an unsettling alliance

"Whoever insult the Jerivians is insulting my fiancee and insulting my fiancee is insulting me." * * * An alliance marriage was arranged between two rival Kingdoms - Qalagon and Jerivia. The agreement was that the Crown Prince of Qalagon will marry the Princess of Jerivia. But due to an assassination attempt, the Princess of Jerivia was in a coma just weeks before the wedding. If the alliance marriage fails, then what awaits the two Kingdoms was an unprepared war. The female Army Commander of Jerivia Kingdom was tasked to take on the identity of the Princess and fulfil the alliance marriage. As such, the infamous Commander of Jerivia, Iria Alewine disguised herself as the Princess and meet the aloof yet powerful Crown Prince of Qalagon, Arin Helev..... "No less than three months and no more than six months. We need just that, Commander Iria. Stay at Qalagon as the Crown Prince's wife during that and when you come back, you will lead the soldiers to fight the Qalagons." This was the original plan but what will happen if an unlikely romance sparked between the two? Will Commander Iria be able to follow the original plan? Rivalry of the two Kingdoms Palace Politics Palace Romance Friendship and Betrayal With all mentioned above taking place, read the story to see how the alliance marriage went wrong! ------- *Excerpt* "Don't you still understand?" The words escaped her lips before she could even realize. Then she met his gaze - calm yet sincere. It only made her felt the pressure more. "You should distance yourself from me unless you want to get hurt." She made a deliberate paused before she said, "I'm not someone who is capable of loving you." He still maintained that calm demeanor and she felt helpless. For the first time, she wished to know what he had on mind! However... "You can say anything you want, Iria. But you can't lie to yourself." "..." The Commander's face turned pale in the blink of an eye! What did he just say?  Iria Alewine quickly took a look at her own heart. She realized that the walls she built in order to not let anyone in were close to crumbling! The walls were already weakened by the holes that were drilled from the exterior, slowly yet continuously. Then she realized one thing. He was telling the truth!  ------------------- Disclaimer: I do not own the cover photo. It is uploaded from another source and all rights credited to the real owner...

Toute ma vie, j'ai été la fille de secours. Ma sœur Béatrice avait tout—l'amour, l'attention, le traitement d'enfant préféré. J'ai eu les restes et des rappels que je n'étais pas assez bien. Jusqu'à ce que je découvre que Niall, magnifique Alpha de la meute voisine, était mon compagnon destiné. Enfin, c'était mon tour d'être choisie. Dieu, j'étais naïve. Quatre ans d'enfer de fiançailles. Me décolorant les cheveux pour correspondre à ses goûts. Me serrant dans des robes étroites, jouant sa femme de ménage personnelle—pour finalement entendre que je ferais une meilleure servante que compagne. Tout parce que son cœur appartenait à ma sœur. Cette nuit-là, j'ai accidentellement renversé leur cadre photo. Il m'a giflée. Fort. Il a dit que je ne serais jamais à sa hauteur. Alors je l'ai giflé en retour, j'ai déchiré leur photo, et j'ai accepté le rejet. Je pensais que c'était fini. Jusqu'à ce que je les surprenne au club, riant de combien mes quatre années d'efforts avaient été pathétiques. Toutes les fiançailles n'étaient que leur jeu malsain. Ivre et furieuse, j'ai fait quelque chose d'imprudent avec mon mystérieux voisin. Alpha Hudson—visage sculpté par les dieux, danger dans chaque ligne parfaitement taillée. Plus important encore, il est l'ennemi juré de mon ex. Alors ? La meilleure nuit de ma vie. Je pensais que c'était une aventure d'un soir pour oublier. Encore une erreur. Il est plus riche que Niall, plus puissant que ma famille, et infiniment plus dangereux. Et il ne me laisse pas partir. Cette fois, je ne serai le second choix de personne.

[Mature Content] "To take back their lost lands, she was the human meat to be given to the beasts." Eloise Ravemont was born a bastard to the Archduke of Beloria, abused by her stepmother and sister, and neglected by her father. Her life takes a turn for the worse when her marriage to the Lycan monarch is announced, and Eloise can only await her dreadful fate. Lycans are apex predators, superior beings, and originators of those horror stories your parents told you about to make you behave. Tales of the Lycan Monarch, Drevon Balthar, were far worse than any combined. They call him a merciless beast and the terror that bested the vampires in war. Eloise has no choice but to tussle with her new reality, and she becomes conflicted when her supposed husband, rumored to be more sinister than any beast, is more of a daydream than a nightmare. Thrust in a castle filled with demons and danger, Eloise must prevail and play the games of the beast, outwitting her foes as well as trying to resist her doting husband.

[Contenu Mature] Qu'est-ce qui pourrait arriver de pire ? C'est ce que je me suis répété pendant des années, vivant sous le même toit que des gens qui étaient répugnés par mon existence même. J'étais la fille illégitime de l'Archiduc de Beloria, née d'une prostituée et méprisée à cause de mes cheveux et de mon corps maladif. Mais le pire est arrivé juste quand je pensais que les dieux en avaient assez de ma misère. Je suis devenue la chair humaine à offrir aux Lycans. Les Lycans sont des prédateurs alpha, des êtres supérieurs, des hommes-bêtes, à l'origine de ces histoires d'horreur que vos parents vous racontaient pour vous faire obéir. Mon père a jugé bon de m'offrir à leur monarque comme moyen de récupérer les terres perdues. J'ai entendu des histoires sur Drevon Balthar, le Monarque Lycan. Elles sont bien pires que toutes les autres réunies. On le décrit comme une bête sans raison, la terreur qui a vaincu les vampires à la guerre et y a mis fin sous son règne. Mais que se passe-t-il lorsque mon supposé mari devient plus un rêve éveillé qu'un cauchemar ?

Cane Ironheart, a gifted young blacksmith with a hidden talent for elemental metallurgy, sets sail across war-torn seas, only to survive a devastating pirate attack that changes the course of his life. Cast adrift and later captured by slavers, he uses his knowledge to save a dying mermaid, forging a magical artifact in the dark hold of a ship. This act of compassion sparks a bond with the mermaid, Neri, and earns him the protection of Rhiati, a mysterious Corsair captain. After a daring escape, Cane is sent to the prestigious Magi Academy with a letter of recommendation that opens doors typically closed to commoners. There, he finds himself placed in an elite class, befriending a talented cook named Sofie, encountering strange mentors like the eccentric Nos, and clashing with entitled peers like Fergis. As he navigates this new world of magic and politics, Cane begins forging a secret identity and rebuilding a long-forgotten forge outside the city. But not all is as it seems—his affinity with water magic and merfolk suggests a deeper heritage, while an ancient mask design found in the Academy’s hidden archives may hold the key to both power and anonymity. With allies forming and secrets surfacing, Cane must uncover the truth of his origins while staying ahead of those who would use him—or silence him.

Esteria, the queen of the northern human kingdom, was finally getting married to the vampire prince of her dreams. What began as a treaty between their two kingdoms had blossomed into a courtship where she had truly fallen in love. Life was perfect until darkness cast its shadow over her happiness. Her beloved vampire betrayed her, delivering a fatal blow. With her last breath, she made a desperate deal with a Demon God. "You will have to become my mate to gain the power to exact your revenge," he whispered in her ear, sending a shock through her dying body. This Demon God was not only breathtakingly gorgeous and immensely powerful, but he was also dangerously seductive. Now, he was offering her a deal that promised both vengeance and peril. Esteria’s mind was a storm of grief and fury. Could she handle the Demon God’s insatiable desires and the deadly power that came with their pact? Or would she be consumed by the chaotic demands of this new, dark world? "I will kill both of them. I will draw their last breath with my sword and burn their bodies with my fury," she vowed, her determination as fierce as the hellfire she now wielded.

In the mystical realm of Ethoria, where ancient rivalries simmer and magic flows through every corner, 'The Enchanted Alliance' weaves the enthralling tale of Prince Callahan of Faerundale and Princess Lyra of Shadowglade. As an unexpected arranged marriage binds their destinies, they must navigate treacherous intrigues, unravel long-held secrets, and confront the echoes of a prophecy that could reshape their world. With the power of love, unity, and the enigmatic Heartstone at its core, this captivating fantasy saga sweeps readers into a realm of enchantment, where the threads of fate are woven by courage, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of the human heart. (R18) Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, events and incidents are the product of the author's imagination and his only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Blood, gore, violence and sexual acts are also depicted in the story. Update: A chapter a day Site: https://akikure.carrd.co/

When power is inherited and alliances are forged in blood, love is the most dangerous risk of all. Landen Vacheron has spent his life as a privileged playboy, heir to a fortune built on oil, power, and ruthless ambition. But when his older brother Vance takes over as CEO, Vance is forced to confront the true cost of his family’s empire—a world where loyalty is currency, and betrayal is inevitable. Avara Du Pont has spent her life in service to her father’s political ambitions, sacrificing her own dreams for his legacy. But behind the polished facade of their dynasty lies secrets darker than she could ever imagine—secrets that could destroy everything she’s fought to protect. When fate entangles Vance and Avara in a high-stakes game of power, and deception, they must decide: fight for their own destiny or become pawns in a war they never chose.

Payton Melarikan diri dari rumah di usia 17 tahun bukanlah hal yang mudah. Tapi, mari kita hadapi, tidak ada yang mudah dalam hidupku sebelumnya, atau dalam sepuluh tahun setelahnya. Dan aku baik-baik saja. Kurang lebih. Aku hanya perlu terus bertahan, hidup tanpa menarik perhatian. Menjauh dari jalan orang lain, menjauhi pikiran orang lain. Jadi, ketika seorang pria berjalan melewati pintu patio yang terbuka, melangkah dengan berani ke dalam rumahku, dan ke dalam hidupku, seharusnya aku takut. Ketakutan. Bergidik. Tapi mungkin aku lebih hancur dari yang kusadari, karena aku tidak merasakan hal-hal itu sama sekali. Aku justru tertarik. Dan aku bertanya-tanya, apakah cara untuk mengendalikan hidupku adalah dengan menyerah padanya. --- Nero Pertama kali aku mengambil nyawa seseorang, aku tahu tidak akan ada jalan kembali. Tidak ada kehidupan normal yang menantiku. Jadi, alih-alih mundur, aku mendaki gunung mayat dan menciptakan takdirku sendiri. Dengan membentuk The Alliance. Dan aku baik-baik saja dengan itu. Cukup puas untuk terus melangkah. Sampai aku melangkah melewati pintu yang terbuka itu, dan masuk ke dalam hidupnya. Seharusnya aku pergi. Seharusnya aku langsung keluar dari pintu yang kulewati. Tapi aku tidak melakukannya. Dan sekarang hidupnya dalam bahaya. Tapi itulah yang terjadi ketika aku adalah pria jahat. Aku dengan senang hati akan mengorbankan apa pun untuk melindungi apa yang menjadi milikku. Dan Payton adalah milikku. Entah dia menyadarinya atau tidak.

Professional gamer Chen Yuan transmigrated into the fully immersive VR game, Jianghu II, rewinding to the exact moment the servers first launched. He became a mere background NPC in the Starter Village. Leveraging his advantage of knowing the storyline, Chen Yuan finally carved out a place for himself in this blood-soaked Jianghu, only to discover that his true identity wasn’t as simple as it seemed… Of course, none of that mattered. In a world where martial prowess dictates everything, fists are authority! For Chen Yuan, once his absolute power dominates the realm, choosing to be the righteous Martial Alliance Leader or a villainous Demonic Overlord is merely a matter of a single thought.