8425 Book(s) Related to the villainess needs a tyrant chapter 5

Reunited, I became the “perfect wife” Julian had always dreamed of.
I didn’t ask where he was when he didn’t come home.
When his “one that got away” came to our door to provoke me, I greeted her with a polite smile.
I even caught them in the act, and instead of screaming, I thoughtfully closed the door for them.
The Elara who used to break down in hysterics over his infidelity was dead.

The woman standing here now was nothing more than a shell, existing solely for her daughter.
Finally, Julian began to panic. He knelt in the pouring rain, begging me to curse him, begging me to still love him—or even hate him.
But as I looked down at him, I didn’t just feel nothing. I felt sick.
"Julian, I don't hate you."
I just find every second spent with you utterly disgusting.

My betrothed, Theron, gave me a unicorn — the highest honor our court could grant a lady.
I had it hitched to a dung cart and sent through the lower city.
Only because I had lived this life before.
Last time, I was proud of that creature. I rode it to every hunt, every procession, and people said no beast so pure had ever chosen a rider. My light was the brightest among the elves. Then, season by season, it went out. I withered, I burned away in my own bed, and everyone wept over how strangely the great Lady Eldraine had aged.
I thought it was some illness. I begged every healer in the realm. None of them found a thing.
I only learned the truth after I died.
My spirit watched a girl climb out of that unicorn's body. Elowen. The pale, dying little thing the whole court called a saint — and the woman Theron had wanted all along. She was wearing my light now — my glow, my color, my stolen years. She was radiant. She was alive. And she was in Theron's arms, where I used to stand.
"The binding held," she whispered to him. "Every time she rode me, I drank a little more. Her light. Her magic. Her life. It's all mine now."
Theron didn't even glance at my body. "She gave you her life," he said. "She should be glad."
So I laughed, when I woke again on the morning he led that unicorn into the hall.

On the third day of the apocalypse, I was bitten by a zombie while saving a child and was abandoned outside the camp by everyone, left to die.

Three years later, I became the legendary "Masked Monster," secretly protecting those who had betrayed me.

They nailed me to a cross, preparing for a public execution.

Until the Corpse King invaded.

I tore through my chains and charged into certain death, all to protect a girl who still remembered my name.

She raised her gun with tears streaming down her face, aiming at my head.

"Forty dollars. That's all the inhaler I needed to breathe cost. But in our house, nothing comes easy. 'Fairness first. Roll the dice — highest number wins.' I've rolled my whole life. I've never won. Not once. Tonight, lungs burning, vision blurring, I rolled for my medicine money against my sister. She got a six. I got a two. 'You lost, Hazel. Now go to the attic and think about your selfishness.' The door locked behind me. My chest is closing up. And no one is coming to check."

My husband had been traveling a lot lately. Intuition told me he was cheating.
I kept quiet. For his birthday, I gifted him AirPods—secretly linked to my backup Apple ID.
At 10:00 p.m., his "Find My" location wasn't heading to the airport. It had stopped at a decade-abandoned lumber yard.
I floored it, obsessed with catching them in bed.
But when I arrived, I only found a corpse.

My influencer roommate paid a small fortune to grow a tub of "all-natural" beauty mud in our bathroom.
Ten days later, the thing crawled out of her face — in front of three hundred people at a party.
And I'd known it was coming from the day I first saw what she was growing.

The Moon Goddess may have fated him to be my mate, but fate clearly had a cruel sense of humor—because Alpha Eddy was never the type to settle down. Women clung to him like shadows, and he never once turned them away.

Before our bond could even form, he wrapped his arms around me and fed me the same excuse he always did.

"Carol, the healer says it’s congenital. I can't help it. Being with them is... just a way to protect you from getting hurt."

I cried. I begged. I screamed. But the carousel of beautiful women in his life never stopped spinning.

Then came the breaking point.

On a so-called business trip, Alpha Eddy heroically rescued three sisters who were cornered by Rogues. Instead of sending them back to their pack—or literally anywhere else—he brought them straight into our home. Not just anywhere in the Red Tree tribe's castle, but into the Luna’s chambers. My chambers.

When I questioned him, his response made my stomach turn.

"Carol, don’t overthink it. They’re just helpin

Destiny is not your ordinary girl.
Besides the fact that she straggles two world’s.
She is also the spirit the powers that be have been waiting for.
That’s right.
Destiny is a spirit. Not born on this plane of existence.
She hails from beyond the veil. Where a soul goes when the vessel can no longer hold it.
Spirits like Destiny are called shadow agents.
A shadow agent hunts down and returns the souls that flee back to the mortal side of the veil. Where these souls start to cause trouble.
The Powers that be have sensed uneasiness for a while now and need Destiny to accept. Well. Her destiny.
All Destiny will have to aid her in her task is a sassy best friend and a talking, scruffy white cat.
Destiny will need all her skills, all her courage and wits if she is going to prevail and bring the missing souls home.

She's pregnant with my brother's baby. And if he doesn't marry her, I will.


It was Austin’s turn to seething with rage. “You are not aborting that child.” His voice echoed menacingly, animosity lingering in the air around them.

My body, my rules.” She shot back with an unbothered shrug.

“I don’t think you have much of a choice.” He barked. The idea of marriage and children had never crossed his mind. It wasn’t a part of his life plan. “I’d chain you to a bed for the entire nine months if I have too.”

She blinked, stupefied that he thought himself capable. “I think you forget who you are speaking too, Austin.” She pronounced his name with disgust. “You cannot scare or manipulate me into following along with your ideas.” Marriage? To Austin Demon Cyner? Now that was a delusion. “A stupid one at that.” She added, eyeing him meticulously.

“Marry me, Skylar. It’s a win-win; a marriage of convenience.” He’d cleared his throat and was taking long strides towards her. Suddenly the room felt too small to contain the sheer size of him.

“I severely dislike you, though. What am I winning exactly?” her feet were traveling backwards, unwilling to have her standing up too close to him.

“A stable home for your child,” the sound of his shoes tapping rhythmically in her ear “Our child.” He added on quickly, his voice low, compelling her to agree.

“I don’t recall you being in the room when it was made.”


Check out another story in the same collection: His Tempting Captive

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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)ONCE CRAVED is book #3 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download!When prostitutes turn up dead in Phoenix, not much attention is paid. But when a pattern of disturbing murders is discovered, the local police soon realize a serial killer is on a rampage and they are in way over their heads. Given the unique nature of the crimes, the FBI, called in, knows they will need their most brilliant mind to crack the case: Special Agent Riley Paige.Riley, recovering from her last case and trying to pick up the pieces of her life, is at first reluctant. But when she learns of the grievous nature of the crimes and realizes the killer will soon strike again, she is compelled. She begins her hunt for the elusive killer and her obsessive nature takes her too far—perhaps too far, this time, to pull herself back from the brink. Riley’s search leads her into the unsettling world of prostitutes, of broken homes, and shattered dreams. She learns that, even amongst these women, there are glimpses of hope, hope being robbed by a violent psychopath. When a teenage girl is abducted, Riley, in a frantic race against time, struggles to probe the depths of the killer’s mind. But what she discovers leads her to a twist that is too shocking for even her to imagine.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE CRAVED is book #3 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #4 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

Dumped by her groom publicly, Luna married his uncle—Theodore, a business tycoon.
Hatred? Revenge? Or his long-planning?

Wedding night, he handed over a contract. “Nice doing business with you, my wife.”
When her down-and-out ex begged for a second chance? Luna smirked, swirling wine. “I'm Luna Carter, your new aunt—and the new owner of the Davis's enterprise.”

I've played the broken girl for years, hiding behind a fake scar. They think they've crushed me. They're wrong. Revenge is mine.

"You can't run from me," Jack Sterling smirked, eyes blazing.

"I've destroyed worse." I snapped, "Underestimate me. Big mistake."

In his private suite, his touch claimed me. "You're mine to break," he growled, his kiss igniting a hunger I can't escape.

Tortured by my cruel sister, betrayed by my ex, nearly sold off—my life's hell. But I'll save my loved ones and burn them all.

Ella Blake, the forgotten heiress, hides her power behind a fake scar, her medical skills a deadly secret. Swapped at birth, she fights for her truth and her dying sister. Jack Sterling, a ruthless billionaire, battles pain only Ella can soothe. Their explosive bond, built on lies, fuels a dangerous game of lust and betrayal as Jack's control tightens.

Just when Ella's ready to crush her sister, a shocking truth drops: she was pregnant and had a child. As her world shatters, will this secret tear her and Jack apart—or bind them in unthinkable ways? Read now to uncover the truth!

I was falsely accused of killing my sister. My husband personally sent me to prison. Three years later, he picked me up, and that very night he stripped off my clothes and fucked me brutally.

He said, "The child your sister and I had together has a heart condition. You have to give birth to a baby to save him. This is what you owe your sister!"

Julia loves reading BDSM erotic books. Her husband catches her reading one of those books and then they both try out playing sex games where Julia gets to be a slave and she loves playing these love games with her husband. But will these games affect their marriage? Let's find out by reading how it all started and how it's going!
This is book 02 of the slavery series.

Julia loves reading BDSM erotic books. Her husband catches her reading one of those books and then they both try out playing sex games where Julia gets to be a slave and she loves playing these love games with her husband. But will these games affect their marriage? Let's find out by reading how it all started and how it's going!
This is book 03 of the slavery series.

TRIGGER WARNING
This book is STRICTLY EROTICA. It contains taboo themes, age gaps, and explicit scenarios intended for mature audiences only (18+). If you are underage or easily disturbed by extreme, forbidden, or mature content, do not read this book.
When desire hits fast and hard, there's no time for innocence. This is a collection of quick, explosive stories where lust takes the lead and consequences come later—if at all. Every tale unfolds in a breathless rush:
the doctor who crosses a line he swore he never would,
the golden boy with a smile too sweet to hide how wicked he can be,
a forbidden affair that starts with a glance and ends with a gasp,
and age gaps where experience meets temptation head-on.
Told through intimate first-person POV, these encounters dive straight into the fire—raw, modern, and unapologetically steamy. Opposites collide, secrets unravel, and every chapter pushes the pulse higher with drama, tension, and bodies giving in long before minds can catch up.
If you crave fast-paced heat, forbidden chemistry, and nights that blur the line between wrong and irresistible—
step inside.
These stories don't tease.
They burn.

Steamy, dirty stories with a kinky, forbidden twist. Each story is about 20,000 words so sit back, grab some holy water and relax! It's time to sink in 11 deliciously dark and twisted love tales! Highly erotic and brimming with dark desires, don't say I didn't warn ya!

18+ Forbidden Temptations (Steamy Collections Erotica)
Coach and Cheerleader
Principal and Student
Step-brother and Step-sister
Teacher and Student
Step-father and step-daughter
Father’s best friend and 18 year old daughter
Professor and college student
Secretary and Ceo
Maid and master
Younger boy and older woman
Doctor and female student

"We literally just met. Don’t you think a flash marriage is moving a little fast?" said Michael, a blind date arranged by my mother.
"People get married quick all the time now," I shot back. "We could get the paperwork done, take time to actually get to know each other. If it works out, great. If not, we divorce."
He smiled. "Alright. Then let’s try it."

Sarah Martinez works as a restaurant server. Haunted by fragmented memories of a past she can’t fully recall, she’s desperate to escape her mother’s constant worry about her future. When she meets Michael Johnson, a man who seems to be the perfect solution to her problems, she impulsively proposes marriage.
However, Michael is not who he appears to be. He’s a man of power and wealth. When Sarah mistakes him for her mother’s arranged blind date, he decides to play along, intrigued by her sincerity and the possibility of a marriage free from the gold-diggers he’s used to.
Their marriage starts as a practical arrangement, but as they navigate their new life together, feelings begin to blur the lines of their agreement.

Will Sarah discover Michael’s true identity? Can Michael trust Sarah’s intentions, or is she just another woman after his wealth? And what will happen when Sarah’s ex, a Hollywood star, tries to win her back?

"Si... Sienna, you're drunk..." he rasps.
"Nope." I smile. "I know exactly what I'm doing. And... I've always wanted this."
"I've had a crush on you since forever... so I can never be wrong."
I never expected that crashing at my best friend's family lake house while her parents were away would lead to something forbidden. Her father—the man I'd known all my life—became the center of a night I couldn't resist. The attraction between us ignited into a dangerous, consuming connection that left me trembling until dawn. I slipped away quietly in the morning, hoping to forget and avoid him entirely.
But fate had other plans. Soon, I found him sitting across from me as my new boss. Every glance, every word carried an unspoken tension, a power struggle I couldn't escape. I tried to resist, but the pull between us was irresistible. In the privacy of my office, I indulged in the memory of that night, testing boundaries, surrendering to desire while he watched and controlled, reminding me who held the power.
Eventually, the line between defiance and submission, punishment and reward, blurred. And just when I thought our secret was safe... his daughter walked in, shattering everything.

He was my father's enforcer. My brother's best friend. The most dangerous man in any room he walked into.
He was the one person I was never supposed to want.

My brother disappeared in a pool of blood.
His best friend became my protector.

Enrico is a mafia enforcer, cold-eyed, ruthless, and built like a weapon. He doesn’t ask permission. He doesn’t explain. When men come to kill me, he doesn’t hesitate.

He takes me.

He says it’s protection.
He says it’s a promise to my brother.
But the way he watches me- hungry, possessive and unrelenting tells a different story.

Every touch is controlled. Every look burns.
The tension between us is sharp enough to cut—and when his restraint finally cracks, it’s devastating.

I shouldn’t want him.
He’s my brother’s best friend.
A killer.
A man who would destroy anyone who touches what he considers his.

But the deeper the secrets unravel, the more I realize the truth:

Enrico would burn the world for me.

Obsession. Desire. Blood-soaked loyalty.
This is not a love story for the faint of heart.

Because once Enrico decides you’re his…
You don’t get rescued.
You get claimed.

If you love dark, slow-burn romance where the danger is real and the love is harder to survive than the bullets, start reading. You won't stop.

Betrayed and divorced by her husband, Lara Montgomery was chased out of her home on a cold night with a child in her womb.

Lara thought it was all over for her. That she had lost everything.

But she hadn't.

Not when the handsome billionaire—Damien Otto found her and refused to let her die on his curb.

To Lara, he was her savior. She has found reason to believe again, to hope again.
But has she?

What happens when she finds out that the man who rescued her on that cold night was just being paid to save her and might have his ulterior motives?

Lara would get everything back. Rebuild her life from the scratch but the journey to the top is not always an easy ride.

Stay tuned for a ride through betrayal, regrets and second chances.

Walking in on her husband with her own sister should have destroyed her. But Steffy doesn't fall apart-she slaps him and walks out.
What does break her is the DNA test her sister waves in her face. Not a Willson. Not their blood. Not their daughter.
Steffy has lived twenty-seven years in a family that may not be hers, while her sister claws for an inheritance she believes is rightfully hers alone.
But the deeper Steffy digs into the truth of who she really is, the more the wrong questions start getting answered.
Because if that DNA test was wrong about her... then who in this family is actually who they claim to be?

"You and I know she can never conceive. Not in this world, not in the next!"
"What if she mysteriously gets pregnant again?"
"Well, the company that manufactures the drug we fed her back then hasn't gone extinct. She will simply lose it like she lost the first..."
She was never meant to be his Luna, only his mistake.
On the night of Alpha Kael's ascension, one drunken error changed everything. Mistaking Aria, a mere maid, for his fiancée, he spent the night with her and sealed a fate neither of them could undo. What was meant to remain a secret didn't stay buried for long. When Aria discovered she was pregnant, the truth spread through the pack like wildfire, destroying Kael's engagement to his true love, Vivienne. Heartbroken and consumed by rage, the once warm Alpha turned cold, cruel, and unforgiving.
Forced to take responsibility, Kael claimed Aria as his mate and made her Luna. But to him, she was nothing more than a living reminder of his greatest mistake. When tragedy struck and Aria lost her child, Kael's words cut deeper than any blade: "Why should I mourn a mistake?"
Still, Aria clung to hope, believing that one day, giving him an heir might earn her his love.
Until the day everything shattered. On the day Aria discovered she was pregnant again, the woman who was supposed to be his Luna returned. And she didn't come alone. She was carrying his heir too. And hers wasn't a mistake.

"Only one woman leaves alive. Choose, Jared."

My husband didn't even hesitate. He rushed past me, untying his weeping mistress, Natalie. "I choose her! Take Danika!" he screamed, refusing to look at me as I sat bound to the chair. He walked away, leaving me alone with the man paid to rape me. The monster laughed, unzipping his pants, thinking I was a broken doll. But he forgot I had nothing left to lose. As he forced himself on me, my hand found a pen in his pocket. I didn't beg for mercy. I plunged it straight into his eye socket.

Danika, the perfect wife of upcoming businessman Jared Fox is known to the world as a naive, beautiful wife who loves her husband to the core, however, no one knows just how dark her life is.

Enter Lysander Laurent-Ashworth, cold, disciplined, and feared across the business world for his ruthless precision. To everyone else, he is untouchable. To Danika, he is the stranger who saved her, and the man who seems determined to shield her, even from the truths she can’t remember.

Bound by a dangerous agreement neither of them fully understands, Danika finds herself drawn into Lysander's world but Lysander might just do anything to protect her. Absolutely, anything.

"You really intrigue me, Nara," He flashes another smile, but it disappears just as fast.

A confession that makes my cheeks burn.

"I intrigue a lot of people." I try to control my breathing. "Most are always bad."

He shakes his head slowly, not wanting to pry his eyes away from my rising chest. "You intrigue me in a different sense."

"And what sense is that?"

"In the sense that I ask myself... why is it—" His neck bobs as he swallows hard, the tip of his finger now grazing the side of my uncovered thigh."—That I always find myself so drawn to you?"


For Naralía Ambrose, hunting and trapping creatures aren't enough for her. Not when she knows dreaded dragons and shifters such as the one that killed her father still lurk in the depths of Emberwell.

Moving to the infamous City of Flames and becoming a part of the queen's dragon Venators, is all she dreams of in order to continue her father's legacy.

So, when an attack occurs in her village, and this opportunity finally arises for Naralía, she quickly finds herself uncovering secrets to the city. Ones that will make her question her views over the world she lives in and whether she can trust the people around her...

With a burning desire to hunt dragons, an impertinent thief she must capture, and a tempting romance brewing, Naralía will soon question where her loyalties truly lie.

What is one to do when they catch the attention of dark beings? Should they run away from the sweet promise of unending pleasure, or do they give in? Tabitha Sullivan has to make that very choice when she catches the attention of two dark brothers with a need for blood and sweet torture. Not only them, but also an icy man with a vendetta against her kind. However, he is willing to go against his very nature to claim her for himself.
What will Tabitha do? Will she fight the draw she feels toward these men, or will she give in?
Read A Taste Of Sin to find out!

“I don't care about getting married, all I want is you even if this is the first time you are seeing me. I have always loved you since when I can remember. Can't you please be my groom?"
She said and I almost burst out laughing.

This bitçh must be crazy. The sex was really great. She is really good in bed but I am no lady's groom. I'm a free bird and I will always be free...

Meet Lee Chun, the son of a billionaire, he is super handsome and oh yes! He is a sëx freak.
Lee Chun's many sexual exploits with the ladies has earned him then nickname Sëx God.
He is a real time player who doesn't believe in love....
Meet Ji-a, a beautiful bold orphan girl, who has no one but herself and her lovely heart.
What happens when these two very different souls meet? Find out in this blockbuster novel.

In "Powerless Hearts: A Tale of Survival and Love," the world as we know it changed drastically on April 1, 2023, when a global blackout plunged civilization into chaos.
With power outages worldwide and communication systems failing, society began to collapse. Amidst the turmoil, Gabriella, a college student trapped in her dorm, faces immediate danger and desperation. She is saved from a threatening situation by Andrew, a compassionate rescuer with a solar-powered home.

As the world outside grows increasingly chaotic, Gabriella and Andrew form a deep connection, evolving from a bond of survival into a passionate romance. They find solace and strength in each other amidst the crumbling remnants of their former lives. Their love becomes a source of hope as they navigate the challenges of their new reality, including the constant threat of violence from desperate outsiders.

Their relationship flourishes in the face of adversity, marked by tender moments and intense intimacy. Yet, despite their personal happiness, the community they inhabit faces growing external pressures. The struggle for resources and the mounting anger from those outside their safe haven create an ever-present tension.

As the story progresses, Gabriella and Andrew confront not only the external threats but also the internal fears and desires that come with living in such a fractured world. Their journey is a powerful exploration of love and resilience, proving that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can find light and connection.

In this gripping tale of dystopian romance and survival, "Powerless Hearts" highlights the strength of love and the enduring hope that drives people to fight for their future.

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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)ONCE LURED is book #4 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download, with over 500 five star reviews!Women are turning up dead on a lone stretch of highway in Delaware. Some go missing for an inexplicable length of time, while others are turning up dead, their bodies left out for display in bizarre and mysterious ways. When a pattern is discovered, it becomes clear to the FBI that a twisted serial killer is on the hunt—luring girls in devious schemes—and that he won’t stop killing, ever.The FBI, desperate to crack the case, urges Special Agent Riley Paige to take it on. But the brilliant Riley, still reeling from past cases, has finally found peace in her home life, and is determined to help her daughter April get back on her feet. Yet when the murders become too disturbing, too urgent—and when her former partner Bill implores her—Riley finally realizes she can’t say no.Riley’s hunt leads her deep into the unsettling world of hitchhikers, of drifters, of women that no one else cares for. When she discovers that several women are being kept alive and that there is still time to save them, she realizes she will stop at nothing, obsessing over the case and driving herself to the brink. Yet Riley realizes her own life is falling apart, and her own fragile psyche can barely handle the strain. In a frantic race against time, she will have to plunge deep into the killer’s mind to save these women—and to save herself—from collapse.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE LURED is book #4 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #5 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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) ONCE STALKED is book #9 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 900 five star reviews! When two soldiers are found dead on a huge military base in California, apparently killed by gunshot, military investigators are stumped. Who is killing its soldiers, inside the secure confines of its own base?And why?The FBI is called in, and Riley Paige is summoned to take the lead. As Riley finds herself immersed in the military culture, she is amazed to realize that serial killers can strike even here, in the midst of the most secure location on earth.She finds herself in a frantic cat and mouse chase, racing to decode the killer’s psychology. Yet she soon discovers she is up against a highly-trained killer, one that may, even for her, be too deadly an opponent.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE STALKED is book #9 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #10 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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) ONCE COLD is book #8 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 900 five star reviews! There is one cold case that has plagued Special Agent Riley Paige for her entire career, dwelling at the corners of her consciousness, forcing her to return to it again and again. The only case she has never solved, she has finally put it out of her mind.Until she gets a call from the murdered victim’s mother.It spurs Riley to face the case once again, and to not give up until she has found answers.Yet Riley barely has time to catch her breath when she receives a lead for another cold case, one which, if possible, strikes an even deeper note within her. It is a lead that promises to solve the case of her own mother’s killer.And it comes from Shane Hatcher.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE COLD is book #8 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #9 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. 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) ONCE PINED is book #6 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 700 five star reviews! Men and women are turning up dead in the outskirts of Seattle, poisoned by a mysterious chemical. When a pattern is discovered and it becomes clear that a twisted serial killer is on the hunt, the FBI calls in their best asset: Special Agent Riley Paige. Riley is urged to return to the line of duty—but Riley, still reeling from the attacks on her family, is loath to return. Yet as bodies mount, and the murders become more inexplicable, Riley knows she has no choice.The case takes Riley deep into the unsettling world of nursing homes, of hospitals, of drifting caretakers and psychotic patients. As Riley delves deeper into the mind of the murderer, she realizes she is hunting the most terrifying killer of all: one whose madness knows no depths—and yet who may just appear shockingly ordinary.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE PINED is book #6 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #7 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

Erica accidentally witnesses Max making love to Kora, her enemy. At the same time, while hiding under the bed, Erica heard the whole plan of the couple's destruction. For a minute out of control, Erica scuffled with the couple. To stop Erica's madness, Max hit Erica so hard that she lost consciousness. After seeing Erica lying motionless. The frightened couple carried Erica outside the emergency exit of the apartment building, to create a fake scene where Erica fell down the stairs.

Erica, after waking up, finds her way home. Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the house, she was arrested by the police for assaulting and assaulting Kora. To avoid jail time, Kora and her mother forced Erica to sign a deed of ownership of the property, which Erica was allowed to inherit when her parents died.

When Erica discovered the whole plot of Kora and her mother, it was too late. Erica had to accept the request of Kora and her mother, to avoid being wrongfully imprisoned.

Losing everything, even being kicked out of the house. Erica resolves to take back what belongs to her and makes Kora and her mother pay the price.

Erica begins a new life, accidentally meeting and saving Ansel, the heir to a large corporation.

How will Erica's life change, when she becomes Ansel's benefactor?

【Warning: Do not open this novel lightly, or you'll find yourself hopelessly addicted, unable to put it down for three days and nights...】

In her past life, she was the unassuming daughter, the overlooked heiress, and the unsuspecting victim. Betrayed and murdered by those closest to her, she died with her true identity shrouded in mystery. But fate granted her a second chance.

Reborn with the memories of her tragic end, she vows to reclaim her life and expose the web of lies that ensnared her. This time, she will not hide behind the masks she once wore. With each step, she reveals a different facet of her true self: the skilled warrior, the brilliant strategist, the rightful heiress.

As she navigates the treacherous waters of high society, she must distinguish friend from foe, truth from deception. The stakes are higher, and the game is deadlier. But she is no longer the naive girl of her past life. She is a force to be reckoned with, ready to unveil the impostors and claim her rightful place.

In a world where appearances are deceiving and alliances are fragile, she must use every skill at her disposal to survive and thrive. The true heiress has returned, and she will not be silenced.

Olivia Steele flees her oppressive stepfather, seeking refuge in an arranged marriage with Seth Brown, a man she's never met. Drawn in by Seth's striking looks and practical lifestyle, Liv wonders if this union could bring solace to her family. But as doubts creep in and Seth reveals his lack of intention, their marriage hangs in the balance. Can Liv find true love in a relationship born out of duty, or is she destined for a life of unfulfilled promises?

Twenty-two-year-old Ethan Blackwood never wanted to be a soldier. As the son of a minor lord in the peaceful border town of Ashford, he dreamed of becoming a scholar and living a quiet life with books and maps. But when orc tribes suddenly attack the human kingdom of Valornia, Ethan is forced to join the army as a knight. On the battlefield, he expects to fight monsters. Instead, he finds himself falling for one.
Kiera Stoneheart is an orc commander with fire-red hair and a warrior's spirit. She's fierce, brilliant, and nothing like the savage beasts the human propaganda describes. When Ethan captures her during a raid, he discovers something terrifying: the orcs didn't start this war. A powerful faction within the human kingdom called the Silver Covenant is using the conflict to grab power and destroy anyone who questions them.
Now Ethan must choose between his loyalty to his people and the truth he's uncovered. As he and Kiera work together to expose the conspiracy, their hatred turns to respect, then friendship, and finally to a love that could cost them everything. Because in a world where humans and orcs are supposed to be enemies, falling in love with the other side isn't just forbidden—it's treason punishable by death.
With assassins hunting them, his best friend turning against him, and the fate of two races hanging in the balance, Ethan must decide: will he be the hero who saves his kingdom, or the traitor who destroys it? And can love truly conquer hate when the entire world is built on lies?

“Hide! Hide!” I yelled, striking Greg violently in the butt. I sensed his astonishment but I didn’t give a damn. If he loved me, he'd understand I was in a precarious situation. “What the hell's happening?!” Greg screamed but I still pushed him into my wardrobe anyway as Fred's voice echoed through the house. I can't imagine the torment I'd face if I was caught in a relationship with a man. 7 years ago, I worked for the Richardson family with my mother and when I lost her to cancer, I decided to drop out of school. However, luck was on my side or so I thought. The Richardson adopted me as their own but when I thought my life was starting to get better, Fred the true son of the family came into my life. It went downhill from there. I became a sex toy for him and it even got worse when my adoptive father joined his son to make my life a misery. I became traumatic. Not even the sweetest prince charming could woo me into liking him. To hell with every man! I hated them all until Greg came along. He loved me more than I loved myself but what could I do? Both father and son of the Richardson family had issued me a stern warning to shut every man out – I was an exclusive property. Would I ever get a shot at true love when my life’s a living hell?

On Christmas Eve, a mysterious virus swept the globe, and my own father mutated into a bloodthirsty monster right before my eyes.

Retreating to a Texas ranch, I thought it would be a desperate fight for survival—until a monster tore my arm open during a brutal melee. There was no high fever, no mutation. Instead, the moment those frenzied infected caught the scent of my blood, they trembled and backed away, as if encountering their natural predator.

Before I could even catch my breath, an armored convoy bearing a cryptic insignia surrounded the ranch, using sonic weapons to herd the infected horde.

From a distance, a red laser locked precisely between my eyes. The memories forcibly erased during my military service two years ago came crashing back: this apocalypse was never a natural disaster, and I was the "perfect specimen" they were absolutely determined to claim.

Want to turn me into a lab rat? Then let's see how many of you this modified body can drag down to hell with me!

Since when is eating a snack before dinner a capital crime? All because of a bag of gummies, my parents beat the hell out of me, and a judge coldly sentenced me to death. I was absolutely convinced the candy was laced! It wasn't until moments before my execution that I accidentally found out the truth: my family... were never actually my family to begin with.

Three years ago, I saved the life of Alessandro Gambino, New York's most powerful mafia boss.

He fell in love with me, a bartender.

His family was dead set against us, but his love won out. We got married.

After we married, he disappeared every month for "punishment day," claiming his family beat him with sixty-six lashes for breaking their rules by staying with me. Watching him suffer tore me apart.

Actully, I'm Sloane Lucchese, sole heir to the largest arms empire on the East Coast, hiding from a family war. I decided to reclaim my family name as soon as possible, so his family would finally accept me.

Finally, on our fifth wedding anniversary, I found out I was pregnant, and my father called to say they'd announce my return in two weeks.

I was going to tell Alessandro everything that night, both pieces of good news.

But that same day, I stumbled onto a secret—one that would destroy me completely.

Thirty thousand feet in the air, inside the sealed cabin of a commercial airliner, my five-year-old daughter vanished into thin air while I took a thirty-minute nap.
I tore through the lavatories, the galleys, and every overhead bin. The only thing I found was her stuffed bunny, the one she never let out of her sight.
What was even more terrifying was the crew and the passengers. As if perfectly rehearsed, they all insisted I had boarded the plane alone. They even gaslit me in front of everyone, claiming I was mentally unstable and had hallucinated a daughter.
They took turns pushing me, trying to force me into self-doubt and submission. Not a single person offered to help me look. The entire plane was covering up a sinister crime.
If this plane was going to hide my child and protect the guilty, then I would tear this hypocritical aircraft apart with my bare hands.

They found my husband locked inside his mistress.

Not metaphorically. Literally locked—a medical phenomenon called vaginal spasm, triggered when their sports car crashed mid-affair on a mountain road. The doctors said separating them required a high-risk spinal injection. Without it, he'd lose everything below the waist. Possibly his life.

They needed my signature. The wife's consent.

I looked at the consent form. Then at my phone—47 missed calls from three nights ago, when our four-year-old son stopped breathing.

Adrian never picked up. He was too busy.

Now he was begging me to sign.

I wiped away my tears, picked up the pen.

Now it was his turn to die.

On the day I gave birth to my daughter, Iris, my husband Hollis pushed open the hospital room door, dragging a four-year-old boy by the arm. Eyes red and welling with tears, he said, "Look who I brought home."
My mother-in-law wept tears of joy. My son, Felix—who supposedly died in the winery fire five months ago—had returned "from the dead."
The whole room was crying over this miracle, but my blood ran cold: since the second he walked through that door, Hollis hadn't spared a single glance at our newborn daughter.
I secretly collected a DNA sample from the boy and sent it for expedited testing. The results confirmed it: this wasn't my son at all. He was Hollis’s illegitimate child with another woman.
That same night, I pulled up the nursery's hidden camera footage and watched with my own eyes as this man injected poison into Iris’s breast milk. Soon after, he brazenly moved his mistress—my personal assistant—into my home.
A towering wave of hatred consumed me. I swore I would make them pay in blood...

It's supposed to be our last class trip before graduation. The bus loses control on a mountain road and goes over the edge.

I think we're all going to die.

When I open my eyes again, I'm sitting in a classroom that looks like it's been rotting for decades.

A system alert blares through my skull:

【Welcome to Ravenwood High. Unnameable creatures roam the campus. Survive 7 days. Uncover the truth behind the campus Boss's death. Every player who dies adds $800,000 to the prize pool. Make it out, and the money is yours.】

Everyone loses it. Screaming, crying, total chaos. The first thing Brett does is shove me toward the door to check the hallway. Because of course he does. I'm the class punching bag. The girl nobody would miss.

Everyone assumes I'll be the first to die.

What nobody sees is the smile pulling at the corner of my mouth as I stand at that door, staring at whatever is writhing in the shadows of the hallway.

In the delivery room, my husband Ronan fumed that having a male doctor was a disgrace. My mother-in-law Coralie griped about the hospital bill. His sister Ophelia clung to his arm, pinching her nose and mocking the smell of the room.
In my previous life, today was the day the doctor ordered an extra blood test due to my in-laws' history of blood disorders. Two Type-O parents had somehow produced a Type-B daughter.
Coralie pointed at my nose, calling me a whore. Ophelia fueled the fire, sneering, "Just admit it, Sabine." Ronan slapped me off the delivery bed, demanding the name of my "lover."
I died having no way to prove my innocence, losing both my life and my daughter, Sorrel.
It wasn't until moments before my death, when I pushed open the master bedroom door, that I finally understood: the two people tangled naked in my marital bed were my husband and his own sister.
I opened my eyes. I was back to the morning after giving birth to my daughter.

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 my last life, a friend I’d trusted for ten years drove a knife into my heart over a single biscuit. When I opened my eyes again, we had both been reborn—right before the extreme freeze arrived.

He was convinced the apocalypse had come. He borrowed from loan sharks, rented a massive warehouse to hoard supplies, and even crowned himself king during the icebound period, killing without mercy.

But he didn’t know the truth:

This disaster would end completely after only thirty days.

While he taunted me like a madman, I didn’t expose him. I calmly requested thirty days of paid leave from my company.

This time, I’ll sit in a warm, climate-controlled room and watch—when the state machine restarts on day thirty—how he drops to his knees and sobs in despair.