Novels by Ifeoma Eke

SIERRAThe wind hit me like a punch to the chest, stealing the breath from my lungs. One second I was standing firm, ready to fight, and the next, I was spinning through the air like a leaf in a storm. My hair whipped around my face, stinging my skin, and I couldn’t even scream before everything went dark.It felt like I was falling through nothingness, tumbling helplessly with no sense of direction. My heart pounded wildly, and my mind screamed for me to get a grip, but there was nothing to grab, nothing to hold on to. Just air, and chaos, and the roaring sound of the wind in my ears.Then, bam!I hit the ground hard. Flat on my back. The impact knocked the air out of me in a single, painful gasp, and for a second, all I could do was lie there, staring up at the sky, my chest heaving as I tried to breathe. My head spun like I’d been on a roller coaster that flipped too many times.“What the hell…” I gasped, trying to sit up, though my body felt like it weighed a ton.Everything hurt.

ASTRIDAriel stood there, grinning like she owned the entire world. I hated that smile. I hated everything about her. But I wasn’t going to back down, not now. Not ever.“You think you scare me?” I said, tilting my chin up, staring her down. “What are you going to do, Ariel? Hurt me? Kill me? You already did worse to Celia.”At the mention of Celia’s name, something dark flickered in her eyes, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. But before I could savor that small victory, a sharp, searing pain exploded inside me.I gasped, doubling over as the heat spread through my veins. It felt like my blood was boiling, like fire was eating me alive from the inside.“What…” I choked out, clutching my chest.Ariel laughed, a cold, cruel sound that echoed around the room. “Even though you’re cold-blooded, Astrid, I can still make you burn.”I howled in pain, falling to my knees as the burning intensified. My vision blurred, and all I could hear was Ariel’s laughter, loud and merciless.“Stop!” I screamed,

ARIELThe room felt cooler after Elise left, and I stood there for a moment, basking in the afterglow of her compliments. It had been a long time since someone admired me so openly. Most of these vampires only followed me out of fear. But Elise? She looked at me like I was a queen. That felt… good.I shook off the feeling, flipping my hair over my shoulder. Enough of that. I wasn’t here to make friends or play nice. I was here to rule. And if what Elise said was true, it was time to remind Astrid exactly who was in charge.With that thought in mind, I made my way through the winding hallways until I reached the west wing. It didn’t take long to find her. Astrid was sprawled on a plush velvet sofa like she owned the place, one leg casually draped over the armrest. Her long silver hair shimmered in the dim light, and her red-painted lips were curled into that same smug smile she always wore. The one that made my blood simmer.She looked up lazily as I stepped inside, her ice-blue eyes n

SIERRAI stormed through the woods, my fists clenched so tight my nails were digging into my palms. I didn’t care. The pain was nothing compared to the rage boiling inside me. How dare they? How dare they even consider giving in to Ariel’s demands? After everything we’ve been through, after everything I’ve fought for, they wanted to just… hand me over like I was some kind of bargaining chip. Like I didn’t have a say in my own life.“No, no, no,” I muttered to myself, kicking a rock out of my way. “This isn’t happening. I’m not doing this. I’m not some damsel who needs saving.”But no matter how much I tried to push the anger away, it clung to me, thick and heavy, making my chest ache. I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred with hot, angry tears, and before I knew it, I was pulling out my phone and dialing my mom.She picked up on the second ring.“Sierra, honey, what’s wrong?”I didn’t even get a word out before the tears came. Big, ugly sobs that made it hard to speak. “Mom… I… I can’

ARIELThe cool night air wrapped around me as I stepped back inside, and for the first time in days, I felt at ease. A smile tugged at my lips, slow and lazy, as I let the quiet satisfaction sink in. Everything felt… right. After all the chaos, after dealing with those annoying whispers of rebellion and the endless sniveling of the others, I could finally breathe.This was my place now. My power. And everything, every vampire, every shadow in this place belonged to me.As I strolled through the dimly lit halls, I took in the sight of the vampires standing in line, their heads bowed respectfully as I passed. Obedient little soldiers. Not one of them dared look me in the eye, and that was exactly how I liked it.I hummed softly to myself, feeling unusually light. Maybe I’d throw a party later. Something extravagant. Blood, music, dancing. A night of celebration for me. I’d earned it, after all. It wasn’t easy keeping these creatures in line, but I’d done it. I’d fought my way to the top

SIERRAI burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Ariel had finally lost it. Completely.“You’re delusional,” I said, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye as the last bit of laughter slipped out. “Dane? Stay with you? That’s the best joke I’ve heard all day. You really think I’d let that happen?”Ariel tilted her head, smiling slow and smug like she knew some grand secret I didn’t. Like she was already winning some twisted game she’d invented. It made my blood boil.“Think about it,” she said sweetly, her voice practically dripping with fake innocence. Then, without giving me a chance to snap back, she vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind except the suffocating weight of her words.I let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the anger buzzing under my skin, but it wasn’t working. My fists were still clenched, and my heart was still racing. I was about to say something, anything, to break the heavy silence she’d left behind when Dane’s voice cut through the tension.“It’d be b