Novels by Green-ivy

Isabelle held steady beneath the oppressive weight of the betrayal bearing down upon her. The room was too small, the air thick with unspoken danger. Violetta, Caitlyn, and Blake—all of them gathered before her like phantoms of her own past, to eat her whole. Her fists balled at her sides, nails digging into her palms, grounding her. She had already been to hell and back. She had struggled free of shadows before. And if they thought she would crack now, they were mistaken. Caitlyn tilted her head, looking at her with sharp amusement. "I must admit, I'm impressed," she thought. "Despite everything, you're still here. Still so stubborn." She breathed dramatically. "You were always a stubborn little girl." Isabelle's jaw clamped. "And you were always a coward." Caitlyn's eyes flickered with something evil, but her smile never wavered. She turned instead to Violetta, waving her hand languidly in her direction. "Tell me, dear, does it hurt? Seeing her again?" Violetta's eyes narrowed

A new figure stepped out of the darkness, her high heels tapping against the cold stone ground.Isabelle's stomach twisted into a knot the instant she recognized the familiar mess of dark hair, the same icy eyes that had once been warm but now burned with something hard.Violetta.A woman who had been her best friend. The one she had chosen for a sister. The one she had trusted above everyone else.And the one who had betrayed her in the most heinous of ways."Surprised to see me, Isabelle?" Violetta's lips curled into a sneer as she approached.Isabelle's breath stalled, her entire body freezing at the memories that came crashing over her like a tidal wave.The allegations. The gossip. The way Blake's eyes had turned to ice that night he believed she had betrayed him. The way she screamed, begged him to believe her. The way her reputation as Luna had been taken from her, her pride shattered.And Violetta just stood there and watched and smiled as Isabelle had been purchased by Gabrie

The castle gates slammed open with a deafening roar. The cold night air swept inside, reeking of blood and steel. Isabelle barely had time to realize what was happening before the first attacker shoved forward.Gabriel moved like a specter, swift and certain. His sword was a slash of silver as he rushed to engage the invaders. Steel met steel, the clash of it ringing through the air, resonating through Isabelle's very marrow.She stepped back, her heart pounding. The slain guard still lay on the floor in front of her, his empty eyes staring into nothing.A gloved fist closed on her wrist.She whirled around, reflexes overriding her, but before she could strike, she was swept into the solid body of a chest. Gabriel."Stay behind me," he growled, shoving her back as another attacker swung. The knife whizzed inches from her nose, but Gabriel was already battling back, cutting the man down with vicious efficiency.The battle burst out around them.Gabriel's men stormed the hall, steel fl

The air inside Gabriel's castle was thick, weighed down with tension so sharp it could cut. The return ride had taken some time, but Isabelle barely noticed the passage of time. Her head was a whirlwind, revolving around the same question over and over.What now?Gabriel had saved her. He had fought for her. And yet she was smart enough not to conflate his behavior with something so transitory as love. This was survival. A kill-or-be-killed, power play, strategy game, and dominance.She was still a pawn on the board. The only question was: whose game?As she stepped into the grand halls of the castle, the weight of it all fell upon her breast. The torches flickered and threw dancing shadows on stone walls, but even the warmth of the fire could not thaw the ice in her heart.Behind her, Gabriel dismounted, his footsteps following hers like a silent demand. He had been watching her the entire way back, and now, she could feel the unspoken questions hanging between them."You’re awfully

The atmosphere was tense that evening, thick silence between Gabriel and Isabelle as they rode through the thick woods, their entourage riding steadily towards the castle. The rhythmic thud of hooves against the earth road failed to mask the unspoken words that hung between them.Gabriel gripped the reins tightly, his mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions. His entire life had been spent believing he could not love, that his heart had been forged hard by bloodshed, duty, and betrayal years ago. And yet, when he looked at Isabelle—her soft features shining in the light of the silver moon—he felt something shift inside of him.He'd been stupid to have rejected it for so long.She was under his skin, inside his head, in every gasp he breathed. The flame of her passion called to the shadows of his own, and however much he fought against it, he knew—he was hers.But he couldn't. He wouldn't.Gabriel gritted his jaw and willed his eyes straight ahead, trying to ignore the rapid beating

The tension from Caitlyn's visit lingered in the air like smoke.I paced the length of the room, curled fingers into tight fists, jaw clenched.I had dealt with jealous women before.I had dealt with enemies before.But Caitlyn?She wasn't angry.She was calculating.She wasn't going to attack me head-on.She was going to wear me down from the shadows, piece by piece, until there was nothing left.And I was not going to stand for that to happen.I took a deep, deliberate breath, forcing my body to relax its tension.Fine.If Caitlyn wanted a war, she would have one.---Later That Day – The Dining HallThe grand dining hall was packed full by the time I arrived.**Warriors, council members, high government officials—**all those persons who mattered in Gabriel's existence took their proper seats, voicing themselves quietly.And at the head of the long, shining table?Gabriel.His broad shoulders unstrained, his emerald green eyes calm but unreadable.And beside him—Caitlyn.She sat too