For a thousand years, the two most powerful families in the world of witchcraft have been at war. In a bid to end the violence once and for all, they arrange a union between their children, Tessa and Rafik. At a dinner party meant to finalize the marriage negotiations, the ancient feud comes to a bloody end. Young Tessa Mason barely escapes Savannah with her life and is forced into hiding with her twin brother and immortal Viking guardian for ten years until all her enemies are eliminated. At her 23rd birthday celebration, she receives an invitation to study with the best potion maker in the world. When she arrives in England ready to get on with her life, she is confronted by the man who deceived her all those years ago. Sparks fly between these star crossed lovers as Rafik tries his best to make amends to Tessa. Unfortunately, she isn't the only one who wants him to pay for the sins of his past. The most miserable part about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies, but they’re all about to discover what a wicked witch Tessa can be. Queen of Ruin is the first book in the Queen of Ruin Series. In this Dark Paranormal Romance and Fantasy series of stories, you’ll meet a cast of broken, but loveable creatures trying their best to save the world. Get Queen of Ruin today and run away with Tessa on her fiery journey through the depths of darkness.
Lihat lebih banyakThe ticking of the Grandfather clock synced up perfectly to the tapping of Jasper’s shoe against the black-and-white checkered floor until he finally shifted his eyes to the stairs. “Hurry up, Sugar!”
After he tousled the dark curls on his head in the mirror, his eyes dropped to Teddy’s reflection. “Will you go drag your sister down here, please? She’s going to be late for her own goddamn birthday party.”
From the warm, burgundy wall he leaned on, Teddy pulled his hand from his pocket and pointed his finger gun at his father. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Daddy; I’m on it.”
The ting of his fingers bouncing off the cast-iron spindles of the staircase kept time with his shoes sliding across the Oriental runner that led him to Tessa’s room.
Her lips made a perfect pout as she slathered on her red lip gloss and shook out her dark, curly hair. “Hell’s Bells! I’ll be down in a minute, Daddy! You think a face like this grows on trees?”
While she peeked down over herself, she straightened her simple black dress and tugged nervously on her pearl necklace. “This is my party; I’m supposed to make a grand entrance. All those pricks can just wait until I’m good and ready to show up.”
Just hours shy from thirteen now, Tessa prepared herself for the first formal affair she ever attended at her Order.
These were the days when the witching world’s families introduced their children, hoping for them to find their someday mates, or at least like someone enough that a future marriage can be arranged.
Among the Savannah elite, alliances start early and tonight promised to be interesting because a new family recently arrived from Morocco with five sons, one close to her age.
“Aren’t you ready yet?” Teddy leaned against the doorway and shared the mirror with his sister.
While he tried to tame the wayward curl that kept poking his forehead, he tilted his head to the side as he appreciated his reflection. “We’re all waiting for you, you know. You’re being rude as hell to our guests.”
“I give nary a shit about any of those parasites.” The nerves she battled all day long dripped from her fingertips as she shook out her hands and turned to face him. “Do we really have to go to this thing? I don’t feel very well.”
An amused smile came to his lips, and the always relaxed Teddy winked his green eye at her. His sister never turned down an opportunity to complain, and he never wasted the chance to support her. “Time to find you a mate, Tess; you’re nearly an old maid.”
Her arms wove across her chest, and her eyes rolled in an arrogant act of defiance. No matter the outcome of tonight’s party, she would be unimpressed by any specimen presented to her. “No goddamn way. You know I don’t believe in that old-timey bullshit.”
He chuckled to himself as he pointed at her because he expected nothing less from her smart mouth. Although her mother was a regal, graceful woman born of royal blood, Tessa inherited her father’s quick temper and love of profanity. “That’s it. That kind of talk will sweep any potential suitor right off his feet.”
“Like I give a damn.” While she wiggled her toes into her high-heeled shoes, she flipped him the middle finger. “I can’t believe I’m going through with this. This whole mating thing is one tradition that needs to die.”
As Teddy took one last look at himself, he straightened the bow tie he never could quite figure out.
Only a smidge less vain than his sister, he puckered his lips at his reflection and shrugged off her concerns. “Don’t go working yourself up into a tizzy over it yet, Tess; it’s only a party. No one said you have to jump the broom tonight. Nobody will expect that of you for a couple of decades or so.”
While they walked down the hall, she continued her list of grievances about her over-privileged lot in life. “I wish I were human; they can decide for themselves who they end up with.”
The antique, textured burgundy and gold wallpaper tickled the ridges of his fingers as he slid them across while he did his best to calm her down. “Yes, that’s true, but they often pick poorly. Your mate is hand-picked for you by the Fates; these things are meant to be. Go with it for once and see where it leads you.”
Her head shaking rebelliously, Tessa delivered her usual response to anyone who disagreed with her as he opened the front door. “What a load of shit! No one’s going to tell me how I’m going to live my life, especially not some crusty, old sky wizard that doesn’t even know anything about me.”
His fingers wrapped around her arm as they came down the stairs because Teddy was more than a little worried she might throw herself down them in an attempt to avoid tonight’s obligation. “Whether or not you believe in the old gods, they sure as hell believe in you. If you’re not careful, someday you’re going to get struck down by lightning for your blasphemy.”
Her eyes rose to the full moon above her, and she held up her arms as she dared Fate to test her. “Well, now would be a perfect time, you sons of bitches. Why don’t you go on and put me right out of my misery?”
When they met their parents on the other side of the street, Jasper wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked across the park. “Are you excited, Sugar?”
The arched brow he liked to give to those who dared to cross him shot back at him as she shook her head no. “Absolutely not! This is so sick. These cotillions are like one of those livestock auctions they have out in the country.”
While he tipped his head to the people walking by, Jasper laughed out at the comparison. “I just want to introduce you to some people. After that, you’re free to go hide in my office the rest of the night if you want.”
He pulled her closer to his side and kissed the top of her head. “I wanted to show off my number one girl. All those guys brag on their pathetic daughters, but they haven’t met anyone like you before, Tess. I guarantee it.”
His arm around her shoulder tugged her tighter as he waved his hand at the building before them. “You’re going to run this whole show one day; believe me when I tell you that this world is a hell of a lot easier when you have someone loyal and strong by your side to back you up.”
Even the guard who manned the front door dressed to the nines, and he lowered his head in respect of his leaders before he parted the thick, wooden doors for them.
As soon as she crossed the threshold, she gasped at the flip-flop sensation in her chest. A slow, steamy breath blew from her mouth, and she fanned her face to collect her nerves.
The unconscious primal side awoke as her whole body buzzed, and the little beast’s eyes darted around, searching for the other racing heart that called out to her.
Her entire world blurred into a messy smear of faces that melted into nothing as her mind tried to narrow her focus and zero in on its prey.
When Jasper stretched his neck, he caught her tugging at her pearls from the corner of his eye and smacked her hand away as he gave her his disapproving squint. “Don’t you show them any weakness, Tessa Mason. These people are vultures; they’ll use any tactic to gain the upper hand with you. Don’t let them see they can intimidate you.”
Realizing how much he was putting on her shoulders at such a young age, Jasper sighed out a breath of regret as he slid his hand on her cheek. “Sometimes I have to remind myself that you’re a kid because you two just act so grown up. This life we live isn’t an easy one, and I want you both prepared for the realities of it.”
One of the few people in the world who she respected at all, she gave him a sweet smile and nodded. “I know that, Daddy. You don’t have to worry about us; we can handle ourselves just fine.”
“I do not doubt that at all.” He pushed her hair back off her shoulder while he beamed with pride at his most treasured work of art. “These folks are only spectators in your world wanting to see you fail; don’t give them the satisfaction.”
Already ten minutes late, he used one last second to brush down his jacket and check the shine on his shoes as he gave her some last words of wisdom. “Burn the entire world down and kill them all if you have to, but you make them understand you’re not the witch to mess with. Don’t give mercy because they won’t be so kind as to offer you any. You get what I’m saying, Sugar?”
A sneaky smirk curled up on her lips as a spark flashed across her emerald green eyes. Even though the rest of the world tried to hold her back, only her father truly understood her nature and gave her permission to be the foul-mouthed, wicked witch she was. “Perfectly, Daddy.”
With his fakest smile plastered on, Jasper lifted his chin at the doorman. “It’s showtime, Sugar.”
The crushing silence pushed on Haldir’s ears, and the piercing whistle it made lifted the little hairs on his arms when he noticed the sounds of Tessa humming and chattering to herself didn’t resonate in the hall this morning. Finding something else to occupy her time with should have made him happy, but whenever she had a second of peace like that, it sent a shiver through him because it was usually just the pause before a storm that left her bathed in blood. The pads of his fingertips pulsed with a rush of fear when he gripped the doorway, and he closed his eyes before he made the corner. Twice he found her near death right there on her floor, and he swore to himself that the third time, he wouldn&
The click, click, click of the metal fan that was beating itself to death in the window blew the cool night air across Tessa’s face as it chased away the last of her fever. Blue eyes blinked up to it, and a puff of amusement shot from Haldir’s nose that even in a building full of witches, they couldn’t make it work right.Pushing back the stray hairs from her cheek, he tucked them behind her ear before he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Do you need anything before I go?”Faint clicks of breaths echoed around her throat until her dry lips parted enough to answer. “I’m okay.”With nothing but doubts in his mind, he pressed his head to hers and hoped he would see more hopeful things in her future. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You be a good girl until I come home, and we’ll go visit Father Michael if you want.”The only sound escaping her mouth was the clucking, halted breaths that came
“Hold on. I’m coming.” Dabbing at her hair with a fluffy, white towel, Stella answered the front door. “Come on in.”Closing the door behind them, Jacob’s eyes darted across the living room in search of Teddy. “Is he ready to go?”As she glanced over her shoulder at the bedroom door, she nodded. “Yeah, he’s getting dressed. You guys want some coffee?”Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Logan kissed her temple. “Yeah, that’d be great.”When
With the weight of all those eyes burning through him, it made it a bit hard to chew, but Teddy simply gave his signature grin and enjoyed the homecooked meal. Growing up with Haldir’s poor attempts at cuisine and a string of paid chefs made having a sweet, loving mother like Kathy Hexom fix his dinner so much better.The Lycan mate he found himself failed to mention she had twin fathers and twin brothers and, despite his charms, they all stared straight through him without an ounce of mercy.“So, where are you from?” The father with reddish-blonde hair, Robert, crossed his tattoed arms as he pushed himself back in his seat and waited for an answer.Knowing that his past would undoubtedly come back to haunt him someday, Teddy took a second to clear his throat and set down his fork as he readied himself. “Savannah, sir.”Ready to take his turn at making Teddy uncomfortable, Warren, the father with pale blonde hair and the same
“Pick up the fucking phone, Teddy.” The creepy cries and cackles bounced off the windows that overlooked the courtyard as Tessa danced all by herself to the melody in her head. Even for a man like Haldir, who had been everywhere and done everything, her behavior was beyond bizarre.With his arms crossed against his chest, he rolled his eyes as he kept watch and listened to another of his calls go unanswered.He wasn’t blind to her deteriorating state, and short of keeping her by his side night and day, there was little he could do without Teddy releasing her.When the hallucination set her free at last
The shrill noise of Tessa’s drunken cackle ricocheted through the second floor like a stray bullet that hit him right in the head as Teddy straightened his tie in the foyer mirror. The little monster he created was making him crazy, and he rolled his eyes at the sound of her voice.Too frustrated to work his fingers, he clenched his jaw and ripped the fabric from his neck. “Fuck!”The old Viking appeared behind him and motioned by bending his fingers. The tension building between the twins was at the boiling point, and he hoped a distraction might bring them back to baseline. “Turn around; I got this.”
“Where are you hiding?” Slumped down on Tessa’s bed, Teddy clicked his tongue as his eyes scanned the bedroom. He had searched every corner for traces of her husband, and the one thing she treasured most was missing. It was the one thing he could never let her find again. “Not in your bag, not in your drawers, not in your closet. Where would she stash you?”As he lowered himself down into the spot she slept in, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine her lying there. The tingle spread through his fingers as Fate intervened and whispered to his cells to follow them along their cruel path to his ruin. The tight pull on his hand guided Teddy upwards along the soft, white down comforter.
The storm beat against the infirmary window as Teddy glared down at the street below. He stood cross-armed against the cool, damp metal frame as he watched the beads of water bounce up off the street under the orange glow of the lamps. When he glanced back over his shoulder at Tessa, he choked out the guilt and shame of it all as he slapped his hand over his mouth to keep quiet. Bent over in agony, Teddy hiccupped back the soft sobs of his contrition for what he failed to do and what he was about to do.Tonight was a blurry mess of chaos, but standing there by her bedside now, Teddy realized he had no one to blame but himself, and it broke him. Everything that followed this moment resulted from sheer panic.
“I will.” A puff of steam left Tessa’s mouth in a misty white cloud when she swallowed down the taste of Rafik’s soul as his bloody lips moved with hers. “Tell her I love her.”The lingering sensation of him inside her made the sleeping witch writhe underneath her heavy blankets. The memory of him making love to her took over every instinct that told her he was gone from this world. As his hot kisses moved across her neck, she whispered out to him again. “I will.”When the worst of things came back to her, Tessa’s eyes snapped open, and she blinked away the ugly visions.
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