Emery Ashford had a smart mouth. She was known for it. As an outgoing teenager Emery was always hanging out with friends and with a lack of filter she always said what was on her mind. Especially if it had to do with that irritative jock. She hated him with every fiber in her body. She hated his charming nature, his arrogance, his lack of care, and the way he got on her nerves. But the thing she hated most, although she'd never admit it, is that she would stick up for him. Not like he ever needed it. She wanted nothing more than to get away from him. But it's completely impossible. He lived right across the street. Everything about senior year had been going smoothly until, Bang. Jackson Riley had a pretty mouth. Pretty face too. As the school's football captain he's always been the talk. For years he's been entertained by the smartass that is Emery Ashford. She was a pain in his ass, but he knew he'd be bored without her. When he ends up giving Emery another concussion, he's determined to make the last two months of her senior year hell. That's if he hasn't been doing that already. There's only one thing in his way. Concussion or not Emery isn't going down without a fight. It seems the more she doesn't want him around, the more he happens to be. She thinks her life is spiraling into the ground...but maybe she has it all wrong. With an offer she can't refuse and a heat of the moment bet, it's time for the both of them to realize that there's a thin line between love and hate. And with an injury like this, that line is surely to blur. #1 in annoying [12/30/22] #1 in brothersbestfriend [1/6/23] #1 in hate [1/15/23] #1 in teens [1/28/23] #1 in tension [3/18/23] #1 in summer [5/8/23] #1 in player [5/13/23] Started [Oct 2022] Finished [May 2023]

BOOK 4 COMPLETE Kaden is the Beta of Blackstone pack, and while fated mates are part of his world, he never gave much thought to finding his own, or at least he didn't used to. Kaden goes off on a long run to get away and feels a strange, indescribable pull. As he moves farther into California, he finds his mate, but what should be a happy moment is shrouded in darkness as he ventures into her world- a world of darkness and danger unlike anything he's ever experienced. Violet's been labeled a genius and prodigy ever since she was a child, and she hates every moment of it. After escaping from the limelight, she lives in a world of secrets and fear- fear of being found, of being trapped like she was before. She keeps everyone else at a distance and tries to drown the grief and the pain of her past and present with self-medication until the day she can finally get the justice she's worked so hard for. Promises she made years ago stay fresh in her mind and she does everything she can to keep them, even if it means crossing the boundary of legality. Her trauma-engrained mind won't let Kaden get close to her without precautions but as she looks into his life, she finds things that aren't adding up and make her question what he's hiding. "Violet?" That single touch made the rest of me feel more alive than I had in years. Under his hand, under the clothes, against my skin, was a scar that contributed to me turning off all feeling, and yet one touch from him and it was all coming back, like I was learning how to be alive again. Maybe not even again, maybe I was learning for the first time. My hands had a mind of their own as they slid down his chest. He inhaled sharply, his hand tightening on my hip. I bit on my lip, knowing this was stupid, but I couldn't stop. "Seven minutes in heaven it is," I said, sliding my hands down his torso, the muscles of his abs tightening under my touch. "But no kissing." "I don't need to kiss you to be in heaven with you."

Shadow Empire is the sequel to 'Ice & Fire, and the final book in the "Fate Of The Crown" duology. If you haven't read the first book yet, please read do read it before proceeding to this book. ❍ ☾ ⬤ She had been through hell for so many times now that all that's left for her to do is breathe through the fear and walk into the fire-for if she were to be burned then she'd burn brighter than fire and hell itself.