The Trellis And The Vine

Love does not always follow the rules—it thrives in corners where no one dares to look. Kaelin Verain returns to the palace after years in exile, carrying secrets, scars, and a purpose only she understands. The kingdom teeters on the edge of political chaos, and she is the strategist tasked with restoring order. But power is not the only force she must navigate. Lord Riven, the crown’s unyielding protector, stands between her and her mission. Tall, disciplined, and impossibly magnetic, he is sworn to duty—and forbidden to desire her. Yet every glance, every brush of skin, every shared moment pulls them closer. The tension between them is like dancing on the edge of a cliff: intoxicating, dangerous, and impossible to resist. Bound by identities, oaths, and unspoken rules, Kaelin and Riven discover that desire is a silent vine, quietly entwining their hearts and igniting a fire neither can ignore. Every step they take together threatens the crown, their reputations, and the fragile line between loyalty and passion. In a palace of whispers, secret alliances, and hidden truths, some love is meant to be forbidden, and some desire is impossible to deny. Will they survive the stakes of duty while surrendering to the fire that consumes them both?

Everyone thought I was just an Omega clinging to Alpha Pheisar— gentle, silent, unworthy of love. In his eyes, I was nothing more than a burden the Moon Goddess tossed his way. But the moment he held Selene’s hand and vowed a mate-bond at the Moonlit Altar, I finally understood — I had never mattered. He never kept a promise, never cared about the wolf-soul I burned to keep him alive. So I rejected him. He thought I was being dramatic—until I bonded with the “comatose Alpha” everyone believed would never wake. When he knelt at my ceremony and roared “I only want you,” I simply replied: “Too late.” What they never knew was this— I was never a vine to be pulled or broken. I can stitch a wedding gown with devotion, and cut off a rotting love just as cleanly. I can be soft— and I can be resolute. The day I married Alpha Zander, no one expected him to wake—much less fall for me. But the first time I whispered “Mate” in his arms, the ice around him melted into pure devotion. And in the quiet dark, his hand firm on my waist, he murmured: “Pheisar is downstairs begging again…I’m feeling jealous. You’ll have to make it up to me.” This time— Pheisar will learn what kind of treasure he threw away. And Zander will know the partner in his hands is worth a lifetime of love.

"Holding out for a hero? Eh, not so much. Felicity Hart doesn’t have the time or inclination for love. She’s too busy working her butt off to complete her Master’s Degree. So what is she doing at a Halloween party dressed like a Cinderella-wanna-be when she could be home studying?—or better yet, sleeping. Oh, God, yes. Sleeping Beauty had the best idea. What’s the worst that could happen if she catches a quick nap in the host’s bedroom? Well… Caught by the panty-dropping homeowner, Jared, her first instinct—aside from dying of embarrassment—is to run, but her sexy prince convinces her there’s no need to rush off into the night. There’s plenty of room in his bed for two. When she wakes up the next morning wrapped around him like a vine on Rapunzel’s tower, it’s not just her shoe she leaves behind, but her whole dress—and maybe, just maybe, a tiny sliver of her heart. With a little help from friends, Jared tracks down his runaway princess so he can return her dress. Over lunch they discover have much more in common than just sexual attraction. Jared might be a workaholic attorney, but his fun side is ready and willing to play…in the hot tub, in the shower…He’s the kind of man Felicity never thought existed: A damn good man with a bad boy’s soul.But can a fairy tale romance survive when the pressures of real life interfere? Or is happily-ever-after just make-believe? Legally Charming is created by Lauren Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."