"Light up my darkness," he murmured against her bare flesh. His fingers trailed up her arm, leaving a blazing fire beneath them. His lips pressed softly against her shoulder and her eyes fluttered closed, accepting his touch. "Let go and I'll take away all of the pain." She desperately wanted to free herself from the torture of the heat, of the shift, of the sadness, but she pushed his firm chest away from her. She yearned to finally fulfill her place among the divine. She desired to guide and protect the species. She wished to eliminate the Challengers. The longer she endured the pain, the more power she would attain to help her fulfill her responsibilities. To the men who watched her ascend, it looked as if she was interacting with thin air, but she knew he was there with her. She smiled softly at him, caressing his cheek. "My Darkness, let the pain fester within me. I crave it." * The Betrayal is a part of The Marking Trilogy and cannot be read as a stand-alone book. The Marking must be read first.* Cover by @Finding_Bria

Tessa Young is an 18 year old college student with a simple life, excellent grades, and a sweet boyfriend. She always has things planned out ahead of time, until she meets a rude boy named Hardin, with too many tattoos and piercings who shatters her plans.

~previously known as La Reine~ "I dare you to kiss me." He breathed on my face, the warm blow felt inciting and beautiful. I looked into his dark blue eyes, similar to mine and somewhat more intense. Lust clouded his eyes and he looked hotter than ever. I took a sharp breath and exhaled slowly. He frustrated me- sexually, emotionally and mentally. "Not until you tell me why." I said staring him right in the eye, challenging him to go ahead. He looked away and smiled, the gorgeous smile endured my existence. "Parce que La reine." He spoke in a fluent French accent and came closer to me. His hand snaked on my waist and he continued "Is taking my breath away." *** They aren't polar opposites, nor do they have similarities. They are two different people with different perspectives in life. They were never meant to be together. Asher Reed never had a girlfriend. Though he has slept with the whole of New York. He didn't do serious relationships. He always partied and smoked. He changed to Bridgewood High due to his notorious pranks. Tessa Collins is the Queen Bee of the school, the mean girl who is the student body president. She is a part time model for designers like her mother- Petunia Collins. She is powerful and secretive. She decided not to date since the most a guy can give you is a headache. But they just clicked,