**Wattpad Featured Story** Zahra Kasmut has lived before our time. In an ancient life, she fought against Set, an Egyptian deity, who had amassed a commanding army to overthrow her country. He butchered anyone who opposed him--man or woman, child or elder--and set countless towns and villages ablaze. With her city starving from a seemingly endless siege, Zahra and her companions had only two choices: kill an Egyptian god or die trying. Somehow, Zahra survived Set's onslaught on her city, but not without an unwilling sacrifice that forced her away from her brother, uncle, and nation she had defended. Thousands of years later, she now walks among us. Unaware of her true past, she goes about her mundane days craving more to life; all while trying to understand who the distant yet familiar voices in her head belong to. One man, however, is aware of who she truly is: Akar Usi, a beloved ally of Set. Since the siege, he's been trapped under the ruins of his collapsed city, waiting to emerge and spark the civil war of Ancient Egypt once more. First, though, he'll start with Zahra--he'll start by making her suffer. --- Cover by the brilliant @MayFreighter !

Stephen, a once orphaned beggar, had no memory of his past and endured a harsh life on the streets. However, his fortunes changed when a compassionate couple took him in and showered him with love as their own. But tragedy struck when vampires descended upon his village, mercilessly slaughtering his newfound family. Unbeknownst to Stephen, the mastermind behind the massacre was none other than the vampire king himself, a cold-blooded and ruthless being. In a cruel twist of fate, Stephen discovered that he was the mate of this vicious vampire, destined to be bound to him despite the unfathomable loss he had suffered at his hands. Haunted by grief and resentment, Stephen found himself grappling with conflicting emotions. How could he ever learn to love the very creature who had taken everything from him? The weight of this burden threatened to crush him, but deep inside, a glimmer of hope remained. As Stephen embarked on a journey of self-discovery, he yearned to uncover the truth behind his own origins and the connection he shared with the vampire king. Along the way, he would encounter allies who would offer guidance, and support, and perhaps even unlock the secrets of his past. In this tumultuous tale of love and redemption, Stephen would be faced with the ultimate challenge - to find forgiveness within his shattered heart and forge a path toward acceptance. Only then could he begin to navigate the complexities of his relationship with the vampire king, and discover if love could truly blossom from the ashes of tragedy. Content Advisory: This story contains mature themes and explicit content intended for a mature audience. Reader discretion is advised. Please proceed only if you are comfortable with and interested in such content. If mature themes or explicit scenes are not to your liking, we recommend choosing another story or topic to explore. Thank you for understanding.

(Posting to RoyalRoad) Iona of Tamaris is a half-elf caught between worlds. Born a bastard child with the curse of an ancient magic, she has always lived a life with secrets weighing her heart down like a stone. The price of discovery? Death. When two unwelcome visitors arrive in Yssa's royal court, however, her life is changed forever. The answer to all of her problems, it seems, lie in Zaeylael, the City of Splinters. But danger lurks around every corner even in a place where mages can walk freely under the sun and too many smiles are only masks hiding wicked plots. **Contains spoilers for The Lady Penitent and The Desolate Throne**

"A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one." ©𝐉𝐈𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐄𝟏𝟕 No translations allowed. |*Contains some mature and triggering content*| 18+