I summoned him to protect me. Not to kiss me and make me feel things. Prince Leonard is a paranoid wreck-hated by his court, haunted by his past, and one imagined assassination attempt away from losing the only person still on his side. So when his own guards turn on him, Leo makes the one move no sane person would: he summons a demon. What he expects is a bloodthirsty monster. What he gets is Razvain Nyxbourne-dangerously attractive, infuriatingly flirty, and far more interested in kissing than drinking blood. Leo is unprepared for his sharp smiles or the avalanche of inconvenient emotional intimacy that comes with them. Bound by magic to keep Leo alive, Raz and his disarmingly cute shadows have their work cut out for them, because every member of the court seems to be after the newly crowned king's fragile life. If Leo wants to survive, he'll have to confront the demons of his past to keep the one at his side strong enough to protect him. Mature rated for explicit sexual content

She's an angel. He's a demon. What could go wrong? Sunny, studious, and chatty to a fault, Siah Umbrath can't wait to enroll at St Sybil's University, the prestigious institution of higher learning in Chthonia. Most angels would balk at setting foot deep into demonic territory-not Siah. When the Angelic Council appoints her father as ambassador to the demonic kingdom, Siah sees it as a thrilling opportunity. Her parents, however, view things differently, with her father issuing a warning not to get involved with the male students. It's an easy request, one Siah feels she'll be able to uphold until she meets a grumpy blue demon on her first day. Kion Fellrose looks tough on the outside-tall, with a stern, unyielding expression, and a dozen boxing titles under his (literal) belt. But his gruff exterior hides wounds few know about, very little understand, and no one new will ever discover. Uninterested in most things life has to offer, all he wants to do is graduate and move as far away as possible. Everything is going according to plan until his father, the deputy mayor of Cinderforge, assigns him to keep an eye on the new angelic ambassador's daughter. Initially annoyed, Kion finds himself being pulled into Siah's orbit like a moth to a flame. The earth may not shatter when an angel falls in love with a demon -- they might save it instead.

Where 'ABC' by Gene Luen Yang meets 'Starry River of the Sky' by Grace Lin... Kieran Fu and Katharyn Kuang have been inseparable since Day One, building their friendship on shared stories of ancient folktales and a love of home-cooked, non-American food. But they're more connected to those old fables than they think: riddles and red strings run deep in Kieran's family, while Katharyn can trace her family tree back to a tragic myth of star-crossed lovers. During their formative years, the pair encounter groundbreaking discoveries and strange signs that reveal the truth - and the interconnectedness - of the folktales they know and love. When Kieran and Katharyn return home for the summer after university, their families start pushing them toward a fate of eternal union that neither of them wants. Bound by ancient prophecies and long-standing tradition, the two must decide: can they rewrite their destinies, or will the red string of fate tie them down a path they can't escape? After all, only one thing is for certain: legends are more than lessons - and they can turn to reality in the blink of an eye. ----- 'red string:' an ONC 2025 novella by Faith @kth_disneyfanatic cover by @Saramitra_

Love and retaliation conspire to foil a billionaire land developer's attempt to bulldoze a family business. Heather Clayburn owns Nuance, a thriving upscale restaurant in a nineteenth-century house in Vancouver's West End. Her family has lived above the restaurant for generations, but after her divorce, only she and her twelve-year-old daughter, Sage, remain. As Downtown spreads westward, massive office and condo towers threaten the last of the houses, and she is determined to preserve the family legacy. Strathaven Land Development owns the adjacent vacant lot, leasing it to the restaurant for client parking, and they recently bought the 1950s apartment building on the other side of the house. When Strathaven's owner tells Heather about an old verbal purchase agreement, she refutes its validity. He forces his son, Sinclair, to coerce her into selling. Sinclair becomes a regular diner at Nuance, catching Heather's eye, and while looking for ways to do his father's dirty deeds, he is increasingly attracted to her. Unaware of his motives, she moves him to the top of her dream hunk list.

(Nocturnal Law Series) { ONC 2025 Shortlister }Magic and justice collide when witch lawyer Gwyneira Grimheart fights to save vampire Emrys Hawthorn's sorry fangs. Sanguine City is notorious for corrupt bat cops, human trafficking, highly addictive fairydust, and contract killings orchestrated by the bloodthirsty vampire mafia. But even these lowly criminals deserve a fair shot at trial and someone has to do it. Gwyneira defends the supernaturals that no other witch or sane mortal will go near, so when Emrys Hawthorn comes politely knocking at her law office's door in the middle of the night, she knows what she has to do. Vampires are dangerous beings, and Gwyneira knows the risks all too well, but if she's not careful, it won't just be her blood he takes. It might be her heart too. Beautiful cover featuring Gwyneira created by Neige❤️ Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Thriller Current Word Count: 35,381

Evelyn's quiet, unsatisfying life as a librarian is upended when she steps through a mysterious door into the decaying Kingdom of Thorn. Gifted with powers beyond her comprehension, she learns she is the kingdom's last hope against an ancient curse. Guided by Rhiannon, a fierce warrior with a painful past, Evelyn must face a journey full of danger... and an undeniable attraction to this enigmatic knight of Thorn. In a world where magic and sacrifice collide, can love survive the cost of salvation? An ONC entry based on prompts 1 and 13

When Rosalin arrives in the imperial capital, Livia, she carries with her a burden of secrets. Her purpose is not what she says aloud. But Rosalin is not the only one shrouded in lies: there is no sign of Empress Cassyna's twin sister, Servina, and everyone speaks of her as if she is a ghost. What Rosalin hoped would be a journey to save her and her family's lives turns into a game of power and peril. A feud between two rival siblings is written in Livian history and myth, but this is no tale of goddesses in heaven. This will endanger the whole empire. [ONC 2025 - PROMPT 66]

Combine a mountain filled with rugged orcs with a mysteriously arrived shop serving delicate cups of tea. Could this be the start of a revolution? **** On Orc Mountain, there is nothing but dirt, smoke, and backbreaking labor in the mines. There are no colors, no sun, no breaks for rest. There is definitely no tea. That is, until a mysterious tea shop appears in the orcs' domain. Glimmering in blue and pink, it stands out against the rugged backdrop. At first, the hardened inhabitants of the mountain are understandably leery about the malpositioned shop, wondering how it got there and why. Lava, a dedicated supervisor at the mines, takes it upon herself to investigate the suddenly-arrived business. Stepping inside, she meets Jasper, the bubbly fairy shopkeeper, who offers her a fragrant brew. Once Lava takes a sip, the sweet yet bitter taste pulls her in, making her clamor for more. Soon, all orcs are hooked on tea, but something sinister is brewing under the surface. When Lava catches Jasper conducting a secret meeting in a backroom, the true purpose of the tea shop is revealed. Soon she is forced to choose between her newfound passion for tea (and Jasper) and her dedication to the mountain's mining operations. *** Legends & Lattes x Shrek *** An ONC novella using prompt #15: A mysterious tea shop suddenly appears and you can't help but wonder: what's its true purpose, and why does it seem so important?

Mira Harper has the perfect husband. Callum is kind, has a stable job, and a nice house in the suburbs. Most importantly, he's great with Mira's 14-year-old son, Ezra. Sure, they moved fast--her friends say too fast--but he felt like a miracle she couldn't turn down. Then, a woman shows up on their doorstep claiming to be Callum's ex-wife, accusing him of murdering her daughter. At first, Mira believes Callum--she's insane. Then Mira finds Callum's "trophies" right where she said they'd be. IDs, medals, yearbooks. There's so much about Mira and Ezra that Callum doesn't know. And she realizes that Callum's returning the favor. Told in dual timelines, FAMILY MAN is a romance in the past, and a thriller in the present. Prompt 127: I've got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane.