An Owl's Rise - Chapter 53 Recovering From The Battle And Recovering The Spoils

[Mature Content:]Alaric was too close to Nicolette.Her mouth was just inches away from his.He could smell the lavender on her skin, the heat radiating from within her.But he held back, refusing to be carried away by her charm…“Mr. Allens…” she purred, and he looked down at her.Her eyes widened with desire, and he knew, in that moment, that if he wanted to kiss her, she would let him.The last thing he wanted was commitment. He knew that Nicolette didn’t want that either.But why was she this tempting?So willing?It was that willingness that confused him.She blinked, then swallowed as she pulled the jacket off her shoulders. His eyes lingered on her exposed neck.God.He just wanted to bury his mouth in that hollow spot.“Here,” Nicolette said calmly, extending the jacket to him.He took the jacket, his hand brushing hers just a second. She flinched, her face turning pink as she clutched the towel against her chest.His stomach flipped at the sight.If only that towel would give way to…Before he could stop himself, Alaric pressed his arousal against her stomach, pushing her against the wall, cornering her.She gasped at the sudden movement and for a moment, he lost his mind.“Cole…” he breathed, crushing himself against her.Her eyes gleamed with desire and a vulnerability that rocked him to his core.He would be foolish not to give in to this feeling.But he would also be a fool if he did.She had chosen to marry him.Not her boyfriend.And definitely not Lucian Crawford.Yet, he couldn't help it.She was only his for a year.But still…***************When her business and the gallery she inherited from her mother burn to the ground, Nicolette Voss is determined to rebuild—and get revenge on her father.She turned to her father’s rival, Alaric Allens, for an alliance.Alaric is willing to help, but on one condition—she must be his wife for a year.They called him Ruthless Alaric after an infamous incident 6 years ago. Alaric is back in town, and so are the crumbs of his past. But he is determined to change everything with a wife.He has his hidden agenda.She needs her revenge.But will this marriage between storm and steel survive the heat? And what will they do when deep secrets threatens to destroy them both?

As a true over-bearing president scum gong, when Xie He for the Nth time rejected his admirer, he heard a sentence in his head: “Congratulations on achieving the “rejects 100 hosts” accomplishment; as an award you will soon bind to the “Scum Gong and Cheap Shou” system, entering other worlds to complete capture missions.

WARNING[R18]“I’m already engaged to him,” she blurted, her voice trembling but resolute.Her eyes shot toward the silver-haired man, the figure who had been watching her all along. Her heart pounded in her ears as she raised her hand, pointing directly across the room. The gesture felt foreign, like it wasn’t even her own body making the movement. But there he was, sitting quietly in the VVIP section, and she had to do something. Anything.All eyes turned toward her, and the room fell into stunned silence. The weight of a thousand gazes bore down on her, and the only sound was the frantic beat of her own heart as she waited for his response.***************Lilia’s life is turned upside down at a lavish masquerade party when an unexpected announcement claims she is engaged to Lowell, a man she has never agreed to marry. Caught between the overwhelming pressure of her parents’ expectations and the confusion surrounding her emotions, Lilia finds herself trapped in a web of deception. But when a silver-haired stranger named Zethan steals the spotlight, Lilia’s impulsive declaration sends shockwaves through the room. With her parents and Lowell thrown into chaos, Lilia is left questioning whether she has just freed herself—or unwittingly stepped into a more dangerous game of fate and manipulation.Who would have thought their futures had already been sealed? This vampire had been obsessed with her long before she ever knew he existed.

Frost is a healer and must use her wits, modern knowledge of medicine and challenge her moral compass in order to survive this world of Eldritch entities born from emotions, folklore, fairy tales, concepts and despair. She was no more than an ordinary man who fell into an unordinary circumstance. Suddenly appearing in a place called the Nexus in a different world from Earth had left him... er... HER curious about what this newfound world is all about. A world of swords, kingdoms and dungeons? Yep. Of races that were thought to be found only in fiction? Oh yeah. Of technologies that far surpass anything seen on Earth? Huh? isn’t that a bit much? At least they’re limited. And of magic that blatantly violates the laws of physics!? Yeah... physics don’t apply here. But her curiosity ended up costing her before she had learned much of the world of Elysia, and she was betrayed by a person she was led to believe she could trust the most. Come join Frost as she tackles Eldritch entities in a strange world far from home. However, this world may be a lot more closer to home than she realizes. *** < Judgement in Progress > The ‘Blessing of the Nexus’, which she had come to call the ‘System’, displayed these words before her wilting eyes. “Judge… ment... I… I came from… Earth… Transported here… turned into… a girl… and now… I’m being… Judged…? < Decision of One Thousand Juries Pending > < Awaiting Verdict > “… If… my only… wrong… is living… then I’d rather… be wrong… to the very end!” When the black forest fused with the darkness behind her eyelids – – A message appeared.