In the uncharted depths of space, astronaut Adrian is on a mission to the mysterious planet Vortexia-where a previous crew vanished without a trace 320 years ago. Upon arrival, Adrian and his crewmates are captured by the planet's mysterious inhabitants but are soon released to explore under watchful eyes. Here, they encounter the formidable Mother Xyra, the quarter-human leader whose lineage traces back to one of the lost explorers. As Adrian and Xyra's destinies intertwine, an intense and forbidden romance ignites between them. Yet, beneath the surface of their blossoming love lies a dark secret: in a desperate bid to secure her people's future and cement their trust, Xyra had forged an alliance with rival civilizations to obliterate the Earth. With the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance, Adrian and Xyra must confront the ultimate dilemma-can their love withstand the weight of cosmic betrayal, or will it be consumed by the impending storm of interstellar war? Their choice will determine not just their own destinies but the survival of their worlds.

"They may see you as how you try to be, but what I see is what you try not to be." SHE IS A BASTARD... Maxine Theobald hid from the rest of society to protect her father's name. But as she grows tired of her role-playing games every year during the famous Theobald weekend parties, she starts to question how she has been living her life. She starts to wonder about the other part of her that she was deprived of--her mother and why she left her. A DISGUISE... Having finally found the courage to search for the one thing that she believes can help her understand her true nature, Maxine cuts her hair, puts on her breeches, and runs away from the only home she has ever known. She travels to the affluent town of Wickhurst and found herself employed as the valet of the famous rake Nicholas Everard, a game she will later find to be quite dangerous. SOMETHING DIFFERENT... Maxine set out into an adventure with none but one goal, yet found herself stumbling upon an unlikely find for the search of something else--romance. Still set in the fictional place of the Town, this fifth book in the Everard Family series follows one heroine who has chosen to defy the norm and her own fears in an attempt to understand her own nature, the first step to a discovery of not just about her lineage, but of love so unexpectedly, irritatingly and undeniably powerful. (This story is a standalone title in the Everard Family series.)

THE BANDIT She merely meant to steal and get away with it. She did not mean to find a dying woman and be chased for it. She merely meant to help. She did not mean to be dressed in a gown and be a target for murder. THE GUARD He was tasked to chase them. He was not expected to work with them. He merely meant to pay for an oddly professional service. He was not expecting it to be complicated and sexually dangerous. (This story is a title in the Everard Family series.)