Aurora Hale knows how to make anything bloom. Roses. Nightshade. Even love. In the sun-washed city of Elysian Coast, she runs Thorn & Bloom-a café-floral atelier that deals in beauty with a bite. Her husband, Jeremiah, is chasing the kind of perfection that photographs well: seaside dinners, charity galas, and promises whispered through polished smiles. But the petals have started to fall. What once felt like devotion now feels like decay, soft, slow, and deliberate. Thier relationship is withering under the weight of its own rot. And in Elysian Coast, everything that grows beautiful must feed on something dying.

For eighteen months, Samara has loved Luke wholeheartedly. She's ignored the uncomfortable feelings, swallowed her doubts, and convinced herself that Ari, Lukes sister's best friend was simply part of the package. Ari has always been there. Always taking up more space in Luke's life than any "friend" should. And every time Samara questioned it, Luke had an excuse ready. Ari was just blunt, Ari didn't mean anything by it. Ari was family. Ari had always been around. Then one recorded conversation is sent to Samara. TROPES: OWD Female Best Friend Sisters Best Friend Overheard (sent recording) TW: Body shaming - will be renaming this but needed to get this story out of my head

Divorce lawyer Atticus Pierce has known Saskia was his since the day she moved in next door. He was twelve years old when he saw the quiet, strange girl with watchful dark eyes, and even then, his soul knew what they were before his brain did. Meant to be. Now, at thirty, Saskia has been his wife for ten years, and Atticus loves her with a devotion so deep it's madness. Tracking her location keeps her safe. Memorizing her routines is his duty as her protector. Noticing every subtle shift in her expression is his honor as her husband. But he keeps this hidden from Saskia, terrified at the thought of her discovering his obsession and being scared of him. She might leave him. And that is inconceivable. But Saskia is keeping secrets. Private phone calls she claims are work. Late-night meetings. Hushed conversations with the president of Iron Vow, the local MC. Already stretched thin by a brutal case against a violent ex-husband, Atticus begins to spiral beneath the weight of suspicion, jealousy, and the one fear he cannot survive coming true. That the love of his life belongs to someone else. When his control finally snaps, he says things he regrets the moment they leave his mouth. But Saskia is not cheating. She never was. She never would. And when Atticus uncovers the truth, he realizes his wife is not afraid of his obsession. She has been matching it all along... TW: stalking, blood and gore, unhealthy obsessive relationship behaviors that I'm shamelessly romanticizing. Reader discretion is advised.