7795 Book(s) Related to love in the dark

DEATH BY BETRAYAL is Book #10 in the #1 Bestselling Caribbean Murder series, which begins with DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)--a FREE download on Amazon! Cindy and Mattheus part ways, and while he stays in the Caribbean to protect his daughter and her mother, she returns home. Cindy’s sister, Ann, meets her at the airport to welcome her back to this new chapter of her life. Cindy starts to settle back in, to meet old friends and make plans to take on a new job—when a shocking call suddenly comes. It is a call Cindy never could have expected in her wildest dreams, a call that rips her world apart. Someone close to her—too close—has been found murdered in Bermuda. Cindy has no choice but to get on the next plane to Bermuda and hunt for the killer. Before long, Cindy finds herself enmeshed in an underworld of big business and crime. Beside herself, hitting dead ends, Cindy is forced to call Mattheus to help. Once again, their stormy relationship deepens and takes a new turn, as they plunge into solving this crime together. But it all may be too late….

When an old friend’s husband goes missing, she calls Cindy for help. Fresh from her own tragedy, Cindy returns to the Caribbean, this time to the gorgeous, lush island of Grenada, to find him.Cindy, still grieving her own husband’s death, stays at her friend’s incredible villa on the ocean, as she does her best to help track down her friend’s husband, Ames. As Cindy investigates, she meets the different characters on the island, some local, some fantastically rich, all of whom seem to be involved with each other, either romantically or in shady business dealings. As Cindy uncovers secret affairs, odd money dealings and drugs, she realizes there is a complex web on the island, hidden from public view. And as she digs deeper into Ames’ life, she is shocked to discover how many secrets he had been hiding from his wife—and that she never really knew the man she loved. The police at first refuse to take her seriously, but they soon gain respect for her tough intelligence, courage and determination. Cindy’s relationship with one cop in particular, Mattheus, develops in unexpected ways, as they give each other solace from their losses.But Cindy digs too deep. Soon, she finds her own life in peril, as she heads into the dark underside of the island. Startling developments in the investigation lead to a shocking ending, as a body is discovered, and Cindy alone must find out if they’ve convicted the wrong person…DEATH BY DIVORCE is Book #2 in the Caribbean Murder series, following DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1).Book #3 in the series--DEATH BY MARRIAGE--and Book #4 in the series--DEATH BY DESIRE--are now also available.

When my younger brother got into a top university, the whole family celebrated for him.
I, suffering from a terminal illness, clutched my chest and desperately cried for help, only to be met with a disgusted slap from my mother and the words, "You just can't stand to see your brother doing well!"
She thought I was a spoilsport, so she roughly dragged me back to the room and locked the door from the outside.
She didn't know that those were the last words I ever heard in my life.
The next morning, she opened the door with breakfast in hand, only to find my corpse.

As the extreme cold apocalypse arrives, my most trusted protégé conspires with other shareholders to force me from power. Everyone is watching me become a laughingstock.

Just as I reach the brink of desperation and prepare to sign my resignation, countless scrolling comments suddenly cover my vision.

They're frantically displaying information about the future, such as—in three days, the apocalypse will end...

They chose her. They always chose her.
For eighteen years, I was the ghost in my own family while my adopted sister was the star. So when the ransom call came and they had to choose which daughter to save, I knew the answer before they spoke.
"Save her," they told the kidnappers, nodding at my sister. Then they turned to me. "She's strong. She can survive."
They were right. I was strong enough to survive the warehouse. Strong enough to disappear. Strong enough to come back.
Now I’m stepping onto the nation’s most-watched reality show, right alongside the people who left me for dead. They’re here to polish their perfect image for the cameras. I’m here to strip it bare—one live scandal at a time.
The problem? The show’s most powerful investor isn't playing their game. He’s a cold, record-breaking F1 champion​ who shuts down my sister’s tears and backs my play every single time. When my family tries a live ambush, he steps in front of the lens and makes it clear: I’m under his protection.
They called me strong because they thought I was disposable. Strong is the last thing they should have made me.

Mei Liu learned suffering from an early age. After experiencing great loss, she spent years enduring abuse at the hands of a sadistic pack of wolves, while hiding her identity. All until the day she was saved by her fated soulmate arriving at her doorstep.

Mei was finally free, loved and accepted, with her happily ever after on the horizon. But an unknown enemy has been searching for her and once he finds her he has no intention of letting her go.

Dark secrets will be revealed, and she will be pushed beyond her limits. Can she rise up and fight back and become the strong woman she was destined to be? Or will it all be too much for her to handle?

A Queen Among Snakes is the 2nd book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends I recommend reading the full series. Here is the series order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under the A Queen Among Alphas book)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under the A Queen Among Alphas book)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - A Queen Among Tides Prequel Spin-off (coming soon)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (coming soon)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - A Queen Among Darkness spin-off (coming soon)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (short stories focused on side characters within this universe, exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadows Next Generation series coming soon.

Gabriella is a no-nonsense kind of woman. She loves deeply and fights for what matters to her. Her life was going along just fine, that is until she catches her boyfriend cheating on her.

That should have been the worst of her issues, but soon a cheating boyfriend pales in comparison to being fated to a God, and a brooding one at that.

Quickly, Gabriella will be pulled into thousand-year-old drama and find out she is part of a prophecy that could potentially destroy the world depending on what choices she makes.

How will this simple human handle carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders and a possessive God on her back?

A Queen Among Gods is the 6th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.

Books in the series order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - Darkness spin-off (will be available under book 4)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (side character short stories exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadow Series (Next Gen Coming Soon)

Orenda was created by the God of Destruction to protect the people of the world from the shadow demons known as eyti that now plague it. For thousands of years, she - alongside her brother - fulfilled this sacred duty with ease...until now.

Never in her millennia did Orenda dream she would be blessed with a soulmate. She was even less prepared when her soulmate turned out to be none other than the creator of the very beings she was created to fight: the God of Malice, Azadou.

Azadou is cold, uncaring and has a deep hatred of the Gods. Everyone keeps telling her to stay far away and reject him, but like the pull of two opposing magnets, these two cosmic beings can't resist the draw to each other.

As Orenda puts her heart, soul and dignity on the line to win the heart of her destined half, a new and mysterious threat emerges... Something sinister is afoot, and it has big plans for Orenda.

Orenda will find herself in the most tempestuous fight of her life, with the stakes higher than anything she could have imagined. Will she come out victorious and achieve her happily ever after? Or find herself at the centre of a dark parable with no happy ending in sight?

A Queen Among Tempests is the 7th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.

Yildiz was created by the Goddess Zarseti for one purpose: to uphold truth and justice in the supernatural world. Unlike her sisters, Yildiz came into being blind, but she sees beyond what others can.

For tens of thousands of years, she and her sisters continued their duties as the Delegation, but life just got more interesting for Yildiz. She learns her creator blessed her, of all people, with a soulmate – an unwilling soulmate at that.

Darkness surrounds this mystery man, but he is far more than he seems. Yildiz finds herself pushed away at every turn, but she's never been known to give up her pursuits.

Will she capture his heart and unravel his secrets? Or will she be consumed by the darkness and left heartbroken?

A Queen Among Blood is the 3rd book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends I recommend reading the full series. Here is the reading order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under the A Queen Among Alphas book)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under the A Queen Among Alphas book)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - A Queen Among Tides Prequel Spin-off (coming soon)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (coming soon)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - A Queen Among Darkness spin-off (coming soon)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (short stories focused on side characters, exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadows Next Gen series coming soon.

Cindy and Mattheus, still reeling from Key West, unsure where their relationship stands, prepare to take some time away from each other—when a shocking call arrives. A beautiful bride is missing, the night before her destination wedding in the magnificent Cayman Islands. The groom, the last one to see her alive during their scuba diving outing, is the prime suspect.But the groom’s family insists he is innocent, and they hire Cindy and Mattheus to find out the truth. Cindy understands the pain of an ocean accident all too well, and the case strikes uncomfortably close to home, evoking memories of Clint at every turn. Police and Coast Guard search the sea and land, but the bride, Allie is nowhere to be found. Family, wedding party and guests have all been detained at their luxury hotel to be questioned. Was it an accident? Did the bride run away? Or has someone killed her? Who could have wanted her dead?As Cindy and Mattheus investigate and interview those at the celebration, we journey into the incredible wealth and opulence of the Islands and the lifestyle of those who have come down to celebrate the wedding and vacation there. As their relationships are exposed, we see the effects of wealth, greed, and intense jealousy, and how it runs their lives. We also meet Mac, a charismatic, suave partner in the firm who develops an attachment to Cindy, and Vivien, a gorgeous guest, who no man can resist. As Vivien goes after Mattheus, and Mac pursues Cindy, we watch Cindy and Mattheus’s relationship struggle and become infected by jealousy and suspicion as well.In a shocking turn of events, Cindy finds out more about Allie than anyone knew. And as the investigation takes a deadly turn, Cindy’s life is in danger, not once but twice. Once again, we see the forces of darkness try to undermine the search for truth. Will Cindy and Mattheus untangle the web of secrets among the rich and famous before it is too late?DEATH BY JEALOUSY is both a stand-alone novel, and is also Book #6 in the Caribbean Murder series, following DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1), DEATH BY DIVORCE (Book #2) and DEATH BY MARRIAGE (Book #3), DEATH BY DESIRE (Book #4) and DEATH BY DECEIT (Book #5).

Cindy and Mattheus, finally together, prepare to take time off and live together—when a stunning upset in their relationship tears them apart. Cindy flies home to New York, resigned to never work as a detective—and never see Mattheus—again.And then a shocking phone call comes out of the blue: it is Mattheus. A new body has turned up. Cindy at first refuses—until he tells her who it is: his wife. They finally found her, on the shores of Key West. Brutally murdered, they suspect, by an abusive boyfriend.Mattheus’ world is upside down, and Cindy has no choice but to fly back down to the islands and help him uncover what really happened. Why did she turn up now, after so many years? How did she turn up in Key West, so far from where he’d last seen her? Why had she never contacted him? Who was she dating? And have the police caught the right man?Their investigation takes them deep into the underworld of Key West, a gorgeous, idyllic place where the locals gather to watch the sunset every night with an evening drink. It is an enchanting place—but as Cindy learns, it is also a place with a dark underbelly. Cindy prods deeper into the murder and her investigation takes her into the world of an abused woman’s shelter. Soon, she is convinced the police have the wrong man. She and Mattheus, thrown together again, reconsider their feelings for one another. But there may not be time: Cindy finds out too much and comes in danger herself. As the murder hits too close to home, it may be too late for them both.DEATH BY DECEIT is both a stand-alone novel, and is also Book #5 in the Caribbean Murder series, following DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1), DEATH BY DIVORCE (Book #2) and DEATH BY MARRIAGE (Book #3) and DEATH BY DESIRE (Book #4).

On the rugged, wild, eastern shore of Barbados, Cindy and Clint are enjoying their dream honeymoon, when paradise quickly turns into hell. Cindy finds her newly beloved taken away from her, drowned in a freak accident in the ocean. The local police are quick to declare it an accident, to insist that he was caught in a sudden riptide. But Cindy, left all alone, is not convinced.Cindy must return to her and Clint’s now-empty home in New York and face her in-laws, who never wanted Clint to marry her, and who did everything to make her engagement and wedding hell. She must deal with all of these women’s backbiting, gossiping and unspoken accusations, while she tries to get a handle on her own grief and to get clear on what really happened to Clint.Cindy is mailed an anonymous photo of a woman she had never met, addressed to Clint. As she tries to unravel the mysterious package, as she begins to dig deeper into Clint’s emails and files, she realizes how many secrets Clint had been hiding from his past. She realizes that she didn’t really know the man she loved. And she also realizes that Clint was murdered.She digs deeper, into the depths of Clint’s massive corporation, DGB oil, and as she starts to unearth information she shouldn’t, she goes too far. Soon her own life is in peril. On the run, she realizes that the only way to get answers, and to save her own life, is to return to where it all began: Barbados. As she heads into the dark underside of the island, into the heart of the local villages, she is shocked to discover what really happened to her husband on their honeymoon.But by then, it may already be too late.Books #2--#14 in the Caribbean Murder series (DEATH BY DIVORCE) are now also available!

Four years ago, I left on a top-secret mission, and everyone assumed I was dead.

Four years later, I returned expecting a joyful homecoming, only to be struck by a devastating nightmare: three years ago, a local cartel hanged my wife from the rafters, and my ten-year-old son was locked in a cellar, suffering unimaginable abuse.

Right now, in a local dive bar, my enemies have a gun pressed to my head. They’re laughing, mocking me, thinking I'm just some washed-up, helpless veteran they can easily crush.

But what they don't know is that just ten minutes ago, I severed the only fiber-optic cable connecting this town to the outside world.

The hunt has officially begun...

In my last life, I risked everything to protect my fiancée, only for her to shove me into a horde of zombies with nothing but, "You owed David this."
When I got a second chance, I found myself back right before the rescue chopper took off at the start of the apocalypse.
As I watched her cling to the cabin door, refusing to leave because she was waiting for her ex, I stepped back without hesitation: respect, best wishes, stay together forever. This time, I'm done being the pathetic simp who gets played for a fool.
I snatched the top-tier crystal core first, awakened an apocalyptic-level power, and watched with a cold smile as the cheating couple turned on each other in the middle of a pile of corpses, stabbing and screaming in despair. When the end of the world comes, you deal with the bleeding hearts first—then you rise to godhood.

I don't realize how badly I've been wronged until they're strapping me to the gurney.

My name is Camille Brooks. I'm one of the best cardiothoracic surgeons in the city, and I have never lost a patient on my table.

My fiancé, Adrian Vance, is the golden boy of the entire hospital. We're supposed to get married next month.

It's a stormy night when he calls, telling me to get to the hospital right now. There's a patient bleeding out, and only I can save them.

I race through the rain, but I get stuck in traffic halfway there. By the time I push through the OR doors, the patient has no pulse.

The family points at me. They say I botched the procedure and killed him. And Adrian Vance, my own fiancé, takes the stand and shows up with "ironclad evidence" against me.

I have nothing to fight back with. I go to prison. My parents can't handle it. It destroys them both. They take their own lives.

It's only after I die that I learn who really held the scalpel that night: Daisy Whitman, the woman Adrian never got over.

I was just the fall guy.

Then I open my eyes.

I'm back. One hour before everything falls apart, riding through the rain toward the hospital.

This time, I'm going to survive.

And I'm going to watch both of you burn.

Rated🔞 🔞 🔞
TRIGGER WARNING:
This book contains steamy sex scenes. Dark dangerous obsession, violence, dark secrets, Cheating,suicide.

“You’re mine, Heaven. Every moan, every tear, every fucking inch of you.”
Her breath shook, her knees almost gave way .
The altar pressed into her spine, Boyle’s portrait loomed above. Guilt and want collided, her body heated up at his claim.
Maverick’s free hand slid under her skirt, shoving it up to her hips.
“M..ave..rick no no we can’t.. it’s his a..altar… we can’t....”
His fingers found her panties, tore them aside with a rip. “You want a life?… I am your life!!You stay where I want you..where I keep you!!” he snarled, two fingers plunged into her without warning.
Heaven gasped, her nails dug into his shoulders. She was already soaked shamefully, helplessly.
His fingers curled, stroking that spot inside her that made her see stars.
His thumb pressed her clit, ruthless circles.
“Look at him,” Maverick growled, twisting her head toward Boyle’s portrait.
“Look at your dead husband while I finger-fuck you….even he can’t do anything”
“Maverick…stop…” she couldn’t help but moan



Heaven Kalabora’s life shatters the moment her father gambles away their fortune.
To save her family from ruthless loan sharks, she’s forced into a marriage with a man she has never met, the heir to the most influential military family in ivory city who was rumored to be impotent.

But tragedy strikes on her wedding day.

Trapped in a mansion that was never her home, Heaven learns to live in silence and bound by a name that isn’t hers.

Until one fateful night… she ends up in bed with her distant cold brother-in-law, Maverick Richard

What begins as a single mistake soon turned into a dangerous obsession,one that would consume Heaven entirely

Vania never imagined that the man she once called her future would become the very reason her dignity shattered.
She had given him everything—her soul, her body, her trust—believing her fiancé would protect and cherish her. But behind the sweet promises and the nearly perfect wedding plans, a cruel bargain had already been made: she had been turned into a wager.
To save his family’s company from the brink of collapse, he chose the most despicable path—selling Vania’s innocence to his own best friend as “capital” to keep the business alive.
The love she thought was sacred became a transaction. The sacrifice she believed was devotion transformed into an unforgivable betrayal.
Now, standing among the ruins of her dreams and the fragments of her stolen dignity, Vania must decide: remain a victim of someone else’s greed—or rise, reclaim herself, and demand justice for what was taken from her.

Five years, a hundred betrayals, and one altar too many.
When Crown Prince Dorian Ashveil abandons Mira Vayne at the altar for the last time — rushing to her stepsister Vivienne’s side instead of staying for their vows — Mira does the one thing no one sees coming. She calls the wedding off, walks away from everything she built for a man who never truly chose her, and goes home to honour the arranged binding her father set in motion years ago.
A binding that delivers her to Caelum Draveth. The Ashen Dragon. Lord of the Draveth Ranges and the most feared creature in the known realm.
Their union is sealed in ancient fire and old law. It is political and necessary. That is, until fate and a rising war decide otherwise.
Now with a prince determined to reclaim what he carelessly threw away, the shadow armies of the Vreth massing at the northern borders, and a conspiracy of treason and dark magic woven by her own blood, Mira must choose between her heart, her duty and her survival.
Some choices, once made in fire, cannot be undone.

Valerie Lysander thought she already found her soulmate and love of her life Tate, until she walked in on him with her editor. Not only did Tate cheat on her, he ruined her career by exposing her one secret.
Her infertility.
Valerie took a break and decided to spend it with her parents when she caught the attention of the city's most ruthless Mafia billionaire Leonard Skavinski, who only wanted a mother for his kids. There's no way to say no to him, he gets what he wants. A contract marriage as an escape from her Ex and her shame, she embraced the new life and an opportunity to be the mother of Leonard's children with all it gives. What she didn't expect was the brutal reality that she married a mafia devil himself.
What next when Valerie wants to be more than just Mrs Skavinski in name only? Is being a mother to Leonard's kids enough for her in the marriage without her husband's love? What happens when the line between love and lust blurs?
Will she be emotionally okay when her husband confesses he's still very much interested in his ex-wife?

"BREAKING NEWS: HOT BILLIONAIRE, TYLER SCHNEIDER’S FLASH MARRIAGE WITH A MYSTERIOUS WOMAN IN LAS VEGAS!

A failed proposal for him and a series of Mimosa for her led them to a wild lustful night in Sin City.

Tyler Schneider, a hot-headed billionaire, and Chloe Myers, an ambitious career woman, woke up naked and trapped in a piece of paper called ‘MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE’.

In just one night, Chloe Myers became Chloe Schneider.

“What’s there to lose? You get to be in bed with a hot rich guy like me, and I get to claim my inheritance. It’s a win-win situation,” oozing with annoying confidence, he pronounced as if marriage was just a game.

A contract, an agreement, a negotiation between them.
Will Chloe continue this accidental marriage? Or sign the divorce paper?

Which name befits her more, is it, Miss Myers or Mrs. Schneider?"

Stolen as a child by the Finnish Mafia, Ivy grew up never knowing she was the lost daughter of Britain’s most feared crime family. When they finally find her, they welcome her home with open arms… and a plan. To secure her future—and their power—they arrange her marriage to the ruthless Don of the Italian mob.

Ivy tries to build a life inside a world she never chose. But betrayal cuts deeper than any blade when she discovers her new husband is secretly involved with her foster sister. Heartbroken and desperate to escape, Ivy runs—only to die in a tragic accident.

Then she wakes up.

She’s back on the day her parents announce her engagement. Same room. Same people. Same fate waiting to swallow her whole.

This time, Ivy has one chance to rewrite everything.
Will she break the chains of her past… or walk willingly into the nightmare that destroyed her?

“Did I not make you a promise?”
King Evander asked, ripping her dress off, leaving it hanging around her waist, exposing her full breast.

“I was going to make you my queen, but you are begging to be my bed slave instead,” he said angrily, grabbing a hand full of breasts, squeezing hard, making her flinch.

WARNING This story will contain Strong Sexual Content, and Scenes that may be triggering, Viewer discretion is advised.

I was supposed to start college with a future already mapped out and a boyfriend I trusted at my side. I had plans, expectations, and a life that felt safe and familiar.Then I walked into his bedroom and found my boyfriend and my sister tangled together in his sheets, breathing lies and betrayal like it was nothing.I cried once. I screamed once. And then I made a decision.I was not going to fall apart. I was not going to disappear quietly. I was going to make sure neither of them ever forgot what they did to me.So I did the one thing no one expected. I signed up for his father’s class.Professor Ethan Parker was calm, controlled, devastatingly brilliant, and completely off-limits in every way that mattered. He was older, disciplined, and untouchable, or so everyone believed. He was supposed to be a symbol of restraint and authority, not temptation.Until the first time our eyes met across the lecture hall.Until he asked me to stay after class, his voice low and unreadable, his attention lingering just a second too long.Until one night shattered every rule I thought was carved in stone.Now I call him Professor Parker when others are listening, but in my thoughts, in my body, and in every dangerous fantasy I no longer try to suppress, he is Ethan.My ex wants forgiveness. My sister wants the past erased like it never happened.But revenge has a name, a presence, and a last name that makes their blood run cold.Because karma did not come gently.It came wearing his father’s suit, his father’s authority, and a hunger none of us saw coming.And revenge has never tasted so good.

Rhianna "Yana" Sullivan belongs to a Middle-class family, but her simple life changed when she met the arrogant businessman, Nathan Wolfe. That's why she couldn't believe it when she woke up one morning, lying on someone else's bed naked! She shouted defiantly upon learning what had happened. Then Nathan Wolfe whispered to her ear, while slightly biting her earlobe, "Your father owes me a hundred thousand bucks, and you are here to pay me until the last cent," he said, while smiling wickedly at her.

There is a difference between an orphan and an abandoned orphan, and Madelyn understood this difference at a very young age. She became a subject of ridicule and bullying because of her status as an abandoned orphan. As a nobody, she couldn't fight her bullies. Hence, she was waiting for the day when she would be able to leave the living hell of that city while enduring all the harassment and physical hurt from her bullies, especially from Oscar Howart. Things changed when Maximum Blackwood entered her life as a knight in shining armor, making Madelyn develop a crush on him. But Oscar left her speechless when he also changed his attitude towards her. What was his game? She didn't understand, but she welcomed this new change, which was better than him hurting her almost every day. Is she too naive to believe that a bully like Oscar can change, or can Oscar really change? Does Maximus save her from falling for Oscar, or let her learn her lessons after heartbreak? Will he reciprocate her feelings for him?

Amelia Dolivo has known her whole life that she would one day be the Alpha of her pack; thus making her the first female Alpha in history. The journey to get there has been long and full of hardships, but a true Alpha never backs down from a fight; a true Alpha never accepts defeat.

Whether it be enemies plotting in the shadows to bring her down, or her own soulmate who questions her very capabilities as a woman; Amelia will take them all head-on. She will show them all why you should never underestimate a woman.

A Queen Among Alphas is the first book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series, and to see how the overall story ends, I recommend reading the full series.
Here are the books in the series in reading order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under the A Queen Among Alphas book)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under the A Queen Among Alphas book)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - A Queen Among Tides Prequel Spin-off (coming soon)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (coming soon)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - A Queen Among Darkness spin-off (coming soon)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (short stories focused on side characters within this universe, exclusive to Ream)

For most, anime is just a hobby. For others, it is a sanctuary—the only escape from a harsh, disappointing, and often depressing reality. This is the story of a devoted fan, a "Shut-in NEET" who has turned their back on the real world to find life and meaning in the stories of 2D characters, manga, and games.
​But the lines between fiction and reality are about to vanish forever.

​When a mysterious Angel appears with a divine decree, our protagonist is plucked from their room and thrust into a literal Fantasy World. This isn't just a dream come true; it is a Mission. Given a second chance to truly live, they must now navigate a land filled with magic, peril, and wonder—armed only with the knowledge of countless anime tropes and a will to survive.
​Can a person who spent their life hiding in stories finally become the hero of their own? In a world where the stakes are real and the magic is dangerous, the ultimate challenge isn't just completing the mission—it’s learning how to finally belong.

​The story follows the life of a dedicated Anime fan (an Otaku) who feels disconnected from the harsh realities of the real world. Seeking an escape from depression and personal problems, the protagonist finds solace in anime and dreams of experiencing magical or extraordinary events. It explores the psychological boundary between fiction and reality, reflecting on people who isolate themselves to live within their imagination

One mistake centuries ago left Lemuel cursed by the Goddess Merlos and forced to wander the earth granting the wishes of those who touch him. Lemuel was looking at an eternity of loneliness until his unexpected soulmate plucked him right out of the sea.

Shocked to find he's been bound in more ways than one to Sebastian, the future King to the Kingdom of Atlesper, Lemuel resists Sebastian's advances at every turn, believing this may be one pairing Goddess Zarseti got wrong.

Lemuel will have to face his past in hopes of starting a new future, but an overly flirtatious King is the least of his worries when he learns Sebastian's parents are convinced that a conniving usurper disguised as a curvy blonde, is the future king's true soulmate.

A Queen Among Tides is the 5th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.

Books in the series order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - Darkness spin-off (will be available under book 4)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (side character short stories exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadow Series (Next Gen Coming Soon)

“THE SORCERER’S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos The #1 Bestseller! From #1 Bestselling author Morgan Rice comes the debut of a dazzling new fantasy series. A QUEST OF HEROES (BOOK #1 IN THE SORCERER’S RING) revolves around the epic coming of age story of one special boy, a 14 year old from a small village on the outskirts of the Kingdom of the Ring. The youngest of four, the least favorite of his father, hated by his brothers, Thorgrin senses he is different from the others. He dreams of becoming a great warrior, of joining the King’s men and protecting the Ring from the hordes of creatures on the other side of the Canyon. When he comes of age and is forbidden by his father to try out for the King’s Legion, he refuses to take no for an answer: he journeys out on his own, determined to force his way into King’s Court and be taken seriously. But King’s Court is rife with its own family dramas, power struggles, ambitions, jealousy, violence and betrayal. King MacGil must choose an heir from amongst his children, and the ancient Dynasty Sword, the source of all their power, still sits untouched, waiting for the chosen one to arrive. Thorgrin arrives as an outsider and battles to be accepted, and to join the King’s Legion. Thorgrin comes to learn he has mysterious powers he does not understand, that he has a special gift, and a special destiny. Against all odds he falls in love with the king’s daughter, and as their forbidden relationship blossoms, he discovers he has powerful rivals. As he struggles to make sense of his powers, the king’s sorcerer takes him under his wing and tells him of a mother he never knew, in a land far away, beyond the Canyon, beyond even the land of the Dragons. Before Thorgrin can venture out and become the warrior he yearns to be, he must complete his training. But this may be cut short, as he finds himself propelled into the center of royal plots and counterplots, ones that may threaten his love and bring him down—and the entire kingdom with him. With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A QUEST OF HEROES is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders. It is 82,000 words. Books #2--#17 in the series are now also available! “[An] entertaining epic fantasy.” —Kirkus Reviews “The beginnings of something remarkable are there.” --San Francisco Book Review “Action-packed …. Rice's writing is solid and the premise intriguing.” --Publishers Weekly “A spirited fantasy ….Only the beginning of what promises to be an epic young adult series.” --Midwest Book Review

DEATH BY DESIRE is Book #4 in the #1 Bestselling Caribbean Murder series, following the FREE book DEATH BY HONEYMOON (#1), DEATH BY DIVORCE (#2) and DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3). In the midst of gorgeous St. Bart’s, a few days before Christmas, a Senator’s daughter is found stabbed and strangled on the beach—the day after her engagement party. While the rich and famous are pouring in to celebrate the holidays, the local police are desperate to keep it quiet and not cause an uproar. But the Senator’s family wants justice for their daughter, and they hire Cindy and Mattheus to solve the crime. As Cindy and Mattheus investigate, they meet the elite crowd surrounding the Senator’s family, an exclusive world of unimaginable wealth, of luxurious parties on yachts and private villas. They learn of all the people who may have wanted the young woman dead, all the jealousies and rivalries, the secret ex-es and affairs. They meet her devastated fiancé, her twin sister and her distraught Mom—all intent on the killer’s being found. They meet the corrupt police force, who wants them stopped, and a rich Russian mogul who controls half the island—and has his own agenda to bring down the senator. As they delve deeper, they learn the many secrets of this exclusive family and the young woman, and discover that all was not as perfect as it appeared to be. As they get close to the answers, Cindy faces personal danger, while at the same time her relationship with Mattheus grows deeper—and faces a crisis of its own. And as the two of them are about to leave the island, a sudden twist in events changes everything. Ultimately, they come to learn that on the pristine, perfect St. Bart's, everything is not always as it seems to be. Books #5--#8 in the series are now also available!

“Jaden Skye creates a set of characters that are very well developed, and makes you cheer for our heroine on every page. The environment and the overall description of scenes are superb, making you feel the suspense in the air the whole time.”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) (re No Place to Die)NO PLACE FOR MARRIAGE is book #4 in a new romantic suspense series by #1 bestselling author Jaden Skye, which begins with Book #1, NO PLACE TO DIE, a free download!When Tyron Barr, a rich, old tycoon confined to a wheelchair, is found dead at the bottom of his staircase, his stunning 32 year old wife is immediately suspect. But she protests her innocence—and calls Olivia and Wayne in to prove it.In a world where nothing is as it seems, a world of incredible wealth and charm, of intense greed and jealousy, loneliness and secrets, Olivia discovers, lurk behind the scenes. Perhaps just enough to murder someone.Is the young wife playing Olivia? Or did someone else want him dead?NO PLACE FOR MARRIAGE is book #4 in an explosive new romantic suspense series filled with love, tragedy, heartbreak, betrayal and suspense, one that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #5 will be released soon.Jaden is also author of the #1 Bestselling series MURDER IN THE CARIBBEAN, which begins with DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1), a free download with over 200 five star reviews!

DEATH BY TEMPTATION is Book #14 in the #1 Bestselling Caribbean Murder series, which begins with DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)—a free download! It is also a stand-alone novel.In DEATH BY TEMPTATION, Cindy and Mattheus arrive for a vacation at St. Lucia. The island has been recommended by Mattheus’s friend Rod, whose daughter is honeymooning there. But when Rod’s daughter, Kara, suddenly goes missing after going for a swim alone one afternoon, a frantic search grips the island. Swept up in the horror, Cindy and Mattheus immediately join in. When Kara’s overbearing father, Rod, arrives at the island, Matheus is torn away from the case to comfort his friend. And when the dead body of another young woman turns up a few days later at the same beach, Cindy is convinced the cases are connected. Alone, Cindy delves deeper into the investigation, but what she may find, is what she may never suspect…

DEATH BY DEVOTION is Book #9 in the Bestselling Caribbean Murder series, which begins with the free book DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1)--a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five star reviews on Amazon! Before they get engaged, Cindy urges Mattheus to meet his long-lost Caribbean daughter, whom he has never met. Sixteen years ago, after a one night stand, the woman became pregnant, and Mattheus quickly left. Mattheus’ beautiful, volatile, fifteen year old daughter, Andrea, badly needs him, and she wants him to come to Anguilla, where she lives, so they can get to know each other. One caveat, though: he has to come without Cindy. Andrea has a mother, and one mother is enough. Mattheus feels his daughter is in trouble, feels compelled to go, and abruptly leaves Cindy behind. Convinced that her relationship with Mattheus is over, Cindy returns to the States, ready to start her life again. A few days after she gets back, amidst the excitement and a wonderful job offer, she receives a startling call from Mattheus down in Anguilla: Andrea’s stepfather has been killed and Andrea was found beside him, covered in his blood. Mattheus, desperate, begs Cindy to come down and help. Not only has his daughter been taken into custody—but now he is a suspect as well. Unable to say no, Cindy returns to the Caribbean to help find the true killer and to attempt to free both Mattheus and his daughter—but she soon finds that she’s up against an underground web of danger on the island, and it may be too late to save all of them—including herself. DEATH BY DEVOTION is both a stand-alone novel, and is also Book #9 in the Caribbean Murder series.

After five years of bloody battles against the Xenomorphs, I've returned alive, bearing wounds and scars.

Five years ago, my wife Lisa and I fell in love in the military.

Just as Lisa became pregnant, I received a mandatory conscription order from my superior.

The Xenomorphs launched a massive attack. Despite my reluctance, I had to go.

Now the war is over. I've laid down my burden and returned home.

Standing in the dilapidated suburbs, I search for the wife I've wronged and the child I've never met.

I was trained to seduce, to deceive, and to kill if I had to. Love was never part of the mission.

My body became my weapon, the one thing no man could ever truly own. I couldn’t give life so I learned to use sex as a tool to take whatever I wanted.

As one of O.A.S.I.S.’s top operatives, I’ve faced warlords, dictators, and men who thought they owned the world. None of them ever got under my skin until billionaire playboy, Zayne Beaumont, walked into my crosshairs.

He’s infuriatingly charming, dangerously beautiful, and the reason my pulse forgets its rhythm. But when his past comes for him in the form of Dominik D’Angelo, the ruthless Mafia Don who wants him dead—my world fractures in ways no training could prepare me for.

Because Dominik doesn’t just want revenge.

He wants me.

Now I’m trapped between two men—one who tempts my heart, and one who consumes my soul. Both powerful, dangerous, and willing to burn the world to claim me.

And I’m the prize neither of them intends to lose.

I spent three years as a "useless son-in-law," humiliated in public by my wife, all to repay a debt of life-saving gratitude.
That night, she handed me a cup of poisoned wine, smiling as she told me to "disappear from this world."
But she didn't know that the wine served to terminate our contract of protection—and unchained my shackles completely.
When the fighter jets of the Northern Command cast their shadows over the entire estate, she finally knelt in the mud, crying out for "Adrian."
But this time, I will not look back.

“A MASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) GIRL, ALONE (An Ella Dark FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1) is the debut novel in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. FBI Agent Ella Dark, 29, is given her big chance to achieve her life’s dream: to join the Behavorial Crimes Unit. Ella has a hidden obsession: she has studied serial killers from the time she could read, devastated by the murder of her own sister. With her photographic memory, she has obtained an encyclopedic knowledge of every serial killer, every victim and every case. Singled out for her brilliant mind, Ella is invited to join the big leagues.But when a killer strikes in the swamps of Louisiana, Ella soon comes to learn that the real thing is nothing she could expect. Face to face with a real murder, a real killer, and a real ticking clock, Ella realizes she can’t rely on her knowledge. She must learn to trust her instinct, and allow herself to enter the dark canals of a real killer’s mind. If she gets it wrong, her career is at stake.And so is the next victim’s life.Will Ella’s talent be an asset? Or the source of her downfall?A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the ELLA DARK series is a riveting mystery, packed with suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.Books #2 and #3 in the series—GIRL, TAKEN and GIRL, HUNTED—are also available.

WARNING: This an extremely dark romance.


Shivers raced through my spine at the dark, heated stares from them —the brothers I was about to pledge my body to.
“Sweetheart, you need to know what you are getting into by joining the game,” Blue's voice startled me.
I gulped as my eyes went to Fred's. His mouth went up in a smirk as his dark eyes roamed through my body.
Desires and fear took hold of me as I glanced around their 'play house'
I know what I'm signing up for by consenting to be their toy. Yet, I willingly took that step, to freedom, desire, and, worst of all —pain.


As a journalist, Bella was determined to be the best. She was always taking jobs discarded or termed 'impossible' by others.
However, she doesn't know what she signed up for when she agrees to interview the Christophos brothers —wealthy men who live in a spooky old castle.
She thought it would be effortless despite the number of journalists who had failed to get any info on the brothers until she stepped foot into the compound.
Unknown to the unsuspecting woman, she was in for a ride of her life with brothers who might not be as human as they seem…
The game is about to begin... And it's the survival of the fittest...

My fate was sealed the moment I stepped inside that school. A simple sentence, seven measly words that put a target on my back, was all it took to turn three years of my life into a nightmare.

Savaş Ewald became my tormentor and my nemesis without knowing a thing about me… or did he? How was I supposed to know, when I didn’t have a single memory of my past and no one willing to tell me anything?

I need Savaş in order to find out about my past, but he doesn't play by the rules. He trades answers for kisses, clues for pieces of myself, but how much of myself am I willing to give him in order to find out the truth?

The closer I get to finding out who I am, the more I realize Savaş Ewald will be my destruction.

Ravenshade: Blood Moon is more than just a story about vampires and wolves — it’s a dive into a dark, mysterious world where secrets whisper through the fog.
The town of Ravenshade lives under a constant veil of mist, where humans walk unaware of the shadows that watch them.

Selene Darkblood was born to lead an ancient vampire clan, but fate takes an unexpected turn when she meets Rael — a lone wolf haunted by his past and burdened with powers he barely understands.
Between them, something forbidden ignites: powerful, dangerous, and impossible to resist.

As their worlds collide, alliances are tested and the fragile peace between vampires and wolves begins to crumble. Under the crimson glow of the Blood Moon, the line between desire and destruction fades.

This is a story about choices, loyalty, and the courage to love when the world says you shouldn’t.
Welcome to Ravenshade — where blood, love, and destiny intertwine.

Come with me and dive into the cosmic worlds of horror and the supernatural, travel through the dark depths of the cosmos, among tales of terror, horror and ghost stories, amid tales from the depths of the mind and haunting stories of supernatural creatures from the dark worlds, in the cursed and dark regions.

Embark on several worlds of supernatural tales and in an anthology of terror and desire to make your spine stand on end.

Even though we are showing each part of the city of desires and horror with tales of dark passions where different people live their lives in which they wandered through each part of the dark city of Lovecraft County, amidst an anthology of tales of pleasures and desires. Amidst tales and anthologies of desires and terror, and desires, between the supernatural and horror, embark on tales of supernatural creatures, ghosts of desires, demons, pleasures and passions that involve those who live in these cities, thus creating ways to change the lives of the city that surrounds them.
Embark on countless tales and anthologies of love, desires, pleasures and dreams, around a luxurious city displaying countless events, whose lives and pleasures participate in an anthology, showing every moment of each being who lives and travels through these cities.

Five years ago, Leo, the overlord of the abyss who ruled the seven seas, went into hiding and worked as a cook in a dilapidated tavern to save his savior.
When his benefactor was captured by the empire and was about to be executed, the arrogant governor forced him to crawl between his legs in order to see him.
He did as instructed, but was then tricked.
That night, a bone conch shell resounded throughout the seven seas, thousands of ghost warships besieged the city, and the kings of the underworld knelt in unison.
The former "scale-scraping chef" broke through the palace gates, cut through his shackles with a single stroke, and embraced the beauty: "I'll take you home for grilled fish, it's on me."

When that dealer tortured me, my dad, a narcotics cop, and my mom, the city’s chief medical examiner, were busy celebrating my sister’s win in the volleyball semifinals. To get back at my dad for destroying his drug network three years earlier, that man cut my throat. Right before I died, I called my dad. Before I hung up, he said, “Cut it out. Serena’s game is what mattered most right now.”

2ND SYNOPSIS
THIS BOOK CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT🔞

Lost in Lust is a collection of steamy stories that dive into passion, temptation, and raw s*x scenes.

Each story unfolds with sexual encounters and irresistible attraction, where sexual fantasies ignite and lovers surrender. Lost in Lust will leave you breathless and sexually aroused.


And then he pushed his cck inside her once more. He had a hold of her hips and he kept her in place as he went back to fuking her hard.

She felt her breasts swinging backward and forward once more as he thrust at her pusy.
She could feel a slight ache, a throbbing, in her pusy.

“Oh Fuck me Peter fck me! Fill me with your cm!!
That di*k feels soo freaking good!”

Fresh out of college and fumbling through his first year in the real world, twenty-two-year-old Lysander wanders away from a friend’s party and into an isolated forest. There, he stumbles upon the high-tech laboratory hidden within the ancient castle of Vivienne—a vampire who has spent one century cultivating solitude. Disgusted by the intimacy required to hunt, she long ago withdrew from humanity, passing the endless decades perfecting homemade synthetic blood rather than sampling the countless varieties of plasma she grew tired of.

But Lysander’s arrival spells disaster. In a clumsy accident, he doesn't just ruin dinner; he obliterates her state-of-the-art scientific instruments. With her life’s work destroyed and her synthetic supply cut off, the scent of his living blood overwhelms her engineered senses. Forced to break a century-long abstinence, she takes what she needs, only to find herself addicted not just to his taste, but to the man himself.

Using the equipment as a flimsy excuse to lure him back, Vivienne battles a terrifying new obsession. She craves his body despite believing he’s taken, despising her own weakness. Meanwhile, Lysander’s initial terror curdles into a forbidden fascination. Can a relationship survive when one person feels everything, and the other only hungers?

Veda Ahuja is a strikingly beautiful and intelligent woman, known for her feisty spirit, Strongwill and kind heart. With her warm personality and sharp mind, she's the kind of person everyone wants to be around. But for five years, her life has been overshadowed by the unrelenting gaze of one man.

Varun Sengar.

A warlord feared by many, desired by all, and ruled by none-except his obsession with Veda. Handsome, enigmatic, and utterly ruthless, Varun is a man of few words but overwhelming power. Despite the countless women vying for his attention, his heart beats solely for Veda, a love so consuming it borders on madness.

For five long years, Varun has stalked her every move, driven by an obsession that defies reason. His fixation has grown so intense that only his closest confidants know the depths of his madness, resorting to extreme measures to calm his dark rages.

But Veda wants nothing to do with him. When she got to know his family world, She now know what lies behind his striking looks and quiet demeanor-a dangerous man with blood on his hands, a man who lives by no rules but his own. Yet Varun's obsession is unyielding, threatening to ensnare Veda in a world of danger and desire she desperately wants to escape.

As their lives continue to collide, Veda must navigate the suffocating web of Varun's obsession while fighting to maintain her freedom. But how long can she resist the pull of a man who is willing to destroy anything-and anyone-to make her his?

His hand tightens around my wrists above my head. “This pretty dripping pussy of yours. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is fucking begging me. But maybe you’re soaked and needy because of his fangs.” He slaps my pussy. Hard.

I cry. “Ahhhh! No!” I let out a whimper, then a moan.

Earlier, of fucking course yes, but now, it’s just for him. But if I come to think about Griffin’s fangs—

Aemon opens my pussy lips with his long fingers at an obscene angle. I curl my toes. Oh, Goddess, oh Goddess!

I’m so wet! “Griffin—I mean—Your brother means nothing to me.” I whimper.

But as soon as I say his brother’s name I know it is the wrong thing to say.

🥀 🥀 🥀

To vampires, blood is everything.

When it stops flowing, so do you.

Blake is human. Offered like cattle by the very pack that raised her.

But the moment her blood touches Griffin’s tongue, the Vampire Leader knows—she is his fated mate.

There is only one problem: his brother wants her too. And he’s not willing to let go.

In retaliation, the president imprisoned her and everyone blamed her for not seducing her president's brother-in-law, but no one knew that the president had fallen in love with her when she was still young. When the president began to change day by day, he suddenly realized that he had fallen in love with his sister-in-law, and what should he do with his wife who had returned from disappearance? Confusing relationship, complicated feelings, perhaps all this should not have started...

I put up with my husband's cheating because I needed money for my brother's medical bills.

Until I found the heart donor report he'd been hiding in his study for three months. 98% match. He'd signed it "postpone."

That night, fireworks filled the London sky, his mistress laughing in the background. Standing over my brother's body, I finally got it—he'd been killing my brother all along.

I ripped up his check, sold every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me, and threw the divorce papers in his face.

"Murderer"—that's all I said.

Three years later, I'm getting a standing ovation at the Golden Hall. He shows up in the snow, eyes red, begging for forgiveness.

I just smiled. "Charles, you died three years ago."

My husband, Zachary, chose to save his sister-in-law right in front of the kidnappers.

The kidnapper pressed the gun to my temple and asked, "Choose your wife or your sister-in-law?"

Zachary didn't hesitate. "Let Valerie go," he said.

He actually chose to save his sister-in-law! In that moment, even the baby in my belly seemed to stop kicking.

Later, they locked me in the basement. Drugs to delay labor were pumped into my veins over and over. Zachary wanted to save the "firstborn son" status for his sister-in-law's child.

When warm blood finally soaked through my skirt, I dialed the number I knew by heart with shaking hands.

"Zachary," I whispered into the phone, "our child... can't wait any longer."