977 Book(s) Related to king killers chronicles book 3

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.

Myril’s world is sinking before her eyes. Foreign ships flood into the harbor and Anamat’s citizens flee across the sea while the governor helps foreign emissaries steal from the city’s guilds. The guildmaster enlists Myril to help save the Chronicles of Anamat from the pillagers and their local allies. Her old friend Darna returns to the city strangely pregnant – if that’s what it is. She’s also about to become the ruler of Tiadun. Meanwhile Iola, the ambassadress, is determined to fly to the dragons’ realm again, even if it kills her, and the Defenders have more troubles than they can manage. Will any of them survive when the waters rise again? This book concludes the Anamat/Dragonsfall series.

“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) CUL DE SAC (A Chloe Fine Mystery) is book #3 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has over 1,000 five-star reviews. FBI VICAP Special Agent Chloe Fine, 27, must immerse herself in a suburban world of cliques, gossip and lies, as she races to solve the murder of a seemingly picture-perfect wife and mother on the night of her 20th high school reunion.Old high school friends, now in their late 30s, have returned back to the same suburban town to raise their kids, and have resurrected the same cliques that sustained and divided them 20 years ago. As their 20th high school reunion brings back old memories, resentment, betrayals and secrets, it causes fresh pain a generation later. On the same night, their former queen bee is found murdered in her home.In this seemingly perfect, manicured town, the past haunts the present—and anyone and everyone is a suspect.Can Chloe Fine solve the murder—while wrestling with the demons of her own past, and the potential release from jail of her own father?An emotionally wrought psychological suspense with layered characters, small-town ambiance and heart-pounding suspense, CUL DE SAC is book #3 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #4 in the CHLOE FINE series will be available soon.

Noah was originally a world-class assassin who was injured in an accident and had no choice but to retire and live a normal life.
But one day, Noah unexpectedly received a letter from his old partner Brian, saying that he wanted to leave all his inheritance to Noah.
Realizing this was unusual, Noah went to Brian's house to investigate, only to find that Brian's daughter was unconscious and in a vegetative state. She was in danger, and Brian's company had been taken by someone else.
Noah returns to the pinnacle, seeking justice for Brian's daughter.

Mariam Reyes, once a driven and ambitious CEO, experiences a tumultuous journey that reshapes her life. Betrayed by her lover Marcelino Buno and disowned by her father Arthur Reyes, Mariam reinvents herself as Angelic Emperial. After rising to fame and power, she returns to her homeland, Klympog, to reclaim her family's company and seek revenge.
Her father’s heartfelt apology and subsequent assassination by Aira Jewels, Marcelino’s mother, shatters Mariam’s heart. Vowing revenge, she sends her twins to a secret haven and trains herself to become the world’s top assassin. Marcelino, unaware of his mother’s actions, joins a powerful hunter association and masters martial arts, aiming to uncover his hidden family’s secrets.
As Mariam and Marcelino rise to power, they discover their true heritage—each belonging to one of the three Celestial Hidden Families that covertly control the world. Their paths cross as enemies, leading to intense confrontations. Marcelino, under orders from his mother, is tasked with eliminating Mariam, igniting a fierce battle between the two former lovers.
Caught in a web of ancient rivalries and hidden agendas, Mariam and Marcelino's twins emerge as the key to possible reconciliation. Will they unite to dismantle the remaining Celestial Hidden Families and bring peace, or will their vendetta lead to a tragic end?

Kiran Sinclair is the future Alpha of his pack in Seward, Alaska. He battles his own supernatural powers while Death taunts him with signs of who will die. Adara Kinkaid is a battered and broken girl when she arrives on the Sinclair family's doorstep. There she experiences what love and family is really like and that love heals her wounds. Follow their journey through family tragedies, secrets being spilled, murder and revenge as they try to navigate their imprinting. They face the ultimate test between being human and wolf, where danger lurks closer than they think.

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor) BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE is the debut novel in a charming and hilarious new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Fiona Grace, whose bestselling Murder in the Manor (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery) has nearly 200 five star reviews. Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own. When Allison spots a charming, vacant storefront on the boardwalk near Venice, she wonders if she could really start life anew. Feeling like it’s a sign, and a time to take a chance in life, she goes for it. Yet Allison did not anticipate the wild ride ahead of her: the boardwalk, filled with fun and outrageous characters, is pulsing with life, from the Italian pizzeria owners on either side of her who vie for her affection, to the fortune tellers and scheming rival bakery owner nearby. Allison yearns to just focus on her delicious new pastry recipes and keep her struggling bakery afloat—but when a murder occurs right near her shop, everything changes. Implicated, her entire future at stake, Allison has no choice but to investigate to clear her name. As an orphaned dog wanders into her life, a devoted new sidekick with a knack for solving mysteries, she starts her search. Will they find the killer? And can her struggling bakery survive? A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart. Book #2 in the series—A MURDEROUS MACARON—is also available!

From #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce comes a heart-pounding new mystery series.In the cornfields of Nebraska a woman is found murdered, strung up on a pole, the victim of a deranged killer. It doesn’t take long for the police to realize a serial killer is on the loose—and that his spree has just begun.Detective Mackenzie White, young, tough, smarter than the aging, chauvinistic men on her local force, finds herself called in grudgingly to help solve it. As much as the other officers hate to admit it, they need her young, brilliant mind, which has already helped crack cold cases that had left them stumped. Yet even for Mackenzie this new case proves an impossible riddle, something the likes of which she—and the local force—have ever seen.With the FBI called in, together, an intense manhunt ensues. Mackenzie, reeling from her own dark past, her failed relationships, and her undeniable attraction to the new FBI agent, finds herself battling her own demons as her hunt for the killer takes her to the darkest places of her mind. As she delves into the killer’s mind, obsessing over his twisted psychology, she finds that evil truly does exist. She only hopes it will not be too late to extricate herself from it, as her entire life collapses around her.As more bodies turn up dead and a frantic race against time ensues, there is no way out but to find him before he kills again.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE KILLS marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #2 in the Mackenzie White Mystery series will be available soon. Also available by Blake Pierce is ONCE GONE (A Riley Paige mystery—Book #1), a #1 bestseller!

I stand before the pack members, condemned by whispers and stares that cut deeper than any blade. Branded a killer, but I am no murderer. Yet, their accusations cling to me like a shroud, suffocating every shred of hope within me.

“I’ll never reject you, Ivanna, but I’ll make your life hell.” His words echo throughout the hall. A cruel reminder of the torment that awaits me. “I’ll forever punish you for what you did to me and the pack.” My mate’s voice, once a source of strength, now drips with venomous hatred. “You’ll remain as my mate, and I’ll remain your nightmare.”

“I didn’t kill her!” I protest, but he sees only a liar, a traitor to the pack. His fist hits my cheek, a brutal punishment for crimes I did not commit.

“Liar!” He barks. “You killed her. And I’ll do the same to you. Slowly. Painfully. Until you’re choking on your last breath and desperately ready to tell the truth, that you killed her.”

—----------------------------------------------------

When the Luna mysteriously dies before my eyes, everyone tags me as her killer. I go through hell and back. My life becomes an endless circle of misery. But I won’t break. I won’t give in to my abusers, no matter how brutally they try to break my soul. I’m determined to fight till the end. Until I’ve proven to them that I’m not the Luna’s Killer.

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE WITCHING PLACE: A PERILOUS PAGE is book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews.When Alexis Blair, 29, is fired from her book publishing job and breaks up with her boyfriend on the same day, she wonders if life is urging her to make a fresh start. She decides it’s time to pursue her lifelong dream of opening a bookstore of her own—even if that means leaving Boston and accepting a job in a curious bookstore in a small seaside town an hour away.A cryptic visitor comes into town, looking for a rare book, and willing to pay anything.But when he ends up dead, Alexis wonders: was the price too high?And did Alexis’s mysterious store owner have anything to do with it?A page-turning cozy, rife with the supernatural, mystery, secrets and love—and centered around a small town as odd and endearing as its shop—A PERILOUS PAGE will make you fall in love and keep you laughing out loud as you turn pages late into the night.“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)

For twelve centuries, the exiled vampire king waited for the prophecy foretold to restore his fallen power. But never expected the girl destined to save him to be the reincarnation of the wife he lost.

Anastasia has spent 18 years of her life beneath her grandmother's watchful eye, hidden from a world she never knew wanted her dead. Sheltered. Obedient. Ordinary – or so she believed.

And the illness slowly stealing her life is not just a disease. It is an awakening.

The man she has quietly loved from afar – the impossibly perfect, untouchable Mr. William – is not who she thought he was either.

He is older than memory. A king without a kingdom. A vampire betrayed by his own brother, stripped of his power, and exiled from the ancient realm of Umbralord centuries ago.

And Anastasia is the one prophecy foretold would restore what was

She knows what she is to him:

A prophecy. A key. A sacrifice.

Anastasia knows there is no escaping destiny . So she makes him an offer.

For six months. He was to date her. Love her. Not out of duty or pity, but as if she truly belonged to him.

What neither of them knows is that the heavens have always been cruel. She was the nemesis placed into his perfect life from the beginning.

Because Anastasia is the reincarnation of the mate William lost twelve centuries ago – the same woman whose death ignited a war that nearly destroyed an entire kingdom.

And this time, fate is not letting go.

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MALICE AND LUNCH is Book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews!Marie Fortune, 39, a successful dog groomer in Boston, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan for: the house is haunted. Two things, actually: her great-aunt also left her a dog—and he is far from a typical dog.When Marie, her reputation for ghost-cleansing growing, is summoned to exorcise an old manor house, she finds more than she bargained for: an unexpected death occurs.Worse, her trusted dog gets so sick, he is sent to the vet indefinitely.Marie, on her own, must solve the murder and expel the ghosts all by herself.Is she up to the task?A page-turning cozy, packed with mystery, love, hauntings, travel, pets and food—anchored around a small town and a B&B in need of renovation that will capture your heart—THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MALICE AND LUNCH is an un-putdownable cozy that will keep you turning pages (and laughing out loud) late into the night.“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)

Ever since she met him, she found me entranced and captivated. She did everything she could to chase him, even going as far as stalking him.

Until one day she realized that it was all a mistake.
Because chasing him was her greatest downfall.
‎It's a mistake to love him. It's a mistake to love someone who can't love your back.

In her first life, Ivy was abandoned. Starved. Forgotten. When the Shaws finally threw her out like garbage, the only people who came for her were strangers with guns.

Now she’s reborn. She knows how the story ends. And she’s running toward the killers instead of away from them.

Dad’s a hitman with terrible aim and a lazier temper. Mom’s a chef who butchers people in the basement. Big Brother runs the Dark Web. Little Brother builds death traps for fun.

They’re the worst family in the city. And they’re exactly what she chose.

With her five-year-old eyes, every murder looks like cooking.

Every severed finger is a toy. Every bloodstain is just Mommy’s new perfume.

Ivy doesn’t see killers. She sees the only people who ever loved her.

After leaving the LAPD, Detective Clara Reyes moves to the quiet coastal town of Seabreeze, California, hoping for a fresh start. But peace is an illusion.

Within her first 48 hours, she discovers the body of sixteen-year-old Emily Hartman on the town’s pier. Soon after, a politician dies mysteriously, a local man vanishes, and a respected teacher is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Anonymous threats and cyberbullying reveal that Seabreeze’s residents are hiding secrets darker than anyone could imagine.

As the body count rises, Clara realizes that the killer is always one step ahead—and no one in Seabreeze is safe. With time running out, she must uncover the truth before the town’s darkness consumes her too.

I'm Amelia Roofer, an omega living in a small town somewhere in Arizona. I had only one goal in mind - to seek justice and avenge the cruel Alpha who took my parents' lives ten years ago. However, upon meeting him, a surprising revelation of his identity is about to alter my destiny.

"I don't seek vengeance, Alpha," I declared firmly.
"What is it that you seek then?" he inquired.
I responded with a serious tone, returning the sword to him.
"What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled.
"Release them one by one for a fair fight, Alpha," I commanded.
The wolves were taken aback by my request, creating space around us. Alpha Damien hesitated, but I insisted. I wanted to test my strength among them, even as an omega.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to get hurt," he expressed concern.
"Do you doubt my fighting skills, Alpha?" I retorted sarcastically.
"I will not be defeated. I will not be defeated!" I declared firmly.

"Very entertaining. Highly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who appreciates a well-written mystery with twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!".--Books and Movie Reviews (regarding Murder in the Manor)SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF DEATH is Book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)!When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career—and from her long-time boyfriend, who breaks up with her.With the podcast and TV show taking off, Mia’s career and life are finally starting to bloom again—when her uptight family makes an unexpected visit to Salem, to cast doubts on her passion and to urge her to return home.At the same time, Mia’s show must try to debunk a notoriously haunted house, now on the market for sale. Mia, unable to explain the phenomena, seems to have met her match—just as the real estate agent drops dead.Could this house be as insidious as it seems?Or might there be some other motive?A mesmerizing page-turner, packed with intrigue, mystery, romance, pets, food—and most of all, the supernatural—SKEPTIC IN SALEM is a cozy with a twist, one you will cherish as it has you fall in love with its main character and as it keeps you glued (and laughing) throughout the night.“The book had heart and the entire story worked together seamlessly that didn't sacrifice either intrigue or personality. I loved the characters - so many great characters! I can't wait to read whatever Fiona Grace writes next!”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“Wow, this book takes off & never stops! I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended for those who love a great mystery with twists, turns, romance, and a long lost family member! I am reading the next book right now!” --Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“This book is rather fast paced. It has the right blend of characters, place, and emotions. It was hard to put down and I hope to read the next book in the series.”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)

“An action packed fantasy sure to please fans of Morgan Rice’s previous novels, along with fans of works such as The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini…. Fans of Young Adult Fiction will devour this latest work by Rice and beg for more.”--The Wanderer, A Literary Journal (regarding Rise of the Dragons) The #1 Bestselling series! RISE OF THE VALIANT is book #2 in Morgan Rice’s bestselling epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS (which begins with RISE OF THE DRAGONS, a free download)! In the wake of the dragon’s attack, Kyra is sent on an urgent quest: to cross Escalon and seek out her uncle in the mysterious Tower of Ur. The time has come for her to learn about who she is, who her mother is, and to train and develop her special powers. It will be a quest fraught with peril for a girl alone, Escalon filled with dangers from savage beasts and men alike—one that will require all of her strength to survive. Her father, Duncan, must lead his men south, to the great water city of Esephus, to attempt to free his fellow countrymen from the iron grip of Pandesia. If he succeeds, he will have to journey to the treacherous Lake of Ire and then onto the icy peaks of Kos, where there live the toughest warriors of Escalon, men he will need to recruit if he has any chance of taking the capital. Alec escapes with Marco from The Flames to find himself on the run through the Wood of Thorns, chased by exotic beasts. It is a harrowing journey through the night as he quests for his hometown, hoping to be reunited with his family. When he arrives, he is shocked by what he discovers. Merk, despite his better judgment, turns back to help the girl, and finds himself, for the first time in his life, entangled in a stranger’s affairs. He will not forego his pilgrimage to the Tower of Ur, though, and he finds himself anguished as he realizes the tower is not what he expects. Vesuvius spurs his giant as he leads the Trolls on their mission underground, attempting to bypass The Flames, while the dragon, Theos, has his own special mission on Escalon. With its strong atmosphere and complex characters, RISE OF THE VALIANT is a sweeping saga of knights and warriors, of kings and lords, of honor and valor, of magic, destiny, monsters and dragons. It is a story of love and broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is fantasy at its finest, inviting us into a world that will live with us forever, one that will appeal to all ages and genders. Book #3 in KINGS AND SORCERERS is now available! “If you thought that there was no reason left for living after the end of the Sorcerer’s Ring series, you were wrong. Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of trolls and dragons, of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.…Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Rise of the Dragons) “[The novel] succeeds—right from the start…. A superior fantasy…It begins, as it should, with one protagonist's struggles and moves neatly into a wider circle of knights, dragons, magic and monsters, and destiny.…All the trappings of high fantasy are here, from soldiers and battles to confrontations with self….A recommended winner for any who enjoy epic fantasy writing fueled by powerful, believable young adult protagonists.” --Midwest Book Review, D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer (regarding Rise of the Dragons) “A plot-driven novel that’s easy to read in a weekend…A good start to a promising series.” --San Francisco Book Review (regarding Rise of the Dragons)

“If you thought that there was no reason left for living after the end of the Sorcerer’s Ring series, you were wrong. In RISE OF THE DRAGONS Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of trolls and dragons, of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.…Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto MattosThe #1 Bestseller! From #1 Bestselling author Morgan Rice comes a sweeping new epic fantasy series: RISE OF THE DRAGONS (KINGS AND SORCERERS—Book 1). Kyra, 15, dreams of becoming a famed warrior, like her father, even though she is the only girl in a fort of boys. As she struggles to understand her special skills, her mysterious inner power, she realizes she is different than the others. But a secret is being kept from her about her birth and the prophecy surrounding her, leaving her to wonder who she really is. When Kyra comes of age and the local lord comes to take her away, her father wants to wed her off to save her. Kyra, though, refuses, and she journeys out on her own, into a dangerous wood, where she encounters a wounded dragon—and ignites a series of events that will change the kingdom forever. 15 year old Alec, meanwhile, sacrifices for his brother, taking his place in the draft, and is carted off to The Flames, a wall of flames a hundred feet high that wards off the army of Trolls to the east. On the far side of the kingdom, Merk, a mercenary striving to leave behind his dark past, quests through the wood to become a Watcher of the Towers and help guard the Sword of Fire, the magical source of the kingdom’s power. But the Trolls want the Sword, too—and they prepare for a massive invasion that could destroy the kingdoms forever. With its strong atmosphere and complex characters, RISE OF THE DRAGONS is a sweeping saga of knights and warriors, of kings and lords, of honor and valor, of magic, destiny, monsters and dragons. It is a story of love and broken hearts, of deception, of ambition and betrayal. It is fantasy at its finest, inviting us into a world that will live with us forever, one that will appeal to all ages and genders. Book #2 in KINGS AND SORCERERS is now available! “RISE OF THE DRAGONS succeeds—right from the start…. A superior fantasy…It begins, as it should, with one protagonist's struggles and moves neatly into a wider circle of knights, dragons, magic and monsters, and destiny.…All the trappings of high fantasy are here, from soldiers and battles to confrontations with self….A recommended winner for any who enjoy epic fantasy writing fueled by powerful, believable young adult protagonists.” --Midwest Book Review, D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer

She is The Barbarian Alpha's daughter and mated to the dragon king. Only a couple of years ago, she was a weak, broken girl. Dragged into this world and forced to attend the Viking's mate hunt.

Searching for the little sister she didn't know she had, she encounters raw darkness.
Ancient Norse myths come alive, and a threat as old as the Norse Gods themselves lures forward creatures like Nidhogg, Huldra, and The Mare.

Still unmated, she avoids her mate to find her sister. After so many years, she's so near that it finally feels real. She had a sister; her mother's death whisper had been true. In her desperation to unite with her sister, she fails to protect herself from the lurking shadows, a choice that will be proven fatal.

"I was looking for Zarion, but I ended up here."
"He's the Alpha of this pack. He's banished because he didn't want the position. Rumors say that he's out in the woods, looking for his mate, and..." she trailed off.
"And?" I swallowed.
"Kill her. He wants to kill his mate."
"I was looking for Zarion, but I ended up here."
"Alpha Zarion? He was banished for refusing the Alpha position. Rumor has it he's out in the woods, searching for his mate, and..." She hesitated.
"And?" I swallowed.
"Kill her. He wants to kill his mate."


Alpha Zarion is on a quest to find his mate and kill her because he despises the idea of a mating bond. During a winter storm, Cassidy Bentley saves him from death. Zarion knows he has no time to waste, but he is curious about her, deliriously wanting every inch of her skin and touch…until he finds out that the girl is mated to his number one rival, Alpha Brandon.
Alpha Brandon rejects Cassidy because she's a human- which he greatly despises. She eventually starts getting over him, pouring out her love to Alpha Zarion who obsessively wants her.
The night Zarion and Cassidy will mark and mate, Alpha Brandon finally comes to his senses and goes to find her. But he finds Cassidy in another man's arm, in his stepbrother's arms, who is just about to mark her...

What if your passion for writing turns out to be something you didn't think was only in your imagination because of a book that an ordinary person should not have gotten? 

Two stories will take place. One can be played with, and the other will have their fate messed up because of the book. 

 Same situation, but the story of each one is different. Two women admire two men. Alexa is weak-hearted, but opposite to Daniella, she is brave because Alexa made her heroine brave, and that is Daniella. 

 Their story is confusing right? Yes, because everything that happens to them is just because of the magical book.

In the isolated, fog-drenched town of Oakhaven, Elara Vance is not a hunter or a princess; she is the town’s silent cleanup crew. As a gifted forensic taxidermist and unlicensed medic, she spends her nights stitching together what the "shadows" tear apart. In Oakhaven, the local werewolf pack operates like a refined, terrifying mafia, maintaining a fragile peace with the human population through silver-lined contracts and strict territories.

Elara’s life is governed by a single rule: Never look at their faces. If she heals a wounded wolf in human form, she becomes a liability.
Everything shatters when a dying man is dropped at her doorstep. He isn't a high-ranking wolf, but a "Broken" werewolf who has lost the ability to shift back to human, a condition that usually results in immediate execution by the pack to protect their secrecy. Instead of reporting him, Elara sees the humanity buried under the matted fur and chooses to hide him.

As the Pack Alpha begins a hunt for the missing traitor, Elara is pulled into a lethal game of cat and mouse. She must navigate a world of primal politics and ancient blood-debts, realizing that the man she is saving might be the only one who knows the truth about her own forgotten lineage. To survive, Elara will have to stop mending broken things and start breaking the system that keeps her town in a chokehold.

I hate myself because i look like you.

Introduction

A woman who dreamed of becoming a writer but always failed every time she came home from a publishing house.

There is a mysterious book that she finds, and there she gets an idea of ​​her past and then writes in the book, but it has an associated problem. She changes the fates of her characters included to her story. It happens in real life in both their worlds and time.

What should be in just one book would be realistic. Destiny will be chaotic because of a book that was not accidentally found.

Two stories in one book. Four people fates will messed up because of the missing book.

"Cecelia has always been amused that her name means blind, when, as a witch, she was born with the gift of sight and can see past the glamour of the Others that share her world – vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, and their ilk.

Revealing that she can see through their glamours would be dangerous – humans would consider her mad, and the Others would hunt her for the risk to their secrecy that she presents.

When her best friend Paris talks her into taking a job at a men's club Lia is thrown into the Other world that she has always avoided as the club is owned by a Vampire, and werewolves are regular patrons.

As Lia's romance with alpha werewolf Raiden heats up, the vampires that frequent the club become aware of her powers, and her new roommate, Cael, reveals himself to be something more than an annoyingly superior warlock.

Is Lia the witch that she believes herself to be, or the last in a line of a terrible power with the ability to end the world as she knows it?"

In a timeless dance of reincarnations, Annabelle Keys has traversed six centuries, her memory holding the threads of history except for her most recent existence. Fate's unpredictable hand leads her to a fateful encounter with Morgan Vales, an enigmatic being who has wandered the earth for over six centuries. Morgan, cursed with immortality and sustained by human blood as a mythical creature, crosses paths with Annabelle, whose every past life she vividly recalls—except for the most recent one. Can Annabelle unlock the secrets veiled within her forgotten life, and will Morgan find solace or salvation in the enigmatic soul of the woman who seems immune to time's grasp?

"Why?" The word came out as a whisper. "Why me?"

The knife was sticking out of my stomach like it belonged there. Blood poured between my fingers as I pressed both hands against the wound.

My legs gave out. The pavement was freezing against my face.

The guy wiped his blade clean, then grabbed my ankles. He was dragging me toward the lake.

"No!" I tried to kick, but my body wouldn't work right. "Please..."

Tyler's gift bag was just within reach and I grabbed it, held on tight. Twenty-three years of never being enough. Of taking scraps and saying thank you.

Then the water hit, and everything went black.


Samantha Thompson died at twenty-three, clutching a birthday gift she'd never get to give. Murdered in a dark alley, her last thought was of wasted potential and a life unlived. But death wasn't the end—it was a second chance.

Reborn at seventeen with memories intact, Samantha makes radically different choices. She fights for her West Point acceptance, becomes an FBI agent, and partners with mysterious Matthew Nolan to hunt serial killers. But as she grows from broken victim to formidable investigator, darker truths emerge about her parents' deaths and the people she trusts most.

Will Samantha master her destiny this time, or will the same forces that destroyed her family claim her second life as well?

I glared when his hand reached again to my neck. Our faces only an inch apart. His big hand was almost wrapping it whole. His thumb massaging my throat like a feather. "And when I thrust inside of you, I want to hear you scream my name. Every name of mine."
"Dante. Adriano. Sol. Di. Angelo." His thumb stroking the center of my neck while uttering every name he owned. His eyes hooded in heat, lust clouding the windows of his soul. "And when you cum, it'll be Dante you moan."

Hailynn Fleury is a talented painter. Growing up as an orphan, she and her best friend Ethan, always wanted to get back to the people that helped and cared for them. When one of her friends convinced her to auction her paintings at one of her charity events, it didn't take much persuasion knowing the money would go to the orphanage.
On the night of the auction, her future took another turn when she saw a handsome man holding a gun. Later finding out that he was a mafia boss with an intention of keeping her from thereon. Witnessing him pulling a trigger to someone would have been the mafia boss' wisest decision to never let her go. Except that he couldn't touch the girl knowing the promise he had with his cousin. Dreams of bedding the girl is no longer an option. But how will he treat his ragazza, really?

Find out how both of their lives took a turn- with the aspiring artist and the Italian mafia boss.

She's sweet and innocent

He's a Dominant male and the Alpha King

Celeste Sampson is a 21 year old college undergraduate who was rejected by her mate, Alpha Andrew Of crestfall pack.

After a visit home for Christmas, she decides to attend the ball held by the King Elijah Black, the 28 year old ruler of the whole Lycan species, she finds herself thrown into a different world and finds out that there is more to see and know behind the enchanted wall that hides them from the human eyes.

Would she be loved?

Would she be betrayed?

Would she be used?

Or would she stay when she finds out that King has too many dark secrets hidden behind the red door?

Follow the journey of Celeste and Elijah in this story!

©2021
@Daylighter556 on wattpad
@Layo on anystories

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.

Nalani, the daughter of a traitor desired only one thing, to live a life free from her father's transgressions. Inorder to achieve that dream, she had to move away from everyone who knew of her colourful past.

However you can run but you can't hide from your past, not entirely anyway. Instead of living a life of freedom, she was thrown in a new world , filled with jealousy, cruelty, crime and backstabbing.

Will Nalani survive this new world ?.

The war for Andar begins… The mighty river An freezes from shore to shore, and the army of horrors from Angere marches across to devour peaceful and beautiful Andar. Cait, Hellen and the others head north, hoping to slow the invasion. At Islagray, Ashen battles to make sense of the reunited Shadow Grimoire, seeking a way to turn the undain’s necromancy against itself. Fighting dark magic with dark magic is a grim and dangerous road. Meanwhile, in our world, Fer evades Genera and the undain as she undertakes a desperate mission to sever the supply of Spirit fuelling the armies of Angere. Unlikely friends rise to the skies, and hidden enemies wait to betray Cait and Fer. With every defeat, Andar fades. And at Islagray, the heart of the land, the last free place, the Song can barely be heard over the rising tide of war.

"Since you have already agreed to the deal you must know that being my personal killer would mean that you have to listen to everything that I tell you to do. There will be punishments if you fail to follow this," he said, mirth swimming in his eyes taking Vevina by surprise.
She wasn't prepared for this new twist and glaring at him she wretched her hand out of his hold and shouted, "You never said anything about that! And why the fuck would you kiss me with your filthy lips?"

Vevina Yaretzi doesn't believe in love. Why would she when all her life she had only been abused by every person that she had ever met including her parents. She is so suffocated by the torture that when her brain finally snaps she decides to fuck it and just kill her parents.
She doesn't have a will to live and doesn't care what happens to her future. Sinking deep in her madness, alone, she finds her hand being gripped by another man who is pulling her out of the darkest parts of her mind...towards love?
Alastor Tynen is a ruthless Alpha famous for his cruelty when he finds out that he has been mated to an abused weak human or so everyone believes.
She is unstable, chaotic and although human she has the potential to scare away werewolves like him only if she was honed right. He knows that the only way to make this crazy woman his is to clash against her craziness.
The problem was his pack wouldn't accept a 'weak human' as their Luna and neither did Vevina seem in a state where she would love him or accept them.
But Alastor is set on making her his.
Would this love be possible?

Arina De Luca's world is shattered the night she walked in on her husband being shot... and the man holding the gun is Luciano Martínez, the sinfully beautiful billionaire CEO who owes the city.

Then comes the real blow to the stomach: her late husband had already signed a contract promising her in marriage... to his own killer.

Forced to a marriage she hates with every fiber of her being, Arina becomes the rebellion wife of Luciano Martínez.

Arina hates hates him with such violence... but she also wants him with a fury that consumes her: she wants him to open her legs and fuck her until she screams his name instead of cursing him.

Arina hates herself for allowing any feeling to flourish towards the man who stole her husband's life. Will that hatred cost her everything?

Read on to find out.

Detective Aria Kane tracks down a murderer who decorates each corpse with flawless origami cranes. There were eight victims. identical cut. The same position. The same bird. Home is indicated by the clues. This killer is the subject of a thriller written by her fiancé, Ethan Cross. While she sleeps, he folds cranes. He is aware of details that only a murderer should know. Like a signature, he says, "Love you." She lies beside him every night. She checks the locks every morning. She discovers the pen in the hand of a deceased woman. Silver. engraved. The one she handed him. He claims to have lost it. She locates the pictures. victims in his life's background. months in advance. Grinning. alive. He was present. observing. Awaiting. She looks at his schedule. gym. Back off. book release.
There is a body for every date. Each alibi is a present. At three in the morning, she looks through his desk. discovers a drawer that is locked. locates a box. Nine birds of different colors. For every life. Two remain blank. Now he leaves cranes on the counter. She pretends to sleep as she unfolds and refolds them. He is aware that she is watching. He wants her to locate it. As she lies beside him, she can feel his weight causing the mattress to dip. His breath has a coffee scent to it. He whispers to her. As if it were the final thing Aria would ever hear, good night. The crime scene is the marriage. His desk contains the proof. The next victim has already been selected. All she needs to do is decide to arrest him. or turn into the last chapter.On the nightstand is the next crane. Yesterday, it wasn't there.

During bright and sunny summer holidays, a group of incredibly wealthy teenage friends embark on a lifestyle filled with luxury and unforgettable adventures. Staying in a stunning beachfront villa, their days and nights are a perfect blend of fun, relaxation, and excitement but filled with conflicts and drama.

The story revolves around six friends: Jake ( Jaxon), Maddie, Oliv (Olivia), Ethan, Liam, and Ruby, Together, they create a summer full of extravagant and memorable moments.

Their days are spent indulging in the finest things life has to offer. They host private yacht parties along the beautiful Hawaiian cost, take spontaneous trips to exclusive destinations in their private jets, and relax by their luxurious infinity pool. They savor gourmet meals prepared by world-class chefs and embark on high-end shopping sprees at prestigious boutiques. They find themselves at glamorous parties, exclusive club events, or enjoying intimate gatherings under the starry sky each night.

Despite their opulent lifestyle, the friends face the complexities of their relationships, personal ambitions, and the constant scrutiny of the public eye. Amidst the glamour, they navigate issues of trust, loyalty, and the search for true happiness.

Summer Kills is a vibrant and glamorous tale of friendship, fortune, and the limitless possibilities that come with immense wealth. This story offers a dazzling portrayal of the ultimate summer, where every day is an adventure and every night is a celebration.

When dragons call, only the brave answer.

"Inside you will face the deadly minotaurs, armed with blades and protected by magic. "

"Danger number two is man-eating monsters. "

"Your final threat today is each other."

Icy dread crackles through my veins.

“Nearly one hundred have gathered today to test the fates and risk their lives, but only five can become Slayers.”

This year, it’s win or die.


Anara refuses to be defined by her past. As the queen’s favored maid, nobody expects her to enter the deadly Slayer Trials. Desperate for redemption, she’s determined to slay the ultimate dragon—the silver king himself.

Or die trying.

Except the Slayer Trials test Anara in ways she could never have imagined. Danger is as ravenous for death as the dragons themselves, enemies hide among friends and shadows. And an unexpected specter from her past appears, Prince Zaries. His hatred of her is understandable, her crime against him unforgivable. Her draw to him is a complication she doesn’t need.

Nor is the secret she harbors, an inexplicable affinity towards the very creatures she's sworn to destroy.

Ultimately, Anara's enigmatic connection to dragons will be her strength or her greatest vulnerability. It will challenge her resolve and reshape her destiny.

And the fate of Amaranthine and the unknown worlds beyond.

“Inside you will face the deadly minotaurs, armed with blades and protected by magic.
Danger number two is man-eating monsters.

“Your final threat today is each other.”

Icy dread crackles through my veins.

“Nearly one hundred have gathered today to test the fates and risk their lives, but only five can become Slayers.”

This year, it’s win or die.

Ten years ago, Mara's older brother disappeared just outside of their hometown. With no clues, everyone believed that he'd just run off. But Mara knew better. She vowed to continue the search.

Despite being called crazy, she believed the local legend about a portal to another world. The Old Oak Archway.

Now, after all these years, Mara has found a way through.

What she didn't expect was to find on the other side was her brother living happily with the Golden Draygons.

Suddenly, Mara is claimed by the King and the portal is closed. She is stuck on a planet filled with dragons and thrust into a struggle for power everywhere she turns.

But, Tohr is determined to win her hand and her heart to keep her with him. Mara quickly learns that when a Draygon makes up his mind, he will stop at nothing to make it happen.

Adults Only, Explicit Scenes, Extreme Violence, Hot Dragon Shifters
The Book of Mara is created by Leann Lane, an E-Global Creative Publishing Signed Author.

Today was the first day back at school. While most of the asshats who attended Liston High Private School actually went in for the first day, I was stuck scrubbing the toilets of the Hallow mansion.

And regardless of what my brother says I look like, I am not a scholarship kid. I'm Dainy Hallow and the guy with the Goku hair wiping puke off the pebbled bathroom floor is my older brother Aiden.

Last night as is customary to do the night before school starts, we had a huge ass party.

Our initial plan was to go to school, skip last period, get home and clear out the evidence before our parents arrived back the following day.

Let's just say that plan went to shit fast when Aiden called mom. He asked her to pick up the suit he ordered from G&G for the cancer benefit we were hosting next month. A simple question followed by an unexpected answer.

Apparently, my brother and I were misinformed with regards to my parents return. My parents were actually arriving today in less than three hours.

Two hours and four injuries later, the beer bottles are gone. The bathrooms now sanitized, and beds clothed in fresh unused linen.

The rest of the house is tidy but not clean. My brother and I aren't dumb, we've been doing this for five years.

Unlike most siblings, Aiden and I don't bicker all the time.

Read this as a stand alone or after reading My Wild Phase.

He pressed a finger against my lips.
"Hush."
His hair was still damp from his shower. Falling over his forehead like strands of gold.
He smelled amazing.
Clean skin, whiskey, and something that was uniquely him. Something musky with a hint of rain.
His lips trailed down my body, leaving kisses everywhere they touched. His tongue followed, dragging heat across my skin until he settled between my legs.
My breath caught.
He pressed soft kisses to my inner thighs.
For a moment he simply looked at me.
His gaze lingered over my body. His lips twitched at my shaved pussy.
His lips parted like he was about to say something.
Instead, he lowered his head.
The first touch of his tongue made my entire body jerk.
A helpless sound escaped me. His tongue thrust into me, hungry, needy.
My hips rolled against him automatically.
Like I had no control over my own body anymore.

Look for The Book of Owen and The Book of Jason

“Don’t get me wrong” the hybrid king said looking at the human king, his eyes blue eyes piercing the human king’s green ones, it was like he was begging for the king to object, but he knew that he couldn’t it was his people’s life on the line “but this is just a mere game of thrones”
“The child is not even born yet, and we do not know if it’s a boy or God forbid, a girl” the human king glared at the hybrid who was making a bargain with him over his own child.
“I did not say that it had to be this child King Leonardo” the hybrid king smiled his eyes genuine as he looked at king Leonardo.
“And yet, you are forcing me to make a bargain over my own child King Niklaus” King Leonardo snapped.
“I am not forcing you King Leonardo, I am merely giving you the option, should I marry your child, then your kingdom is safe, and should you object, then you are forced to accept us on your realm, with your people, until of course our creatures manage to overthrow all of you” the look on King Leonardo’s face told King Niklaus that he had already gotten what he wanted, which was all he needed to hear right now.
“Should my daughter be born, and come to age, she will marry you” King Leonardo said in defeat, the hybrid smiled and nodded at King Leonardo.
“Pleasure doing business with you King Leonardo”

"Baby..." Kane whispered in a deep husky voice. Trixie slowly lifted her head to look up at him. Kane was already moving his face closer to hers, he stopped right where his lips were barely grazing hers. He looked into her eyes and leaned in more and gently pressed his lips to Trixies. Her lips were so soft and so damn plump. He was a bit shocked when she immediately kissed him back, he thought she would hesitate a little but she didn't. She wanted this just as much as he did.

Rumors have it that the Eternal King was ruthless, showed no mercy and despised all creatures that weren't his own kind. For his ten thousand years of life he has only been spotted on Earth once, saving his brothers life, then never to be seen again. That was until he felt his mate being born..
**
For the past 18 years, King Kane has been trying to unify his kingdom with King Gabriel.. the king of all werewolves, lycans, witches, vampires and all other supernatural beings. Rumors went around about the the two kingdoms becoming one. Werewolves and Demons did not get along at all but all of Kanes faithful and loyal members of his kingdom, followed him blindly and never once questioned his decisions. As for the members of Gabriels kingdom.. some were very upset..
**
Only Gabriel, his second in command, Balthazar and third in command, Kol knew why Kane was suddenly wanting to unify the kingdoms. He's been waiting his entire life for his mate and will have nothing stand in the way of them being together.
**
Can Kane succeed in unifying the kingdoms, all the while keeping his mate safe?

!! There are sexual scenes in this book so if if you can't handle the heat, don't read. !!
Copyright © 2024

'He was her saviour and she was his redemption.'

Avalyn has been a slave of her fathers’ murderer for eight years before he sold her off in an auction.

Nikolai didn't plan on finding his mate, but now that he did, he was going to keep her, even if he had to be her mate, her master or her lover. He'll take her as she will have him.

Follow Nikolai and Avalyn on their journey from being the Alpha and Luna of The Rogue Pack to becoming the Lycan King and Queen.

How could I look good? My heart shed silent tears because my husband and mate, Alpha Aron, was dancing with Annabelle who was his high school sweetheart and daughter of his father’s Beta.

“She saved me, with one nervous smile over a decade ago she started to put my broken pieces back together, it started under the apple tree and that is where it will end because I need Audrey to stay whole, even if that means I tear her apart.”

Coming back to her grandparents house after she had been sent away as a teenager, Audrey didn’t expect for her life to get even more complicated.

The house she had once loved seemed to be full of ghosts, memories of her past and one ghost in particular was hellbent on haunting her forever.

Gabriel King, youngest brother of The Kings of London was meant to be dead. So why was Audrey sure he was the one stalking her every move?

Delving into her past and his as well, Audrey must come to terms with the truth. Gabriel had always been there , right from the moment she had first seen him under the apple tree.

And he was never going to let her go.

(TRIGGER WARNING- this is a dark romance and may contain situations you find uncomfortable or triggering . Please proceed with caution

He is the devil king and she is just an ordinary witch, he is feared and respected by everyone and she is loved and adored by everyone. People remember him for his unmerciful punishments and the chilling wars he fought. She is remembered for her kindness and good deeds. They are so different in everything, from the species to the food they eat then how are they connected?
Are they mates? But he already has a mate.
Meet Aiza Elsie Cromwell and Quentin Roux Adler

Aiza is a 20-year-old beautiful and charismatic witch who lives with her parents, grandmother, and siblings. She is very empathetic and kind, as a witch she has the powers to heal people. Cromwells are the only ones who are blessed with healing powers which they got from their ancestors. Aiza loves to teach the village children about the powers and everything which a human being in case a witch should know. Everyone in the village refers to Aiza as a goody-two-shoes but no one knows the secret she is hiding from everyone.
Quentin Roux Adler rules the earth and hell because he is the devil of hell and king of earth and he is called devil king. Pandora is the kingdom which he rules, small villages are scattered around his kingdom. He may be the devil but he knows how to rule a kingdom and his people. He is many years old and no one knows his exact age and no one dares to ask him that. He goes by his rules and wants his people to do the same. If someone dares to disobey his rules then that person could be thrown into the deepest pits of hell.
How do a devil king and a witch meet? What is their connection?

In a world where bloodlines shape destinies, Florence Lancaster, a half-breed who has the blood of two exceptional people in her veins, is caught in a dangerous game. Abandoned and trained to be a tool, her life takes a perilous turn when a mission puts her on the most-wanted list of the Alpha King and the Werewolf Council.

Hunted and hiding her identity for years, she finds sanctuary within a pack until chaos strikes, forcing her into a bargain to save a life. The price? Six months as a werewolf's mistress, a twist she never saw coming.

Nicholas Gavner Acworth is a pureblooded Lycan who also was an Alpha King and an Alpha of Moonstone Pack—a pack of Lycans. Since his cousin died, he vowed to kill the person responsible for his death. But finding his mate who was not a Lycan and learning that she couldn't shift was not something he expected. He needed a strong woman to lead by his side and the perfect candidate was his betrothed. So, he makes a decision that alters their fate—making his mate his mistress.
........
She is strong-willed to escape.
He is adamant about keeping her.
She wanted to be loved.
He doesn't want to be in love.
Everyone wanted her,
Everyone fears him.
She belongs to him but he doesn't belong to her.

Tonight, everyone would attend my masquerade. I suppose they had no reason not to be at ease in my house. I wasn't going to kill them. Nor was I planning them any harm.
Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Omegas, hell, even witches and vampires were invited to this event just to ensure that every adult over the age of twenty-two who was not mated would at least have a better chance of meeting their mate.
Wearing a mask, I greeted them with ease. Then I found her, my unexpected mate.
"Don't fucking touch me!" she said, seeming to resist my approach.
“Mate.” I look at her excitedly.
"Don't step any closer to my fiancee,"
I got pissed off when I heard another guy call her his fiancée.
I scoop her into my embrace, "Mine." Then she was stunned.