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Gardens As Scenes Of Crime And Trysts

Of Flames and Gold

[My WSA 2024 Entry novel! Please vote] In a world where mythical beings have fallen into an "eternal slumber," a thriving underground market exploits the stolen essence of these dormant creatures. At its epicenter are dragons—majestic beings desired for their scales, organs, and prized eggs. The most coveted treasure of all is a dragon's name, a key that holds the power to control its very existence. Dragon Lord, guardian of a clutch of dormant eggs, lives in isolation atop a hill, surrounded by a forest that veils his castle. He bears the scars of past betrayals, having been deceived by those who feigned love to steal his treasures or claim his head as a bounty. Jaded and cold, he trusts no one, living a solitary existence. However, his solitude is shattered when a woman unwittingly stumbles into his life. Yara finds herself in Dragon Lord's treasured den amidst a battle between the dragon and thieves. In a twist of fate, she mistakenly bonds with the dormant eggs, breathing life into them. Reluctantly, Dragon Lord allows Yara into his world, and their journey unfolds amid the looming threat of underground organizations seeking to exploit the dragons for profit. As the eggs come to life, so does an unexpected connection between Dragon Lord and Yara. Despite his cold and jaded exterior, he finds himself unable to ignore her presence. Yara, too, cannot deny the pull she feels towards him, and emotions begin to burn beneath the surface. Together, they must navigate the challenges of waiting for the eggs to hatch, fend off those who seek to exploit the dragon and its offspring, and confront the secrets that Yara harbors—a revelation that could destroy everything. In this tale of flames and gold, two scarred souls in a world where trust is a rare and precious commodity must confront the ghosts of their pasts. They navigate the dangerous currents of love and deception, protecting unborn dragons from a world hungry for their magic. Will their bond withstand the trials ahead, or will the flames of betrayal engulf them in the end? A/N: It starts out SLOW, because I tend to get lost in the pages and be descriptive but once it gets to the action, it really picks up! Looking forward to growing with you all on this journey!!!
QuillMistress · 316.3K Views

Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime

Zephany Draven is a shy, clumsy celebrity journalist who is constantly ridiculed for not getting the big scoops. She is soft-spoken and easily intimidated, so she looks weak. However, behind closed doors, she's Eclipse, an altogether tougher, loud-mouthed agent and quite ruthless and efficient. Kendrick Montclair is a gentle, positive artist who loves his family and remains optimistic despite his struggles. His gentle nature makes him easy to take advantage of. But secretly, he's Obscura, a cold, ruthless agent who is efficient and silent. Both work as partners in a secret organization that preserves hidden truths erased by governments, yet they remain completely unaware of each other's true identities. Their goal is to reach the highest level of clearance to access classified information. But just when they're on the verge of success, they fail. Then, a mysterious man appears with an offer—a contract marriage in exchange for the information they desperately seek. Trapped with no alternative, they sign the deal. But neither expected what would happen next. ------------- Kendrick and Zephany sat by the glass wall, waiting for their food when a car suddenly crashed through. Kendrick pulled Zephany to safety just in time, but both got small cuts from the broken glass. "Are you okay?" they asked, checking each other. To their astonishment, the cuts healed before their eyes. Their minds raced. "Beside me, the only person I know who has that ability is." "No! She can't be that loud, short-tempered woman!" "No! He can't be that silent, obnoxious man!" "Did I marry my secret partner in crime?" They both shuddered at the thought.
Air_Ace · 9.2K Views

First crime record

Protagonist: Huang Zhong: Male, 17 years old at the beginning of the story, in the critical period of youth rebellion. He is thin, with slightly messy short hair, and his eyes are often stubborn and confused. Because he grew up in a repressive family environment for a long time, he is sensitive and has a strong self-esteem. He usually wears simple T-shirts and jeans, and there are occasionally some stains on his clothes, which is a small portrayal of his unruly life. He lives with his parents in a residential building in an old community. The small and dim room carries his countless sleepless nights. The walls of the room are covered with posters of his favorite rock bands, which is his yearning for freedom. Key characters: Father: Male, in his forties, an ordinary factory worker, busy all day for the family's livelihood. Long-term fatigue makes him slightly hunched, and his face is full of traces of time. He is not good at speaking and has serious communication barriers with Huang Zhong. When Huang Zhong rebels and makes mistakes, he always treats him in a simple and rough way, which also deepens the gap between father and son. Mother: Female, also in her forties, is an ordinary housewife with a gentle but somewhat cowardly personality. Faced with the conflict between her husband and son, she often feels powerless and can only cry secretly. She always manages the big and small affairs of the family, trying to maintain this shaky home with silent efforts. Best friend: Male, about the same age as Huang Zhong, a boy with a generous personality and a strong sense of friendship. He is tall and strong, with two deep dimples when he smiles, giving people a sunny and cheerful feeling. He and Huang Zhong met on the street and experienced many rebellious days together. When Huang Zhong was in danger, he always stood up without hesitation. The injury that time to protect Huang Zhong became an important opportunity for Huang Zhong's life transformation.
Daphnexiao · 2.6K Views

Song of the Gardener of Souls [BL]

Rowan sees beauty in death. The Order he has sworn to obey only sees defilement. As the reviled Caretaker of the Order, Rowan has accepted his role as a dutiful outcast because he believes it is the only way to prove his worth to the man who holds his sisters’ souls as collateral. With his magic and his voice, Rowan can absorb death and transform it, but only in ways the Order deems acceptable to maintain the stability of the reality it claims to protect Order must subdue Disorder. Reality must triumph over illusion. He is tainted and always will be. Rowan has never questioned those lessons, but that changes the night he harvests a crimson soul that is more than human and chooses to keep it a secret. When Rowan’s song transforms that soul into a beautiful and mysterious man he names Wren, he is forced to accept that sometimes duty is a lie and illusion is the only thing you can trust. As the fabric of the Order begins to unwind and a new kind of Disorder takes hold, Rowan will need to choose again, stand with the Order that held him down, or forge a new path with Wren at his side. He may be the only one who can restore balance to the worlds, but only if he can find balance within himself first. ************************************* Updates 3-4 times per week. Note: This story focuses on relationships. I promise an epic romance, lots of swoon-worthy moments, and a healthy amount of fluff. When it does get steamy…you might get burned. Fair warning for explicit content. I don’t shy away from my spice. There are lots of side characters and couples to fall in love with, in addition to the main couple. If you love the idea of found family, you will be happy. This book is set in a non-heteronormative world, so you will see various gender identities/expressions and types of love. ************************************* Excerpt (if you want the full steamy version, you will have to read the book!): Still reeling from the new magic that coursed under his skin and unsure of how to react to the desire that threatened to take control of him, Rowan froze. Wren's hot breath against his mouth sent a jolt of pleasure through his body, and he choked back a groan. A different kind of panic flared in Rowan's chest, burning him as if he were the one on fire. This was what he wanted, what he'd thought about every night since Wren left. But wanting more was one thing. Acting on it was another. He'd spent so much of his life hiding, he didn't know how to do anything else. One corner of Wren's mouth twitched as Rowan pulled away. When he attempted to free himself from Wren's grasp, Wren just hauled him closer. Rowan liked that he didn't have to think about what to do next. His bare chest thudded against Wren's torso, and the heat from Wren's body merged with Rowan's skin, melting him from the inside out. "What did you just do to me?" Wren's deep voice vibrated against Rowan's chest. "The Disorder of your illusion was holding you captive. I…I absorbed it." "Oh? Where did you learn to do that? Have I been gone that long?" Wren's grip loosened slightly on Rowan's wrists as if he was satisfied now that Rowan was practically sitting on top him. Rowan stared at Wren's lips. He opened his mouth to protest, but immediately closed it again. "I know you aren't going to say that I shouldn't touch you." Wren's free hand splayed over the small of Rowan's back. "Not when you started it." Rowan's breath hitched. "No. I'm not going to say that anymore. Not to you." "I thought you were afraid to be touched." Wren's fingers traced a circle over the curve of Rowan's spine as if testing for a reaction. "I know that I'm not afraid of you." Rowan waited for the panic to set in, but all he felt was desire. "With you, I want…" "You want what?" "I want more." Triumph flared in Wren's gaze before he narrowed his eyes. "Really? Then why are you still trying to get away from me?"
LivChanin · 1M Views

The Devil's Tryst with Destiny

Having been in an accident and soaked in blood, Alex found himself in front of Martha Rutherford. Martha brought him to the hospital and took care of him while he was unconscious. When Alex woke up, he remembered nothing. He had no idea who he was? Where did he come from? Family? Friends? Nothing. Martha along with her husband George decided to adopt Alex and bring him to the family. It was not long before Alex mingled with the Rutherfords and it was not hard for him to love them like his real parents. But one thing he took note of was to never burden himself on them. Soon Alex found a job in a company at the forefront in every aspect in the city. And the plus point was that the company had tons of beautiful ladies. But as the way of the world is where the buffaloes fight the crops suffer. Though the company was full of beautiful women, every one of them had an ambition. As soon as Alex got the job at Theation, he came in contact with a number of beautiful women with each having a different temperament. Hazel and Ellaine were like the bullying older siblings, always picking on Alex. Amber was the sneaky younger sister. Jessica was like a mother of them all trying to keep the ducklings in a queue while Karen was like a strict father. But one thing was clear, unlike what is there in the outside world, none of them wanted to trample Alex. In fact, they doted on him the most. But he was not truly happy. There was this constant desire in his heart to find about his past. Along this journey he bickers with Jessica, the CEO of Theation, he forms a bond with Annie, the cute little girl, gets jealous over Margaret, his neighbour and will he lose his innocence to the growing blood lust in him? Accompany Alex on his journey to find the answers ~~~~~~~ Chapter update after first 10 chapters: 2 chapters Every Monday I am also posting the story on Royal road.
The_Lonely_Guy · 71.4K Views
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