His Pretty Little Burden By Nicci Harris

"He married her for politics. His brother used her for power. But no one expected her to learn the rules of the game." Lady Iris is the perfect bride: elegant, soft-spoken, and obedient. To the Ashwick brothers, she’s just another pawn in a ruthless power game—married off to Levon, only to be used and forgotten. But as secrets unravel and loyalties twist, Iris learns that even pawns can bite. In a world ruled by masks and manipulation, "Who Will Come Out With The Crown?"

Chen Yumi, decided to marry a guy she has no feelings for just to keep her sick Mother happy after her Ex betrayed her. She waited in front of the Marriage bureau for the guy but he didn't show up. Just when she thought she has to find someone else now, Zhang Yichan showed up holding his Residence booklet. "Since you have decided to marry a friend, Can I be that friend?" and just like that she got married to him. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just when she thought this marriage was loveless, she finds out that her husband was in love with her for so many years and pampered her in the past without her knowledge even when she was a someone else's girlfriend. But now that they are married, he doesn't have a limit to his doting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FL: "Yichan, Mum is asking If you are free to come over for dinner? ML: "you don't have to ask me these things My love. I am at your service. just order me around: - he said snuggling closer to her." ML: Why haven't you spend anything? FL: You already bought me everything I need, what more could I possibly need? ML: Darling, if you aren't spending any money , there is no point in me earning it. you don't have to buy things you need, you look at things and buy them just because you want them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WARNING! **DARK ROMANCE** ****A STORY OF FIRE AND ICE**** Locked away from the world, Selene, the cursed daughter of the Dark King, knows only shadows and despair. Then, fate intervenes. Drawn by an irresistible force, Alpha Zephyr, a warrior scarred by a brutal attack orchestrated by Selene's father, discovers her in a river that borders their territory. He uncovers a truth that threatens to shatter both their worlds: Selene is his fated mate. This forbidden love would ignite an ancient war. Can Zephyr overcome his hatred and embrace the forbidden, or will the weight of the past consume him and tear their worlds apart? As Selene discovers more to herself than she ever imagined, her world once bitter and empty becomes filled with growth and a chance at Love. Will she warm up to her chances of growth and prevails?

Meredith, or Edith for short, woke up in chains, a slave to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. But things took a turn, and she managed to escape that burning fate. But little did she know that fate had other plans for her. Although she escaped the burning auction house, she was saved by the most unlikely person. One whom she had been warned from childhood to avoid, and if any by chance she ever crosses paths with, she should flee. King Davion Ashbourne. No one knew for certain what he was, but they all feared him. He was a man of many mysteries, and his reputation preceded him. Even other kings and creatures feared him. But Edith found herself drawn to him. Drawn to his darkness. In him, she found a home away from home. In him, she found a soul lonely and in need of saving. …… Excerpt “How about a little game?” He said, his gaze still steady on Edith. Edith ached a brow, finding his suggestion rather amusing. But that changed when he opened his mouth and uttered the following words, “If you win, you may go. But if you lose, I keep you. But no longer as a servant who gets her wages but as a pet of mine.” “May I ask what game?” Edith asked with furrowed brows. She had no I tensions of participating in his games, but she was curious to know what type of game Davion would play. His lips curled beautifully and slowly as he leaned forward, with a finger under her chin, he whispered, “Hide and Seek,” he straightened his posture and continued, “Or as I prefer to call it, The Hnter and the Prey.”

[Warning: R18+/Mature Content] After the fall of humankind, the surface belongs to monsters—and the last High Vampire rules them all. Lyra Ellison has never seen the sky. Born underground after the war, she’s lived her entire life in the shadows, dreaming of freedom, chasing a fantasy of becoming an actress on a set that no longer exists. Until one night changes everything. She crashes a forbidden Red Moon party, runs for her life.... ...And falls right into the arms of Julian Czarnel—the infamous High Vampire who led the slaughter that drove her people underground. But instead of killing her… he kisses her. Instead of feeding on her… he claims her. As his fated mate. His bride. The future mother of his heir. To Julian, she’s the key to reviving his dying race. To Lyra, he’s the obstacle she must use, deceive, and escape—before he burns away every last piece of the girl who once dreamed of freedom. But the longer she stays by his side, the more dangerous the truth becomes: What if the monster she’s supposed to hate is the only one who truly sees her? And what if her greatest enemy... is also the only man she’s ever loved? ============== Dark Fantasy Romance Post-Apocalyptic Setting (Humans live underground for a hundred years) Morally Gray ML AND FL Enemies to lovers trope Their relationship is basically "Us against the world" trope Slightly slow-burn

"Strip." The command was sharp, laced with authority, cutting through the silence like the crack of a whip. The deep timbre of Dimitri's voice sent a shiver down the spines of the gathered women. They had learned quickly in the past two days, obedience meant survival. At his order, they bowed their heads, hands trembling as they peeled away the thin, tattered fabric that barely shielded them from humiliation. But one of them did not move. She stood frozen in place promting Dimitri's eyes narrow. _________ Born in a world of deception, Princess Sorayah Drakon was forced to live as a prince, hiding her gender and her unique gifts. She can heal wounds, command the elements, disguise as someone else or animals, manipulate dreams, creates powerful illusions, and ability to wield strength no other human possesses. Feeling trapped, she sheds her false identity under the cover of night to dress as a woman. One fateful night, during one of these secret escapades, she met Lupien Nightshade, the crown prince of the werewolves! It was love at first sight. But love soon turns into tragedy when Lupien kills her father, throwing the human kingdom into chaos. Humans were captured as slaves and Sorayah became one of them. She swore revenge, wanting to get close to Lupien to kill him but before she could, she was claimed by Dimitri Nightshade, Lupien's uncle! When she realized their interests aligned, Sorayah sought to gain his trust and use him as a weapon. Two enemies. One kingdom. A shared thirst for destruction. But there was something else. Something Sorayah hadn't planned for. Dimitri Nightshade was irresistible. She hated him so much she wanted to carve his heart out with her bare hands but she couldn't deny the way he made her burn with passion. Will Soraya be able to bend him to her will? Or will she be trapped in his claws forever?

Ruhanika's world turns upside down when she’s suddenly forced into an unexpected marriage with Lakshya Rathore—a man known for his cold nature and ruthless decisions. Neither of them wanted this marriage, but fate had other plans. For Lakshya, this marriage is not about love or companionship—it's part of a revenge he’s held onto Ruhanika. He’s a man with a painful past and a heart guarded by silence and shadows. Ruhanika, on the other hand, comes from a warm and loving home, where family means everything and emotions are valued. Two completely different people—one driven by bitterness, the other by kindness—are now tied together in a relationship neither asked for. As their lives begin to intertwine, secrets slowly come to light. Will Ruhanika be able to break through Lakshya’s cold walls, or will his hidden pain tear them apart? Can a bond that began with hatred turn into something deeper? Or will they remain strangers in a marriage built on misunderstandings and hurt?

A mysterious pill is turning mortals into cultivators… and killing them in the process. Xuan Tian is the Celestial Realm’s coldest, most lethal weapon—born to serve, trained to kill, and loyal to a god who forged him into the perfect blade. He doesn’t question. He doesn’t waver. He just obeys. Ling Yu is a powerless mortal girl who talks too much, thinks too little, and just tried to scam her way into immortality. She has no plan, no cultivation, and no idea what she’s about to walk into. When fate (and poor life choices) shove them into each other’s path, they uncover a conspiracy that could destroy all three realms. He wants order. She brings chaos. He follows duty. She dives headfirst into danger with a grin. And together? They’re about to start a war no one saw coming—if they don’t strangle each other first. His Little Chaos, Her Iron Wall is a slow-burn cultivation fantasy full of tension, secrets, sword fights, and one girl who refuses to stay in her lane.

In a formidable, ice-hearted realm where medieval magic thrives and only women exist, the unassuming maid Rose toils in quiet obscurity. With her rosy hair and gorda form, she seems an unlikely figure to command attention. Yet, it is precisely her innocent timidity and pure heart that begin to uniquely captivate the powerful, aristocratic Asteria sisters, Lyra and Seraphina. These two formidable women, with their white hair and red eyes, are accustomed to fleeting amusements and the cold machinations of their world. But Rose, with her subtle aroma and profound vulnerability, makes them feel something entirely new. As their paths inextricably intertwine, Lyra and Seraphina, alone among the cold nobility, will uncover the hidden depths of Rose’s character. More astonishingly, they will unearth a secret lineage that promises to forever bind them to Rose in a passionate and fated embrace, irrevocably transforming their lives and the very fabric of their magical world.

A young girl named, Keomi Hollow, is a transfer student from Ginto Japan. She comes to her new school during autumn in search of New friends and adventures, however she gets more than what she bargains for when some of the schoolboys go missing and she is summoned by a friendly spirit of autumn to help and catch the culprit with her new Spiritual investigator friend Taga. The series is a great adventure, with sweet slice-of-life moments mixed in with some fantasy, and even high fantasy world building. Enjoy delving into a world of spirits with Keomi, learning about what exactly is going on with her school.

She was born of moonlight. He was forged to protect her..... When Lara, a fierce orphaned warrior with no memory of her origins, is saved from a deadly rogue attack by the powerful and mysterious Lycan King, Thornak, she is thrust into a world of danger, prophecy, and forbidden truths. Drawn to him by an unexplainable force, Lara soon learns that Thornak is her fated mate. A bond neither of them expected, nor can ignore. As her buried powers stir and whispers of her bloodline, the legendary and long lost Moonguard begin to surface, Lara must confront the dark forces hunting her. With war looming and her true identity threatening to reshape the kingdom of Vargorath, Lara holds the key to either its salvation... or its fall..

His wife, His mistake – Synopsis Four years ago, Arya vanished. No goodbye. No trace. No explanation. But she took one thing with her — his child. When Arya discovered her billionaire husband’s affair, she didn’t argue. She signed the divorce papers, packed her silence, and disappeared into the world… carrying a secret he’d never know. Now, four years later, Damon Blackwood sees her again — not on purpose — but at a charity gala, standing across the room in a black dress… holding a little boy who looks just like him. The past rushes back. So do the questions. Why did she leave? Why didn’t she tell him? And why does seeing her again make his cold heart beat faster? He wants answers. She wants to run. But the truth? It wants to be revealed.

[Warning:- Mature Content/Mpreg/detailed Omegaverse! ] In the heart of Italy’s underworld, the Romano name was law. Alessio Romano—an enigma cloaked in tailored suits and blood-soaked silence—built his empire on fear, loyalty, and a ruthless absence of love. To him, emotions were weaknesses. Power was everything. But even kings aren't free. To seal an old alliance and satisfy his family’s demands, Alessio is forced to take a mate. Even tho he's straight he found an omega boy. A formality. A body. Someone young, untouched, and pliable. Easy to control. A boy. Noah. eighteen. Auctioned like property in an underground brothel. No past, no future—just soft eyes that refused to break, even under the gaze of monsters. Alessio didn’t choose him out of mercy. He chose him because he didn’t cower. Because something in those defiant glances stirred a hunger Alessio refuses to name. And so, they married. Not with flowers or vows. But with contracts—and handcuffs.

To Zuri, men are nothing more than missions. She seduces them, exposes them, and ruins them. One after another. It’s not just revenge. It’s justice. A game she plays with cold satisfaction. Every man she targets is a predator. A liar. A user. And by the time she’s done, they know exactly how powerless they really are. But when she’s assigned to Makai Huxley, the man who doesn’t fit the pattern, Zuri’s rules begin to blur. He’s calm. Unreadable. And worst of all, he makes her feel. Falling for him could destroy everything. What she doesn’t know? She’s not the hunter this time. She’s the prey.

"Obey the rules, or become the next woman he breaks." Zara Blake had everything—until billionaire Aiden Knight took it all. Her father’s business. Her future. Her freedom. And now… her name. Forced into a contract marriage with a man who thinks love is weakness, Zara has two choices: survive the cage—or set fire to it from the inside. But there’s one problem. The more she resists him, the more he wants her. And the more he wants her, the more dangerous he becomes. This isn’t a love story. It’s a war. And Zara doesn’t plan to lose.

Kairo's life has been cursed with misfortune—losing his mother at birth and his father in a tragic accident. Raised by his grandfather, he’s always felt like an outcast, burdened by a dark fate. After his grandfather dies, Kairo attempts to end his own life but awakens in the body of a five-year-old child in a world of nobility. With the blood moon hanging over him, a symbol of both greatness and doom, Kairo must confront his destiny. Is this a chance for redemption, or is he doomed to repeat the same tragedy?

In a war-torn world where open sin became the norm and Christianity was outlawed, the selfish and destructive habits of the human race were brought into stark focus and amplified. This shift followed humanity's first esoteric contacts with otherworldly beings, revelations that opened humanity's eyes to forbidden secrets previously unknown. After the normalization of the sinful and esoteric, humans and hellspawn hybrids now live alongside one another, united within a Western Coalition led by a charismatic political figure known as the Antichrist. In retaliation for humanity's embrace of heresy, a merciless and mysterious God unleashed an army of relentless, machine-hybrid angels to purge the sins of this defiant new humanity through sheer force and bloodshed. Roaming the sin-infested wasteland once called the United States – now renamed to the United States of Gomorrah – desperate sinners known as Burdens travel the scarred land, desperately claiming pacts in the name of Satan in exchange for forgiveness of their sins.

Aria Nightshade was born without a voice an outcast in a world where strength is everything. Among wolves, weakness is unforgivable. Mute, marked, and mocked, she’s spent her life in the shadows of the Shadowclaw Pack, dreaming of freedom… and dreading the day she'd meet her mate. That day comes. And with it, heartbreak. Ronan Blackthorn, the ruthless and revered Alpha, is her fated mate. But instead of claiming her, he looks her in the eye and rejects her without mercy. Humiliated and shattered, Aria vanishes into the night. But fate isn’t finished with her yet. Saved by a rival Alpha, she begins a journey of strength, self-discovery, and power. Her wolf awakens. Her bloodline is revealed. And as war brews between packs and hearts, Aria must decide if the bond that broke her can ever be healed… or if her future lies far from the Alpha who turned his back on destiny.

[TRIGGER WARNING: Mature Content + Dark Themes] Having spent her life avoiding the spotlight, María Jośe never imagined she’d be the one to bring shame to her esteemed De la Vega family. With beauty as captivating as a field of lilies, she is the prized daughter of an ambitious father who cares more for his reputation than his children’s happiness. When Álvaro Montenegro, the arrogant heir to the Alpha title, sets his sights on her as his chosen Luna, María Jośe is desperate for a way out. But everything changes when the Moon Goddess answers her prayer in the most unexpected way: María Jośe discovers she is an Omega—wolfless and the lowest rank in the pack. Once held in awe, she is now shunned; a source of shame to her father and a target for ridicule in the pack. As her life turns upside down , María Jośe's hatred for the pack grows. The only solace she finds is in her growing, forbidden bond with Axel Montenegro—Álvaro’s older brother, who has long turned his back on the pack. These two developed a love-hate friendship born from their shared disdain for the pack’s cruelty, which slowly evolves into a passionate and secret romance. But when Álvaro discovers Axel’s interest in María Jośe, jealousy ignites within him and he suddenly wants María Jośe as his own. Love, vengeance, and betrayal all brewed into a whirlwind of drama, desires, and deadly comebacks. Will María Jośe rise from the ashes of her former life, or will she be consumed by the power struggles of the pack she despises? Will she give in to the oldest brother who is scared of commitment or the younger one who fiercely seeks redemption? ______ EXCERPT: “Axel, no. We… can’t do this!” I jolted back when he pulled up my skirt. As if to retaliate, Axel grabbed my wrist and yanked my body to his. “We can do whatever I say we can do, María José.” “I’m your brother’s reject. Do you even hear yourself right now? He didn’t want me, Axel. What does that make me to you?” “I don’t care about Álvaro’s foolishness. It's his loss for losing a woman like you.” “Okay, I must confess. I'm not worried about him either. It's Rosa… you're getting engaged to my sister in a month!” “Let me remind you, María José—I don’t give a fuck about that either.” No matter how hard I jerked, Axel wasn’t letting me go. And part of me so, so foolishly didn’t want him to.

Kyoline Diego was born of blood, betrayal, and gunfire. Born of a Respectable Made Man, a child who frightened a few but was cherished by all. Her world was destroyed the day her father was assassinated and her family left for dead. Eighteen and jaded now, Kyoline makes friends with bartending shifts, gun-running, and caring for the siblings nobody else will. Love is not on the agenda—survival is. But there's Tenz Jersey, her mafia beau, all tattoos and broken vows, who kisses like sin and lies like the bible. He gives her protection, passion, and anarchy in equal measure. She tells herself he's enough, that he's the only one capable of making the threat feel like home. Until Isaac. Cold. Deadly. Unapologetically deadly. He grabs her and stuffs her into a black SUV, and claims to be a cop, and whisks her off into a game of questioning, control, and cannoli. Only Isaac's not NYPD—he's the mafia's best hitman. And he's staring at her way too hard. He notices what others do not—her quick wit, her raw edges, the fire she keeps hidden under her golden dresses and guarded smiles. He is not trying to save her. He wishes to see how far she will go to save herself. Now Kyoline is caught between two men who both report to the same violent underworld—and both want her for different reasons. One wants to cage her up. The other wants to burn her alive. But the mafia doesn't believe in love. The mafia believes in loyalty. And Kyoline's loyalty might cost her everything—her heart, her freedom, and maybe even her life. In a world where love is poison and trust is a weapon, one girl must decide if she's a pawn in their game… or the queen who burns their kingdom to ashes.

One reunion. Countless secrets. After years apart, four best friends reunite for a dreamy vacation abroad, planning to relive their golden memories before life pulls them in different directions. What their old friends don’t know? These girls didn’t just grow up — they grew dangerous. Behind their laughter and love stories lie loaded secrets: each of them is part of a powerful underground mafia empire, trained to protect, deceive, and survive. But in a city far from home, where the past collides with the present, old flames return, trust is tested, and falling in love could mean falling into a trap. Because no one leaves the mafia. Not even for love.

Now, with Alfred being gifted the power of the SOUL CONTRACT, he can now control his pretty zombie girlfriend. But there's a problem he needs to keep killing zombies, saving humans, and accomplishing the task given by the system to accumulate enough HEART FLAME ESSENCE So that he can make her zombie girlfriend slowly turn back into a human. Or else if he won't, Alfred is getting cooked by his girlfriend since the soul contract will be broken. And she will start attacking him again. And this time, his gentlemanly move with her will no longer work.

Silas Mavros, heir to the billion-dollar Mavros Syndicate, was raised to lead with ruthless precision. In his world, loyalty is currency, and love is a fatal weakness. He lives by one rule—own everything, trust no one. His world unravels the night he meets Sienna, a captivating woman with a sharp tongue and a killer stare. A night of passion turns into chaos when he discovers Sienna is his new step-sister, the daughter of his father’s new wife. Their connection is forbidden, but neither can walk away. As rival mafia syndicates wage war against the Mavros empire, Silas discovers that his own mother has orchestrated a brutal betrayal. She reveals that Silas is not the true heir but a weapon created to protect his unknown brother, Kairos—the very man leading the enemy syndicate. The truth fractures Silas’s identity as he learns he has spent years unknowingly shielding his own brother. Meanwhile, Sienna becomes the pawn in a larger game. Used by her mother to infiltrate Silas’s empire, she holds the codes that can destroy him. But Sienna’s loyalty is torn. She sends secret signals, risking her life to protect Silas while appearing to stand by Kairos’s side. As the final war ignites, Silas races against time to save Sienna and confront Kairos. The battle spirals into a brutal confrontation where bloodlines, power, and forbidden love collide. In a final twist, Silas learns that his father’s legacy was a lie, and the throne was never meant for him. Faced with betrayal from all sides, Silas chooses to rewrite his destiny. He dismantles the old syndicate, forges a new empire, and claims Sienna as his own—breaking every rule, including the law of blood. In the end, Silas wins the bloody game—but not without sacrifice. The path he chooses leaves scars, but he carves his own legacy with the woman he was forbidden to love by his side.

For centuries, the Bloodclaw Pack has been haunted by a dark prophecy: "When the Alpha finds his true Luna, he will also find his doom." Damien Blackthorne, feared and undefeated Alpha of the Bloodclaw Pack, has avoided love his entire life. Ruthless in battle and cold in heart, he built his empire on dominance, not devotion. Love, he believes, is a weakness and the curse on his bloodline ensures it would also be his downfall. But when a rogue female werewolf, Avelyn, trespasses on Bloodclaw territory, everything changes. Mysterious, fiery, and powerful beyond understanding, she’s hiding secrets even she doesn’t fully know. The moment Damien lays eyes on her, the bond ignites. She is his Luna, and according to legend… his curse. Desperate to resist the pull, Damien tries to banish her. But Avelyn, who has spent her life being hunted and hiding from her own past, won’t go quietly. Especially not when she uncovers a link between her forgotten lineage and the very curse Damien fears. As they battle their connection, ancient enemies rise, truths unravel, and the prophecy unfolds in ways no one expected. Love may destroy them, or it might be the only thing that can break the curse.

[CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT!! ] (At least read the first fifteen chapters before tossing it aside) . Anna Sui woke up from her drunken state to see her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend on the eve of their wedding. Anna was so heartbroken that she ran out of the house, but due to an unfortunate turn of event, she had a one night stand with a complete stranger. . EXCERPTS, "Anna where are you I've been trying to call you for hours now, why are you ignoring my calls?" Her frown deepened. "Leave me alone Mack you can keep being with Nari I don't care." She yelled. "Oh please stop it Anna. You're my girlfriend and I demand to know. Don't tell me you're with another man Ann. Did you forget today's our wedding" Before Anna could say a word her phone got snatched away from her. "She's mine now. If you call or disturb what's mine from now on, be ready to rot in hell." He hunged up and tossed the phone aside. . (IN THE CUPID'S QUILL COMPETITION. Support book by adding it to library, voting with power stone, gifting golden tickets and normal gift.)

[WARNING MATURE CONTENT, R18+] Michael Specter is a handsome, successful entrepreneur with women throwing themselves at his feet just to spend a night. However, very few know about his menacing side. Twenty-two year old Layla Mclan is in desperate need of a higher-paying job to clear off her mother's debts. Opportunity comes knocking when she successfully applies for work in a richer household, the Conners. But life soon takes a turn when Layla finds out that there is no such household, and instead of working as a maid, she is now a slave to Michael Specter, a billionaire with a twisted mind. Layla’s eyes turned red, shoulders trembling, her soul wanting to reach out to her mom but alas… There was no way out, as she was already locked in the room, succumbing to the fears that didn’t feel very distant; She had gone through the same not long before. The agreement papers turned her body cold. Sometimes the worst seems best and there’s no end to the misery days; The one who avenges, the one who endures remains true to their valor. ‘Rule No. 1: Tending to your Master’s needs should be your top priority. Failing to do so, he can punish you however he pleases.’ ‘However, he pleases? What he’s gonna do to me?’ She mused and felt her heart sinking to the bottom of her chest. ‘Rule No. 2: You cannot say ‘no’ or oppose your Master’s orders.’ ‘Rule No. 3: You’re free to wear clothes of your choice… However, he can make you change it if he wants.’ ‘Rule No. 4: You are not allowed to step outside of the property.’ . . . Excerpt: “Ac-Actually I’m sleepy and I spent my day working for the household… Umm… Master, can I ask you something?” “Go ahead.” “I left my mom back home and I took this offer just to meet the debts… So will you pay me the said amount if I listen to your needs?” She asked in her feeble voice. “Needs Hmm… How about you strip off right now and lie down on the bed?” “What?” She exclaimed in horror. “You heard me,” he sounded dead serious. Layla gulped down the heavy lump that she had been holding for quite some time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***NOTE*** The cover isn’t mine. Full credit goes to Author Hansora :) PEN-NAME: hansora. Please don’t use it.

After dying young in an accident, an ordinary woman is reborn as Adelina Gavrila—the youngest daughter of a wealthy conglomerate family. Her new life is full of luxury, but the most surprising thing is not the wealth... but the figure of Nathan Gavrila, a handsome older brother who is cold to everyone—except her. Nathan is very protective, even possessive. But the more Adel lives in this body, the more she realizes: her brother's feelings may be deeper than just family affection. What if the love she has been looking for... turns out to come from someone closest to her—and most taboo?

In Amukelo, you can expect a fantasy adventure filled with action and complex characters facing tough moral choices. The story involves intense battles, quests across dangerous lands, and a deeper struggle against both demonic forces and inner turmoil. Themes of revenge, redemption, friendship, and the weight of past trauma are woven throughout, with high stakes that escalate as the world faces a growing supernatural threat.