#ASHLEIGH HUNT

[flymarlo]

☆˚ — click the source link to find #145 gifs [268x150] of ashleigh murray in the other black girl ˚s01 [episodes 3 & 10]. all gifs were made by scratch so don’t edit or repost. please like and/or reblog if you found them useful.

[lemonidae]

Book Series by K.J. Charles

WEBSITE | X: @kj_charles | Goodreads

A Charm of Magpies

A Charm of Magpies #0.5: The Smuggler and the Warlord

Free read is available here

A Charm of Magpies #1: The Magpie Lord FREE EBOOK

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell. Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn't expect it to turn up angry. Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude… and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual. Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn't the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.

Paperback: 271 pages

Audiobook: 6,5 hrs.

ISBN13: 9781999784614

ISBN10: 1999784618

ASIN: 0995799024

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other (it's free!)

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: September 3, 2013

A Charm of Magpies #2: A Case of Possession

Magic in the blood. Danger in the streets. Lord Crane has never had a lover quite as elusive as Stephen Day. He knows Stephen’s job as justiciar requires secrecy, but the magician is doing his disappearing act more than seems reasonable—especially since Crane will soon return to his home in China. When a blackmailer threatens to expose their illicit relationship, there's only one thing stopping Crane from leaving the country he Stephen. Stephen has problems of his own. As he investigates a plague of giant rats sweeping London, his sudden increase in power, boosted by his blood-and-sex bond with Crane, is rousing suspicion that he’s turned warlock. With all eyes on him, the threat of exposure grows. Stephen could lose his friends, his job and his liberty over his relationship with Crane. He’s not sure if he can take that risk much longer. Crane isn’t sure if he can ask him to. The rats are closing in, and something has to give…

Paperback: 194 pages

Audiobook: 6 hrs.

ISBN10: 0995799032

ASIN: B077C6VZDW

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: January 6, 2014

A Charm of Magpies #3: Flight of Magpies

Danger in the air. Lovers on the brink. With the justiciary understaffed, a series of horrifying occult murders to be investigated, and a young student flying off the rails, magical law enforcer Stephen Day is under increasing stress. And the strain is starting to show in his relationship with his aristocratic lover, Lord Crane. Crane chafes at the restrictions of England’s laws, and there’s a worrying development in the blood-and-sex bond he shares with Stephen. A development that makes a sensible man question if they should be together at all. Then a devastating loss brings the people he most loves into bitter conflict. Old enemies, new enemies, and unexpected enemies are painting Stephen and Crane into a corner, and the pressure threatens to tear them apart…

Paperback: 210 pages

Audiobook: 6,5 hrs.

ISBN10: 0995799040

ASIN: B06XX6V7ZC

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: October 28, 2014

A Charm of Magpies: Jackdaw SPINOFF

(takes place after Flight of Magpies)

If you stop running, you fall. Jonah Pastern is a magician, a liar, a windwalker, a professional thief…and for six months, he was the love of police constable Ben Spenser’s life. His betrayal left Ben jailed, ruined, alone, and looking for revenge. Ben is determined to make Jonah pay. But he can’t seem to forget what they once shared, and Jonah refuses to let him. Soon Ben is entangled in Jonah’s chaotic existence all over again, and they’re running together—from the police, the justiciary, and some dangerous people with a lethal grudge against them. Threatened on all sides by betrayals, secrets, and the laws of the land, the policeman and the thief must find a way to live and love before the past catches up with them...

Paperback: 222 pages

Audiobook: 6,5 hrs.

ISBN10: 0995799059

ISBN: 9780995799059

ASIN: B077BNR1FP

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: February 13, 2015

A Charm of Magpies: A Queer Trade SPINOFF

(takes place at the same time as A Case of Possession)

Apprentice magician Crispin Tredarloe returns to London to find his master dead, and his papers sold. Papers with secrets that could spell death. Crispin needs to get them back before anyone finds out what he's been doing, or what his magic can do. Crispin tracks his quarry down to waste paper dealer Ned Hall. He needs help, and Ned can’t resist Crispin’s pleading—and appealing—looks. But can the waste-man and the magician prevent a disaster and save Crispin’s skin?

Paperback: 59 pages

ISBN: 9781311652409

ASIN: B019GBSGZO

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: February 2, 2016

A Charm of Magpies: Rag and Bone SPINOFF

(takes place at the same time as Jackdaw)

It’s amazing what people throw away… Crispin Tredarloe never meant to become a warlock. Freed from his treacherous master, he’s learning how to use his magical powers the right way. But it’s brutally hard work. Not everyone believes he’s a reformed character, and the strain is putting unbearable pressure on his secret relationship with waste-man Ned Hall. Ned’s sick of magic. Sick of the trouble it brings, sick of its dangerous grip on Crispin and the miserable look it puts in his eyes, and sick of being afraid that a gentleman magician won’t want a street paper-seller forever—or even for much longer. But something is stirring among London’s forgotten discards. An ancient evil is waking up and seeking its freedom. And when wild magic hits the rag-and-bottle shop where Ned lives, a panicking Crispin falls back onto bad habits. The embattled lovers must find a way to work together—or London could go up in flames.

Paperback: 202 pages

Audiobook: 5,5 hrs.

ISBN: 9780995799066

ASIN: B077BQZG4Z

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M/M, Magic, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Published: March 1, 2016

A Charm of Magpies: Five for Heaven EPILOGUE

The gang are in Japan and Jenny Saint is in labour. Free read is available here

--------------------------------------

The Will Darling Adventures

A m/m romance trilogy in the spirit of Golden Age pulp fiction. It’s the 1920s and tensions are rising along with hemlines. Soldier-turned-bookseller Will Darling finds himself tangled up in spies and secret formulas, clubs and conspiracies, Bolsheviks, blackmail, and Bright Young Things. And dubious aristocrat Lord Arthur ‘Kim’ Secretan is right in the middle of it all:  enigmatic, unreliable, and utterly irresistible.

The Will Darling Adventures #1: Slippery Creatures

Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle’s chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else. Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan—charming, cultured, oddly attractive—steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger. And then Will discovers the truth about Kim. His identity, his past, his real intentions. Enraged and betrayed, Will never wants to see him again. But Will possesses knowledge that could cost thousands of lives. Enemies are closing in on him from all sides—and Kim is the only man who can help.

Paperback: 265 pages

Audiobook: 7 hrs.

ISBN: 9781912688159

ISBN10: 1912688158

ASIN: ‎ B086WKLJSN

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, M/M, Adult, Crime, Mystey, Suspense

Published: May 13, 2020

The Will Darling Adventures #2: The Sugared Game

It's been two months since Will Darling saw Kim Secretan, and he doesn't expect to see him again. What do a rough and ready soldier-turned-bookseller and a disgraced shady aristocrat have to do with each other anyway? But when Will encounters a face from the past in a disreputable nightclub, Kim turns up, as shifty, unreliable, and irresistible as ever. And before Will knows it, he's been dragged back into Kim's shadowy world of secrets, criminal conspiracies, and underhand dealings. This time, though, things are underhanded even by Kim standards. This time, the danger is too close to home. And if Will and Kim can't find common ground against unseen enemies, they risk losing everything.

Paperback: 288 pages

Audiobook: 7,75 hrs.

ISBN10: 1912688174

ASIN: B08DL1CKY3

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, M/M, Adult, Crime, Mystey, Suspense

Published: August 23, 2020

The Will Darling Adventures #2.5: To Trust Man on His Oath

A heart-to-heart in the small hours leads to a crucial promise. Free read is available here

The Will Darling Adventures #3: Subtle Blood

Will Darling is all right. His business is doing well, and so is his illicit relationship with Kim Secretan--disgraced aristocrat, ex-spy, amateur book-dealer. It’s starting to feel like he’s got his life under control. And then a brutal murder in a gentleman’s club plunges them back into the shadow world of crime, deception, and the power of privilege. Worse, it brings them up against Kim’s noble, hostile family, and his upper-class life where Will can never belong. With old and new enemies against them, and secrets on every side, Will and Kim have to fight for each other harder than ever—or be torn apart for good.

Paperback: 290 pages

Audiobook: 8,5 hrs.

ISBN: 9781912688197

ASIN: B094TL3GJX

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, M/M, Adult, Crime, Mystey, Suspense

Published: June 23, 2021

The Will Darling Adventures: This Lord’s Father EPILOGUE

Will has a nice chat with the Marquess of Flitby. No, really. Free read is available here

Think of England / Will Darling Adventures : How Goes the World? EPILOGUE

Archie attends a house party. Will goes to a club. Free read is available here

-------------------------------------- Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune

Very lightly linked books set in a lighthearted Regency world.

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting features Robin Loxleigh; A Thief in the Night stars Robin’s brother and Toby Real Last Name Unknown. The Duke at Hazard isn’t linked directly to either book but features cameos; there’s no need to read anything first.

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #1: The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

Robin Loxleigh and his sister Marianne are the hit of the Season, so attractive and delightful that nobody looks behind their pretty faces. Until Robin sets his sights on Sir John Hartlebury's heiress niece. The notoriously graceless baronet isn't impressed by good looks or fooled by false charm. He's sure Robin is a liar, a fortune hunter, and a heartless, greedy fraud - and he'll protect his niece, whatever it takes. Then, just when Hart thinks he has Robin at his mercy, things take a sharp left turn. And as the grumpy baronet and the glib fortune hunter start to understand each other, they also find themselves starting to care - more than either of them thought possible. But Robin's cheated and lied and let people down for money. Can a professional rogue earn an honest happy ever after?

Paperback: 311 pages

Audiobook: 8hrs.

ISBN: 9781398715752

ISBN10: 1398715751

ASIN: B094TC4F93

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance, M/M, Adult

Published: February 24, 2021

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2: A Thief in the Night

Toby never meant to be a highway robber, but needs must. He didn’t plan to impersonate a top London valet either, but when the chance comes to present himself as the earl of Arvon’s new gentleman’s gentleman, he grabs it. Unfortunately, the earl is the man he seduced and robbed on the road to get here. Oops. Miles, Lord Arvon, is not impressed. But he’s faced with a tumbledown home and lost family fortune, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Toby—shameless, practical, and definitely desperate—may be just the man he needs. To steal back a priceless bracelet, that is. What else were you thinking?

Paperback: 76 pages

Audiobook: 2,75 hrs.

ISBN10: 1912688239

ISBN: 9781912688234

ASIN: ‎ B0BVMZGMCQ

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance, M/M, Adult

Published: October 13, 2022

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #2.5: A Rose By Any Name EPILOGUE

The reunion scene! Brothers Toby and Robinmeet again, with help from Hart and Miles. Free read is available here

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune #3: The Duke At Hazard

The Duke of Severn is one of the greatest men in Britain. He’s also short, quiet, and unimpressive. And now he’s been robbed, after indulging in one rash night with a strange man who stole the heirloom Severn ring from his finger. The Duke has to get it back, and he can’t let anyone know how he lost it. So when his cousin bets that he couldn’t survive without his privilege and title, the Duke grasps the opportunity to hunt down his ring-incognito. Life as an ordinary person is terrifying…until the anonymous Duke meets Daizell Charnage, a disgraced gentleman, and hires him to help. Racing across the country in search of the thief, the Duke and Daizell fall into scrapes, into trouble-and in love. Daizell has been excluded from polite society, his name tainted by his father’s crimes and his own misbehaviour. Now he dares to dream of a life somewhere out of sight with the quiet gentleman who’s stolen his heart. He doesn’t know that his lover is a hugely rich public figure with half a dozen titles. And when he finds out, it will risk everything they have…

Paperback: 336 pages

Audiobook: 10 hrs.

ISBN10: 1398715794

ISBN: 9781398715790

ASIN: ‎ B0CW1JXB4R

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance, M/M, Adult,

Published: July 18, 2024

-------------------------------------- The Doomsday Books

Romney Marsh, Kent, in the early 1800s. A remote part of England, thinly populated, misty…and perfect for smugglers. The Doomsday clan run the free trade across the Dymchurch area of Romney Marsh. But two of them are about to get mixed up in crime, conspiracy, murder—and unexpected love.

The Doomsday Books #1: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen

Abandoned by his father as a small child, Sir Gareth Inglis has grown up prickly, cold, and well-used to disappointment. Even so, he longs for a connection, falling headfirst into a passionate anonymous affair that's over almost as quickly as it began. Bitter at the sudden rejection, Gareth has little time to lick his wounds: his father has died, leaving him the family title, a rambling manor on the remote Romney Marsh…and the den of cutthroats and thieves that make its intricate waterways their home. Joss Doomsday has run the Doomsday smuggling clan since he was a boy. His family is his life…which is why when the all-too-familiar new baronet testifies against Joss's sister for a hanging offense, Joss acts fast, blackmailing Gareth with the secret of their relationship to force him to recant. Their reunion is anything but happy and the path forward everything but smooth, yet after the dust settles, neither can stay away. It's a long road from there—full of danger and mysteries to be solved—yet somehow, along the way, this well-mannered gentleman may at last find true love with the least likely of scoundrels.

Paperback: 331 pages

Audiobook: 11,25 hrs.

ISBN10: 1728255856

ISBN: 9781728255859

ASIN: B0B2KWBRNL

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Adult, Mystery

Published: March 7, 2023

The Doomsday Books #1.5: If He Had His Legs, We’d Be In So Much Trouble EPILOGUE

Gareth goes for his long-promised meeting with Granda Doomsday, and discusses Luke's future. Free read is available in PDF and EPUB

The Doomsday Books #2: A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel

Major Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become the Earl of Oxney, master of a remote Norman manor on the edge of the infamous Romney Marsh. There he's beset on all sides, his position contested both by his greedy uncle and by Luke Doomsday, son of a notorious smuggling clan. The earl and the smuggler should be natural enemies, but cocksure, enragingly competent Luke is a trained secretary and expert schemer—exactly the sort of man Rufus needs by his side. Before long, Luke becomes an unexpected ally…and the lover Rufus had never hoped to find. But Luke came to Stone Manor with an ulterior motive, one he's desperate to keep hidden even from the lord he can't resist. As the lies accumulate and family secrets threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, master and man find themselves forced to decide whose side they're really on…and what they're willing to do for love.

Paperback: 336 pages

Audiobook: 10,5 hrs.

ISBN10: 1728255902

ISBN: 9781728255903

ASIN: B0BNW638GQ

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Adult, Mystery

Published: September 19, 2023

-------------------------------------- Society of Gentlemen

Society of Gentlemen is set at a time of incredible privilege for the few and social turmoil for the many. Regency England is torn by war, poverty and social unrest, ruled by a draconian government. People are starving, rioting, rebelling. But the aristocrats dance on, in their glittering existence of balls, gambling, silks and scandal…

The trilogy covers three couples between autumn 1819 and spring 1820.

A young Radical discovers his noble birth and is catapulted into a world of privilege, fashion and murder with a dandy as his guide.

A government official and a revolutionary seditionist find common ground in their unconventional desires, under the threat of the gallows.

And a lord in love with his valet struggles to find a way across the social abyss that divides them.

Each book is a standalone romance but the plots are linked.

Characters and reading order

Society of Gentlemen #0.5: The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh

The youngest son and the blackest sheep in his family, Lord Gabriel Ashleigh never imagined he could sink so low. Though he’s a notoriously bad gambler, he takes on the formidable but strangely alluring Francis Webster, only to lose everything: all his money, the lovely estate he inherited from his aunt, and any hope of future happiness. So it’s a shock when Webster summons him to a private game for a chance to win back his possessions. The stake? If he fails, Ash must surrender his body. Francis has been waiting years for this moment. At Eton, Ash’s elder brother harassed him relentlessly. Now, consumed by lust and rage, Francis is only too happy to exploit Ash’s foolish indiscretions. But as Francis strips the magnificently built youth—first of his family assets, then his clothes—he begins to wonder whether he’s been plotting revenge . . . or exquisite seduction.

Paperback: 32 pages

IISBN-13: 9781101968680

ASIN: B013NIF9U6

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Short Story, Regency

Published: October 27, 2015

Society of Gentlemen #1: A Fashionable Indulgence

When he learns that he could be the heir to an unexpected fortune, Harry Vane rejects his past as a Radical fighting for government reform and sets about wooing his lovely cousin. But his heart is captured instead by the most beautiful, chic man he’s ever met: the dandy tasked with instructing him in the manners and style of the ton. Harry’s new station demands conformity—and yet the one thing he desires is a taste of the wrong pair of lips. After witnessing firsthand the horrors of Waterloo, Julius Norreys sought refuge behind the luxurious facade of the upper crust. Now he concerns himself exclusively with the cut of his coat and the quality of his boots. And yet his protégé is so unblemished by cynicism that he inspires the first flare of genuine desire Julius has felt in years. He cannot protect Harry from the worst excesses of society. But together they can withstand the high price of passion.

Paperback: 264 pages

Audiobook: 8,75 hrs.

ISBN10: 1101886021

ISBN: 9781101886021

ASIN: ‎ B00QP3ROUA

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Regency

Published: August 11, 2015

Society of Gentlemen #2: A Seditious Affair

Silas Mason has no illusions about himself. He’s not lovable, or even likable. He’s an overbearing idealist, a Radical bookseller and pamphleteer who lives for revolution . . . and for Wednesday nights. Every week he meets anonymously with the same man, in whom Silas has discovered the ideal meld of intellectual companionship and absolute obedience to his sexual commands. But unbeknownst to Silas, his closest friend is also his greatest enemy, with the power to see him hanged—or spare his life.   A loyal, well-born gentleman official, Dominic Frey is torn apart by his affair with Silas. By the light of day, he cannot fathom the intoxicating lust that drives him to meet with the Radical week after week. In the bedroom, everything else falls away. Their needs match, and they are united by sympathy for each other’s deepest vulnerabilities. But when Silas’s politics earn him a death sentence, desire clashes with duty, and Dominic finds himself doing everything he can to save the man who stole his heart.

Paperback: 251 pages

Audiobook: 7.5 hrs.

ISBN10: 1101886064

ISBN: 9781101886069

ASIN: ‎ ‎ B00V2AYYF4

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Regency, BDSM

Published: December 15, 2015

Society of Gentlemen #2.5: A Confidential Problem

Cyprian and Silas bonding. Free read is available here

Society of Gentlemen #3: A Gentleman's Position

Among his eccentric though strictly principled group of friends, Lord Richard Vane is the confidant on whom everyone depends for advice, moral rectitude, and discreet assistance. Yet when Richard has a problem, he turns to his valet, a fixer of unparalleled genius—and the object of Richard’s deepest desires. If there is one rule a gentleman must follow, it is never to dally with servants. But when David is close enough to touch, the rules of class collide with the basest sort of animal instinct: overpowering lust.   For David Cyprian, burglary and blackmail are as much in a day’s work as bootblacking—anything for the man he’s devoted to. But the one thing he wants for himself is the one thing Richard refuses to give: his heart. With the tension between them growing to be unbearable, David’s seemingly incorruptible master has left him no choice. Putting his finely honed skills of seduction and manipulation to good use, he will convince Richard to forget all about his well-meaning objections and give in to sweet, sinful temptation.

Paperback: 246 pages

Audiobook: 8 hrs.

ISBN10: 1101886072

ISBN: 9781101886076

ASIN: ‎ B011G3HIFE

Buy on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Other

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, M/M, Regency, BDSM

Published: April 5, 2016

Society of Gentlemen: A Private Miscellany EPILOGUE

In which letters fly all over Europe, and Silas keeps a promise to his newly knighted lover. Free read is available here

-------------------------------------- England World

England World #1: Proper English

England, 1902. A shooting party at the Earl of Witton’s remote country house is a high treat for champion shot Patricia Merton—until unexpected guests turn the social atmosphere dangerously sour. That’s not Pat’s biggest problem. She’s visiting her old friend, the Earl’s heir Jimmy Yoxall—but she wants to spend a lot more time with Jimmy’s fiancée. The irrepressible Miss Fenella Carruth, with her laughing eyes and lush curves, is the most glorious woman Pat’s ever met, and it quickly becomes impossible to remember why she needs to stay at arm’s length. But while the women’s attraction grows, the tensions at Rodington Court get worse. Affairs, secrets, betrayals, and blackmail come to light. And when a body is discovered with a knife between the shoulderblades, it’s going to take Pat and Fen’s combined talents to prevent the murderer destroying all their lives.

England World #2: Think of England

England, 1904. Two years ago, Captain Archie Curtis lost his friends, fingers, and future to a terrible military accident. Alone, purposeless and angry, Curtis is determined to discover if he and his comrades were the victims of fate, or of sabotage. Curtis’s search takes him to an isolated, ultra-modern country house, where he meets and instantly clashes with fellow guest Daniel da Silva. Effete, decadent, foreign, and all-too-obviously queer, the sophisticated poet is everything the straightforward British officer fears and distrusts. As events unfold, Curtis realizes that Daniel has his own secret intentions. And there’s something else they share—a mounting sexual tension that leaves Curtis reeling. As the house party’s elegant facade cracks to reveal treachery, blackmail and murder, Curtis finds himself needing clever, dark-eyed Daniel as he has never needed a man before…

England World #2.5: Song for a Viking

The last chapter or so of Think of England from Daniel’s point of view. Free read is available here

England World/ Will Darling Adventures : How Goes the World? EPILOGUE

Archie attends a house party. Will goes to a club. Free read is available here

-------------------------------------- Lilywhite Boys

London 1895. Jerry Crozier and Templeton Lane are the Lilywhite Boys: a pair of jewel thieves with a knack for infiltrating high society and getting away clean. They’re ruthless, shameless, and incredibly slippery. Nobody has ever managed to pin down the Lilywhite Boys.

Yet.

Lilywhite Boys #0.5: The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter

Music-hall singer Miss Christiana is in serious debt, and serious trouble. She owes more than she can pay to a notorious criminal, and now he plans to make an example of her. There’s no way out. But Christiana has an admirer. Stan Kamarzyn has watched her sing for a year and he doesn’t want to see her get hurt. Stan’s nobody special–just a dodgy bloke from Bethnal Green–but he’s got useful friends. Friends who can get a girl out of trouble, for a price. Christiana’s not sure what it will cost her… The two slowly reach an understanding. But Christiana is no criminal, and she can’t risk getting mixed up with the law. What will happen when Stan’s life as the fence for the notorious Lilywhite Boys brings trouble to his doorstep?

Lilywhite Boys #1: Any Old Diamonds

Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes is the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, with a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary—so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it. The Duke’s remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: he’ll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec’s new best friend. But Jerry is a dangerous man: controlling, remote, and devastating. He effortlessly teases out the lonely young nobleman’s most secret desires, and soon he’s got Alec in his bed—and the palm of his hand. Or maybe not. Because as the plot thickens, betrayals, secrets, new loves, and old evils come to light. Now the jewel thief and the aristocrat must keep up the pretence, find their way through a maze of privilege and deceit, and confront the truth of what’s between them…all without getting caught.

Lilywhite Boys #2: Gilded Cage

Once upon a time a boy from a noble family fell in love with a girl from the gutter. It went as badly as you’d expect. Seventeen years later, Susan Lazarus is a renowned detective, and Templeton Lane is a jewel thief. She’s tried to arrest him, and she’s tried to shoot him. They’ve never tried to talk. Then Templeton is accused of a vicious double murder. Now there’s a manhunt out for him, the ports are watched, and even his best friends have turned their backs. If he can’t clear his name, he’ll hang. There’s only one person in England who might help Templeton now…assuming she doesn’t want to kill him herself.

Lilywhite Boys #3: Masters In This Hall SPINOFF

John Garland was in love: now he’s in disgrace. He’s jobless, alone, and determined to avenge himself on the thief who ruined his life. All he wants for Christmas is to see Barnaby Littimer in gaol. Barnaby has secured a job running the extravagant traditional Christmas at a rich man’s country house. John intends to thwart whatever he’s up to. But amid the festivity, the halls are decked with unexpected dangers. And John will need to decide if he can trust Barnaby one more time…

Lilywhite Boys #3.5: White Wedding EPILOGUE

Susan is getting married; Alec and Barnaby are bonding, or at least drinking. Free read is available in PDF or Epub

-------------------------------------- Sins of the Cities

Sins of the Cities is written in the spirit of the Victorian sensation novel (plots, shenanigans, murder, mystery, fog, secrets and scandals). It’s London 1873. As one of the worst fogs of the nineteenth century closes in on the city, long-buried secrets are crawling into the light, and dragging all sorts of trouble with them.

The trilogy centres on a group of friends who meet at the Jack and Knave, a club for ladies and gentlemen of unconventional persuasion.

Clem Talleyfer is an unassuming lodging-house keeper who just wants a quiet life; Nathaniel Roy is a lawyer turned journalist who likes nothing more than a crusade; Mark Braglewicz is a private enquiry agent and a bit of a tough nut. And all three are about to find themselves dragged into a long-simmering family secret that turns deadly.

Sins of the Cities #1: An Unseen Attraction

Lodging-house keeper Clem Talleyfer prefers a quiet life. He’s happy with his hobbies, his work—and especially with his lodger Rowley Green, who becomes a friend over long fireside evenings together. If only neat, precise, irresistible Mr. Green were interested in more than friendship... Rowley just wants to be left alone—at least until he meets Clem, with his odd, charming ways and his glorious eyes. Two quiet men, lodging in the same house, coming to an understanding . . . it could be perfect. Then the brutally murdered corpse of another lodger is dumped on their doorstep and their peaceful life is shattered. Now Clem and Rowley find themselves caught up in a mystery, threatened on all sides by violent men, with a deadly London fog closing in on them. If they’re to see their way through, the pair must learn to share their secrets—and their hearts.

Sins of the Cities #2: An Unnatural Vice

In the sordid streets of Victorian London, unwanted desire flares between two bitter enemies. Crusading journalist Nathaniel Roy is determined to expose spiritualists who exploit the grief of bereaved and vulnerable people. First on his list is the so-called Seer of London, Justin Lazarus. Nathaniel expects him to be a cheap, heartless fraud. He doesn’t expect to meet a man with a sinful smile and the eyes of a fallen angel—or that a shameless swindler will spark his desires for the first time in years. Justin feels no remorse for the lies he spins during his séances. His gullible clients simply bore him. Hostile, disbelieving, utterly irresistible Nathaniel is a fascinating challenge. And as their battle of wills and wits heats up, Justin finds he can’t stop thinking about the man who’s determined to ruin him. But Justin and Nathaniel are linked by more than their fast-growing obsession with one another. They are both caught up in an aristocratic family’s secrets, and Justin holds information that could be lethal. As killers, fanatics, and fog close in, Nathaniel is the only man Justin can trust—and, perhaps, the only man he could love.

Sins of the Cities #3: An Unsuitable Heir

On the trail of an aristocrat’s secret son, enquiry agent Mark Braglewicz finds his quarry in a music hall, performing as a trapeze artist with his twin sister. Graceful, beautiful, elusive, and strong, Pen Starling is like nobody Mark’s ever met—and everything he’s ever wanted. But the long-haired acrobat has an earldom and a fortune to claim. Pen doesn’t want to live as any sort of man, least of all a nobleman. The thought of being wealthy, titled, and always in the public eye is horrifying. He likes his life now—his days on the trapeze, his nights with Mark. And he won’t be pushed into taking a title that would destroy his soul. But there’s a killer stalking London’s foggy streets, and more lives than just Pen’s are at risk. Mark decides he must force the reluctant heir from music hall to manor house, to save Pen’s neck. Betrayed by the one man he thought he could trust, Pen never wants to see his lover again. But when the killer comes after him, Pen must find a way to forgive—or he might not live long enough for Mark to make amends.

--------------------------------------

[aus-wnt]

⚽ Clare Hunt 83' (assist by Ashleigh Neville) vs Liverpool FC - 06.10.24 WSL

[womensworldtour]

Tour de France Femmes begins Monday!

After the long pause from the 2024 Paris Olympics (which has been pretty great, tbh) we finally begin the Tour de France Femmes on Monday, August 12!

We're looking at eight stages, with the riders rolling out from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where they will spend most of three days on 2.5 stages around Rotterdam. We say 2.5 stages, because Tuesday features two different stages, a short sprint stage and then an evening time trial. We don't know how we feel about these types of stages, but at least it will showcase different riders' talents.

Stage 4 on Wednesday will see the riders cross into Belgium and travel parts of the routes for Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, including the famous hills like the Cauberg and the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons. And then finally, on Thursday, the Tour de France actually reaches France, and we will see increasingly mountainous stages that should determine the general classification, including finales on Le Grand-Bornand and the infamous Alp d'Huez.

As for GC, the odds-on favorite has to be defending TdFF champ Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), who as we have said this year, is the best climber and stage-racer in the world right now. Cycling News has a great run-down for the other challengers, however, which we recommend.

It will be interesting to see how other strong teams like Canyon-SRAM and Lidl-Trek can put SD Worx under pressure. We've seen that in the Tour de Suisse and it can be done, but frankly, Vollering is so dominant right now that she might still win even if she's isolated on half the stages. She is just that good. Keep an eye on riders like Neve Bradbury (Canyon-SRAM) or Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) as possible spoilers, and definitely contenders for the podium.

We honestly don't know how the fight for the points jersey will go, and we're excited to see how that plays out across the stages. Defending green jersey wearer Marianne Vos (Visma Lease-a-Bike) will want to repeat, but she'll have some serious competition from Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), who is still the fastest pure sprinter in the world and has shown she can get over the hills remarkably well. We'd love to see Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) back to winning ways after being off the bike due to injury.

We are less optimistic about the competition for the polka-dot jersey, and think it will likely be swept up by the GC winner. But that isn't always the case, like in the Giro this year, and we'd love to see some breakaway action and a non-GC rider try to hold onto that jersey.

We also expect several teams to hunt stages and keep several of the stages entertaining. EF-Oatly-Cannondale has been on a rampage this year, scooping up stages in the Vuelta Feminina and the Giro d'Italia Women, and they have the firepower to do it again with Alison Jackson, Kim Cadzow, Clara Emond, or Kristen Faulkner. Another team to watch is AG Insurance-Soudal, which has options in Tour Down Under champ Sarah Gigante, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, and Giro mountains classification winner Justine Ghekiere.

And finally, we expect to be surprised! We'd love to see a new talent announce herself on the biggest stage of the season, that's part of what we love about bike racing. This year's course is less likely to be an SD Worx show like last year (5 out of 8 stages), particularly with Lotte Kopecky not on the start list, so we are looking forward to some surprise moves and performances that will keep the racing interesting all the way to the top of Alp d'Huez!

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

November 2024 - Part 2

November 8 - Taylor is nominated for 6 Grammys:

Album of the year - TTPD

Record of the year - Fortnight feat. Post Malone

Song of the year - Fortnight feat. Post Malone

Best pop vocal album - TTPD

Best music video - Fortnight feat. Post Malone

Us - Gracie Abram’s feat. Taylor Swift

Taylor is seen out in NYC dining with Zoe Kravitz & friends at Chez Margaux.

November 10 - Chiefs v Broncos, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Travis arrives ahead of game

Taylor arrives at Arrowhead with her parents.

Travis Kelce scored the first touchdown for The Chiefs. (x)

The Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Broncos 16 -14 with an Adrenalin filled ending, the Chiefs blocked a game deciding field goal to remain undefeated this season 9 - 0

Post game celebrations

November 13 - Travis Kelce attends Jelly Roll concert with Clyde.

November 14 - The Eras Tour, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON N1

My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys x This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things (guitar) & False God x tis the damn season (piano)

November 15 - The Eras Tour, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON N2

I don’t wanna live forever x Mine (guitar) & evermore x Peter (piano) N2

Travis’ friends Ross Travis and Reggie King attend the Eras Tour and photographed with Austin Swift.

November 16 - Taylor posts her upcoming release: The Anthology on CD & Vinyl.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

Taylor Swift's 'THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY' will feature four bonus acoustic tracks:

Fortnight

Down Bad

But Daddy I Love Him

Guilty As Sin?

- The Eras Tour, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON N3

Tammy Reid & Tavia Hunt (wives of Chiefs Coach & Chiefs Owner) attend The Eras Tour photographed with Andrea & Scott Swift

Taylor mimics Travis’ dance move during Midnight Rain

Us x Out Of The Woods with guest Gracie Abrams (guitar) & You’re On Your Own Kid x Long Story Short (piano)

Travis Kelce arrives in Buffalo ahead of game.

November 17 - Chiefs v Bills

Buffalo Bills defeat Chiefs 30-21. This is the first loss of the season for the KC Chiefs. Taylor did not attend.

Travis with Jelly Roll and Clyde

November 20 - Taylor at Jean-Georges private members’ club Chez Margaux with Faith Hill, Ashleigh Avignon & Este Haim

Taylor wins the ARIA for most popular artist (x)

November 21 - The Eras Tour, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON N4

Mr Perfectly Fine x Better Than Revenge (guitar) & State of grace x Labyrinth (piano)

November 22 - The Eras Tour, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON N5

Ours x The Last Great American Dynasty (guitar) & Cassandra x Mad Woman x I Did Something Bad (piano)

November 23 - The Eras Tour, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON N6

Ed Kelce attends The Eras Tour - his first show. He is wearing a suit and trading friendship bracelets - adorable! (x)

Sparks Fly x Message In A Bottle (guitar) & You’re Losing Me x How Did It End (piano)

Taylor gets emotional during the Champaign Problems speech

Travis arrives in Charlotte, NC ahead of game.

Go to previous update - November 2024 part 1

Go to next update -> November 2024 part 3

Return to the timeline

[volatilehqs]

mwf fcs?

Algumas que acho que não citei mas adoraria ver são courtney eaton, ella purnell, adeline rudolph, samantha logan, miya horcher, florence pugh, camila mendes, adria arjona, madison bailey, hannah kepple, liza soberano, lizeth selene, hunter schafer, zion moreno, savannah lee smith, malia pyles, maia reficco, bailee madison, sadie soverall, taylor russell, jaz sinclair, ashleigh murray, rachel zegler, danielle campbell, kaylee kaneshiro, danielle rose russell, kaia gerber, ashley moore, melis sezen, hande ercel, zaria simone, kat mcnamara, cierra ramirez, auli'i cravalho, lana condor, maitreyi ramakrishnan, minnie mills, jane de leon, kathryn bernardo, milly alcock, aisha dee, sasha pieterse, giorgia wingham, blu hunt, anna lambe, marina ruy barbosa, emma mackey, olivia scott welch, kiana madiera, madison iseman, maia mitchell, odeya rush, halston sage, lulu antarisksa, kylie verzosa, emilija baranac, isabella gomez, amber midthunder, simone ashley, humberly gonzalez, phoebe dynevor, kylie bunbury, fiona palomo, alisha boe, amanda arcuri, chelsea clark, antonia gentry, sara waisglass, kathryn newton, gideon aldon e a maravilhosa anya chalotra

[palmviewfm]

mw?

there's a ton of mw faces that we'd love to see here ! i put it under a read more since it's a large list. but bring us whoever you've got the muse for, ofc !

taylor zakhar perez, nicholas galitzine, noah lalonde, danny griffin, jonathan daviss, drew starkey, darren barnett, elias kacavas, emilio sakraya, evan mock, eli brown, glen powell, zane phillips, john boyega, jordan gonzalez, austin butler, henry zaga, felix mellard, thomas weatherall, miles teller, sam claflin, penn badgely, chace crawford, lewis tan, lucas bravo, kit harrington, joseph morgan, josh segarra, harry shum jr, chris pine, ryan gosling, alex saxon, theo james, andrew garfield, gregg sulkin, ben levin, adam brody, logan lerman, pedro pascal, tom holland, mason gooding, lucien laviscount, ryan gosling, rege jean page, froy guiterrez, tanner buchanan, xolo mariduena, robert scott wilson, carson boatman, ross lynch, algee smith, cody christian, adam dimarco, alex fitzalan, daniel ezra, anthony keyvan, keith powers, keiynan lonsdale, joseph quinn, aramis knight, antonio cipriano, derek luh, leo howard, leo woodall, brandon perea, dacre montgomery, diego tinoco, mena massoud, maxence danet-fauxel, lorenzo zurzolo, michael cimino, paul mescal, callum turner, d'pharoh woon-a-tai, jordah fisher, josh heuston,l alex meraz, kiowa gordon, tom glynn carney, avan jogia, dylan minnette, josh hutcherson, assad zaman, gabriel basso, ross butler, robert buckley, james lafferty, david casteneda, brandon soo hoo, grifflin gluck, grant gustin, dylan wang, asa germann, alejandro spietzer, colin ford, alex landi, alfred enoch, aria shahghasemi, anthony turpel, cha eunwoo, aj saudin, danny ramirez, david iacono, chris briney, sabrina carpenter, ayo edibiri, madison bailey, samantha logan, kim doyeon, nichola coughlan, madison davenport, indiana evans, india eisley, lyrica okano, virginia gardner, liana liberato, kiersey clemons, lindsey morgan, liv hewson, emma d'arcy, victoria pedretti, logan browning, lola tung, louriza tronco, lorenza izzo, lovie simone, luca hollestelle, hunter schafer, zion moreno, taylor russell, laura harrier, lana condor, lauren tsai, anna sawai, jane de leon, kylie bunbury, kathryn bernardo, chienna filomeno, phoebe dynevor, simone ashley, maitreyi ramakrishnan, courtney eaton, nicole maines, jessica alexander, peyton alex smith, ella purnell, sophie neilsse, dev patel, rahul kohli, natalia dyer, danielle campbell, ella balinska, bailey bass, jessica sula, emma mackey, mia goth, melissa barerra, alva bratt, kiana lede, kiana madiera, olivia scott welch, kiernan shipka, meg donnelly, camila mendes, brianne tju, maddie hasson, dianna agron, emilija baranac, danielle rose russell, kaylee kaneshiro, isabella gomez, jenny boyd, lulu antarisksa, josephine langford, lizeth selene, marina ruy barbosa, kaya scodelario, katherine mcnamara, chloe rose robertson, kathryn newton, kristine froseth, pat chayanit, davika hoorne, mint ranchrawee, rabia soyturk, hande ercel, aslihan malbora, melisa pamuk, katie stevens, meghann fahy, merrit patterson, adelaide kane, alexxis lemire, adria arjona, amanda arcuri, sadie soverall, sara waisglass, chelsea clark, blu hunt, antonia gentry, brianne howey, bianca santos, bianca lawson, phoebe tonkin, shelley hennig, bruna marquezine, brittany o'grady, crystal reed, charithra chandran, jessie mei li, halston sage, carlson young, willa fitzgerald, halle bailey, chloe bridges, chloe bailey, margot robbie, anne hathaway, lisa yamada, raven bowens, olivia rose keegan, camryn grimes, gideon aldon, tiera skovbye, amy adams, jane levy, angela bassett, anya taylor joy, anya chalotra, ashleigh murray, lucy hale, troian bellisario, sophia bush, bethany joy lenz, shantel vansanten, hilarie burton, shay mitchell, sasha pieterse, janel parrish, malia pyles, bailee madison, chandler kinney, jordan alexander, zaria simone, auli'i cravalho, bebe wood, angourie rice, renee rapp, ashley moore, ashley park, aisha dee, alisha boe, elizabeth lail, alia bhatt, reina hardesty, victoria justice, liz gillies, bahar sahin, amber midthunder, gemma chan, madchen amick, marisol nichols, madison mclaughlin, malese jow, maris racal, maya hawke, jessica chastain, ana de armas, angela sarafyan, and anna lambe !

[austxnland]

PBs MASCULINOS

Bill Nighy (datunni)

Timothée Chalamet (Kimbra)

Alexander Skarsgård (Rhoda)

Ewan Mitchell (Pixerina)

Daniel Sharman (Mar)

Henry Cavill (leonoratupelomemola)

Theo James (prudencehalliwell)

Lorenzo Zurzolo (masterrpg)

Nicholas Galitzine (Motopapi)

Maxence Danet (Cinders)

Damian Hardung (Lotillo)

Jude Law (Aspen)

Ben Barnes (Aspen)

Aaron Taylor Johnson (Theorp)

Sam Caflin (herfuckinghighness)

Ken Bek (Strong)

David Morrisey (mariemaudite)

Josh O'Connor (Murdoch)

Collin Farrel (Luka)

Luke Evans (Aquiles)

Johnny Depp (fitzalanhoward)

Leo Suter (Wonderwall)

Anar Khalilov (ladycerise)

Kylle Soller (Dormer)

Leo Woodall (aqua)

Jonathan Bailey (Tilney)

Lee Pace (Vinda)

Jack Lowden (Prince)

Michiel Huisman (Apolo)

Jonathan Bailey (Disso)

Guy Remmers (Ese)

Logan Marshall-Green (Ruffian)

Luke Newton (Pajarito)

Tom Hiddleston (Silkyy)

Douglas Booth (Kai)

Leonardo Di Caprio (Ashurbanipal)

Freddy Carter (Bram)

Danny Griffin (missmyowndream)

Michael Fassbender (Lady A)

Mads Mikkelsen (Hamish)

Austin Butler (lastberserker)

Max Irons (Archibald)

Louis Garrel (Queensberry)

PBS FEMENINOS

PBS FEMENINOS

Sarah Gadon (datnunni)

Marina Aleksandrova (the-modified-girl)

Hannah Dodd (leireg)

Dominique Davenport (beautiful–ghost)

Elizabeth Debicki (Rhoda)

Michelle Dockery (Pixerina)

Lucy Boynton (Mars)

Alyda Grace (dillahokk)

Kaya Scodelario (dillahokk)

Yuliya Khlynina (Mar)

Nicola Coughlan (konohaironfist)

Harriet Herbig-Matte (Sadri)

Phoebe Dynevor (herfuckinghighness)

Taylor Swift (ethxreall)

Anya Taylor-Joy

Elle Fanning (Murdoch)

Jenna Coleman (Luka)

Laura Berlin (Lastberserker)

Arielle Chartrand (Moonpie)

Abigail Cowen (missmyowndream)

Emma Watson (ethxreall)

Bella Heathcote (H3)

Alina Kovalenko (ladycerise)

Katie McGrath (Moonlight)

Ella Purnell (aqua)

Florence Pugh (Milanesa)

Elina Kataeva (Lotillo)

Gabriella Wilde (Kairi)

Lily James (anya)

Jessica Barden (Kai)

Adelaide Kane (Kiki)

Emmy Rossum (Milanesa)

Florence Hunt (Golden)

Harriet Slater

Nikki Beiar (Gianna)

Simone Ashley (Foreigner)

Sara Bolger (Arien)

Sabrina Bartlett (Rocky)

Ashlie Atkinson (Vinda)

Emeraude Toubia

Alicia Vikander (BG)

Hailee Steinfeld (Tete)

Ashleigh Stewa (Tete)

Phoebe Tonkin (Erismoony)

Deva Cassel (delicatewerewolfblaze)

Noomi Rapace (MagicRules)

Lea Sydoux (Blue)

Anna Sahaydachna (Snowflake)

Natalie Dormer (Garbanza)

Winnie Harlow (Chantelle Brown-Young) Lady A.

Ana de Armas (Isolde)

Eleanor Tomlinson (Blacksver)

Anna Sitkina (Milanesa)

Holliday Grainger (Rosamund)

Kim Cattrall (Montrose)

Kristine Froseth (kairi)

MONARQUÍA

Hijo varón (28 años) de la princesa Diana Elizabeth. (Kimbra) Hija de la Princesa Diana - Mujer. 23. Soltera. (leireg) Príncipe Philipp Joseph Laurence Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Rhoda) Esposa príncipe Philippe (Pixerina) Hija de 19 años de la princesa Charlotte (Mars) Gemelo hijo mayor de Princesa Eugenia Justine Hildegard Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Mar) Gemelo hijo menor) de Princesa Eugenia Justine Hildegard Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Golden) Hija de 20 años de Princesa Diana (dillahokk) Hijo de 18 años del príncipe Archibald Leopold (masterrpg) Hijo de 20 años del Príncipe Archibald Leopold (Cinders) Primer hijo de la Princesa Diana. Príncipe Edward George Charles Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Aspen) Hija de 23 de la Princesa Charlotte Eloise Cecile Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Milanesa) Hija de 20 de la Princesa Charlotte Eloise Cecile Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Kairi) Hija de 25 años de la Princesa Charlotte Eloise Cecile Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Anya) Hijo varón de 32 del Príncipe Edward (Prince) Hija de 23 años soltera de la princesa Aurora (melliza) (Gianna) Hija de 23 años soltera de la princesa Aurora (melliza) (Erismoony) Hija de 27 años del Príncipe Edward - Princesa (fitzalanhoward) Hijo de 30 años del Príncipe Edward (Kai) Hijo varón, 23 años, de la Princesa EugeniaJustine Hildegard Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Lotillo) Hija Mujer de 25 años de la Princesa Aurora Epiphanía Victoria Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Tete) Princesa Amelia Anne Aurora Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Snowflake)

MONARQUÍA

Hijo varón (28 años) de la princesa Diana Elizabeth. (Kimbra)

Hija de la Princesa Diana - Mujer. 23. Soltera. (leireg)

Príncipe Philipp Joseph Laurence Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Rhoda)

Esposa príncipe Philippe (Pixerina)

Hija de 19 años de la princesa Charlotte (Mars)

Gemelo hijo mayor de Princesa Eugenia Justine Hildegard Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Mar)

Gemelo hijo menor) de Princesa Eugenia Justine Hildegard Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Golden)

Hija de 20 años de Princesa Diana (dillahokk)

Hijo de 18 años del príncipe Archibald Leopold (masterrpg)

Hijo de 20 años del Príncipe Archibald Leopold (Cinders)

Primer hijo de la Princesa Diana. Príncipe Edward George Charles Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Aspen)

Hija de 23 de la Princesa Charlotte Eloise Cecile Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Milanesa)

Hija de 20 de la Princesa Charlotte Eloise Cecile Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Kairi)

Hija de 25 años de la Princesa Charlotte Eloise Cecile Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Anya)

Hijo varón de 32 del Príncipe Edward (Prince)

Hija de 23 años soltera de la princesa Aurora (melliza) (Gianna)

Hija de 23 años soltera de la princesa Aurora (melliza) (Erismoony)

Hija de 27 años del Príncipe Edward - Princesa (fitzalanhoward)

Hijo de 30 años del Príncipe Edward (Kai)

Hijo varón, 23 años, de la Princesa EugeniaJustine Hildegard Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Lotillo)

Hija Mujer de 25 años de la Princesa Aurora Epiphanía Victoria Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha. (Tete)

Princesa Amelia Anne Aurora Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha (Snowflake)

TÍTULOS NOBILIARIOS

Lord Cavendish (Duque de Devonshire) - Condado Devonshire (datnunni)

Conde y Condesa de Essex (Earl and Countess of Essex). (the-modified-girl)

Condado de Carlisle (beautiful--ghost)

Ducado de York (Rhoda)

Ducado Dorset (Ballerina)

Lady Cavendish (Hija menor del Duque de Devonshire) - Condado Devonshire. (Mar) [Pactado con datnunni]

Familia Mountbatten Ducado de Sussex (Hija) (dillahokk)

Duquesa de Wellington (Duke and Duchess of Wellington). Familia: Wellesley. (konohaironfist)

Lady Cavendish (Hija del Duque de Devonshire) - Condado Devonshire. (herfuckinghighness)

Lord Cavendish (Hijo mayor del Duque de Devonshire) - Condado Devonshire. (herfuckinghighness)

Barón y Baronesa de Leighton (Baron and Baroness of Leighton). (mariemaudite)

Ducado de Buccleuch. (Murdoch)

Ducado de Malborough. Churchill. (Angie)

Duque de Norfolk - Condado de Norfolk (Theorp)

Condado de Bedford (Strong)

Baronía de Berkeley (Aquiles)

Baronía de Byron (lastberserker)

Duque y Duquesa de Northumberland (fitzalanhoward)

Condado de Warwick (Apolo)

Condado de Derby (Wonderwall).

Condado de Montrose (Montorse)

Vizconde de Bridport (aqua)

Vizconde y Vizcondesa de Falkland (Viscount and Viscountess of Falkland). Familia: Cary. (H3)

Conde y Condesa de Shrewsbury (Lotillo)

Ducado de Cornwall (Aspen)

Ducado e Lovelace (Baron and Baroness of Lovelace). Familia: King. (leonoratupelomemola)

Lord Lennox (Hijo del duque de Richmond) para VInla

Marquesado de Bath (Foreigner)

Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury. Familia: Cecil. (Silkyy)

- Vizconde y Vizcondesa de Gage (Viscount and Viscountess of Gage). Familia: Gage. (Ese)

Marqués de Winchester (Lady A)

Ducado de Argyll (lastberserker)

Ducado de Hamilton (Pajarito)

Barón y Baronesa de Montagu (Baron and Baroness of Montagu) (D)

Duque de Buccleuch y Queensberry (konohaironfus)

Ducado de Athol (Milanesa)

Ducado de Gloucester (Blacksver)

[movies-to-add-to-your-tbw]

Title: Red One

Rating: PG-13

Director: Jake Kasdan

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Wyatt Hunt, Lanz Duffy, Marc Evan Jackson, Ashleigh Domangue, Cody Easterbrook, Jon Rudnitsky

Release year: 2024

Genres: action, fantasy, comedy

Blurb: After Santa Claus (codename: Red One) is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security must team up with the world's most infamous tracker in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.

[popentertainment-moviereviews]

RED ONE (2024)

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, JK Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Marc Evan Jackson, Jenna Kanell, Clayton Cooper, Lanz Duffy, Makana David, Samantha Benson, Ashleigh Domangue, Cody Easterbrook, Nikki Garza, Abel Arias and the voice of Reinaldo Faberlle.

Screenplay by Chris Morgan.

Directed by Jake Kasdan.

Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios. 123 minutes. Rated PG-13.

Once upon a time, in the movies, Santa Claus was just a hefty, jolly, bearded guy in a red and white suit who went about doing good deeds and distributing toys and was a good friend to reindeer. Somewhere along the line, though – probably about the time of How the Grinch Stole Christmas in the 1966 TV special – Hollywood decided to make him darker. However, the Grinch wasn’t really Santa, he was a bad guy who was masquerading as the St. Nick.

The real dark quirky times probably started early in the millennium with the Billy Bob Thornton starrer Bad Santa. But, again, this wasn’t the real Santa, it was just an alcoholic con artist running a scam as a mall Santa.

Soon enough the movies started making the questionable choices and ethics about the real Santa, though, and Christmas movies are just turning into genre pastiches. Forget peace, goodwill and joy to the world. Even the commercial aspects of the holiday, like presents, are now just getting cursory glances.

Just last year, Santa was portrayed as a dirty, homeless alcoholic who was more than willing to savagely mow through some naughty criminals in Violent Night. Now, less than a year after slasher Santa, why not make him a ripped and unpredictable action star, and slip him into a film that seems like an unholy merge of Fast and Furious, a particularly obnoxious mythological Marvel movie and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians?

Which brings us to Red One.

Now, actually, Santa is not in a huge chunk of Red One, because the film is about Santa being kidnapped just days before Christmas. This is actually a real shame, because casting JK Simmons as Santa is by far the smartest decision made in this film, even if they play up some of the wrong things about the character. Simmons has an enviable physique for a man of his age, but showing how buff Santa is goes in direct contradiction of holiday lore. Still, Simmons is the best thing in Red One, and when he is not on screen the film suffers for it.

So, if this film is only tangentially about Santa, what is it about? Well, mostly a mish mash of vague holiday ideas pureed through tired action tropes that have been done better – and made much more sense – in many other movies.

In the world of Red One, the North Pole and the toy factory are like a military operation, full of regulations, cutting edge technology, and a strange amount of odd alien creatures. (Walking talking grizzly bears, for example, or elves which look like undercooked versions of Harry Potter’s Dobby. Even the half-brother of Santa is an evil looking goat troll.)

The real stars here, though, are Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, both slumming for a relatively easy paycheck.

Johnson plays Cal, Santa’s stone-faced head bodyguard, the leader of Enforcement Logistics and Fortification (E.L.F., get it? Okay, it isn’t funny.) He has just decided to retire from his job after hundreds of years, because of course he did. Getting ready for his final trip, he is thrown into saving Santa (code name: Red One) from an evil Icelandic shape-shifting witch (Kiernan Shipka, taking advantage of her witch experience from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) who is determined to take over the holiday and punish everyone on the naughty list.

Evans is Jack, a “level four naughty lister,” who we are introduced to in a prologue where when he was a child, he was charging his cousins for what he called proof that Santa wasn’t real. He has grown up to be an alcoholic, gambling, thieving deadbeat dad who also just happens to be the greatest hacker on the dark web.

When one of his hacks shows the kidnappers how to find Santa, Jack is hunted down by M.O.R.A., the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (lots of weird agencies in this movie). In fact, they do it surprisingly easily considering he is supposed to be an impossible-to-identify specter on the dark web. Jack is forced to help find the big guy with them, taken on a whirlwind tour of tropical islands with killer snowmen, a medieval castle that seems to have been populated by the random alien characters from the Star Wars cantina band sequence, and several other supposedly life-threatening experiences.

Not surprisingly, Cal and Jack, who are immediately antagonistic, grow a grudging respect for each other. And then, completely out of the blue, the film drops a completely gratuitous speech about love, family and the holiday spirit, because they suddenly remembered this was supposed to be a Christmas movie.

I’m not sure who this film is supposed to be for. It is too violent and has too much foul language for kids but is too ridiculous and disjointed for adults. But perhaps that is the answer. Maybe Red One is for no one.

Put Red One on the naughty list and leave a lump of coal in its stocking.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2024 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: November 14, 2024.

[ashleigheckert]

Just where oh where do I even being? My name is probably a good start. However, if you're able to read this, you're able to read my username - which is my name. Ashleigh. Ashleigh Marie Eckert. I was born and raised in the great town of Appaloosa Plains. I wasn't like most girls I grew up around, let alone any of the children I grew up around. I was the only one being raised singlehandedly by my grandparents. Sure, it had its downsides, but I wouldn't have traded it for the world. My parents were in a fatal accident which I thankfully have no recollection of, due the fact I was a mere infant. It was still tragic nonetheless, but it left me to the hands of my adoring grandparents. I did go back and forth between the pair of them but was given sole custody to my mother's parents in Appaloosa Plains. Other than that? My life was pretty normal in comparison to everyone else who lives here! You're either living the farm life or related to someone that is. There are the wealthier, more elitest families in town, but my grandparents always told me they all started off somewhere, like us! I love the farm life. I loved growing up and learning all about breeding, raising, the whole nine yards. My entire adolescence felt equally as normal compared to everyone around me in school, and I'm grateful for my grandparents every day for that. I remember when the second tragedy hit. I just turned twenty a month prior and both of my grandparents passed within a week of one another. It is inevitable given their ages at the time, but I was grief stricken. They were loved within Appaloosa, so everyone rallied together for me and helped me be able to live on my own given the fact I was now technically an adult. Sure, my other grandparents offered to take me in - but I couldn't bare moving. This was my home. All I knew. I unfortunately had to sell the spacious lands, the beautiful barns and all the horses in tow. But now I've got a quaint little home of my own on a decent sized piece of property! I want more than anything to get back into raising horses, it was something that brought me so much joy and peace! But I can't afford that right now. So, with that being said, job hunting is on the way and I'm going to do whatever it takes to harbor my dream life! I hope you guys enjoy my journey as much as I enjoy dictating it here on my blog. Who knows, maybe, if you're in the area, you'll catch me on a dating website, or two! ;) Until next time! - xo Ashleigh

[nicolemaiines]

NICOLEMAIINES’ ALTERNATE FCS: LETITIA WRIGHT EDITION

listed below are some fcs I think would be a good replacement for letitia. since the tags are broken, I haven’t included gif hunt links but I’m happy to help find gif hunts or make gif packs of any of the below suggestions if needed!

alex louder (26)

ashleigh murray (35)

asjha cooper (29)

diamond white (24)

iantha richardson (32)

joy sunday (26)

katherine renee turner (age unknown, 26-31ish)

keeya king (29)

kiki layne (31)

moses ingram (28)

nicole chanel williams (33)

samantha marie ware (31)

[dailyashleighraichu]

disregarding the ask game you have up for a moment,

what Hidden Power types do or would your characters have?

see, i was doing some back-reading and saw the circumstances the titular Ashleigh the Raichu, and saw that she seemingly was bred from competition, which made me wonder to myself “hm, she must have Hidden Power Ice,” which in of itself made me wonder more and more,,,

which bring us back to where we are now.

(also a friend of mine showed me the reference sheet for your Sparky and her strange Adamant nature physical Alolan Raichu build, so that got my brain gears churning and turning even more)

That's actually a pretty good question!

I go on a lil tangent so I'm putting this all under a Read More lol

Since Hidden Power is calculated based on the Pokemon's IVs, it's all based on how they were bred, I assume.

For Ash and Dew, both of them have a Ditto Parent, presumably with 6 IVs. Specifically in the "feral" canon for Dew, that Ditto was meant for breeding competitive Oshawotts, so it's probably safe to assume that Dew also has perfect IVs. By this logic then, his Hidden Power type would be Dark!

For Ashleigh in "feral" canon, that Ditto was also for competitive breeding, and I'd assume that the former trainer would want to have Hidden Power Ice on her as a result, so we'll say she'd have HP Ice for the sake of ease.

As for Coro, Taima, and Joule, they could have a whole range of IVs since their parents in "feral" didn't breed with a Destiny Knot. So I honestly could throw some darts at a board and just go "Eh, that'll work."

Alternatively, I could literally look at the stats of Joule that I have in my Scarlet copy and slap that into a calculator and determine at least HER Hidden Power based on that. But that seems a lil... cheap? I dunno.

Sparky, Lullaby, Pohuka, and Pele all were NOT breed competitively. All but Lullaby were wild caught, so they can literally have anything. Once again, I have them in my Sword copy, so I could determine HP from that.

So, let's throw some darts, I guess!

According to my wheels, here's everyone's Hidden Power types!

Lullaby and Coro have Psychic

Sparky has Steel

Pohuka has Fire

Pele has Electric

Taima and Joule have Ghost

I should mention that I am no way a Competitive Pokemon Player, so all of what I know about IVs and such is strictly from research and pre-existing Shiny Hunting knowledge. So take this all with the biggest grain of salt lol

[marleyelona]

Hey, guys, so I have decided to write a short story for Halloween this year. So, here is a sneak peek. I hope you like it 😄🎃👻

THE SLEEPOVER

A Halloween Special 

Synopsis

WHEN SHY NEWCOMER, LILY RYAN, is dared by the most popular girl in school to spend the night in the haunted Anderson Manor, she reluctantly agrees, hoping to finally fit in. The decaying mansion, shrouded in eerie legends of tragedy and restless spirits, soon reveals its dark secrets. As the night unfolds, Lily, along with her friends, Maya Harper and Kai Williams, must confront not only the supernatural but also their own fears and insecurities. In the heart of the haunted house, they will discover that some dares are far more dangerous than they seem, and fitting in might come at a terrifying price.

👻😴🎃💔

Epigraph

" They thought the scariest part was the house, but it was what they found within themselves that truly haunted them. "

👻😴🎃💔

THE SLEEPOVER | (meet the cast)

LILY RYAN

(ASHLEIGH CUMMINGS)

THE NEW GIRL

"Ghosts? Oh, please! Give me a break. The only thing haunting that place is a bad paint job and a couple of overgrown weeds."

CLAIRE RYAN

(TONI COLLETTE)

THE DEPRESSED MOTHER

"Just remember, Lily, every new beginning is a chance to be exactly who you want to be. Take a deep breath, and know that no matter what happens, you've got this."

ETHAN CLARKE 

(JORDAN RODRIGUES)

THE PRETTY BOY

"This dare might be crazy, but it sounds like the perfect way for me to prove, despite popular belief, I'm not Shay's little bitch. Besides, I've always wanted a story to tell about the time I out-ghosted a haunted house."

SHAY TAYLOR 

(SAMARA WEAVING)

THE HBIC

"The manor's been abandoned for decades, it's the perfect place for a little sleepover. What do you say? Are you brave enough to spend a night here and see if the legend is true?"

MAYA HARPER 

(CHARLOTTE BEST)

THE ECCENTRIC BEST FRIEND

"Oh, come on, Kai! If you're scared of a little creak, you'll never survive the ghosts. Just think of it as the house's way of saying 'hello'." 

KAI WILLIAMS 

(JAMES MAJOOS)

THE GAY BEST FRIEND

"Seriously?! If that noise was a ghost, I'm officially done. I did not sign up for ghost hunting; I signed up for snacks and a movie marathon!"

JESSICA TURNER

(CAITLIN STASEY)

THE MEAN GIRL

"Just remember, if you hear anything strange or feel a chill, you're not alone."

SOPHIE MITCHELL 

(INDIANA EVANS)

THE SECRET SWEETHEART 

"It's the rules. You want in. All you gotta do is survive a night here. We all did."

👻😴🎃💔

THE ANDERSON FAMILY

Phoebe Tonkin as Eleanor Anderson 

Liam Hemsworth as Thomas Anderson 

Mckenna Grace as Charlotte Anderson 

Violet McGraw as Lucy Anderson 

Julian Hilliard as William Anderson 

👻😴🎃💔

DISCLAIMER: I OWN all rights to this story, its plot and its characters.

GRAPHICS: I MAKE the gifs that are used throughout this book. However, on rare occasions I will use gifs I find on google, which I will clarify. Any gifs I haven't made, all rights to those should go to the rightful creator. I also DO the collages, covers, tags and trailers that are made. However plain images such as, outfits, homes and vehicles, are made by A.I.

⚠️ R18+ ⚠️: violence, coarse language, alcohol abuse, mental health issue, self harm, talks of sexuality, discrimination, bullying, possible gore, death and suicide will appear in this book.

👻😴🎃💔

STARTED : August 4, 2024

PUBLISHED : August 6, 2024

COMING SOON : October 31, 2024 

[aster1sque]

✧⋆⋅⋆✧⋆⋅⋆✧ masterlist and faq ✧⋆⋅⋆✧⋆⋅⋆✧

Hello lovely people, i’m Ashleigh!! i like to write, draw and look at pretty aesthetic things. You can find me on ao3 insta and pinterest

please don’t be afraid to interact and say hello!! I’d love to make some friends and talk about literally any ship, topic or theme within the marauders :))

wips:

The Woeful Inevitable | Wolfstar | Raising harry post war au | M | Angsty, slow burn, trauma healing

There was those who understood. Who looked him in the eye, saw a boy beaten down by the world and knew that his fight was over before it even began.

Hidden with the dust in the docs:

A Rose By Another Name | Pandalily | Hogwarts au | T | soft hearted, unknown identities, rival houses, sapphic,

The chaotic nature of a Gryffindor party usually wasn’t Pandora’s thing.

But the rules of their Halloween bash enticed her.

The Lullaby Of Arsonists | Jegulus/Wolfstar & background | creature au | E | Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, vampires, murder, blood & gore, character death, resurrection

His heart was here, cradling him in familiarly foreign hands he recognised as unknown. Hushed and rocked, bloodstained petals of a destroyed meadow, a cold tightness of a forbidden hold, he died.

And died. And died. And died. And-

A Trifecta Of Tribulations | Rosekiller | after Hogwarts au | M | idiots in love, friends to lovers, family issues, drunk teens too afraid to adult, non-canon compliant

No matter when or where or how, Evan Rosier will always amount to being pureblood Evan Rosier, son of Randall Rosier, fourth in line, puppet to the pureblood hierarchy and constitutional expectations for marriage.

Barty just wanted to get high.

Every Essence Leaves An Echo | Wolfstar & background Jegulus | Ghost hunting au | M | spooky, grief, sarcastic ghosts in jars, detective work

Remus had an uncanny talent far beyond his peers for deciphering one scream to the next, predicting a spirits movement before even the bastard energies could.

Unnamed fast and furious/ gang au | Wolfstar & Jegulus | E | dark characters, lots of alcohol and drugs, gambling, injuries

It was only here that sirius ever felt truly present.

His life was a spinning coin, heads or tails, head shot or a rear-end. It spun and spun and spun, getting aster and faster until the speedometer rose. Seventy and eighty, the two cars side by side, battling for room on the one-way road. Head straight forward, the bend up ahead getting closer and closer until the drop felt inevitable.

[glubglub3000]

Chapter 2:

The Lure of Information

In her excitement to rush after more information, Ashleigh hadn’t been careful enough. The warehouse coordinates she’d managed to decipher and track down as an Onychynus meeting point, based on Hunter Association data, was dark and deserted—or so she thought. It looked like a typical hideout or drug moving site, tucked away in a forgotten corner of Linkon City where no one but her and Linkon's best would think to look, but the feeling of something being off was almost unnerving. She was missing something. She had the kind of chills that made her instincts buzz with warning, yet she couldn't pull herself away. The thrill of the hunt was too strong, and she was so close to uncovering more information.

Ashleigh moved silently and expertly through the shadows, her thick-soled boots making almost no noise against the concrete floor. The dim light from the streetlamps outside barely filtered through the grimy shattered cobweb-lined windows, casting long, jagged shadows across the vast, empty space. Her breath was steady, her heart a consistent drumbeat of excitement that matched her rapid pulse. She clutched the hunter's gun in her hands, fingers itching to fire at the slightest hint of trouble. The cold technological piece extended in front of her was a constant reminder of the danger she was walking into. Onychynus was still a secret for a reason.

Her eyes darted around the corners of the building, the glass on the floor, the abandoned equipment, and the random shadows, scanning for any sign of movement. The only sounds were the occasional creak of the building and the quiet scrape and crunch of glass under her boots as she moved.

Feeling the sensation of being watched, she paused, listening carefully for any signs of life. There were no voices, no footsteps, nothing—just the eerie hum of the city beyond the thin walls.

Is this really one of Onychinus' spots?

She was beginning to think she'd make a mistake, though that would be impossible. She was confident in her investigative skills. Determined, she continued to trudge forth further into the worn down warehouse, and that's when she caught a flicker of movement.

Her breath caught in her throat as a shadow darted into her peripheral vision, moving too quickly to identify. She spun, instinctively touching her index to the trigger point of her assigned weapon, but before she could squeeze, a whip-like chain shot out from the darkness, wrapping around her wrists with a sickening snap. Though it was only a strand of visible red energy, it was like a ziptie tightening on her wrists, pulling her forward with brutal force.

Ashleigh's thick rubber soles skidded across the floor as she dug in her heels, trying to keep herself from being dragged toward pitch-blackness, and she barely managed to keep her balance. She cursed under her breath, trying to twist free the entire short time, but the red evol ziptie was too tight.

"Looks like I'll have to wait to get my hands free," Ashleigh spoke boldly, not one to panic. "And when I do, well, you'll see."

Ashleigh was trained in hand to hand combat, but would it be enough if used correctly? The weight of knowing whatever—or whoever—had caught her was weighing on her shoulders, causing her to calculate multiple moves as their evol strength was undeniable. Was this a member left behind to manage the location? Worry surged, but she quickly quelled it, her mind sharp.

Focus. How did you beat Mr. Beanie?

Before she could gather her bearings, a shadow emerged from the pitch black void. The figure who stepped forward had a fluid grace, tall and imposing, yet there was an eerie calmness to his movements. Ashleigh’s heart skipped a beat as her brain took an educated guess of who the silhouette belonged to.

“Caught you... I must admit, I expected a bit more... discretion from a Hunter,” the voice was deep, laced with amusement.

Was this... Sylus?

Ashleigh's pulse surged. She fought against the red energy whip, the anger rising within her, but her words were laced with the same calm authority. “You really thought no one would figure this out? For a secretive organization, Onychynus is fairly sloppy.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Sylus’ lips as he stepped into the low beam of light, lent from the outside street lamps. It highlighted his glowing eyes like rubies. His presence was commanding, and despite herself, Ashleigh’s heart skipped again. She hated how easily he'd unnerved her, thinking he had the upper hand.

“I think you were counting on catching me using the information I planted behind a firewall on the UNICORNS database, so I gave you the respect of meeting you in the flesh. Not too many receive this honor,” he said softly, his voice dripping with a slow, knowing amusement. As he raised a hand, the shadows around him seemed to shift as his masked henchmen also emerged from the darkness, their eyes glinting with mischief.

Ashleigh tugged harder, her breathing steady but urgent. “Let me go. Now.”

“Now, now,” he teased, taking a slow step toward her, the casual confidence in his every move only making her burn. “Where’s the fun in that?”

His gaze softened for a moment, something unreadable flickering across his features. For a brief second, he studied her. Then, the amusement was back, that dangerous edge to his smile. “I sensed your aether core the moment you walked in. You're not going anywhere just yet.”

His voice held an unmistakable undertone of something far darker that made her skin crawl, even as a strange sense of exhilaration began to bubble inside her. Aether cores were rare, and there were people, like him, who would do anything to get them. Knowing this, Ashleigh had still taken the risk.

Her head snapped up, loose curls bouncing as she met the smirking face of the man who was now leaning casually against a stack of crates. He was tall and lithe but muscular with pale skin and white hair that fell just past his collar, like a white rabbit. A tailored black and red suit clung to his frame, and his shadows seemed to bend toward him as if he were their master.

So this is Sylus.

“For a crime boss, you're the last person I expected to see in a place like this,” she said, trying to ignore the fact that her heartbeat was doing funny things. His shadows had started to circle her. “You’re shorter than I imagined.”

His smirk widened, revealing teeth that were just a little too perfect. “And you’re far too clever for your own good, Miss Ashleigh.”

Her stomach dropped. How did he know her name?

“Tell me, what is a brilliant, brash little hunter like you doing poking her nose into Onychynus business?”

“Research for a book club,” she snapped.

He chuckled, a rich, deep sound that sent shivers down her spine. “Ah, I do enjoy a sharp tongue. But you’ll find that I, too, can cut.”

As the energy whip tightened, Ashleigh felt like she was in a corner.

“Curiosity is hard to quell. A few little kittens have already succumbed to their fate,” Sylus murmured, studying her yet again as if he were contemplating fine wine on a menu.

“Let me guess. This is the part where you monologue about how your evil plans. You want my aether core? You'll have to snatch it from my cold, dead body.”

Sylus’s grin softened into something more dangerous. “That was never an issue.” His shadows continued their circle like vultures in wait. “But you’ve piqued my interest. I simply can’t let you walk away... Kieran.”

Ashleigh felt a tight pinch through her hunter's jacket into her arm. Kieran had injected her with something that was fast-acting. Her strength was leaving her body at the speed of words in a sentence. She was becoming incapacitated, tired, and-