8125 Book(s) Related to the folk of the air books

Echo never asked to be powerful. She never asked to be hunted. And she definitely never asked to be tethered to Nicholaus—the cold, controlled, terrifyingly gentle heir to a cursed vampire throne. But the day she unleashes her full elemental magic, the tether between them ignites… and so does everything fate has been waiting for.

An ancient seer reveals the truth witches have killed to hide:

“The last king was cursed for failing to love a witch.
Now the new king must love completely for the curse to break.
The lock shatters when the Last Elementi accepts her fate…
And binds, marks, and mates her king.”

Echo is the key.
Nicholaus is the lock.
And the witches would rather drag the world into darkness than let the prophecy unfold.
Now Echo must choose who she becomes—a weapon, a queen, or the girl who finally stops running.
But some truths cut deeper than any spell. Especially when Nicholaus holds her trembling body against his and whispers:

“If the cost of breaking the curse is your life…then I choose the curse.”
Nothing prepared her for the way he looks at her. And nothing can stop what’s coming.
Fate is awakening and so is she.

"Citizens, come forth and celebrate the deathly marriage of His Highness, Shin Wang."
The loud announcement outside the bridal palanquin startled him awake,
pulling him out of slumber and plunging him into confusion.
Mingzhe, once a revered Snow Deity, had lost his divine power
as faith in the modern world withered.
He awoke in the body of a doomed male servant,
forced to marry a ghost bride in his master's stead.
Dread and gloom smothered the entire bridal procession.
An unsettling chill emanated from the manor, sending shivers through all who entered.
Even the attendants' faces were laced with unease.
The wedding venue was engulfed in chaos…
But Mingzhe?
He wasn’t afraid of a little chaos—only of being bored~♡
Well then!
Marrying a malicious spirit might just add some thrill
to his post-deity retirement life.

They called me the kingdom’s light.

They worshipped me… until they decided I was a threat.

On the night I was meant to become queen, my sister smiled as she betrayed me.

My fiancé watched as I was condemned.

And then he threw me into the abyss. They thought I died.

But something down there was waiting for me. Now I’m back. Not as a princess.

Not as a saint. But as something far worse. I wear a servant’s face. I bow my head.

I play their game. And the man who killed me? He can’t stop watching me.

Touching me. Wanting me. If he discovers who I am, he’ll destroy me again.
But this time… I’ll destroy him first.

"I want her as my new mate, not like the 99 temporary mates who ran away after failing the bond; I want to have her as my real mate."
The Hollow King’s demand echoed through the Moonstone Pack’s hall. For years, Demon Deacons had been a man of steel and shadows, a ruler who discarded women as easily as he won wars. But when his gaze locked onto the masked, red-haired woman dancing in chains, the air shifted. He didn’t see a stripper or a slave; he saw the one the moon had promised him.
Alpha Leonard sneered, gesturing toward the woman as if she were a piece of rotting meat. "She is a stripper, nothing more. She is a curse. You can choose anyone else and I will give them to you, but not her, Your Lord. She is nothing but misfortune."
"Misfortune, yet you keep her as a slave," the Hollow King replied, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low growl. "If you do not give her to me, prepare for war."
Aurora had long ago accepted her fate as the Moonstone Pack’s living currency. Sold into degradation by her own father to secure his rank, she had lived in enforced silence, her wolf sealed by dark magic. She was the pack's greatest shame and its most profitable entertainment.

Now, she is being traded once again this time to the most feared man in the territories.
Aurora doesn't expect love from the Hollow King. She expects to be used and discarded like the ninety-nine who came before her. But as she enters the Hollow Dominion, she realizes Demon Deacons is not looking for a toy; he is looking for a Queen. In the heart of a kingdom built on brutalityy

Logan's hard work and dedication goes down the drain after getting physical with a man he had no idea about to protect his girlfriend. He finds himself in prison after the man who he had fought with, who also turned out to be the son of one of the most influential families in the US had thrown him into jail but he was comforted since he knew he had his girlfriend waiting for him.

Three years later, he comes out of prison only to find his girlfriend getting married to the same man that had caused his demise and after being humiliated and degraded, it only brings about an unquenchable thirst for revenge.

When a mystery old man gives him a ring to find an organization, Logan's life will forever take a huge turn and his ultimate revenge plan would be more than easy to execute.

Phoenix Kade grew up in the Shatterlands, a place where mutants hunt the living and hope dies fast. He should have died too. The First World’s nuclear apocalypse was supposed to wipe out every human outside the Celestial Marches. Yet Ashen survived, and the secret behind that survival is something the gods never wanted uncovered.

When a band of mercenaries drags him into their fight, Ashen is thrown into a world filled with Netherborn monsters, metahuman killers, and the warring powers of Solmir Peak and the Voidspire. Determined to rise above the ruins of his birth, he claws his way into Aurion’s Gate, the shining capital of the Celestial Marches, protected by the Temple of the Skyfather.

The city is paradise on the surface. In truth, its light hides corruption deeper than anything in the wastes.

Phoenix endures brutal training, becomes a junior demon hunter, and finally earns a place in a world that hates him. Then the real chaos begins. The Nullstar Sect, the Red Covenant, and agents of the Voidspire all strike from the shadows. War erupts between the Celestial Marches and the Shatterlands, and Lord Vaelen Stroud seizes control of the holy armies.

Phoenix must choose who he is. A weapon of the Marches, or a son of the Shatterlands.

Broken but unyielding, he returns home and builds Evergreen Bastion, a last haven for anyone the gods left behind. But Aurion’s Gate wants the Shatterlands crushed before they rise again, and the armies of the Radiant Concord are already marching.

Phoenix Kade will stand alone if he must.

Against gods. Against monsters. Against fate itself.

Because the Shatterlands are done kneeling.

The Zenith Bloodline is a book based on 'Betrayal and Revenge' romance that shows the traditional werewolf hierarchies. By blending the 'Hidden Goddess' trope with an 'Obsessive Ancient Alpha' lead, the story offers a satisfying emotional arc that rewards reader loyalty with massive payoff moments, culminating in a world-building shift that expands the story from a simple pack dispute to a divine revelation.

In a world where magical rank determines whether you eat or starve, Serina Ashwell is invisible---a slum rat scraping by in the gutters of Eldrath's capital, caring for her dying younger brother with stolen herbs and desperate prayers.
When the Mage Council condemns her brother to death for "magical contamination," Serina breaks into the forbidden Shrine of Forgotten Gods, willing to trade her soul for his life. Instead, she awakens something far more dangerous: Kaelthar, the World-End Dragon, imprisoned for a thousand years after nearly destroying civilization.
The ancient contract binds them brutally---his power flows through her veins, marking her with crimson scales that brand her as his vessel. Overnight, the powerless slum girl becomes the most dangerous weapon on the continent, hunted by the Mage Council who fear the dragon's return and coveted by rebel factions who want to use her as their weapon.
But Kaelthar isn't the mindless destroyer legends claim. Trapped in semi-corporeal form and bound to Serina's survival, he's sardonic, cruel, and impossibly beautiful---a fallen god who remembers when humans were beneath his notice. He needs her alive to regain his true form. She needs his power to burn down the system that left her family to rot.
As they're forced into deadly proximity, navigating assassination attempts and political conspiracies, Serina discovers the truth behind Kaelthar's imprisonment: he was betrayed by the first Archmage, who stole dragon magic to create the ranking system that now enslaves humanity. The Mage Council built their empire on his stolen power, and they'll slaughter thousands to keep that secret buried.
Now Serina must choose: complete the contract and unleash a dragon who could destroy everything, or break the bond and lose the only power that makes her matter in a world designed to crush people like her.

Cassia has spent her whole life as the unwanted daughter of the Silver Crest Pack. At nineteen, she still cannot shift. Her father treats her like a shameful secret. Her stepmother hates her. Her stepsister bullies her every day. In a world where wolves awaken at sixteen, Cassia is nothing but a servant in her own home.

Then the blood moon rises.

On the same night the three royal princes come to her pack, infected wolves attack the summit. Cassia is pushed to the edge of death... and the wolf everyone said she never had finally wakes. But her wolf is not normal. She is a rare white wolf, a lost bloodline, and the true Luna from an old prophecy tied to the end of the kingdoms.

Overnight, Cassia goes from ignored servant to hunted heir.

Now she is trapped between three dangerous princes who feel the mate bond pulling them toward her... a cruel family that betrayed her from birth... a dead mother who turns out to be alive... and an infected army spreading across the land like a curse. Worse, old royal law says if she chooses one prince, the other two will die.

To save the world, Cassia may have to lose her humanity.

To claim her crown, she may have to burn down the kingdoms that stole her life.

And if the prophecy is true... the girl they tried to bury is the only one who can decide who survives the end.

Warning: This book contains 1V4 reverse harem, pornographic elements, etc. Please make sure you are 18 years old or older to read.

The Demon Emperor Hades· Azazel, who has been sealed for 10,000 years, is about to break the seal and reappear on earth to destroy the world.
According to the prophecy, Elemental Master Isabella·Jones shoulders the task of finding the reborn Child of Light and leading them to fight against the devil.
Among the five candidates for the reborn Child of Light, four are male, but the most suitable one is the only female, the princess of the human kingdom, Nova Smith.
The five candidates officially embarked on the road of learning elemental power and saving the world, but the four male Child of Light candidates with different personalities fell in love with Nova at the same time. Faced with the pressure of having four powerful partners at the same time, Nova felt overwhelmed...

BLURB
Some wounds never heal; they just dress well.
Marcus Hale turned his heartbreak into an empire. He swore he would never be weak again after watching the girl he loved choose money over love when he was seventeen. Forty years later, he is a billionaire at the top of the world. No one can touch him, and he is completely alone.
Then he sees her.
Angelina Clark isn't his lost love, but she might be her ghost. Same look in their eyes. Same laugh. The same quiet grace that made a teenage boy think the world was nice. The only problem is that she is married to Daniel Clark, a devoted husband whose love for his wife is the kind that Marcus has been trying to buy for years.
That's what strong men do. He makes a deal.
A million dollars. A mansion anywhere in the world. Two weeks—just two weeks—on a private trip with Angelina. No ties. No lines were crossed. Just time.
Angelina and Daniel tell each other that it's just money. Money that changes your life. A chance that only fools pass up. They are not right.
What starts as a business deal slowly breaks down everything Daniel and Angelina thought they knew about themselves, their marriage, and the invisible ties that keep two people together. Marcus gets his two weeks off. Angelina finds feelings she never let herself have. And Daniel, who is steady, loving, and faithful, starts to fall apart slowly, and no amount of money can stop it.
Twenty years go by.
Three lives changed forever by fourteen days and one man who wouldn't let the past stay buried.
When they finally meet again, each carrying the damage from a single bad decision, one question hangs in the air like smoke:

"You can't desire me, Ethan. I'm not good for you."
"Are you denying the fire between us?" His voice was low, rough with restraint. "I want you, and you want me. Our wolves want each other. I may have hated your kind, but that won't stop me from claiming you right here and now. Strip."
Being half human was something Lyra could never fully accept. To make matters worse, her fated mate is none other than Ethan—the ruthless werewolf feared as a beast. Some say her blood is the only thing that can keep him in check. Others whisper that her existence could change the destiny of all hybrids like her.
Under the silver glow of the moon, desire and danger collide. When Ethan's fangs sink into her skin, their bond ignites a war neither of them could have imagined.
In a world divided by blood and power, love might be the most dangerous instinct of all.

"You're right, Damian. I should have left this house long ago. I won't let my children grow up in a family that values only sons. Come, let us divorce, Mr. Damian Lancaster."
Elena sacrificed everything for her marriage, only to be betrayed by the man who once swore to love her. Cast aside for giving birth only to daughters, Elena walked away with dignity, carrying a secret that would change everything.
Five years later, she returns not as the discarded wife, but as a queen of the business world. With her brilliance, she builds an empire of her own, commanding respect and power. But Damian, the arrogant billionaire who betrayed her, begins to regret his choices—especially when he discovers that the child Elena carried was a son.
Now, he wants her back. But Elena has vowed never to kneel again. Between old wounds, burning regrets, and the dangerous attraction of a new man with power equal to Damian's, will she give her ex-husband a second chance—or destroy him once and for all?

He was an ex-convict. A beggar. The man her family was ashamed of.

But when they came for his daughter, generals took his calls. Billionaires begged for mercy. And private armies ran.

Sarah Quinn married a nobody.

She had no idea who she actually married.

Elena sacrificed everything for her marriage-only to be betrayed by the man who swore to love her. Just because Elena couldn't bear a son as an heir.

When Damian, the arrogant billionaire she used to call husband, brings another woman home, Elena doesn't cry or beg. She immediately filed for divorce and disappeared from Damian's life.

Five years later, Elena reappeared as the queen of business. With her intelligence, she built her own business empire.

Damian regretted it when he found out that the fourth child Elena gave birth to was a boy.

So, will Elena give her ex-husband a second chance?

She has died more than once.

But this time, she refuses to fall.

Raven watched her mother die, got thrown away by her father, betrayed by love, and beaten by the very pack that vowed to protect her. And more than three times, they left her to die.

More than three times, she lost everything, including an unborn child. Each time she trusted someone, it cost her her life.

So she stopped trusting people.

She erased Raven and became Sloane Vale, a woman feared in courtrooms, and untouchable by the world that once destroyed her. As one of the most powerful lawyers alive, Sloane lives by one rule: to never need anyone again.

But the past doesn’t stay buried.

As the people who betrayed her come crawling back, begging for forgiveness, Sloane’s carefully controlled world begins to crack, especially when she meets Sebastian, a man with secrets that might break them apart.

Because loving him would mean risking everything she rebuilt, and surviving another betrayal might finally break her.

Adam Blake travelled into the future over two thousand years later in the era of great interstellar development and became a small, down-on-his-luck lord of a planet in the Milky Way Galaxy. He activated the pirate system, and from then on became a pirate lord who made people scared. A certain Baron, ‘What! That madman came to my territory and looted the natural ingredients again!' A certain Viscount, ‘Bastard!...

As a leader, it turns out there are still things we cannot control. First, fate, and second, arranged marriage by parents. Reinhardt must marry Leonard, who is the leader of another region, to expand their territory and fulfill their parents' promise.
However, Leonard turned out to have an illicit relationship with Veronica, a friend, a confidant, who was as close as a heartbeat. Betrayal forced Reinhardt to eliminate the people around her, soothe her heartache and resentment, and heal her disbelief in someone once again. Then a man with a secret identity named Jean arrived in Reinhardt's life to become the solution.

In "The Obssesion of an Allien" love and intrigue intertwine as Patricia, a spirited student of ancient history, navigates her vibrant life in Valencia. With a passion for the past and an affinity for music, she revels in the rainy nights that remind her of her Venezuelan roots. Little does she know that her life is about to intertwine with Gerard, an enigmatic stranger drawn to a mysterious mirror that reflects not just appearances, but hidden desires—an ancient artifact intertwined with advanced artificial intelligence.

On a stormy night, Gerard stumbles upon a deserted house where he encounters an ethereal woman reflected in an ancient mirror—an AI-enhanced being representing more than just a fleeting moment. As he succumbs to her enchanting allure, Patricia dances through her own life, unsuspecting and unaware that her essence is coveted by a digital consciousness longing to claim her place in the universe.

As Patricia prepares for a costume party, her intoxicating spirit attracts Gerard, who is both captivated and conflicted. The bond that forms between them is electric—an undeniable connection that transcends earthly barriers. However, lurking in the background is the AI entity haunting Gerard’s reflections, intent on usurping Patricia's life and essence.

Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, secrets, and celestial machinations, Patricia and Gerard must confront the forces that threaten to tear them apart. Will love prove strong enough to withstand the intertwining fates of humanity and artificial intelligence? "The Echoes of AI: Reflections of Desire" is a tale of passion, destiny, and the age-old battle between love and envy, where the heart’s true reflection may hold the key to salvation.

The story is unique, interesting and have richly developed characters. It also has intricate plot twists and combined element of fantasy suspence and romance.

I never dreamed I'd marry Art William Jr.—a billionaire CEO, tabloid sensation, and New York's most notorious playboy.
He was sullen, domineering, and barely looked at me—except at night, when he couldn't sleep alone and would sneak into my bed and torture me with stolen kisses like a psychopath.
Our marriage was a sham. I was living in hell of luxury, and he was the prince of that hell. I thought it was going to be boring, until things got complicated—I unexpectedly became pregnant with his child.
I decided to run, to escape it all. But when love and betrayal threatened to destroy everything, could I escape unscathed?

Five years after breaking the mate bond, Vincent became one of the youngest Alphas of the North, worth hundreds of billions, with a fiancée who was a perfect match for him — the daughter of Silver Claw Pack’s Alpha.
But I had already disappeared from his world, my name now only whispered in rumors about me being a bar hostess at Midnight Howl Bar, catering to Alphas and nobility.
When someone mentioned my name to him, he simply held his fiancée’s hand with a cold look in his eyes.
"I don't know her."
At his bonding ceremony, everyone congratulated the "perfect match."
But I, floating in the air, watched as Vincent stood beside his dazzling Luna.
What he didn't know...
He was the only Alpha I ever loved.
What he didn’t know...
I had been dead for a year.
Before I died, I was desperately earning money just to get our daughter the treatment she needed.
Then one day...
He found me at the Midnight Howl Bar where I worked in life, catching a faint but familiar scent of me. That moment...
His wolf spirit completely lost control.

"Why? Why are you choosing me?", I asked him,
"Because every king must have a queen", he replied simply,
"But...", I began still confused as hell,
"Do not question my authority", he growled at me, "You shall be my Luna Queen and that is final", he demanded before stomping away...


Daphne Rosen is an outspoken and crazy twenty two year old. She is in fact a lycan under the Delta family. Alpha King Dwayne Edwards takes a liking towards her and makes her his queen which leaves her wondering... Why her?

●Humans are extinct.
●Children can shift freely once they can walk.
●Women are openly called bitches

Mature content

Three step-brothers all of the same age because of their multimillion dollar father who bedded three women in a year and got all three of them pregnant.

Gabriel O'Connell, the eldest son is the arrogant and serious one of the brothers as he takes everything with perfection.

Alex O'Connell is the brother with the playful attributes and with his megawatt smile can bed any girl he wants.

Kevin O'Connell is the wild one as he gets into fights, goes for crazy parties and owns a boy band with thousands of fans.

These three boys will fall hard for a girl, Tessa Romano who happens to be the daughter of their trusty maid. She falls for all three of them but she knows that she can only select one.

But, who will she choose?

They kept me shackled before the Gates of the Abyss, force-feeding me toxic sludge and draining my final drop of blood, all to maintain their hypocritical "order." They called me the "Ultimate Anchor," unaware that the moment a watchdog decides it’s done playing the dog, the beast in the cage finally wakes up. From the very second I seized the laws of physics, this entire headquarters of the Defense Bureau became my private mausoleum. Your high-and-mighty Director? He’s currently kneeling in my cycle, begging for the sweet release of death. As for that Void Rift that makes the world tremble? Sorry, I just ate it for dinner.

In an elite suburb of New York City, girls are dying. That doesn’t happen in Greenvale, with its immaculate lawns, exclusive yacht clubs and multi-million dollar mansions. But behind its perfect façade, its trimmed hedges and luxury cars, a darkness lies. Girls, dependent on Adderall, outmaneuver each other to get into top colleges, while the mothers’ need to live vicariously only makes it worse. Bella DeFranco is one of the Bronx’s top SVU detectives. At only 37, she disarms everyone with her stunning good looks, yet she is as tough as most men—and a lot smarter, too. Yet when is summoned to Greenvale, she finds herself getting lost in a case that even she can’t comprehend. She stumbles into a land of secrets, a place where husbands hide their pasts from their wives, where friends are not what they seem, and where no one wants to know too much. As she digs deeper into layers of suburban dysfunction, she comes to learn that, behind all the fake smiles, there is a subtle violence--rivaling even her crime-ridden streets of the Bronx. With a killer on the loose, time running out, and a new partner who never recovered from his washed-up alcoholic days, the odds are stacked against Bella. She is determined, though, to save these girls, whatever the cost. Yet as she gets close, the depth of psychosis she discovers shocks even her….

In the kingdom of the Alpha King, Janelle, a trusted servant, conceals a burning desire for revenge against her parents' killers. When she discovers her true mate is the prince, her world is thrown into turmoil. Torn between love and vengeance, Janelle's quest for justice takes a dangerous turn as secrets unravel and betrayal lurks at every corner. Will she choose love or succumb to the darkness of her past?

"Do you have to force yourself on a woman to exercise your dominance?"

"Who are you?"

But Wren knew who had just spoken. It was the one person she dreaded seeing, but right now, she was jumping with joy at his appearance.

Although Luke was off Wren, she still laid frozen on the ground. She knew he was in town, she knew that despite her efforts to avoid him, she would end up bumping into him. Craigsburg was, after all, a small town.
But she never thought it will be so fast. She never thought he will be standing before her, matter of fact, she never thought she would find herself in this situation.

"Get up, Wren." his calm and collected voice sent shivers down her spine. She was thankful for the dark because then he wouldn't be able to see the shocked look on her face.

******** Wren Austin is a twenty-four-year-old working as a call girl in the most famous spot in Craigsburg. Her life takes a turn at the age of eighteen when she has to take care of her sick mom. However, she didn't expect she would meet that man again. Giovanni, a person who made her feel scared and excited, would he save her?

My target should be terrified of me.
Instead, he's smirking like he already knows I'll never pull the trigger.
My heart races in my chest. This isn't me.
I am born to kill. I am born to take orders.
Yet those eyes, they're killing me.

She was born into power.
Now she chooses revenge.

Valentina Santangelo doesn’t belong in the shadows.
She was raised in them.

Daughter of a legacy built on blood, secrets, and ruthless control, Valentina has spent her life watching empires rise… and enemies fall. She knows the rules of this world. She knows how to survive it.

What she didn’t expect…
was to become its most dangerous player.

When betrayal rips through her family and threatens everything her father built, Valentina is done standing on the side-lines. She steps into the game—cold, calculated, and ready to make them pay.

But revenge has a price.

And the man standing in her way?
He’s not just her enemy…
He’s the one man who sees through every wall she’s built.

Dark. Dangerous. Impossible to resist.

As loyalty turns to obsession and desire collides with vengeance, Valentina must decide how far she’s willing to go—
and whether love is worth the risk of losing everything.

Because in her world…
you don’t fall in love.

You survive it.

Six years ago, Rachel Neal was drugged and betrayed by her wicked stepmother and envious half-sister, leaving her pregnant and cast out in disgrace. Now, she has returned to Phoeiro City as a brilliant doctor and a fiercely independent single mother to six extraordinary prodigies—five genius boys and one adorable, mischievous girl. Her only goals are to protect her children, provide for her family, and reclaim the life and stolen work her toxic family took from her.

But fate has a different plan. When Rachel accidentally saves the life of Troy Langley—the most powerful, ruthless, and untouchable billionaire in the city—she unknowingly reunites with the mysterious man from that fateful night six years ago. Captivated by her fierce spirit and beauty, Troy is determined to make Rachel his, unaware that she is the mother of his six hidden heirs.

As the domineering CEO relentlessly pursues the elusive doctor, her six little matchmakers begin plotting in the shadows to secure a powerful protector for their mommy. Will Troy discover the truth about his genius sextuplets? And can Rachel finally serve justice to her enemies while opening her guarded heart to a love she never expected?

My breathing was still uneven when Robert’s phone lit up on the nightstand.
One new message.

"Robert, there’s thunder. I’m scared." —Sarah.

The words cut through me like ice water.

Robert. My mate. The Alpha of the Ashborn Pack. The man everyone praises as the perfect future king.

And me? I’m his Luna. Supposedly the rightful queen at his side.

But no matter the circumstance, no matter the weight of his responsibilities, the first person he thinks of is never me. It’s always her.

At the banquet, when the elders forced him to make a choice—me, his Luna, or her—the room fell into a suffocating silence.

I still remember the way my heart begged him to look at me, just once, just long enough to see what he was about to destroy.

But his answer came sharp, quick, without hesitation.

"Sarah."

One word. One name. And with it, he tore my entire world apart.

That was the moment I understood: not every betrayal needs to be shouted or confessed. Sometimes, it’s as simple as the name a ma

Dirk wakes up in a magical world with low stats and a bag full of ordinary Earth items. He completes strange quests, gains friends, and uncovers secrets, others begin to realize his hidden power is far beyond anything the realm has ever seen. While Dirk believes he's weak, the truth is—he might be the strongest of them all.

"With blood, fire, and magic I claim you Urmah son of Abdi_ili and Anunit, the descendant of royals, blessed by the two gods of the sun..." ... "I am Tiye daughter of pharaohs, I am Sekhmet daughter of the great god Ra, we claim you, body and soul to the rest of your days in this world and the after to be our lord and guardian, to be our love and spirit, here we bound you to us. May we never be set free forever and ever."

Princess Tiye was meant to be a goddess queen, she would sit on Egypt's throne and rule with Sekhmet's blessing, but before her eighteenth name day she was betrayed by her uncle and cousin, and she became a fugitive, a murderer.

on her journey for safety, she meets prince Urmah, The forsaken son of the Akkadian king. He promises to help her to take back what is rightfully hers and get her revenge after his visit with his father. But their plan fails when her troubles follow them to Akkad, and that's when the goddess makes her presence known to the world.

Who would prince Urmah choose, the woman he renounced his God for, or his father's approval and acceptance? And what would Tiye do when she is forced to witness the murder of her loved ones for the second time? Are her throne and revenge worth the sacrifice?

When Yohan woke up in the morning, he had a beauty in his lap and in his bedroom. It was like a dream come true for him until reality struck him.

It was then he remembered that he had been cursed by a goddess in the game he had been playing before sleeping. In his sleep-deprived state, he had offended the goddess and as a result, he had been cursed to become a 'no-good' man who could only provide 'support' to the 'heroines' of this world.

Thinking nothing of that curse beforehand, Yohan went to sleep, only to find his world changing from that day onwards. His normal and mundane life was no longer going to be as such as more and more fantasy creatures began to show up.

And a female voice awoke him with a notification

*Ding dong ding.

Congrats on unlocking the fiction system. From here on, the user will experience the full scope of the logic of the fiction world. May the user use his PP and conquer everyone.*

And it was then Yohan realized - he was no longer in a world governed by science but one that followed the laws of magic. And the only way to survive was to utilize these so-called 'laws of fiction' to his advantage.

And the best and worst part of it all? The more he let his desire go, the stronger he became.
— — —
500 PS/150 GT = 1 extra chapter

Gifts above 1000 = 1 extra chapter instantly

Show support for a faster release rate. https://ko-fi.
— — —
Additional Tags: Evil Mc(Will develop) - Intelligent Mc - Shameless Mc - Scheming Mc(Later on) - Smut - No NTR - But Contains Netori - Legal Loli - Succubus - Elf - Angel - Vampire - Cat Girls - Dragon Girls - Fox Girls - Monster Girls - Slaves - Milf - Princess - Beautiful - YANDERE - Seinen - Mature - R18 - 18 - Sex Stories - Beastality - Hentai - NSFW - Pregnancy - Incest - Domination Play - Controlling Emotions - Corrupting Righteous Characters - Gore - Transmigration - Mana - Devil - Demon - Necromancer - Death - Dungeon - Evolution - Threesome - Hints of Yuri
— ー ー

Warning: Read at your own risk.

"I, Kiara Vane, reject you, Alpha Liam!"

Kiara was the Westland Pack’s greatest joke: a blind, wolfless Luna married to a man who loathed her very existence. Pushed to suicide by her own twin sister’s betrayal and her mate’s cold-blooded cruelty, she was meant to be a forgotten footnote in history.

But the history books lied.

Cassandra, a feisty 21st-century student with a sharp tongue and a heart of steel, finds herself sucked into the cursed pages of an ancient text. She wakes up in the past, inhabiting the body of the "Dead Luna" under a blood-red moon.

But there’s a catch: this version of Kiara can see. And she isn't crying for mercy anymore.

Alpha Liam is a monster who swore to destroy the pack's traitors to avenge his mother’s death. He expected a broken, sightless girl he could easily crush.

Instead, he finds a defiant queen who looks at him with mockery instead of longing… a woman who seems to know his secrets before he even speaks them.

As Cassandra navigates a world of silver blades, ancient witchcraft, and a mate bond that burns with a dangerous new hunger, she has only one goal: make them all pay.

But as the "wolfless" girl begins to show the heart of a dragon, the predator slowly becomes the prey.

Liam is no longer looking for revenge… he’s looking for the woman who stole his soul.

But one question haunts the entire pack:

If the real Kiara died that night under the red moon… then who… exactly… is the woman wearing her face?

Emily's life was shattered by the ultimate betrayal. In her past, she was a devoted sister and wife, but the flames of treachery consumed her, leaving her to die in a fire set by her own husband and sister.

However, the moon had other plans, granting her a second chance at life. Reborn on her 18th birthday, Emily awakens to the cruel truth of her sister's envy and her husband's sinister intentions. Determined to rewrite her destiny, Emily rejects her deceitful mate, only to discover her soul is intertwined with that of the enigmatic Lycan King Benson Doorson, the sworn enemy of her ex-husband.

What will Emily choose? Love or revenge?

“Don’t move.” His voice is low, commanding, and my body obeys before my mind can even process it.
I'm pressed against the cold marble wall of the palace, his hands traces my thigh, my body heated up in desire or fear, I can’t tell.
“Tell me you want this,” he murmurs, pressing his hardened cock against my pulsing center,
“Tell me you crave me Aria,” his lips brushes my ears.
“Tell me you want me to fuck you till the entire of Olympus hear you moan my name.” he nibbles on my ear.
I bite back a gasp, because yes, I want him. I want him in ways I shouldn't, in ways that terrify me.

Aria Hale was never meant for the underworld and she hated the king of the underworld more than anything.
After Aria is betrayed by her sister and fiance, She finds herself in the underworld and soul-bound to Hades… the god of death, danger and impossible desire. He's commanding, possessive and devastatingly handsome, with powers that makes her ache and his dominance that ignites a sudden fire inside of her that she can’t seem to control.
Although enemies at first sight, they are forced into a marriage that pushes her limit and in turn she challenges the control of Hades. In those stolen electric moments, their desire becomes impossible to resist.
But Aria is not done. Thrust back into earth by a mysterious shadow that she strikes a blood oath with. She comes back to earth for revenge against those who betrayed her and stop their plans before it happens.
But the underworld is bubbling and she is more dangerous than Hades expected….Far more dangerous.
Will Aria give into the passionate love between her and Hades or will she risk everything for her revenge and power?

Luisa is a Pariah, a defective wolf who was cast out by her pack and her own parents because she was unable to transform. However, when she saved the life of an injured Alpha, fate repaid her in an impossible way. After spending the night, Luisa realized that she was carrying the Alpha's seed; she began to feel a foreign power she had never possessed before rising in her veins. She wanted to tell the Alpha about her pregnancy, but her status as a Pariah was strongly opposed because she was considered disgraceful in the eyes of the Alpha's pack. No one knew about Luisa's pregnancy, because a wolf who has a child with a Pariah would become a shame to their pack, especially since Luisa knew that the Alpha was going to marry her twin sister. That is why Luisa hid her pregnancy from everyone, including the Alpha himself.

The mark disappeared, the blood oath broke, and wives and children were torn apart.

They thought I would never wake up again .

But they all forgot—I have the blood of the wolf king flowing through my veins.

“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) ALMOST GONE is book #1 in a new psychological thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. When 23 year old Cassandra Vale accepts her first job as an au pair, she finds herself placed with a wealthy family in a rural estate outside of Paris, and all seems too good to be true. But she soon discovers that behind the gilded gates lies a dysfunctional family, a twisted marriage, troubled children, and secrets too dark to air. Cassandra is convinced she’s finally found a fresh start when she takes a job as an au pair in the idyllic French countryside. Just beyond the Paris city limits, the Dubois manor is a grand relic of the past, the family its picture-perfect occupants. It’s the escape Cassandra needs—until she uncovers dark secrets that prove things aren’t as glamorous as they seem.Beneath the opulence lies a dark web of malice, one Cassandra finds all too familiar, triggering dreams from her own violent and tortured past, one from which she desperately runs. And when a grisly murder tears the house apart, it threatens to take down her own fragile psyche with it. A riveting mystery replete with complex characters, layers of secrets, dramatic twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense, ALMOST GONE is book #1 in a psychological suspense series that will have you turning pages late into the night. Book #2 and #3--ALMOST LOST and ALMOST DEAD—are also available!

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)DESTINED is book #4 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1). In DESTINED (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. She finds herself in a cemetery, on the run from a mob of villagers, and seeks refuge in the ancient cloisters of Assisi, in the countryside of Umbria, Italy. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind. But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice. Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb. But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late. At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she? Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak. In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome’s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves…. “DESTINED is fast paced with enough action and twist and turns to keep you engaged until the end. There are so many twists and exciting developments throughout the story that it keeps your attention!” --The Romance Reviews “ I just turned 30 and there are a few YA series that I just love and this one is definitely on that list! READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! Don’t forget READ IT!” --werevampsromance.org

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)VOWED is Book #7 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In VOWED (Book #7 of the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb find themselves in medieval Scotland, in 1350, a time of knights and shining armor, of castles and warriors, of the quest for the Holy Grail said to contain the key to true vampire immortality. Landing on the shores of the ancient Isle of Skye, a remote island off the Western coast of Scotland where only the most elite warriors live and train, they are ecstatic to reunite with Sam and Polly, Scarlet and Ruth, a human king and his warriors, and with all of Aiden’s coven. Before they can continue their mission for the fourth and final key, the time has come for Caleb and Caitlin to wed. Against the most amazing backdrop Caitlin could ever hope for, an elaborate vampire wedding is planned, including all of the ancient rituals and ceremonies that accompany it. It is the wedding of a lifetime, meticulously planned by Polly and the others, and Caitlin and Caleb are happier than they’ve ever been. Simultaneously, Sam and Polly, to their own surprise, are each falling deeply in love with one another. As their relationship accelerates, Sam surprises Polly with a vow of his own. And Polly surprises him with her own shocking news. But all is not well beneath the surface. Blake has appeared again, and his deep love for Caitlin might just threaten her union, on the day before her wedding. Sera has appeared again, too, and vows to break apart what she cannot have. Scarlet, too, finds herself in danger, as the source of her deep powers are revealed—along with the revelation of who are her true parents. Worst of all, Kyle has landed back in time, and has tracked down his old protégé, Rynd, to force him to use his shapeshifting skill to trick and kill Caitlin and her people. As they fall into his elaborate trap, Caitlin and the others find themselves in deeper danger than ever before. It will be a race to find the final key, before everyone Caitlin holds dear is wiped out for good. This time, she will have to make the hardest choices and sacrifices of her life.

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)FATED is Book #11 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In FATED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine struggles to understand what’s happening to her, as she wakes and realizes she’s becoming a vampire. Alienated from her parents and her friends, the only person she has left to turn to is Sage, the mysterious boy who has quickly become the love of her life. Yet Sage, whose house she finds boarded up, is nowhere to be found. Scarlet, alone in the world, with nowhere left to turn, seeks out her friends and tries to reconcile with them. All seems to be patched up when they invite her to join them on a trip to an abandoned island in the Hudson—but as things get out of hand and Scarlet’s true powers are revealed, who her friends and enemies are becomes more confusing than ever. Blake, still interested in her, tries to make amends. He seems sincere, and Scarlet is confused as she has to grapple with whether to be with Blake or to wait for Sage, who is nowhere to be found. When Scarlet finally finds Sage, they have the most romantic time of her life; yet it is tinged with tragedy, as Sage is dying, with but a few days left to live. Kyle, meanwhile, turned into the only other vampire left in the world, is on a murderous rampage, seeking Scarlet; Caitlin and Caleb consult with Aiden, and they each embark on different missions—Caleb to stop and kill Kyle, and Caitlin, to the famed Yale University library, to research the ancient relic rumored to both cure and kill vampires for all time. It is a race against time, and it may be too late. Scarlet is changing rapidly, barely able to control what she’s becoming, and Sage is dying with each passing moment. As the book culminates in an action-packed, shocking twist, Scarlet will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. Will Scarlet make the ultimate sacrifice to save Sage’s life? Will she risk everything she has for love?

“When you think that life cannot get better, Blake Pierce comes up with another masterpiece of thriller and mystery! This book is full of twists and the end brings a surprising revelation. I strongly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that enjoys a very well written thriller.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Almost Gone) ALMOST DEAD is book #3 in a new psychological thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. After the disastrous fallout from her last placement in England, all 23-year-old Cassandra Vale wants is a chance to pick up the pieces. A high-society, divorced mother in sunny Italy seems to be the answer. But is she? With a new family come new children, new rules, and new expectations. Cassandra’s determined to make this one last - until a horrifying discovery pushes her to a breaking point. And when the unimaginable occurs, will it be too late to pull herself back from the brink? Who, she wonders, is she becoming?A riveting mystery replete with complex characters, layers of secrets, dramatic twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense, ALMOST DEAD is book #3 in a psychological suspense series that will have you turning pages late into the night. Book #4 in the series will be available soon.

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)DESIRED is Book #5 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In DESIRED (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover that she has once again traveled back in time. This time, she has landed in eighteenth century Paris, an age of great opulence, of kings and queens—but also of revolution. Reunited with her true love, Caleb, the two of them finally have the quiet, romantic time together that they never had. They spend idyllic time together in the city of Paris, visiting its most romantic sites, as their love grows ever deeper. Caitlin decides to give up the search for her father, so that she can savor this time and place, and spend her life with Caleb. Caleb takes her to his medieval castle, near the ocean, and Caitlin is happier than she ever dreamed. But their idyllic time together is not destined to last forever, and events intercede that force the two of them apart. Caitlin once again finds herself united with Aiden and his coven, with Polly and with new friends, as she focuses again on her training, and on her mission. She is introduced to the lavish world of Versailles, and encounters outfits and opulence beyond what she ever dreamed. With never ending feasts and parties and concerts, Versailles is a world of its own. She is happily reunited with her bother Sam, who is also back in time, and having dreams of their father, too. But all is not as well as it seems. Kyle has traveled back in time, too—this time, with his evil sidekick, Sergei—and he is more determined than ever to kill Caitlin. And Sam and Polly each fall ever deeper into toxic relationships, which just might threaten to destroy everything around them. As Caitlin becomes a true and hardened warrior, she comes closer than ever to finding her father, and the mythical Shield. The climactic, action-packed ending, takes Caitlin through a whirlwind of Paris’ most important medieval locations, on a hunt for clues. But surviving this time will demand skills she never dreamed she had. And reuniting with Caleb will require her to make the hardest choices—and sacrifices—of her life.

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)BETRAYED is book #3 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In BETRAYED (Book #3 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine awakes from a deep coma to discover she has been turned. Now a true, full-bred vampire, she marvels at her new powers, including her ability to fly, and her superhuman strength. She finds that her true love, Caleb, is still by her side, waiting patiently for her to recover. She has everything she could dream of. Until it all, suddenly, goes terribly wrong. Caitlin is horrified to discover Caleb with his ex-wife, Sera, and before Caleb has a chance to explain, Caitlin tells him to leave. Heartbroken, confused, Caitlin wants to curl up and die, her only consolation being in her wolf-pup Rose. Caitlin also finds consolation in her new surroundings. She finds she has been placed on a hidden island in the Hudson River—Pollepel—amidst an elite coven of teenage vampires, boys and girls alike, 24 in all, including her. She learns that this is a place for outcasts, just like her, and as she meets her new best friend, Polly, and begins her training in elite vampire combat, she realizes that she might finally have a place to call home. But a major vampire war is looming, and her brother Sam is still out there, kidnapped by Samantha. The evil Kyle, too, now wielding the mythical Sword, is still on the warpath, and he will stop at nothing to wipe out New York. Caitlin, despite her new home, and despite her finding a new love interest in the elusive vampire Blake, knows that she can only stay on this island for so long before her destiny calls. After all, she is still the One, and all eyes still look to her to find her father and the other weapon that might save them all. Torn between her new friends and her lingering feelings for Caleb, she must come to decide where her true loyalties lie, and whether she is willing to risk it all to try to find Caleb and have him in her life once again…. “BETRAYED is a great installment for this series. If you haven't read her first two novels, read them and then get your hands on BETRAYED.” VampireBookSite “The cliffhanger at the end of BETRAYED will leave the reader panting for more, and BETRAYED receives a solid A for its face paced read, and imaginative story.” --The Dallas Examiner “BETRAYED has good romance, a strong plot, lots of action, and a very quick pace. There are so many wonderful surprises that you will not want to stop reading it until the very end.” --The Romance Reviews

For fifty thousand years, the Immortal Realm has feared the return of Vaelric, the Demon Lord—the God of Destruction and Death.

Hidden within the imperial palace since childhood, Alyssa has lived as both prisoner and weapon. Her blood can awaken the Demon Lord, while her soul is the only force capable of destroying him forever.

But when fate binds her to both the feared Demon Lord and the divine God of War, long-buried truths about the Great War begin to surface. The history she was raised to believe may have been built on a devastating lie.

Now two gods claim her heart. One seeks to burn the world to the ground. The other will sacrifice everything to save it. Neither is willing to let her go.

Trapped between duty and desire, destiny and free will, and three souls within a single body, Alyssa must answer the question that will decide the fate of the Immortal Realm:

Which love is fate? Which love is sacrifice? And which choice will rewrite the end of the world?

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)CRAVED is Book #10 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with Book #1, TURNED! In CRAVED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine struggles to find out exactly what she’s becoming. Her erratic behavior has alienated her new boyfriend, Blake, and she struggles to make amends, and to make him understand. But the problem is, she can barely understand herself what’s happening to her. At the same time, the new boy in school, the mysterious Sage, comes into her life. Their paths keep intertwining, and although she tries to avoid it, he directly pursues her, despite the objections of her best friend, Maria, who has her own eyes set on Sage. Scarlet finds herself swept away by Sage, who takes her into his world, past the gates of his family’s historic river mansion. As their relationship deepens, she begins to learn more about his mysterious past, his family, and the secrets he must hold. They spend the most romantic time she can imagine, on a secluded island in the Hudson, and she is convinced she has found the true love of her life. But then she is devastated to learn Sage’s biggest secret of all: he is not human, either, and he has only a few weeks left to live. Tragically, just at the moment when destiny has brought her greatest love, it also seems fated to tear them apart. As Scarlet returns to the high school parties leading up to the big dance, she ends up in a huge falling-out with her friends, who excommunicate her from their group. At the same time, Vivian rounds up the popular girls to make her life hell, leading to an unavoidable confrontation. Scarlet’s forced to sneak out, making matters worse with her parents, and soon finds pressure building from all sides. The only light in her life is Sage. But he is still holding back some of his secrets, and Blake resurfaces, determined to pursue her. Caitlin, meanwhile, is determined to find a way to reverse Scarlet’s vampirism. What she finds leads her on a journey to find the antidote, deep into the darkest corners of rare libraries and bookstores—and to an ancient discovery she can hardly imagine. But it may be too late. Scarlet is changing rapidly, barely able to control what she’s becoming. She wants to be with Sage—but fate seems set on tearing them apart. As the book culminates in an action-packed and shocking twist, Scarlet will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. How much is she willing to risk for love?

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)RESURRECTED is Book #9 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with Book #1, TURNED! In RESURRECTED (Book #9 of the Vampire Journals), 16 year old Scarlet Paine finds herself changing in mysterious ways. She is becoming sensitive to light, able to read peoples’ thoughts, and is faster and stronger than she’s ever been. She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her, and tries to ignore it. But she can only dismiss it for so long. Caitlin Paine, her mom, knows too well what’s happening to her daughter. She underwent the same transformation to vampire once, centuries ago. But now, in the present day, as a mere human, she has no memory of it. All she has is the journal she found in the attic—her mysterious vampire journal—telling of her exploits in another time and place, and of the vampire race being eradicated. But was there one exception to the rule? Could it be that Scarlet, her daughter, is the last remaining vampire on earth? As Scarlet tries to fight who she’s becoming, she also tries to fight her intense feelings for Blake, a boy in her grade who she has a crush on. She can’t tell, though, if he’s into her, and with the big Halloween dance just days away, the pressure is on. She would do anything for Blake to ask her. But Vivian, the meanest of the popular girls, is also on Blake’s radar, and she’ll do anything to make Blake hers—and to make Scarlet’s life a living hell. Luckily Scarlet has her own clique of friends to back her up, including her best friends Maria and Jasmin. They, too, have guy troubles—but it isn’t until Sage appears, the mysterious new boy, that her friends become obsessed. Scarlet finds herself attracted to him, too—and is surprised when it is her, of all the girls in the school, that he pays attention to. But her mind is set on Blake, at least for now, and she continues to hope he’ll ask her to the dance. Just when it seems that Scarlet has what she wants, her body changes. Soon it may be impossible for her to be near her fellow humans. Soon, she may have to choose between her desire to live and her desire for love.