw. Zane was more than a little interested in knowing exactly what was going on. But he couldn’t focus with the woman making a ruckus. “Will you shut the fuck up!” he roared at her. She fell silent and he saw tears start to fill her eyes, her lips trembled. Oh fuck, he thought. Like most men, a crying woman scared him shitless. He would rather have a gunfight with a hundred of his worst enemies than have to deal with one crying woman. “And your name is?” he asked. “Ava,” she told him in a thin voice. “Ava Cobler?” he wanted to know. Her name had never sounded so beautiful before, it surprised her. She almost forgot to nod. “My name is Zane Velky,” he introduced himself, holding out a hand. Ava’s eyes grew bigger as he heard the name. Oh no, not that, anything but that, she thought. “You have heard of me,” he smiled, he sounded satisfied. Ava nodded. Everyone who lived in the city knew the name Velky, it was the largest mafia group in the state with its centre in the city. And Zane Velky was the head of the family, the don, the big boss, the huge honcho, the Al Capone of the modern world. Ava felt her panicked brain spin out of control. Trigger warnings: Talk about SA Body image issues Light BDSM Descriptive descriptions of assaults Self harm Harsh language

Xalara Silvyn, a seemingly powerless girl from the Shadowveil slums, is claimed as a fated mate by Cassian Holt, heir to a powerful noble house of ember magic. After being brought to his estate, she discovers their bond was merely Cassian's temporary fascination. At his engagement gala to Vionna Kress, he publicly betrays Xalara, relegating her to servitude under his cruel fiancée. As Vionna systematically humiliates Xalara, the crystal pendant Xalara found in a hidden chamber beneath the Veil becomes her sole comfort. With help from Cassian's brother Verin, she learns the crystal may connect to House Silvyn—a noble family of essence-based primal magic supposedly destroyed centuries ago. When Vionna arranges to transfer Xalara for potentially fatal bond severance after her wedding to Cassian, Xalara's desperate situation takes an unexpected turn. During the wedding feast, she encounters Lord Elaric Nox, a feared shadow magic tyrant avoiding political marriage proposals. After overhearing his frustrations with traditional arrangements, Xalara's impulsive quip "Where do I sign?" intrigues him. Elaric's emissaries arrive at the wedding with a formal offer—a contract marriage of mutual benefit. Elaric gains a shield against political marriage pressure while offering Xalara protection from Vionna and access to knowledge about her crystal and heritage. Their three-year contract specifies a purely practical arrangement with no emotional obligations. At House Nox, Xalara begins training in essence magic under Elaric's guidance, discovering her "minor" warming ability is actually rare primal magic thought extinct. As she awakens to her true abilities and learns about her possible connection to House Silvyn, the bond with Cassian naturally fades. Meanwhile, a complex but respectful dynamic develops between Xalara and Elaric as they navigate their unconventional arrangement.

Sabrina Auburn never dreamed that her humble life as a housemaid would thrust her into the glittering yet icy world of the elite Thompsons. Between the shadows, she secretly admired Benedict Thompson-the amazing, arrogant Billionaire and CEO of BMX Estates. For him, she harbored a secret crush-to him. But one stormy night changed everything. Benedict forced himself on Sabrina, igniting a scandal that shook both families to their very foundations. Sabrina was left humiliated and trapped in an arranged marriage orchestrated by Benedict’s mother, all to shield their family’s reputation. "How can I marry her? I don't even love her and I will never love her. You know my type, Mom." From that moment on, Sabrina became the target of Benedict's contempt.He refused to love her, hurled insults her way but Sabrina endured his bitterness and her unreturned love. Then came a staggering twist: a betrayal that threatened to dismantle the Thompson family’s empire, revealing Sabrina’s true lineage and a fortune that would forever alter the balance of power. Years later,Sabrina emerges stronger, fiercer, and wealthier than ever as the CEO of her global luxury bag empire, Sabrina Ultra. No longer the naïve girl once cast aside. But when Benedict finds himself confronting the destruction of his own empire, crossing paths with her once more, he is stunned by what he has lost: the woman he could never claim, the son he would never know existed. As Benedict fights for his last chance at regaining Sabrina's heart, Will she forgive the man who has broken her heart, or is it too late for a second chance? Is Sabrina really going to let Benedict know that he has a son named Saben, or is she keeping it locked away in her heart forever?