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Niccola is a demi-queen undercover in enemy territory. Her little sister went missing seven moons ago, but one lead remains: a picture of a woman's face, drawn by a diviner shortly after the disappearance. Tracking her down has led Niccola to Calis, the realm next door whose border with her own remains closed for a reason. There, the trail goes cold. Until, that is, Niccola runs into a man in the marketplace who bears a family resemblance to the woman she seeks. His name is Isaiah, crown prince of Calis, and he's investigating disappearances, too. They join forces, faking courtship to sneak Niccola into the palace and get Isaiah's wedding-minded mother off his back. It doesn't take long to suspect that a common threat might underpin both their realms' problems. And as Niccola begins to develop real feelings for Isaiah, she's faced with an impossible choice: reveal her secrets and risk breaking his trust, or leave him in order to chase down the woman who stole her sister... a woman whose forbidden magic comes with a cost that could bring both realms to ruin. ❖❖❖ Complete and fully edited. Cover credit goes to @CeeMTaylor. Go check out her books too if you like Dark Fantasy Romance-she writes some pretty incredible stuff! Comments and critiques are both welcome and appreciated. I write characters from many different backgrounds, with many different experiences. If you share those traits and find that I have misrepresented anything, please let me know! I am feedback-friendly and here to learn :)

In a small, misty town nestled at the edge of a vast, enchanted forest, lives Elena, a young woman with a mysterious past she can't remember. She's always felt drawn to the forest, even though the townspeople warn of dangerous creatures that lurk within it under the full moon. One evening, while wandering near its edge, she encounters a wounded wolf with eyes that seem unnervingly human. Against her better judgment, she helps it, only for the creature to disappear by morning. Days later, a mysterious stranger, Lucas, arrives in town. Handsome and rugged, Lucas has a dark, secretive air. He seems strangely familiar to Elena, and as they grow closer, she notices that he always vanishes on the nights of the full moon. Her curiosity soon leads her to a discovery - Lucas is a werewolf, cursed to transform every full moon, struggling to balance his humanity and the beast within. As their love deepens, Elena learns that the curse isn't just his - it's part of her forgotten past as well. The bond between them isn't accidental but destined. Elena's family had been part of a lineage of protectors, those who once safeguarded the world from the wrath of werewolves but were wiped out in a tragic betrayal. Now, Elena is the last of her kind, the key to breaking the curse, but only by facing unimaginable danger. Lucas and Elena must navigate their growing love, while also dealing with rival werewolves, a mysterious witch, and the secrets that have been buried deep within the forest. Together, they must decide whether love is strong enough to tame the beast - or whether the beast will destroy everything they hold dear.

In a world where love twists into obsession and loyalty battles betrayal, four lives collide in a haunting dance of secrets, power, and desire. When hearts are bound by shadows and every promise is laced with deceit, the line between passion and possession blurs. In this tale of dark romance, one woman's sacrifice and another's broken heart spark a descent into a love that knows no mercy-and revenge that knows no end. He is the untouchable, the heir, the one who holds every heart in his cold, unyielding grip. She is the quiet observer, the girl who hides her feelings in the shadows-until he makes her sister his pawn in a cruel game of deceit. When love becomes a weapon and trust a distant memory, the lives of three young souls spiral into a web of seduction, obsession, and vengeance. A forbidden marriage binds two enemies in a twisted embrace, but hatred is only a spark waiting to ignite. He wants control; she wants freedom. Yet, as their lives intertwine in a dangerous dance, desire takes root in places neither of them expect. But shadows lurk in every corner, and buried truths threaten to shatter even the strongest heart. Can anyone survive a love that devours, a betrayal that cuts deeper than any wound, and a revenge that knows no bounds? How far would you go to keep what you can't bear to lose?

Urban Fantasy - Romantic Fantasy - Dark Fantasy - Paranormal Rory tells herself it's a trick of the light. That she can't actually see the spirits of living beings as they die. Until one night, when a starving demon comes across her path, and the mysterious blue and yellow lights are suddenly given a name. Asa can't understand how a human can see mana, let alone possess it and use it, but wants to help Rory find a way to control her abilities and find out more about her. But he's not the only one who's intrigued by the mystery. Others begin to take an interest in Rory's growing powers, and her potential as a shield, or a weapon, for forces in the demon realm. - CONTENT WARNING: Contains scenes of violence, sexual content, and strong language - Highest Tag Rankings: #1 in sorcery #7 in darkfantasy #5 in fantasyromance #42 in paranormal

In the quiet, superstitious town of Hollow's End, whispers circulate about a boy who lives deep in the woods-a boy cursed with half the face of a skeleton, feared by all who dare to speak his name. The townspeople warn that the forest is haunted, urging everyone to stay far from its shadowy borders. Lily, a daring 19-year-old who has never believed in old tales, sneaks into the woods one night, driven by her unshakable curiosity. There, she meets Kael, a mysterious and brooding figure whose life has been marred by a curse that forced him into isolation. Kael, now 23, lives alone in a secluded cabin, hiding behind a mask that conceals the skeletal half of his face. To his surprise, Lily isn't frightened by his appearance-she sees past the curse to the man he truly is. As the two grow closer, their bond begins to challenge the very beliefs that have kept Kael isolated for years. But the curse that haunts Kael runs deeper than anyone in the town knows. As Lily delves into the mystery of what really happened to Kael, she discovers that the curse isn't just about his appearance-it's tied to a dark secret that could destroy them both. In The Phantom of the Woods, Lily and Kael must face the unknown together, unearthing the truth behind the curse and testing whether love can break through the barriers of fear and isolation. Their journey leads them into the heart of the forest's darkness, where secrets, danger, and the very essence of Kael's humanity are at stake.

*ONC 2024 entry* **Round Two Ambassador's Pick** **Shortlisted** She's an angel of love; an ill-fitting name, as she's no angel. She strives for a world devoid of pain and sorrow. A world of love; of sex and debauchery without consequences. Unattached forever, she's spent millennia ensuring her world remains free of the chaos caused by heartbreak--a term unknown to the humans she oversees. And she'll do everything to keep it that way, at any cost. Meaning she'll kill any who have malice in their souls, to ensure the survival of those who are pure; their hearts red, the color of love. He's the first of his kind: a demon of heartbreak. New to the world, he's thirsty for love, for carnal relations, but craving to destroy it all once he's had his fill. He seeks despair, but not without having a little bit of fun on the way. He's sent above the surface by his king, to spread his disease, until he meets a feisty, sinfully sexy, devious damsel with immense powers. Her heart is so red, so pure, that he has to have it. To crush it. He makes it his goal to seduce her, trick her, and make her his first heartbreak victim. But she's not an easy one to toy with, as her heart isn't as pure as she lets on. *** ONC Prompts 35, 19, 46

In the bustling, modern metropolis of Valoria, magic flows beneath the surface, known only to a select few. For centuries, ancient families of magical bloodlines have controlled the city's fate, living among humans as powerful, secret societies. They have wealth, influence, and magic at their disposal. But what no one knows is that the source of their power comes from an ancient, forbidden ritual called the "Crimson Veil," which requires them to form unbreakable sexual bonds with those possessing rare magical traits. These bonds heighten their abilities and carry dangerous emotional and physical consequences, twisting love and desire into weapons. At the centre of this tangled web is Elena Ravenwood, a brilliant and ambitious journalist with no idea that she is the last of a forgotten bloodline-one that was destroyed in a bloody purge by the ruling magical families. When she stumbles upon a mysterious underground gathering, Elena's latent powers are awakened, and she quickly becomes the target of three powerful men, each from rival families: Meanwhile, a deadly prophecy comes to light: one that foretells that Elena, once fully awakened, will become the key to either restoring balance to the magical world or destroying it entirely. Her growing power ignites intense rivalries, and the line between love and hate blurs as she discovers that betrayal, passion, and magic are inextricably linked. Reader's Discretion: This story contains explicit content, including mature themes of sensuality, intense romantic relationships, and power dynamics. Suitable for adult readers only. Viewer discretion is advised.

In a world where magic is woven into the fabric of nature, Lila Faelan has always felt a deep connection to the flowers that bloom around her. With her pastel pink hair and luminous green eyes, she is quiet and reserved, hiding a profound loneliness. Ever since she can remember, her dreams have been haunted by whispers-murmurs of a forgotten past and a voice that calls to her from beyond the realm of memory. Lila's life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Aiden Thorne, a brooding young man with a troubled past of his own. Aiden is bound by the rigid expectations of his family, who hold immense power in their world. His stormy blue eyes reflect the weight of responsibility he has never asked for, and he feels trapped in a life that isn't truly his. Their fateful meeting in the midst of a mystical garden sets off a chain of events neither of them could have foreseen. As their bond deepens, Lila begins to uncover fragments of her lost past-memories tied to an ancient curse that has shadowed her family for generations. Aiden, too, begins to question the truths he has been told, discovering that his family's legacy is entwined with Lila's in ways more dangerous than either of them could have imagined. Together, they embark on a journey through enchanted forests and forgotten ruins, searching for the key to breaking the curse. Along the way, they are joined by their loyal friends-Elara, Lila's sharp-tongued yet fiercely protective best friend, and Rowan, Aiden's carefree companion who hides his own secret feelings for Elara. As Lila and Aiden draw closer to the heart of the mystery, they must confront not only the curse but also their own fears, desires, and the question of whether their connection was fated-or if they have the power to rewrite their destinies. The deeper they go, the more they realize that breaking the curse may come at an unthinkable cost: the sacrifice of one to save the other.

A violent passion. A dangerous bond. A nightmare that will change everything. To Ava, love is about as real as fairytales. But it might be that fairytales, myths, and magic have some truth to them after all - as well as the monsters that lie in the shadows. Or she could just be completely out of her mind. After a mental breakdown and a move to a new town, everything changes when Ava clashes with a stranger with eyes as black as midnight and a terrifying sinister air. Her wishes to feel something again become granted. But Ava soon learns that not only is he as cold as he is beautiful, but he brings something out of her, stronger than ever, like fuel to fire - something she's desperate to bury. He haunts her dreams and waking life, and staying away becomes harder than she could have ever imagined, risking her life, her humanity, and the people that she cares about. Not to mention the fate of the world. She's fighting for life. He's fighting for death. What does it take to live? What does it take to love?

Maya Dawson never believed in the supernatural-until the night she wandered into the woods and found herself face-to-face with Adrian, a centuries-old vampire harboring a dangerous secret. Drawn to his mysterious allure, Maya discovers a world of shadows, power, and peril lurking beneath the surface of her small town. As her bond with Adrian deepens, so does the threat posed by his dark past. Lucian, a ruthless rival from Adrian's vampire clan, emerges from the shadows, hellbent on tearing them apart and reclaiming the power Adrian left behind. Caught in a whirlwind of forbidden love and looming danger, Maya must decide if she's willing to risk everything-her heart, her safety, and even her humanity-to stand by Adrian's side. And Adrian must confront his own demons, learning that love isn't a weakness but a strength worth fighting for. In a tale of eternal love and unbreakable bonds, Maya and Adrian face darkness together, proving that even in the shadows, love can be the brightest light. But in a world where love is forbidden and the past refuses to let go, can they truly carve out a happily ever after?