City Of The Lost Kelley Armstrong

"Please, I have to go home." That's what I told the man in front of me. I begged him to let me go, but in my heart, I pray he never will.  How crazy is that? How can I feel safer with a stranger I've just met than the man who was supposed to love me until death? Why does he look at me like I'm the most beautiful thing in the world? Does he see the bruises? Is that why he's doing this? I should've never left the house, but I couldn't let him win. Not this time, but I hadn't counted on this. "He'll never hurt you again." I want to believe those words, but I don't know if I can. What if I'm going crazy? What if it's all a dream, and I wake up in the nightmare that's my life? I shouldn't trust him, but gods, why does his voice affect me like this? Why does he smell like lightning storms and heather? "Nefretiri? Do you know what a mate is?" No, he didn't just say that! Life isn't supposed to be this dark. That's what Nefretiri Jordans believed until her world came crumbling down. Her marriage was now a game of slave and master, and she would never win. Not when her husband was cruel enough to bring his mistresses to the house and act like Nefra was nothing more than a servant. She wants to run, but she can't. He'll never let her go, especially not with their new daughter. So, she has no choice but to live in hell and do her best to stay sane. Unfortunately, that line of sanity suddenly breaks when Ricky goes too far, and Nefra makes a stupid choice. After all, it's just a cake. Who cared about that?  Fate has a cruel sense of humor, and Nefra quickly learns that nothing is by chance. So, what started as a painful but necessary trip to the store turned into an unexpected adventure.  After all, she never put mate on her shopping list. Not that it mattered to Ivan. The Alpha of the Sebryanny Kinzhal pack from Colorado who's slowly coming back from a year of hell. All he wanted was to find peace and figure out what he was supposed to do with his life. The moon goddess had an answer, and she set him up to find the one thing he needed to be saved.  So, when Nefra crashed into his truck and he saw her, Ivan knew she was his destiny. Unfortunately for him, she's not on board and seems to belong to someone else. If Ivan wants Nefretiri to be his, he'll need to do more than earn her trust. Dark secrets are waiting to devour both of them, and more than one enemy is watching in the shadows to claim what both unknowingly hold.  Somehow, they must get past their pain to find each other and build something neither believed was possible again. Finally, it's time to put the cards on the table and bet it all. If they win, their lives will be more than either of them could ever dream, but if they lose, the darkness will destroy more than one life.

The Lantern of Lost Wishes Deep in the heart of Luminwood Forest, where the air hums with secrets and fireflies weave trails of forgotten dreams, there is a legend of an ancient lantern that can grant lost wishes. No one knows who made it or why, but those who go looking for it rarely find their way back. For Elyra, the lantern is more than a story. It’s a chance. Haunted by a past she can’t change and a future slipping through her fingers, Elyra sets out to find the lantern, clutching nothing but a faded map and a fragile hope. But the forest is alive. It shifts and listens. Creatures of shadow, known as the Wraithbound, follow her every move, feeding on the desperate wishes of others. Elyra’s only ally is a mysterious stranger with golden eyes and a grin that hides more than it reveals. He’s cursed, dangerous, and far too familiar with the forest’s tricks—and yet, Elyra can’t shake the feeling that he’s the only one who truly understands her. With every step deeper into the woods, Elyra discovers that wishes are never free, and some are lost for a reason. The closer she gets to the lantern, the heavier the cost becomes—secrets unravel, alliances shatter, and the forest itself begins to turn on her. Elyra must decide how far she’s willing to go to reclaim what she’s lost and whether some dreams are better left untouched. Because in the Luminwood, every wish carries a price, and once the lantern’s light finds you, it’s impossible to turn back. A story of longing, sacrifice, and the magic we hold onto when all else fades, The Lantern of Lost Wishes is a journey into a world where dreams flicker like fireflies, and hope is both a blessing and a curse.

After Angelo Hernandez's parents kick him out of the house for being gay the sixteen-year-old takes his own life by jumping off a bridge. But he doesn't stay dead for long. He comes back to life after a stranger places an angelic halo in his chest turning him into an angel. Angelo finds out he has superhuman powers, superhuman strength, can teleport and can move through walls. He explores L. A with his newfound powers and he's having fun with it. That's until he notices something strange, something dark, he follows that darkness and finds out it's a monster. He attempts to fight that monster with his new powers but he's not skilled and doesn't know how to use his powers in battle. Luckily these young vigilantes come to his rescue saving him from the monster which he finds out is a demon. And turns out these young vigilantes are Nephilims, half-human, half-angel hybrids that protect humans from demonic creatures. They take Angelo to their headquarters and explain to him that there's a man with a dark agenda who has stolen angelic halos from heaven and is turning humans into angels to build an army and now they have to stop him. Angelo not only has to navigate his life as a gay teen living in 90s California but now he's an angel who has to learn more about his powers and the world outside of planet Earth. He meets new friends, enemies and love. But will Angelo stay on the good side or will he allow himself to be consumed by darkness?

When William awakens submerged in a bathtub filled with blood, his life veers into the unimaginable. With no recollection of how he got there, he soon discovers he's become an unwilling player in the mysterious "Sequence Game"—a perilous competition that transcends reality and plunges participants into otherworldly realms. As William navigates these strange new worlds, he encounters bizarre legends and witnesses the birth of eerie entities. Whispers of an impending catastrophe grow louder: malevolent gods are invading, ancient powers are reawakening, and the fabric of reality is unraveling. Humanity teeters on the brink as extraordinary paths to divinity unfold before them, offering both salvation and temptation. Amidst the chaos, a beacon of hope emerges in the form of William, a fearless warrior wielding a spear and an unyielding spirit. Striding boldly at the forefront of this epochal shift, William becomes a symbol of resistance against the encroaching darkness. William must unravel the secrets of the Sequence Game and harness newfound powers to stand against the looming apocalypse. With the death knell of their world sounding and a cosmic countdown echoing in everyone's ears, they race against time to prevent ultimate destruction. In a reality where myths become tangible and every choice could herald doom or deliverance, who will rise as the final savior? The Sequence Game is a gripping odyssey of destiny, courage, and the relentless fight against cosmic annihilation. Journey with William as he confront ancient evils, forge unbreakable bonds, and strive to save not just their world, but all of existence. #VR

Suffering the machinations of family, Remus is sent to the newly built border city of Greltheaven. A place filled with opportunities but also dangers. If it had been up to him, he would have stayed in the safety of the empire, slowly building his business as he had planned, but he did not have a choice, either go to the dangerous city or live a mediocre life. Which he is not willing to do. Swearing revenge, he packed his bags and moved to Greltheaven, a city of great dangers and fortune. ... A brothel is not an easy business to run, much less get success, but since fate had so kindly decreed it upon him, he will not only run the brothel but will make it immensely successful. He had plans, big plans for it; he only hoped the city would remain standing long enough to turn his small business into an empire. … There will be 5 Chapters a week, from Monday to Friday.

A year after her mother’s sudden disappearance, Jasmine’s life is consumed by unanswered questions and eerie dreams of a mysterious boy with glowing eyes. When strange events start to unfold—an unsettling encounter in a dark alley, Grandpa’s cryptic behavior, and a chilling warning from the boy—Jasmine realizes something is terribly wrong. As her 18th birthday approaches, the truth about her mother’s disappearance begins to surface, pulling Jasmine into a dangerous world of secrets and shadows. In Veil of the Lost, the past and present collide, and Jasmine must uncover the truth before the shadows come for her.

When the land was occupied by demons, people had no choice but to flee to the sky. After transmigration, Ricky found that he had become the City Lord of a Sky City. He quickly became familiar with this new world and established a clear direction for survival, which was to resolutely engage in farming (kingdombuilding)! He would farm (kingdombuilding) diligently, develop vigorously, and then gallop through the skies. If anyone disagrees, then launch a great sky battle. Or a war!

"City of Two Worlds" In the divided city of Blizzel, where the elite live above in gleaming towers and the desperate struggle for survival below in the Techno Canyon, the gap between the two worlds grows ever wider. At the heart of it all is the Energy Tower — the city’s lifeblood, an ancient and powerful structure that keeps the lights on, but also hides dark secrets about its true purpose. Elián, a young engineer from the lower city, is haunted by the death of his sister, Ana, who died in a factory explosion covered up by the government. With no answers, Elián seeks justice, determined to uncover the truth behind the system that failed her and countless others. As the city begins to tremble under the weight of its own corruption, Elián’s path crosses with Oleg, the charismatic leader of the underground rebel group "RadioTapok." Oleg’s songs, filled with hidden messages of resistance, fuel the fires of rebellion in the lower city. Together with his newfound allies, Elián discovers that the Energy Tower is not just a source of power, but a weapon — a ticking time bomb waiting to tear the city apart. On the other side of the divide, Laena, a brilliant but conflicted scientist from the upper city, is also drawn to the tower’s dark secrets. As she uncovers the true nature of her family’s involvement in the tower’s creation, she is forced to question everything she has ever known about her world. As Elián, Laena, and Oleg forge uneasy alliances, the city begins to unravel. With betrayal, secrets, and the clash of two worlds, the struggle for control of Blizzel becomes a battle not just for survival, but for the future of the entire city. Will they be able to stop the impending disaster before it’s too late? Or will their efforts be crushed under the weight of the powers that control Blizzel? In this city of shadows and light, no one is safe, and nothing is as it seems.

A Strange Boy in a Strange World At the heart of this peculiar realm lies the Forest of Graham, a dense and mysterious expanse surrounded by kingdoms belonging to various races. Across the world, on the opposite side, stretches the Ocean Realm—a place where waters from all directions converge at a single point. This convergence forms the eerie and enigmatic Lost World, a place unlike any other. If you think this world is unique, you haven’t met its inhabitants. Chapter Updates Schedule: Story will be updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Daily Updates will be On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 {AN: English isn't my first language so I hope the mistakes won't be too glaring. Thanks for your support, everything helps!} "If you ever decide to unofficially translate my work or if it ends up on an unofficial site, please make sure to include my original link and my Patreon."

Rai was a gaming legend His leadership unmatched, his name known across every online community. But when death came unexpectedly, his soul was lost in the void. That is, until beings beyond the gods found him and gave him a second chance. Reborn in a strange world of magic, monsters, and new laws, Rai wakes up as Solstice. With the skills of his past life, he must survive and master this new reality. But in a world where nothing is what it seems, can Solstice uncover the truth behind his rebirth, and what kind of man will he become? From the same universe as "The Threefold Paths", you may find some characters interaction between these two worlds

There is a special team operating in the shadows in the sprawling, fog-enshrouded city of Cinderfire. They’re known as the Ninth Division, a covert unit within the police force tasked with investigating the unexplained and the cases that ordinary officers can’t handle, where the rules of the supernatural apply. A hardened guerilla fighter and the team's newest member, is about to get his first taste of what lurks in the city's dark corners.

In a world shattered by catastrophe, survival is a daily battle against the unforgiving environment and monstrous creatures roaming the land. Aksha, possessing no memories of his past, sets out on a journey to uncover the truth of the world and himself. Maribel Ashford leads a group of soldiers while haunted by her past and the search for someone dear to her. Meanwhile, Saren finds herself traveling with a man burdened by guilt. As they navigate a dangerous and desolate world, the truth of their intertwined fates begins to unravel, revealing the dark secrets of a broken world, themselves, and the monsters that haunt it.

You are already having enough nightmares and demons in your day to day life. What happens when you start getting haunted by nightmares from an ancient world or maybe, as the legends say, memories from your past life? WARNING: SENSITIVE CONTENT On her 18th birthday, Li Juan had a nightmare that changed her life forever. She saw a queen of an ancient kingdom being murdered in her dream. Even though it was just a dream, intrigued by its content, she starts searching for its meanings and interpretations. Today, Li Juan is a research scholar at the archaeology department and she is on a quest to find a lost city. While searching about the lost city, she realises that her past and present life is being intertwined with three men who claim to own her heart. "Li Juan, you belong to me," declared her Highschool crush who also happens to be her current boss. "Li Juan, we are destined to be together," proclaimed her celebrity crush. "Li Juan, both of our families, wants us to become a couple," proposed her family friend. "Wait a minute!!! Are you sure the "Li Juan" whom you all mentioning is really me?" Even Li Juan herself finds it difficult to believe their claims, " I am sorry to disappoint you all, but I have already fallen in love with my research career." "But Li Juan, I promised that I'll help you to find your Queen," A blurry image of a man from her memory reminded her. Who is that? Through her broken dreams and shattered memories, Li Juan is still searching for the one who made the promise, to find the Queen from her dreams !!! No Mature content on first 20+chapters, but later chapters are under PG-18 Disclaimer: 1. Slow-paced romance with lots of mysteries. 2. Lengthy chapters (Minimum 1.5k words/chapters) 3. There are several chapters that deal with abusive toxic relationships and bullying. 4. The cover is not mine, I will remove it if the creator demands. 5. Read my other story, "No where to run: Trapped with my Archenemy" on webnovel # FIRST 100+ chapters are currently under editing # Support me on ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/monsoonmangoes0502

On a night when heavy rain swallows the world in shadow, a lone rider emerges—a man draped in black, his steps both deliberate and enigmatic. With a sword at his side and secrets etched into his soul, he rides a path few dare to tread. As kingdoms tremble on the brink of war, whispers of sorcerers, kings, and forgotten bloodlines weave through the taverns and battlefields. Alliances are fragile, trust is a weapon, and somewhere between justice and survival lies a truth few are willing to uncover. Guided by instinct and burdened by a past that haunts him, the swordsman journeys through lands torn by conflict and fear. In his wake, myths awaken, danger stirs, and a kingdom's fate balances precariously on the edge of a blade. To follow the way is to embrace its darkness... and its light.

Faced with the betrayal of his people and the brutal death of his family, Prince Leo is cast into a world of shadows and blood. His father, King Hadrian, lies dead, and his kingdom is left in ruins. With every ally turned enemy and every corner filled with treachery, Leo is torn between two paths: one driven by a thirst for revenge, the other by the fragile hope of restoring peace to the land. As secrets unfold and the truth of his family’s downfall becomes ever more elusive, Leo must confront a choice that will shape the future of his kingdom. Will he let rage and vengeance consume him, or will the embers of his past ignite a new, unshakable resolve to rise from the ashes and rule with justice?

The war was long and brutal, but humanity prevailed—until betrayal shattered their fragile victory. Among the survivors was someone cursed with the power to hear and control minds, a gift that brought more pain than peace. When the monsters returned, aided by traitors, the last stand failed. But the planet, young and desperate to protect its people, made the ultimate sacrifice. With its core shattered, it sent its fallen warriors to a new world—a chance to live again and heal from the scars of betrayal. In this tale of loss, rebirth, and strength, can they find peace in a second life—or will the shadows of their past follow them forever?

~When dust turns to gold~ Following an invasion by a reptile-like species called Khalgora in the year 2043, humanity is forced to take a final stance in a gruesome confrontation that threatened it's existence into an apocalyptic demise. After decades of tactical execution of all its skills and resources man triumphs over beast. But only barely. With stenches of death and wails of suffering, the earth is left desolate, infertile with an atmosphere deteriorating at an alarming speed. The only habitat lies below. Year 2311. Welcome to STEM city. STEM (an abbreviation for ' Safe Territorially Erected Megalopolis'), is an underground Empire and home to the surviving earth inhabitants, sheltering them from the harsh conditions of the rubbled earth's surface. But even in this city where intellectual geniuses wheeled a minor underground refuge operation to a major megalopolis, slums existed. These slums like any other, are regions with insufficient supply of amenities from the Megalopolis' authority leading to hunger, suffocation and high rate of death by major lung diseases. Diana and her brother Axel are twin siblings who were born and brought up in these slums, lose everything but even in this great abyss of darkness, find a ray of hope, Polaris. Polaris academy is an institution erected by the collaboration of the major pillaring powers of STEM to raise potential superhumans in skills such as martial arts, elemental abilities, advanced sciences and much more, all to help in the exploration of the earth surface now being roamed by foreign beasts who pose a threat to the underground empire. In a world where the weak were preyed on and only the strong thrived, two poor kids with no background find themselves in this academy among astoundingly skilled minds from powerful families fighting for the same spot as them. Can they survive the competition and level up or will they return to the hell they came from? **** ~Excerpt ~ " Attention all factions, report to the portal station in an hour. A live Khalgora is loose in Flouresce, we need to contain it before any damage is done to civilians. Go!" The message set all students of Polaris in an uproar. **** What happens when humanity's mortal enemy is able to infiltrate this fortified empire? ---------------- A/N: cover obtained from the internet. All credits to the creator(s).

When escort Lexi Thompson meets wealthy entrepreneur Jackson Reed at a rooftop bar in LA, their whirlwind romance sweeps them off their feet. But Lexi's secrets threaten to tear them apart. As she navigates her troubled past, a devastating tragedy strikes: her four year-old son falls into a coma. As Lexi faces the unthinkable, Jackson stands by her side, offering a love and support she's never known. But will their bond be strong enough to overcome the darkness of her past and the heartbreak that lies ahead? Dive into this emotional, heartwarming tale of love, loss, and redemption, as Lexi and Jackson discover that true love can conquer even the most shattered of dreams.

City of Blood follows the life of Theo Vardi, a young man born into the chaotic and brutal streets of Vardani, a city overrun by violence and corruption. In the 1990s, the country is gripped by lawlessness, where the lines between survival and crime are blurred, and teenagers dream of becoming ruthless criminals. At the age of 13, Theo is already caught in the web of street violence, petty theft, and violent showdowns. Alongside his unpredictable and brutal friend Zurab, Theo navigates the treacherous world of the city’s dangerous districts, where respect is earned through bloodshed and betrayal is a death sentence. As a member of the infamous "Cross Bridge" district, Theo is no stranger to razborkas (street showdowns) and the unspoken rules of the game. But in a world where loyalty to your brothers is everything and the threat of death looms at every corner, Theo must decide how far he’s willing to go to survive. With each brutal encounter, his thirst for power grows, and the fine line between justice and revenge becomes harder to distinguish. In City of Blood, nothing is sacred, and loyalty can cost you your life. This is the story of survival, of friendship tested by violence, and of a young man who must rise from the ashes of his past to claim his place in a city where blood is the only currency that matters.

How would you feel if a spirit from millennials ago offers to change your life upside down and opens the door to fantasy? Fenrir. That was the spirit's name. He was a being of great power who came to earth to merge his soul with a capable human one's. And supposedly it was Silas. On this fateful night everything changed for him. He became something greater than human. Silas thought he was a loner in the mass until he met him again under the beautiful moonlight. His mate. But not everything is rainbow and unicorns. An old enemy arrives at earth and wants to steal something precious to Fenrir and Silas. It is at this moment that Silas has to gather all his power and protect all his loved ones and prevent the upcoming catastrophe. Will he be able to win and protect everyone? Is there even a way out? Come with me and find out. || Hey author here. First of all English isn't my first language nor my second or third but I like to challenge and improve myself. Meaning wherever you see a mistake or something just comment and I will correct myself. Even critique is welcomed as long as its respectful or else I will delete it. Hope you'll like this story. Hope the world I am building makes sense, if not I am open to ideas but no promises.

In the realm of Tenaria, young apprentice blacksmith Kaidën Darkhaven embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the secrets of the lost city of Elidarath. With the help of a mysterious stranger, Kaidën must navigate treacherous landscapes, battle formidable foes, and unravel ancient mysteries. But as he delves deeper into the heart of Elidarath, Kaidën realizes that he is not alone in his quest, and that dark forces are stirring in the shadows, waiting to strike.

**A World in Chaos** In the vibrant port kingdom of Maloon, a prosperous trade hub, chaos erupts as a mysterious force called the Maldas returns, threatening peace. Amid the turmoil, siblings Lilly and Julian are separated from their mother, Carlin, as the city falls apart. Meanwhile, Emma, a young girl from the distant Gablon City, is sent away by her protective father to a prestigious school for her safety. Forced to flee, the children navigate a dangerous landscape of monstrous creatures and relentless enemies. Key questions arise: - What are the Maldas, and what do they want? - Can Lilly, Julian, and Emma survive the lurking dangers? - What secrets will they uncover about their homeland?

Ian Carter was an ordinary university student struggling to make ends meet, until an accident brought his mundane life to an abrupt end—or so he thought. Awakening in a mysterious void, he is confronted by the remnants of a dying god who bestows upon him a powerful yet dangerous gift: the System. Now marked as the "Chosen," Ian inherits the god’s legacy and finds himself thrust into a deadly competition where otherworldly beings and powerful enemies seek his destruction. Armed with a mysterious System that grants him abilities, quests, and the potential for limitless growth, Ian must navigate an unfamiliar world brimming with danger, betrayal, and mystery. But the System is not merely a tool—it has its own rules, its own agenda, and its own price. As Ian uncovers the truth behind the god’s demise and the true nature of the System, he realizes that survival is not enough. To ascend, he must defy the gods themselves. In a tale of growth, struggle, and defiance, System of the Lost God explores the journey of a reluctant hero who must rise from nothing to challenge the divine and carve his name among the stars.

Anne's life takes an unexpected twist when she meets her mate, the Alpha wolf prince Damien. Her world shatters when he rejects her, casting her out of the pack and into exile. To escape certain death, Anne flees to the human world, hiding her true nature and the secret she carries. Five years later, Anne has built a new life among humans, raising her son in peace. When Damien unexpectedly stumbles upon Anne and discovers their child, the heir to his pack, old wounds are reopened, and forgotten bonds are reignited. Damien is determined to reclaim what he lost, but Anne is no longer the same broken wolf who once loved him. She is stronger, fiercely protective, and unwilling to be hurt again. As Damien battles to win back her trust and integrate their son into his legacy, they must navigate a path of betrayal, redemption, and unknown enemies. Can Anne forgive the past and accept a future with the man who once shattered her heart? And can Damien prove he’s worthy of the mate and child he abandoned?

A dark mystery story