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ruakichan · 2 years ago

Text

Title: journey to the end of the shining stars

Ship: Rachel/Ramge

Content Tags: Not Canon Compliant, Pining

Word Count: 5298

Summary: Rachel waited.

After Captain Rudley left, Rachel remained in the Great Hall, waiting for the other rookie to come and introduce himself.

Rachel had noticed him hovering uncertainly during his conversation with Rudley, like a little stray staring in the window and wishing to be let in. Rachel bit back a grin at the mental image, which fit the meek profile of the First Prince of North von Frosty.

Of course, Rachel already knew who he was, previously scouting all members of the King's Guard, old and new, before his arrival. Familiarity with the unfamiliar quelled Rachel's paranoia to manageable levels when surrounded by some of the most powerful political figures on Exos. He didn't have his father's protection if he went a little trigger happy here in Lenombe.

The melancholy facade of Ramge didn't match the tyrannical reputation of his family, and the brief introductory meeting between the King's Guard did little to convince Rachel this was an act. All accounts stated that the son of Shufraken was a black sheep, and Rachel wondered why Shufraken had sent Ramge to receive the highest distinction afforded to a royal scion.

So Rachel waited, pretending to examine the diamond-studded stars embellishing the lavish tapestries lining the Great Hall of the Emperor's palace, watching Ramge hem and haw from the corner of his eye.

Rachel wasn't the type to wait; patience was foreign to him, to his father's exasperation, but he wanted to see if Ramge had even the courage to greet someone who had already established themselves as sympathetic. Ramge hadn't spoken at all when Xiakhan was trashing him, relying on his talking(!) cat—and eventually Rachel—to defend him, and Rachel could tell Ramge had been ashamed and embarrassed by the entire ordeal.

But Rachel could also tell Ramge had very much wanted to denounce Xiakhan and prove him wrong. As Xiakhan had droned on, a spark had begun smoldering in those red eyes—a burning desire to be accepted and respected in this new place—but it was soon smothered by insecurity. In the end, nothing had passed Ramge's lips, head bowed low in humiliation.

So in Rachel's mind, this was a test. Surely this mouse of a prince, dreaming of becoming a lion, could manage a hello.

It took a few minutes and a few false starts, but Ramge did finally come over to awkwardly express his gratitude. By the end of their short conversation, Rachel, who, in his own loneliness, might've projected too much on a boy he had just met, felt the wait had been justified.

…

The hour was late and the training yard empty, save for himself and the practice dummies. It was well past the time he had ordered Ramge to be here, but surely Ramge would arrive at any moment. Rachel did neglect to explain the purpose of this late night rendezvous, but that wasn't important anyway. He had told Ramge to be here and, in Rachel's opinion, that was all that was needed.

Time continued to march forward and Ramge continued to be absent. In an effort to remain awake and entertained, Rachel broke into the weapon's shed to retrieve a wooden sword, expelling his drowsiness and boredom on the innocent dummies. The night patrol swung by once at the noise, but didn't interfere; he was King's Guard after all, even if he was still a greenhorn.

Greenhorn King's Guard or not, he excelled in physical activity, especially swordsmanship. So he felt he was more than qualified to give Ramge some extracurricular training. He liked Ramge and wanted to help him. Ramge was a funny guy under that meek exterior. And smart, really smart, even though he tried to hide it. He could be a bit stubborn too, but that made things more fun since Rachel was used to getting his own way with little pushback. And though Ramge regarded Rachel with a bit of admiring awe, they actually had a lot in common, even if Ramge didn't realize it yet.

Rachel never had a friend the same age (or a friend at all) and he wondered if it was okay to have one, even though he was far from Saint West. He was a little afraid that something might happen and it'd be his fault again.

No. He was stronger now, built upon the corpses of assassins. Nothing to be afraid of; he could protect himself and others now. He wasn't a child any more. He would protect Ramge. The idea of giving Ramge up, despite the short time they knew each other, made Rachel lash out harder at the dummies.

The moon rose and set and the stars slowly sailed across the foreign sky. He recognized a few of his mother's favorites, but they were in different positions than he remembered. The spring air in Lenombe wasn't as sweet as Saint West; it carried a sharp tang hinting of the cool winter which still lay to the north, brought down by Lenombe's many tributaries fed by snow melt. It chilled the sweat he worked up, which worsened his disposition, so he trained harder to stay warm as he continued to wait.

The hollow thuds of his practice sword striking wood and straw echoed into dawn, each thud pushing his patience more and more taut. Although Ramge had many positive qualities and many endearing flaws, he had one major frustrating aspect: he was a coward.

The sun fully arose from her slumber when his sword finally snapped along with his temper.

…

A sudden summer rain burst that afternoon; typical Lenombe weather. The rains would come without warning and leave drowned streets steaming in rainbows and sunshine as the only evidence they had happened. It was easy to separate the locals from the tourists by who carried umbrellas despite clear afternoon skies.

They were supposed to meet near their favorite diner for supper after they had finished their respective duties. Despite the quickly forming clouds, Rachel thought he could beat the rain without an umbrella and chose not to return to the barracks outside Khuntara in fear of running late. The skies unloaded on him for his misjudgment and now he huddled, sodden and pathetic, under a small eave of the pawnbroker neighboring the diner, waiting for Ramge.

At least the rain was warm, the air sweating humidity. No thunder or lightning disturbed the heavy pour blurring everything into a soft pastel mist. Rachel kicked a puddle growing under his feet to send droplets out to meet their falling brethren, capturing in their beads the likeness of couples huddled together under colorful umbrellas before they were swallowed by water and swept away.

"I'm sorry I kept you wait—Rachel, what happened?"

He smiled at Ramge, dry Ramge under a somber umbrella with Sia draped over his shoulders. Rachel thought about the intimacy of the couples he had witnessed, cuddled close under their meager shelter, limbs brushing, heads bent together, sharing breath.

"It's just water." Rachel flicked drops at Sia and she hissed, swatting in his direction.

"Did you lose your umbrella?" Ramge asked.

As was becoming too common, Ramge saw right through him. "Yeah."

Ramge shook his head, shuffling to include Rachel under his umbrella. Rachel could feel the heat of Ramge's body in their closeness, and it was pleasantly uncomfortable combined with the humidity and his soaked skin.

"I'm already drenched, you know. Bit pointless now."

"You could catch a cold." Ramge frowned at Rachel's blase dismissal.

"And then Master Ramge would have to look after you," Sia sniffed.

"Aw, you would look after me if I get sick?" Rachel asked, teasing.

"Of course." Ramge sometimes missed Rachel's humor and would instead answer earnestly. "Though… I wonder if I could keep you bedridden long enough to care for you."

"I'll do anything you ask of me," said Rachel.

It was only a moment's hesitation, an internal uncertainty of the meaning, before Ramge made a face. "I doubt it. You can't keep still even during serious meetings."

Rachel smirked widely at Ramge's misunderstanding, cynically grateful his words would never be understood. He tackled Ramge and they stumbled together, the umbrella slipping from Ramge's surprised fingers. Sia screeched at the onslaught of water, drowning out Ramge's yelp and Rachel's laughter.

Ramge looked like he wanted to scold Rachel when the sky emptied the last of its grey. The sound of water trickling from gutters replaced the gush of rain. Sunshine breaking through the dissipating clouds reflected off the droplets nestled like stars in the midnight of Ramge's hair.

Like the weather, irritation drained from Ramge, replaced by droll acceptance of Rachel's carefree antics. He lifted his arms and mournfully regarded his dripping clothes. Rachel decided wet was a good look on him.

"We can't eat out like this…" Ramge sighed and Sia yowled in agreement.

"Why not?" Rachel smiled, winsome and innocent, retrieving the umbrella. He closed it and shook it free of rain.

"Dripping over the seats, floor, and table, as we shiver and dine?" Ramge raised a brow as he took back the proffered umbrella.

"We'll sit by each other and share a bowl of stew to keep cozy."

"...I'll just ask them to pack it up and we'll take it back to the inn…" Ramge said, another earnest answer which missed the point. "I'll go place our orders."

…

Leaning against a wall outside Ramge's dressing room at the palace, Rachel glanced at the large clock hanging over the small waiting area for guests. It sure was taking a while. The last maid had left almost an hour ago and they had to be at the Great Hall in fifteen minutes.

"Ramge, hurry up!" Rachel yelled at the door beside him. "What are you even doing?"

After a moment, the door cracked open. "I… I c-can't do this…"

"Do what?" Rachel asked, a little annoyed. He personally didn't want to go, but Ramge had been nervously excited about attending his first real gala and Rachel didn't want him to attend alone.

"Th-this…" However, instead of opening to reveal 'this,' the door began to shut.

Swiftly, Rachel slammed a hand against it and shoved it open, barging in.

Ramge always dressed primly as befitting an aristocrat, but this was the first time he looked so princely. Sometimes it was easy to forget Ramge bore such high status due to everything about him, but the tailors and maids did their best with what they had and it came out magnificent. Perhaps losing most of his belongings upon his arrival in Khuntara had been a blessing, given the artistry of the glittering galaxy of starlike gems swarming over the breast of his fitted coat of silver and wine.

Ramge spun away with an embarrassed moan, shielding his face with his hands. "I-I knew I-I looked r-ridiculous…"

Shit, Rachel had been staring. "You look fine." The back of the coat was cinched and split to spill long gauzy ruffles which fluttered with Ramge's anxious trembling.

"See?" Sia chirped from her seat on the vanity. "Rachel also thinks you look nyaice!"

"N-no, this is—"

"You wear finery better than me." Rachel shrugged. "It's fine. You're fine."

"Everyone will s-stare—"

"That's the point of wearing this kind of showy garb at these parties," Rachel scoffed. "You want people to look and talk. Why dress up if you don't get scandalized comments?"

Sidling up to Ramge, Rachel peered over Ramge's shoulder and into his flushed, covered face.

"Who's this mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome stranger?" Rachel stage-whispered behind a hand into Ramge's ear, enjoying the shiver it sent through him. "What?" Rachel staggered back in exaggerated surprise. "That's the First Prince of North von Frosty?!" He dramatically pressed one hand to his chest and another to his forehead. "Be still my heart! Is he available?!"

Ramge half-turned, peeking through his fingers almost petulantly. "Y-you're mocking me…"

"No." Rachel laughed, slapping Ramge on the back. The coat's fabric was silken and soft; he let his hand rest there, Ramge's muscles twitching beneath his palm. "I guarantee that's exactly what'll happen at the party. I'll bet you on it. Loser has to buy those new tarts at the bakery. I hear you have to get in line before dawn if you wanna snag some before they sell out."

Slowly, Ramge faced him and Rachel's hand slid down to settle on Ramge's waist unnoticed, as if it belonged there. "That… that means I'll have to go to the party…"

"Well, unless you trust my word on what happens." Rachel smirked.

Ramge's face scrunched up at the cheeky admission, but he refused to budge.

"If you really don't want to go, then we'll leave and play draughts the rest of the night or whatever, but you were looking forward to this all month. You sure?"

"I-I just…" Ramge bowed his head, but since his hair had been partially pinned back, he couldn't completely hide under his bangs. "...looking like this… I look… strange…"

"You're purrfect, Master Ramge," Sia said, pacing up beside them. "Rachel's the one who looks strange." She eyed Rachel's overwrought regalia distastefully.

Rachel snorted. "For once, the cat's right. I look weird. You look fitting."

Shyly, Ramge lifted his eyes. "You… you do look a little… out of character..."

"Right? This ruffled collar isn't just itchy—I really believe it's trying to strangle me." With his free hand, Rachel tickled the ends of his lone long lock of hair, now bedecked with elaborate ribbons and bows, against Ramge's nose. "And did you see what they did to this?"

A ghost of a smile touched Ramge's lips, edging away his anxiety. "It matches the bows on your sleeves and trousers…"

"For the record, I didn't pack this," Rachel grumbled. "My mother did and this was the least offensive of the lot." No need to inform Ramge he deliberately wore this outfit because of its absurdity, for Ramge's sake. "So even if you don't believe us that you look great, at least know that standing next to me, no one's going to laugh at you. You have nothing to be worried about."

Ramge looked Rachel over more closely, his small confidence returning as he assumed his role as Rachel's handler. "You… you don't look that terrible… maybe…"

"When I'm King, no way anyone is going to catch me wearing any of this. I think I'll outlaw it."

"Ha…" Still smiling absently, Ramge adjusted Rachel's collar and then tucked an errant curl behind Rachel's ear.

The gesture was unexpected and the brush of the smooth material of Ramge's gloves on Rachel's skin left a trail of heat which drove his heart to surge blood into his ears and cheeks.

Rachel quickly hid his reddened face under the pretense of a cough. "So are we going? We can always duck out early if it's too much."

Ramge hesitated, glancing down at Sia, before finally nodding.

…

It had been a hectic week playing escort guard and diplomat. By the end of it, Rachel was tired of both the frippery of aristocrats and the flippancy of Baraka, his assigned companion. Another day and there would've been murder. So it was with no small haste and the greatest relief when he all but fled Rudley's office after the debriefing.

The moon was already high in the starless sky when he left the palace, bone-tired and grumpy. Sour he still couldn't house in the palace, Rachel took the most direct route to the inn, cutting through fenced lots. The night was hot and windless, alive with crickets singing for the moon, and he wanted nothing more than to wash up and fall into bed—after he took care of one urgent matter.

A restless feeling which had been slowly bubbling up upon his return to Khuntara hastened his steps with a fresh reserve of energy as he barged through the doors of the inn and took the stairs up two by two.

Ramge wasn't in his room despite the late hour, so Rachel let himself in, believing Ramge had only stepped out for a short while. Zarienne, his mother's bodyguard, had taught a too-curious young Rachel the basics of lockpicking (not realizing the hell she would unleash until his mother intervened) and once again it came in handy. This wasn't the first time he had broken into Ramge's quarters, so he was sure Ramge wouldn't mind.

He turned on the tin glow-lamp on the table, casting a weak yellow glow over the room. It was a mirror of his own: a bed in a corner by a double-door window and a simple table with a chair, but the cheap furnishings were embellished with clutter, from clothes to books to cat toys—a reflection of the mind behind Ramge's meticulous appearance. Typically Rachel would do his best to organize the disarray, but he was just too exhausted to bother tonight.

Rachel drew aside the thin curtains of the window and propped it open to relieve some of the stuffiness, before plopping onto the hard, rumpled bed with a sigh. Ramge's bed felt more comfortable than his own, though objectively it was the same flat mattress and creaky bed frame. He bounced once experimentally and felt that in further pursuit of knowledge he should take off his boots and lay down.

The lumpy pillow was covered in cat fur and smelled faintly of Ramge's floral shampoo. Burying his nose into it, Rachel stretched to his full height, relishing the unwind which comes after a hard day. His feet dangled off this bed's end just like they did with his own; no doubt Ramge's longer legs poked out even further, and the image made him laugh. The small bed was barely made for one, much less two, but as Rachel curled up into his favored fetal position and closed his eyes, he felt he could make it work, even with Ramge's height and poor bed manners.

He must've drifted off because a scraping noise jolted him from sweet oblivion. He bolted upright, alert but somewhat disoriented, not immediately recognizing his room but still searching for a threat.

Ramge, dressed in plain and homely work clothes, stared at him from the doorway, arms full of cat and a small bushel of peaches. His surprised face was long with exhaustion. "R-Rachel…? I didn't think you'd return today…"

"Ramge!" All weariness drained from Rachel at the sight he had been starved for, rejuvenating him into high spirits. "I got sick of Baraka's insufferable smugness and the infinite neediness of the aristocracy, so I pushed to finish the trip more quickly."

"And… you came straight here? At this time of night…?" Ramge shut the door with a bump of his hip and placed both bushel and cat upon the table, rolling his shoulders in relief.

Eager to touch him, Rachel leapt up to help massage out the kinks, earning a grateful groan. "I wanted to see you."

Ramge's brow furrowed and he glanced over his shoulder. "It couldn't wait? Is something wrong…?"

"Not anymore." Rachel grinned. "So where were you? 'At this time of night?'"

Wrinkling his nose at Rachel's toss-back of his own words, Ramge shrugged out of Rachel's grip to gesture at the bushel of fruit.

"I was helping Mrs. Lievere—you remember, the grocer by the central square?—with the store today... She gave me these as thanks. Take some with you."

Rachel peeked into the bushel from around Ramge. The plump fruits were just the perfect mix of flesh and blush. "Looks like she gave you the best of the lot. Isn't she the one who wants to set you up with her granddaughter?"

"She doesnyat even knyow Master Ramge is a prince!" Sia said. "Making him do menial labor."

Ramge laughed nervously, lightly elbowing Rachel. "D-don't be ridiculous, you two. I wasn't busy and she needed help… and she just wants her granddaughter to have some friends…"

"Uh-huh. With the handsome bachelor who's always so helpful and sweet."

"Rachel…" Ramge said in that exasperated way he only used with Rachel.

"That's my name." Rachel wrapped arms around Ramge's waist, delighting in how snugly he fit, and tugged him backwards toward the bed. "Come on, sit with me. I want to talk about all the fun things you missed."

"Complain, you mean," Sia said, trailing.

"Well, Ramge is such a great listener."

Ramge sighed good-naturedly as he let Rachel drag and drop him onto the mattress. Sia immediately claimed her spot on his lap while glaring at Rachel as he sat down to face them, resting against the headboard and stretching his legs out behind Ramge to hog the bed's remaining space.

"Rudley should've sent you with me instead," Rachel said, ignoring Sia's dirty look. "He knows I work better with you."

Ramge smiled faintly as he removed his shoes, careful not to jostle Sia. "I'm sure he had his reasons. Captain Rudley always works with a purpose."

"So what if some of the nobles were from Wasted Red?" Rachel waved around a hand dismissively. "I personally think he just wanted some peace and quiet by getting Baraka out of the palace for a while."

"And you too."

"Hey." Rachel poked Ramge in the side with a foot.

"It had been more quiet with you gone," Sia said

"But was it any fun?"

Ramge tilted his head. "I didn't have to run any extra laps this week…"

Clicking his tongue, Rachel tried to shove his foot into Ramge's face and Ramge ducked, laughing quietly, pushing it away.

"Just for that, you really will get to listen to me complain."

Ramge smiled faintly, as no one had not been under the impression they were going to get anything but Rachel's complaints about the mission. "If my eyes shut, that means I'm just resting them."

Pausing, Rachel leaned forward, peering into Ramge's face. "That long a day?"

"A little… it was somehow more exhausting than training."

Rachel pursed his lips before drawing Ramge toward him, settling once more against the headboard with Ramge and Sia between his legs and Ramge's head upon his chest.

"R-Ra—"

"I don't want to leave," Rachel said, looking at the ceiling so he wouldn't have to look at Ramge, "and you're tired, so just rest there and indulge me. I had a long week."

Gradually, Ramge's rigid body conceded into a more comfortable position, too tired to protest, and, just like Rachel had imagined, his legs did hang off the bed. Rachel pulled Ramge up higher against him, resting his chin atop Ramge's head.

"Better?"

"...mm." The vibration of Ramge's assent rumbled against Rachel's ribs.

Ramge tried to keep up with Rachel's venting narrative about the 'fun' of being trapped with only Baraka for company, murmuring wordless acknowledgements to Rachel's rhetorical statements, but eventually he went limp with slumber, steady breaths tickling the sensitive skin on Rachel's neck to distraction. Sia, cocooned between her master and Rachel, was already busy sawing logs.

With no one awake to listen to his complaints, Rachel settled for watching Ramge sleep. It was one of the few times Ramge's skittish, guarded expression would disappear. Even when he was with Rachel, that look would still be present in his eyes. Brushing hair from Ramge's brow, Rachel wondered what secrets Ramge kept to make him wary around his best friend. Sometimes it seemed like Ramge would want to confide in Rachel only to clam up—not for a lack of trust, but because some greater will held him in thrall. Rachel surmised those secrets had to do with why Ramge joined the King's Guard, so the only thing Rachel could do was wait for Ramge to gain the courage to break free.

Rachel leaned over, close enough to see the individual hairs intertwined in Ramge's thick lashes despite the dim light.

"One day we'll both be free," he whispered so softly not even the stars heard, his lips barely brushing warm skin.

…

The room was dark and quiet as he waited with everyone in a large parlour set aside for them at the palace. Occasionally there was a whisper of conversation or someone scolding Rera for sneaking bites of the hors d'oeuvres. Light from the hallway bled from under the closed double doors and flashed like fireflies across the glintzy decorations set up for the party.

It was strange to wait with others for Ramge. Rachel had been waiting the longest, so he felt it was a bit unfair for others to suddenly hop the queue. But today what he felt wasn't important. These were people whom Ramge had accepted and Rachel in turn had to accept that.

"Come on, Master Ramge!" Sia's voice floated from beyond the doors and everyone inside immediately silenced. She had been tasked with leading Ramge here at the appointed time.

The doors slowly swung open, a growing line of light in the darkness. "... wait, Sia, is this the right—"

"Surprise!" A chorus of voices flooded the room as Estoris glow-lamps sprang to life, Rachel's voice loudest of them all.

Ramge remained framed in the doorway, hands full of the papers he was ostensibly ordered to fetch. Rachel wouldn't ever forget the flow of confusion into epiphany into a tangle of overwhelming emotions twisting Ramge's face, culminating in him turning away, papers fluttering to the floor like fallen leaves, as he hid those vulnerable feelings behind his hands.

Rachel didn't move as the others flocked around Ramge in goodwill and cheer. Today Ramge needed to know other people cared about him too. Rachel would wait.

The party was fun: good food, good games, and relatively good company—for once there were no quibbles between certain members of the King's Guard. Even Xiakhan managed to be civil during his toast.

"To Ramge," Rachel said when it came time for his own speech.

Ramge's radiant eyes were upon him, the silly conical hat festooned with tinsel and star confetti Rera foisted on Ramge askew on his head like a jester's crown. He looked beautiful despite it. Rachel could say nothing more.

…

He didn't wait when Ramge was in danger. Maybe he should've, but by then, the Emperor was already dead.

It was the Emperor's own fault. He shouldn't have tried to take what belonged to Rachel; it was akin to a declaration of war between their nations. The only remorse Rachel felt was the loss of Ramge's peaceful life, but given the circumstances, that would've come sooner or later, though maybe not so violently. He wished Ramge had gained the courage to confide in him.

Regardless, it would work out. Ramge wouldn't have to fear his father's cage if he flew into Rachel's.

…

He waited in a sparse sitting room in this cold fortress at Ramge's behest, eager to see him again. It had been the longest he had gone without seeing Ramge since they had become friends. He wanted nothing more than to touch Ramge and hold him tight and never let him out of his sight again. Earlier, he couldn't indulge his impulses with those annoying strangers around, so now he impatiently paced about as he waited for Ramge to arrive.

Tomorrow, Rachel would take him straight to Saint West—no arguments accepted—and all would be well. He had been anxious when he couldn't locate Ramge after their parting that fateful night in Lenombe; he had become even more anxious upon discovering Ramge was headed north toward his homeland and not south to Saint West, as they had agreed. He didn't understand what Ramge was thinking.

Rachel paused by the lone, barred window overlooking the courtyard of the bleak fortress and watched a troop of soldiers march through the snow as ghostly sounds of revelry wafted from the central hall. Downy flakes filled the hollows their footsteps made in the snow until they disappeared, returning the courtyard to a pristine slate. Rachel had never seen snow like this. It didn't snow in Saint West and Lenombe's winter consisted of frost and slush. Here, the snow fell and stuck, an unpleasant, starry powder which muffled and blanketed and blinded, hiding many secrets in its frozen white embrace.

Another troop of guards crossed paths with the first. Rachel knew the fortress lay on the border, but there did seem to be an excessive amount of soldiers on patrol—more than necessary for a banquet for the lord's nephew and his guests. Rachel's paranoia watched their movements, attributing them with sinister purpose, and as always, Rachel deferred to it.

A soft sound like muffled snowfall came from somewhere behind him, carried on the wings of bloodlust which brushed the hairs on his neck to attention. His eyes flicked to the reflection of the room in the window. His grin knifed through what he saw.

Assassins were his favorite.

…

Since Ramge didn't come, he went to Ramge. Sheltering behind his sister on that cold, white mountain, Ramge wouldn't look at them—at him.

Rachel had waited all this time and… hahaha, that fool wouldn't come because despite everything Rachel had shown and taught him, Ramge was still a coward.

Did Rachel need to kill Shufraken too?

But Rachel's ego was greater than his ability. Never had he been so humbled; the realization that, for all his strength, there were still others so much greater was frustrating as he remained bed-ridden from the almost mortal wounds delivered by the King of North von Frosty. How could Rachel protect anyone, much less himself, if he was still so damnably weak?

Patience was once foreign to him, but it was the one thing Ramge had inadvertently taught him and Rachel learned the lesson well. He could be good at anything when he put his mind to it and his mind had been filled with Ramge while in Lenombe.

Now the lesson was put to the test, since the only thing he could do was wait. Ramge had made his decision and Rachel had other problems and tragedies to attend to.

Rachel would wait. Rachel had accepted that he'd still wait (be waiting) even when the last shining star in the heavens flickered and died.

Someday Ramge would stop running away, even if it was at the end of the world.

…

A cataclysm had devastated the continent.

Rachel had long lost the familiarity of sleep. When he went out with a regiment of coalition forces to meet a potentially hostile army bivouacked across a field of neutrality, he thought he was dreaming. This Ramge standing under a banner of acquiescence before ragtag and hungry North von Frosty exiles didn't quite look like the Ramge Rachel knew. Part of his dark hair had turned to frost. A permanent crease furrowed between brows drawn low over steady if tired eyes. The bend of his neck was only from exhaustion.

But everything else seemed real: the smell of steel weapons under the acrid air, the scorching sun beating sweat from Rachel's flesh, the loud silence of nervous men wondering if they were to fight not dragons but an enemy kingdom, the burned earth beneath his boots as he broke rank to skeptically, hopefully, desperately approach that apparition, because even if he would wait forever, he didn't want to now.

Questing fingertips tentatively touched an arm, grasped firm its shoulder, and squeezed until Ramge flinched with a beloved, rueful expression. Convinced, relieved, comforted for the first time in a long time, Rachel jerked Ramge forward, swallowing him in a hug and pressing his face into Ramge's unforgotten warmth.

"I missed you," Rachel choked out, his chest as tight as his grip. "Welcome back."

Hesitant hands crept up his back before clutching tight, digging and bruising, as if the unrestrained, loving greeting was finally enough for Ramge to accept what Rachel (had always) offered.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

#roofic #exos heroes #rachel x ramge #kerunji

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jaykaycreates · 3 years ago

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Behind Nora’s design

I promised to do a behind the scenes of my other characters, so now to go into the design and reasoning behind the warlock of Fireteam Dawn and the partner to my young wolf, Nora.

Lets start with her backstory Nora was rezzed in the Ishtar collective on Venus, all she had on her was torn clothes and a name tag. She didn’t have long to collect her self though, as Vex were alerted to her presence and were sent after her. With no knowledge of her light abilities, she was captured instead of killed. She was put into simulations and trials to test the limit of her light and limitations of her being alive. she experienced centuries of torture in what was only a few months in captivity. Foolishly as the Vex tested her limitations, they made her more adapt at her own abilities. Eventually she was able to use her solar light to break free of her capture, rescue her ghost, Nova and escape the vex structure on Venus. Nova was able to get into contact of a nearby ship and they were rescued and brought to the last city.

Once in the last city and being underneath the Traveler, she grew desperate for some structure and form of safety after everything she went thru. She found and later joined the Praxic order and grew to believe in their values and philosophy over the years. Eventually she left, believing the order had become to zealous to what it once was. Over the years her views about the light and dark grew more black and white which has led to her being more zealous herself.

Her personality Nora is very serious about everything she does, believing that her only role in life is to protect the light and keep it from others who do not deserve it. As detailed above, she has a very black and white view of light and darkness, she believes the traveler is only for good and the darkness is only for bad, this has led her to alienate herself from others who do not see eye to eye with her and go against others who even dare to think of using a weapon of sorrow or stasis. She also has a very high and mighty attitude, due to her high intellect and status as a warlock, she will first and foremost believe she is in the right before listening to anyone else. I wanted Nora to be the ultimate extreme when it comes to believing in the light and a polar opposite to Joker and to represent the light as an ally for Tessa.

Her race, Human I picked human for her due to how much more humans are closer to the traveler then Exos and awoken (both races that came after the traveler had been around a while) So due to Nora’s dedication to the light I felt it was fitting to have her as human.

Her class, Warlock I picked warlock because typically they are more closely tied to the light, due to meditations and how they study the light versus how titan and hunters use the light. Plus many warlocks are seen to be “cold” or at least very serious in comparison to other known titans and hunters.

Nora’s armor choice I’ve recently changed her armor look but ill explain her old look versus her new one

This is her old look, the one I’ve drawn her in most. With this look I wanted something to look “royal” like she’s high and mighty, but also tie into the knight-like looks that Tessa and Joker have. The armored sections of the robe and the boots tie into the knight look, while the pattern and gold accents make her look like a mage or some form of royalty. The class item i used because not only does it have the warlock symbol, but since it spews solar light it matches her sunbracers. And yes her sunbracers the exotic she uses, I picked those for her because due to her connection to the light and of how the sunbracers are also Osiris’s exotic (and he is VERY closely tied to the light) it would fit thematically with who she is.

This is her look, post Witch queen and raid. As you see, her look has changed quite a bit, well technically not much but for Warlocks, the robes are the most visually distinguishing feature. I’ve chosen to darken her colors to align with her more pessimistic view of the traveler, she still has faith in it and believes it is a force for good, but those doubts in the back of her mind continue to bug her due to the traveler choosing the Hive. The robes also I picked to be more ergonomic to the swamps of the throne world but also because of the dagger on its back. I imagine when she summons her dawnblade she pulls out the dagger and the blade forms around it. Matching with Tessa’s new look with their shield on their back, now they both carry their “supers” with them just in case. Also the detailings of Osiris tie into her believing in the teachings from and that the Vex are the biggest threat.

Why the name Nora? Her name came about cause of two ideas. Her character is based on one of my OCs, Selina and I wanted a name to be tied to sun symbology or space symbology. So i struck on the idea to combine the name Selina with the word Nova, as it relates to Supernovas.

I believe i’ve covered all the major points of this character, I hope you enjoyed and were able to follow my unstructured thoughts.<3

Reblogs are read and appreciated <3

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#Destiny #Destiny 2 #D2 #Destiny the game #Destiny art #fan art #fan made #OC #original characters #guardian #guardians #destiny universe #Fireteam Dawn

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sansaurora9904 · 1 year ago

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Kim Jiwoo Masterlist

KIM JIWOO (김지우) is a FICTIONAL Australian-South Korean idol, songwriter, composer, singer, model and brand ambassador under JYP Entertainment. She is currently a member of the South Korean co-ed group, Stray Kids and a girl group project Royal Crown with BTS's Boreum, ATEEZ'S Heyoon and EXO's Iseul.

She made her debut on March 25, 2018 with the group's debut extended play I Am Not.

BASICS!

SHIPS!

Stray Kids : Hyung line | Maknae Line

Royal Crown : YoonSeul | BoYoon | YoonWoo

MISC!

Jiwoo Day : 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023

Fashion + style

Hair Color Timeline

Incorrect Quotes : 1 | 2

ERAS!

2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023

SOCIAL MEDIA!

Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Articles | Endorsements

UPDATES!

First Published: 02/11/2023

Last Updated: 02/11/2023

Main Masterlist

#stray kids au #9th member of stray kids #stray kids #oc #kimjiwoo

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cheekygreenty · 3 years ago

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Leave Me Lonely p.1 - The Darkling x Reader

Based on Ariana Grande’s song Leave me Lonely ft.Macy Grey. Was supposed to be just one part but I got carried away as per usual 🤓

'Get the General!' Zoya's eyes were borderline frantic but her composure remained the same, the once pristine blue kefta was dirty and ragged and her long luscious hair was disheveled, a piece of it in the way of a small cut on her temple.

'Zoya are you alright?' You were exiting the General's tent when you saw her approach, your body filled with an alarming feeling as you raced to meet her and some other Grisha, The skiff, she was manning a skiff across the Fold not even an hour ago, why is she back?

She ignored your question and continued with her dutifulness, 'The General, this is urgent'

You nodded and ran back, mind whirling with the possibilities of the skiffs return. Zoya was a great Squaller who'd successfully manned many journeys across the Fold so why was she back here, all scratched and bruised.

He was conversing with First Army Lieutenants and Captains when a rough grasp around his arm interrupted the flowing conversation. He squared his shoulders but when he saw your panicked face, he relaxed but only the smallest amount. Not even 10 minutes beforehand you two were involved in a heavy argument and at the feel of his tense muscles beneath his kefta, you guessed he thought you were back for more.

You had a right to come back and throw insults at his face, hell, he was the one who brought out that side of you. A vicious, ruthless, and malevolent side you never knew you had, but you ignored that urge.

-Dangerous Love, you're no good for me darling-

'We have a situation.' You cocked your head in Zoya's direction and waited until his company excused themselves and stood to the side before you let Zoya speak.

'I think we may have a sun-summoner.' She said without any negligible hesitancy. The tent suddenly froze in time. The Grisha held their breath and the otkazat'sya paled as your eyes grew wide. A Sun-Summoner.

'We were 2 markers in and were attacked by volcra, a searing light came out of nowhere, or rather came out of a girl, a first-army soldier.' You could see the lieutenant perk up at the sound of one of his being mentioned but Aleksander's expression hadn't changed since Zoya started talking.

'Bring her to me.'

'A Healer is bringing her now.' As she concluded her statements, she silently moved off to the crowd of other Grisha who'd come back from the skiff journey looking equally as shaken as she did.

You leaned back on the desk for support as you settled the information she'd just given you. This was Zoya, a very, very credible witness who'd just said a Sun-Summoner had been found. A legend come true, a myth that no longer needed debunking.

You looked at him again, this time noticing a flicker of hope in his eyes. He stared right back into your own wide eyes and gave a gentle nod followed by a small squeeze of reassurance to your hand which still held a tight hold on his arm. He kept his back to the entrance but you had a full view of her once the tent flap opened.

She was brought in by two guards in a scuffed First-Army uniform, Whether it was from the volcra or just daily use, you didn't know. She looked slightly sickly but mostly scared, like a wounded animal being hunted by its prey.

'Bring her closer.' You had let go of his arm now, that feeling of surety left you cold as his touch disappeared from yours. The guards brought her forth a bit more, letting her go and stepping back as their General finally turned around.

'Closer.' She took a tiny step forward. The poor girl is petrified.

'Well?'

'Well, what. Sir?' She was on the defense, I don't blame her. He was intimidating even when he wasn't using his powers.

'What are you?'

'Alina Starkov, Assistant Cartographer, Royal Corps of Surveyors.' Her fearful expression suddenly changed into a more devastated one. 'They’re all gone. It’s my fault. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?'

'Answer the question.' He leaned back against the desk just as you did.

'A mapmaker, sir' It was clear to you that Ms.Starkov had no idea why she was here. She was scared, alone, and being interrogated by the most feared man in all of Ravka. The tent erupted in a peal of laughter but you had no time for such snobbiness.

'Quiet' You ordered and a silence fell over the space once again. There was a time when you wouldn't dare command a tent full of Grisha, but Aleksander had changed you; changed the way all his Grisha looked at you.

'So who actually saw what happened? Zoya? You manned the mainsail.'

Zoya repeated what she told you, and Aleksander asked the girl whether she'd been tested but your ears stopped listening once she'd stated she grew up in Keramzin. You too grew up in Keramzin before you were shipped off to the Little Palace to train and become a skilled Heartrenderer. You knew they tested all the children, so how the hell did she slip through the cracks?

You came back from your thoughts just as Aleksander approached her and subsequently amplified her powers. A beam of light so bright and strong you felt some heat from it pounced from her skin and up through the ceiling.

Everyone looked away from the harsh ray but you couldn't turn away. It was beautiful and magical, the physical embodiment of hope, but short-lived as Aleksander let her go and she fell back with a look of awe. He moved quickly, whispering into Ivan's ear and then moving back to you.

'Accompany them to the Little Palace. Ride on a horse and be on the lookout, and give her your kefta.' You nodded curtly, knowing he only trusted his inner circle with the transport of the Sun-Summoner to Os Alta, and that included you. Alina was dragged out from the tent still in a daze of her own.

Your earlier argument with him vanished from your memory as he leaned down to briefly kiss you on the top of your head, 'Be safe.' And with that, you left to find your horse.

***

The backroads were peaceful and quiet as your horse galloped along the dirt road. You wanted so badly to sit in the carriage and speak to Alina, a fellow child of Keramzin, but you listened to Aleksander's command and served as a lookout for any oncoming dangers. So far it had been all clear, but as you approached a hill, a tree blocking the road caught your attention. You slid off your horse and signaled the coachmen to stop too.

'The road is blocked! Beware!' One of them shouted and then all hell broke loose. Shots came from everywhere and anywhere while your horse, in a frightful spell, escaped the way you came.

You had no clear line of vision as dust and dirt clouds plummed above ground and a bullet scratched your left shoulder, then your leg. Your eyes stung and lungs burned as you tried to get yourself out of direct lines of bullets and bombs, eventually finding a place behind thick trees.

Ivan and Fedyor joined you almost immediately both panting and the latter holding his hand to his chest.

'You're bleeding Y/N, where is your kefta?' Fedyor panicked and lay his other hand on your leg where the blood glistened like a jewel.

'How many are there?' Ivan risked asking, trying to get your mind off of the bleeding wounds. Your hands were up in the air as you listened for heartbeats and your heart dropped to your stomach. Too many.

'At least 15 more.' You looked around the Grisha desperately devising a plan in your head that would bring you all out alive.

'Get to the carriage, protect the girl' You signaled to the three Heartrenderers and Squaller.

'But you're hurt and you cannot fight the-' Ivan was cut off by the darkening of the forest, a classic tell that Aleksander was here. Relief flooded you all. The shadows loomed over you, directing their course to near the carriage and then up ahead to where Alina was.

You waited for him to erupt from behind the trees and help you, but the minutes ticked by and you were still hiding from the skilled Fjerdan fighters without backup. Fedyor looked to you, disappointment and pity clear on his face.

Only momentarily did the fighting cease as bullets carried on their assault. You assumed they would flee from the fear of being in the Darkling's presence, but they hit back twice as hard. In return, you all fought back equally as strong, knocking out bodies left right and center despite your dwindling body.

All throughout the fight, you had one thing on your mind and that was why Aleksander chose to ignore you. Was he still mad from your argument? No that couldn't possibly be why he would leave you to potentially die at the hands of druskelle.

Yes you were a soldier, but no doubt he knew the extents of the Fjerdan army and their skilled fighters. If outnumbered, a Grisha was basically of no use.

-If you're gonna love me and leave me hanging here....-

You understood she was the Sun-Summoner but you were you. You were the person he shared his bed with every night, the person who could calm his stormy mind, and the person who stayed with him through it all even though you hurt more than he loved. It stung like a throbbing wound and snagged at your already dwindling will to keep the relationship alive.

-then I'd rather you leave me lonely-

—————-

Part 2

Taglist

@aleksanderwh0r3 @theonelittleone @searching-for-gallifrey @lostysworld @0-artemis @exo-1204 @staradorned @bookfrog242 @simp-for-ben-barners @keepdaydreamingbb @acciorudolphx @pansysgirlfriend @pansysgirlfriend @justmesadgirl

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cielrouge · 4 years ago

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YA SFF Books by Asian Authors

Ash by Malinda Lo: In this variation on the Cinderella story, Ash grows up believing in the fairy realm that the king and his philosophers have sought to suppress, until one day she must choose between a handsome fairy cursed to love her and the King’s Huntress whom she loves.

Along the Indigo by Elsie Chapman: Marsden yearns to take her sister and escape Glory, a town famous for seedy businesses, but her friendship with Jude yields secrets that may chain them to the Indigo River forever.

Alpha Goddess by Amalie Howard: In this sci-fi retelling of Ramayana, Sera is a Hindu goddess incarnate and must battle between her good and evil sides in order to save the world from becoming hell on earth.

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee: It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her 17-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel, Raffe.

The Archer at Dawn (The Tiger at Midnight #2) by Swati Teerdhala: Set in an Indian & Hindu-inspired world, long-held secrets will force Kunal and Esha to reconsider their loyalties—to their country and to each other.

The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif: After being fired from the Athena Protocol, an organization of female spies who enact vigilante justice, Jessie Archer investigates a human trafficking case in Belgrade, while her former teammates have been tasked with bringing her down.

Blood of a Thousand Stars (Empress of a Thousand Skies #2) by Rhoda Belleza: Rhee risks her crown to negotiate peace terms with villainous media star Nero, while framed assassin Aly plots revenge and Kara seeks technology that will erase her royal past.

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco: Tea’s gift for death magic means that she is a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community, but when an older bone witch trains her to become an asha - one who can wield elemental magic - Tea will have to overcome her obstacles and make a powerful choice in the face of danger as dark forces approach.

The Bronzed Beasts (The Gilded Wolves #3) by Roshani Chokshi: With only ten days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs, and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself, but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi: An epic YA fantasy about a girl with a special power to communicate with magical beasts and the warring kingdom only she can save.

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh: In 19th century New Orleans where vampires hide in plain sight, half-Asian Celine Rosseau, a dressmaker from Paris, becomes embroiled in a murder mystery, connected to the glamorous supernatural cohort, known as the Court of Lions, and catching the eye of their mysterious, charismatic leader, Sèbastien Saint Germain.

Broken Web (Shamanborn #2) by Lori M. Lee: With Queen Meilyr bent on destroying the magical kingdoms, Sirscha becomes caught between a war in the east and the Soulless in the west.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad: Set in the city of Noor, along the Silk Road which has become a refuge for those of all faiths, Fatima becomes embroiled in a war between two clans of powerful djinn who threaten to destroy her peace in different ways, forcing her to make unlikely alliances to survive.

Caster by Elsie Chapman: In this Chinese-inspired, magical Fight Club, Earth is already at the brink of environmental disaster due to the magic overuse. And 16-year-old spell caster Aza Wu must navigate through an illegal, underground battle magic tournament, while evading local gangs and police scouts to save her family from ruin.

Catalyst by Lydia Kang: Zelia Benten has lost her father, the love of her life, and any future she might have imagined for herself. Now she, her sister, and the band of illegal genetic outcasts they’ve come to call their family are forced to run when the safety of their foster home is compromised.

A Clash of Steel (A Treasure Island Remix) by C.B. Lee: Set in 1820s China, Xiah joins Anh and her motley crew in pursuit of the hidden treasure of the legendary Dragon Fleet.

Chainbreaker (Timekeeper #2) by Tara Sim: In 1876, someone is destroying the clock towers that control India’s time. Teenage mechanics Danny Hart and half-white, half-Indian Daphne Richards as they travel to Agra to investigate a series of clock tower bombings.

The Chariot at Dusk (Tiger at Midnight #3) by Swati Teerdhala: In the final book of this epic fantasy trilogy, the lands’ fate, their people’s livelihoods, and the bond that sustains their world all depend on what Kunal and Esha can offer—to the gods and to each other.

Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu: June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic--and each other--and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic's border cities.

Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye: Love, spies, and adventure abound as apprentice warriors Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart forever.

Control by Lydia Kang: In 2150, when genetic manipulation has been outlawed, seventeen-year-old Zelia must rescue her kidnapped sister with the help of a band of outcasts with mutated genes.

Court of Lions (Mirage #2) by Somaiya Daud: After being swept up into the brutal Vathek court, Amani, the ordinary girl forced to serve as the half-Vathek princess Maram’s body double, is desperate to continue helping the rebellion But can she bear to remain separated, forever, from Maram's fiancé, Idris?

Cross Fire (Exo #2) by Fonda Lee: When the peaceful alien-run government withdraws from Earth, it seems that the terrorist group Sapience is going to get the "free" Earth it wanted; but Donovan Reyes, member of the security forces, and once a prisoner of Sapience, realizes that freedom comes with a price.

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye: Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia. The Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

The Crown’s Fate (The Crown’s Game #2) by Evelyn Skye: Vika struggles with dangers in her new role as the Imperial Enchanter while Pasha faces disputes about his legitimacy and Nikolai considers how far he is willing to go to return to the world.

A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi: Gauri, princess of Bharata, has been captured by her kingdom's enemies and faces a future of exile and scorn--she has nothing left to lose. But Vikram, the notoriously cunning prince of a neighboring land, promises her freedom in exchange for her partnership on his team to win the Tournament of Wishes.

The Damned (The Beautiful #2) by Renée Ahdieh: Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The price of loving Celine Rousseau was costly. But as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.

Dark Goddess (Alpha Goddess #2) by Amalie Howard: In this Indian-inspired fantasy, a girl who is the avatar of the goddess Lakshmi must work to prevent the apocalypse at the hands of demons.

Dark Goddess (Templar Chronicles #2) by Sarwat Chadda: Billi SanGreal, a teenaged member of the Knights Templar, must prevent a young girl, who is being hunted by werewolves because of the dangerous powers she possesses, from falling into the hands of the ancient Russian witch, Baba Yaga.

Daughter of Dusk (Midnight Thief #2) by Livia Blackburne: After learning the truth about her bloodlines, Kyra can’t help but feel like a monster. As tensions rise within Forge’s Council, and a vicious Demon Rider attacks continue in surrounding villages, Kyra knows she must do something to save her city.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: In this Chinese-inspired fantasy, Princess Hesina of Yan is thrust into power when her beloved father is murdered, and she’s determined to find his killer–whatever the cost.

The Devil’s Kiss (Templar Chronicles #1) by Sarwat Chadda: 15-year-old Billi SanGreal has grown up knowing that being a member of the Knights Templar puts her in danger, but if she is to save London from catastrophe she must make sacrifices greater than she imagined.

The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician #2) by Lisa Maxwell: Esta and Harte set off on a cross-country chase through time to steal back the elemental stones they need to save the future of magic.

Divided (Dualed #2) by Elsie Chapman: When the Board goes after West Grayer for refusing to kill her next target, West must uncover the truth of the past to survive.

Dove Arising by Karen Bao: On a lunar colony, 15-old Phaet Theta does the unthinkable and joins the Militia when her mother is imprisoned by the Moon's oppressive government.

Dove Exiled (Dove Chronicles #2) by Karen Bao: Phaet’s past catches up with her when the Lunar Bases attack the community and reveal that Phaet is a fugitive. She’s torn between staying on Earth with Wes—whom she’s just discovered her feelings for—and stowing away on a Moon-bound ship to rescue her siblings.

Dove Alight (Dove Chronicles #3) by Karen Bao: Shy, introverted Phaet Theta has gone from being a top student to an interplanetary fugitive to the reluctant but fierce leader of a revolution. But as the death tolls rise, the cost of the war weighs heavily on Phaet. Phaet started this war because she lost someone she loved. Will she have to lose another to end it?

Eclipse the Stars by Maura Milan: Criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot Ia Ccha and her allies make unpredictable choices as they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir: Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan, Laia, fighting for her family and a soldier, Elias, fighting for his freedom.

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean: During a once-in-a-generation competition to find the new empress, Mari, who hides a terrible secret, Taro, the prince who would denounce the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human outcast, will decide the fate of Honoku.

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza: Two sisters, Rhee and Kara—sole survivors of a murdered royal lineage - must reunite from opposite ends of the galaxy to salvage what’s left of their family dynasty and save the universe from a greater threat.

End of Days (Penryn & The End of Days #3) by Susan Ee: After a daring escape, Penryn and Raffe are on the run, but a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all. When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee: 15-year-old Genie Lo wonders if she’s qualified enough to gain admission to an Ivy League school, then becomes powerful enough to break through the gates of Heaven with her fists.

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa: Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allison Sekemoto will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever--and possibly end human and vampire existence.

The Ever Cruel Kingdom (The Never Tilting World #2) by Rin Chupeco: To break the cycle of sacrifice, twins Haidee and Odessa need answers that lie beyond the seven gates of the underworld, within the Cruel Kingdom itself. The shadows of the underworld may hunger to tear them apart, but these two sisters are determined to heal their world—together.

Exo by Fonda Lee: For a century now, Earth has been a peaceful colony of an alien race, and Donovan Reyes is a loyal member of the security forces, while his father is the Prime Liaison–but when a routine search and seizure goes bad Donovan finds himself a captive of the human revolutionary group, Sapience, terrorists who seem to prefer war to alien rule, and killing Donovan just might be the incident they are looking for.

Fair Coin by E.C. Myers: When evil versions of himself and best friend Nate appear one day, teenaged Ephraim embarks on a dangerous odyssey through parallel worlds to make things right.

Firestarter (Timekeeper #3) by Tara Sim: Colton, Daphne, and the others must choose between those striving to take down the world’s clock towers so that time can run freely, and terrorists trying to bring back the lost god of time.

Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns #4) by Kendare Blake: In this conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn’s history are laid bare. Allegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.

Flame in the Mist by Renee Adhieh: The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by the Black Clan. Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the ranks of this gang. But she’s quickly captured and taken to the Black Clan’s secret hideout, where she meets their leader, the rebel ronin Takeda Ranmaru.

For A Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig: 16-year-old shadow puppeteer Jetta Chantray performs with her family’s traveling troupe, the Ros Nai. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.

Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee: Sirscha Ashwyn, while training to become the queen’s next royal spy, discovers she’s a rare and powerful lightwender and is summoned to the realm of the Spider King, where her newly awakened abilities are needed to cull the bloodthirsty Dead Wood.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao: A reimagining of the evil queen from Snow White based on Asian mythology in which 18-year-old Xifeng must unleash a jealous god on the world and set free the viciousness of her own soul in order to become Empress.

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa: Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren. But Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions as his trail leads straight to the one place they must protect at any cost -- the last vampire-free zone on Earth.

Fury of the Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia #2) by Cindy Pon: When Ai Ling leaves her home and family to accompany Chen Yong on his quest to find his father, haunted by the ancient evil she thought she had banished to the underworld, she must use her growing supernatural powers to save Chen Yong from the curses that follow her.

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee: A teenage girl must keep her ability to manipulate the threads of time a secret, but when her brother goes missing, she risks getting caught up in a revolution in order to save him.

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta: Eris Shindanai and Sona Steelcrest, two girls on opposite sides of a war fought with Windups, giant mechanizes weapons, discover they’re fighting for a common purpose–and falling for each other.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi: Paris, 1889: Treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie gets the chance of a lifetime when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help in exchange for a priceless treasure: his true inheritance.

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig: From modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Hawaii to places of myth and legend, 16-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end.

The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco: Okiku has wandered the world for centuries, but when she meets Tark she knows the moody teen with the series of intricate tattoos is not a monster and needs to be freed from the demonic malevolence that clings to him.

The Girl King by Mimi Yu: Sisters Lu and Min become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust: As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Princess Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan: When Lei, seventeen, is stolen from her home to become one of nine Paper Girls, the Demon King's concubines, she proves to be more fire than paper.

Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire #2) by Natasha Ngan: After escaping the Hidden Palace, Lei and her warrior love Wren must travel the kingdom to gain support from the far-flung rebel clans.

Girls of Fate and Fury (Girls of Paper and Fire #3) by Natasha Ngan: The last Lei saw of the girl she loved, Wren, was fighting an army of soldiers in a furious battle to the death. With the two girls torn apart and each in terrorizing peril, will they find each other again or have their destinies diverged forever.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh: A feminist retelling of the Korean folktale The Tale of Shim Cheong, set in a town where every year a girl is sacrificed to the sea to stop torrential rains, but when a brave teen girl dives in herself to protect a loved one, she discovers a spirit kingdom in need of saving.

The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond: set in alt-history, 1960s America where WWI & WII were fought with giant mechs, biracial Chinese American teen Jo Linden is Team USA’s most unlikely pick in the annual Pax Games, an Olympic-style competition that pits mecha pilots against each other.

The Heartforger (Bone Witch #2) by Rin Chupeco: With a thirst for vengeance, a band of terrifying daeva at her command, and her resurrected lover Kalen by her side, dark asha Tea is ready to face her adversaries.

A House of Rage and Sorrow (Celestial Trilogy #2) by Sangu Mandanna: As gods, beasts, and kingdoms choose sides, Alexi seeks out a weapon more devastating than even Titania. The House of Rey is at war. And the entire galaxy will bleed before the end.

Huntress by Malinda Lo: 17-year-olds Kaede and Taisin are called to go on a dangerous and unprecedented journey to Tanlili, the city of the Fairy Queen, in an effort to restore the balance of nature in the human world.

Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan: When outlaw Ia Ccha is captured by the Olympus Commonwealth and revealed to be a 16-year-old girl, they force her to serve them by joining the Commonwealth's military academy where new acquaintances cause Ia to question her own alliances.

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa: Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city, until she too becomes an immortal vampire. Forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls, she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend -- a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

Inferno (Talon #5) by Julie Kagawa: Ember Hill has learned a shocking truth about herself: she is the blood of the Elder Wyrm, the ancient dragon who leads Talon and who is on the verge of world domination. With the stakes rising and the Elder Wyrm declaring war, time is running out for the rogues and any dragon not allied with Talon. The final battle approaches. And if Talon is victorious, the world will burn.

The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman: Japanese American teen Nami Miyamoto finds herself in a limitless world where the human consciousness goes after death, where she battles an AI entity posing as a queen that has hacked its way into the afterlife.

Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier: Mysterious maps from opposite ends of the sea cast doubt on the whereabouts of two princes, presumed dead.

Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan: A debut fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology, in which peasant girl Anh, cursed with the power to steal souls enters a tenuous alliance with exiled prince Altan, bent on taking back the dragon throne, and save the empire from a cult of dangerous priests.

Journey to the Heart of the Abyss (Light in the Abyss #2) by London Shah: Leyla McQueen has finally reunited with her father after breaking him out of Broadmoor, the illegal government prison—but his freedom comes at a terrible cost. As Leyla celebrates his return, she must grapple with the pain of losing Ari. Now labeled the nation’s number one enemy, Leyla must risk illegal travel through unchartered waters for the truth behind her father’s arrest.

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena: Set in a world inspired by medieval India, the story tells of a girl, Gul, with a star-shaped birthmark who is prophesied to be the downfall of a tyrant king, the warrior women who come to her aid, and the boy she falls in love with.

The Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker: set in 1890s Japan, half-British reaper, half-Japanese Shinigami Ren Scarborough flees London and enters the Japanese underworld under the service of Izanami, the goddess of death.

King (Dragon King Chronicles #3) by Ellen Oh: Girl warrior, demon slayer, Tiger spirit of the Yellow Eyes - Kira is ready for her final quest! She must save her cousin, the boy fated to be the future king, uncover the third lost treasure, and face innumerable enemies in order to fulfill the famed prophecy.

A Kingdom for the Stage (For A Muse of Fire #2) by Heidi Heilig: The rebels are eager to use Le Trépas’s and necromancer Jetta’s combined magic against the invading colonists. Soon Jetta will face the choice between saving all of Chakrana or becoming like her father, and she isn’t sure which she’ll choose.

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix (Rise of the Empress #2) by Julie C. Dao: Princess Jade has grown up in exile while her stepmother, the ruthless Xifeng, rules Feng Lu. Ready to reclaim her place, Jade embarks on a quest to raise the Dragon Lords and defeat Xifeng and the Serpent God once and for all.

Legend by Marie Lu: In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, 15-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy.

Legion (Talon #4) by Julie Kagawa: The legions are about to be unleashed, and no human, rogue dragon or former dragon slayer can stand against the coming horde in book 4 out of the Talon series.

The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana: Amrita must unravel the mysteries of her past to save her kingdom, but in doing so, she herself might come unraveled.

The Light At the Bottom of the World by London Shah: Set in a future where the Earth is underwater, Leyla McQueen must navigate the treacherous abyss to find her missing father, but discovers a world drowning in lies.

Live in Infamy by Caroline Tung Richmond: 80 years since the Axis won World War II, and America was divided between the victors: the Nazis in the East and Imperial Japan in the West; but now resistance is growing in the Eastern territories and 16-year-old Chinese American Ren Cabot finds himself drawn into a resistance group.

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna: 15-year-old Eva is the clone of a girl living far, far away on another continent--and when this 'other' dies, Eva must step in and take over her life.

The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2) by Lori M. Lee: Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever. To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao: blending Chinese history and mecha science, Wu Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. Features a poly F/M/M main romance.

The Iron Will of Genie Lo (Epic Crush of Genie Lo #2) by F.C. Yee: Along with a few other contenders for the throne, heaven-appointed guardian Genie and her friends embark on a Heavenly quest to an in-between world.

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen: An intergenerational story of a mother and son struggling to relate to each other—the mother an immigrant to America who wants to make a home for her family in an unfamiliar country; the son Tiế trying to figure out the best way to come out to his parents. Through telling each other fairy tales, they’re able to find common ground.

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas: When her ailing father is conscripted to fight invaders from the north, Mulan dresses as a man to take his place in the army, but an old enemy and an attraction for her troop's commander complicate her mission.

The Memory Keepers by Natasha Ngan: Seven is a thief with a difference - he steals downloadable memories from banks and memoriums to sell onto London’s black market. But one night, as Seven is breaking into a private memorium in a wealthy part of London, he is caught in the act by one of its residents; Alba, the teenage daughter of London’s most famous criminal prosecutor.

The Memory Key by Liana Liu: In the not-so-distant future, everyone is implanted with a memory key to stave off a virulent form of Alzeimer's. Lora Mint fears her memories of her deceased mother are fading, but when her memory key is damaged she has perfect recall--of everything-- which brings her mother's memory vividly back--but may also drive Lora mad.

The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall: A desperate orphan turned pirate, Flora, and a rebellious imperial daughter, Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, find a connection on the high seas abroad the Dove, in a world divided by colonialism and threaded with magic.

The Midnight Star (Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu: Adelina is forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

The Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne: Kyra, a highly skilled 17-year-old thief, joins a guild of assassins with questionable motives. Tristam, a young knight, fights against the vicious Demon Riders that are ravaging the city.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, 18-year-old Amani is forced to work as a body double for the princess who is hated by her conquered people.

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco: In a world ruled by goddesses that has been split in two—one half existing in perpetual scorching Day, the other in freezing Night—twins separated at birth Odessa and Haidee embark on a quest across the great divide and rule a reunited world.

Mooncakes by Wendy Xu & Suzanne Walker: Teen witch Nova Huang runs into her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help.

Moribito, Guardian of the Spirit by Nahoko Uehashi: The wandering warrior Balsa is hired to protect Prince Chagum from both a mysterious monster and the prince's father, the Mikado.

Moribito II, Guardian of the Darkness by Nahoko Uehashi: The wandering female bodyguard Balsa returns to her native country of Kanbal, where she uncovers a conspiracy to frame her mentor and herself.

Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox #3) by Julie Kagawa: As darkness rises and chaos reigns, fierce kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko and her shadowy protector Kage Tatsumi, will face down the greatest evil of all.

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee: Resigned to a life without superpowers in a world full of them, Jess takes a paid internship where she helps a heinous supervillain and works with her longtime crush Abby, but stumbles on a massive plot.

Not Your Villain (Sidekick Squad #2) by C.B. Lee: After discovering a massive cover-up by the Heroes’ League of Heroes, shapeshifter Bells Broussard and his friends Jess, Emma, and Abby set off on a secret mission to find the Resistance.

Not Your Backup by C.B. Lee (Sidekick Squad #3): As the Resistance moves to challenge the corrupt League of Heroes, Emma Robledo realizes where her place is in this fight: at the front.

On This Unworthy Scaffold (Shadow Players #3) by Heidi Heilig: Jetta’s home is spiraling into civil war.Le Trépas—the deadly necromancer—has used his blood magic to wrest control of the country. Meanwhile, Jetta’s love interest, brother, and friend are intent on infiltrating the palace to stop the Boy King and find Le Trépas to put an end to the unleashed chaos.

The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond: After 70 years since Hitler's armies won the war, 16-year-old Zara St. James lives in the Shenandoah hills, part of the Eastern American Territories, under the rule of the Nazis--but a resistance movement is growing.

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He: In a near future when life is harsh outside of Earth’s last unpolluted place, Cee tries to leave an abandoned island while her sister, STEM prodigy Kasey Mizuhara, seeks escape from the science and home she once trusted.

One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2) by Kendare Blake: Preparing for the queens' sixteenth birthday celebration and navigating the fallout of the Quickening, sisters Arsinoe, Katharine, and Mirabella reassess their strategic paths to the throne using new understandings of their powers and destinies.

Our Violent Ends (These Violent Delights #2) by Chloe Gong: In 1927, Shanghai tethers on the edge of revolution. After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and while secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat.

Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu: June and Day make their way to Las Vegas where they join the rebel Patriot group and become involved in an assassination plot against the Elector in hopes of saving the Republic.

Quantum Coin (Fair Coin #2) by E.C. Myers: Ephraim, Jena, and Zoe embark on a mission across multiple worlds to learn what's going wrong and how to stop it. They will have to draw on every resource available and trust in alternate versions of themselves and their friends, before it's too late for all of them.

Ravage the Dark (Scavenge the Stars #2) by Tara Sim: After escaping the city of Moray, Amaya and Cayo head to the port city of Baleine to find the mysterious Benefactor and put a stop to the counterfeit currency that is spreading Ash Fever throughout the kingdoms.

The Reader by Traci Chee: Set in a world where reading is unheard-of, Sefia makes use of a mysterious object to track down who kidnapped her aunt Nin and what really happened the night her father was murdered.

A Reaper At the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #3) by Sabaa Tahir: Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger as the Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, Laia of Serra, and Elias Veturius all face increasing dangers.

Rebel (Legend #4) by Marie Lu: Brothers Eden and Daniel Wing struggle to accept who they’ve each become since their time in the Republic, but a new danger creeps into the distance that’s grown between them. Eden soon finds himself drawn so far into Ross City’s dark side, even his legendary brother can’t save him. At least not on his own.

Rebelwing by Andrea Tang: At a prestigious prep school, scholastic student Prudence Wu, who smuggles censored media in a futuristic North America divided by culture wars and becomes an unlikely revolutionary, after being imprinted by Rebelwing, a sentient cybernetic dragon.

Renegade Flight (Rebelwing #2) by Andrea Tang: Pilot-in-training Viola Park, a probationary student at GAN Academy, enters a mech combat tournament that becomes a fight for the future of Peacekeepers everywhere.

Rising Like a Storm (The Wrath of Ambar #2) by Tanaz Bhathena: Gul and Cavas must unite their magical forces―and hold onto their growing romance―to save their kingdom from tyranny.

The Righteous (The Beautiful #3) by Renée Ahdieh: Pippa Montrose is tired of losing everything she loves. When her best friend Celine disappears under mysterious circumstances, Pippa resolves to find her, even if the journey takes her into the dangerous world of the fae, where she might find more than she bargained for in the charismatic Arjun Desai.

The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee: The never-before-told backstory of Avatar Kyoshi, from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.

Rogue (Talon #2) by Julie Kagawa: Unable to forget the human boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, Ember is determined to save him from execution with the help of rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues.

Rogue Heart (Rebel Seoul #2) by Axie Oh: Two years after the Battle of Neo Seoul, telepath Ama must use her telepathic abilities to infiltrate the base of the Alliance’s new war commander, Alex Kim, her first love who betrayed her.

The Rose and the Dagger (Wrath and the Dawn #2) by Renee Adhieh: Unsure who to trust, Shahrzad takes matters into her own hands to try and break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

The Rose Society (Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu: Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis.

Ruse (Want #2) by Cindy Pon: In near-future Shanghai where society is divided between the fabulously wealthy business elite and the masses they exploit, Jason Zhou must play a dangerous cat and mouse game with the ruthless CEO of an all powerful corporation which has an ever-growing choke hold on the polluted metropolis.

Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim: In the city-state of Moray, Amaya, orphaned by a powerful merchant’s greed and condemned to seven years aboard a debtor’s ship, returns to seek revenge only to encounter the merchant’s son in this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Serpentine by Cindy Pon: Although 16-year-old Skybright feels lucky to be the handmaid and companion to the daughter of a wealthy family, she is hiding a secret that threatens to destroy her position and her closest relationships.

Sacrifice (Serpertine #2) by Cindy Pon: When Zhen Ni discovers that her new husband, the strange and brutish Master Hou, may not be all he seems, Skybright and Stone must travel through the terrifying underworld to save her.

Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda & Valynne Maetani: Set in contemporary Japan, Shinto temple priestess Kira Fujikawa, must seek the aid of seven ruthless shinigami, in order to protect Kyoto from an ancient evil.

Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells: Maren, desperate to save her kidnapped girlfriend Kaia, plans to steal one of the emperor’s dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold, but her success depends on becoming an apprentice to the mysterious dragon trainer, which proves to be a dangerous venture.

Talon by Julie Kagawa: In a world in which near-extinct dragons pass as humans to grow their numbers secretly, siblings Ember and Dante Hill prepare for destined positions in the world of Talon only to be hunted by a dragon-slaying soldier.

The Ship Beyond Time (Girl From Everywhere #2) by Heidi Heilig: Nix has escaped her past, but when the person she loves most is at risk, even the daughter of a time traveler may not be able to outrun her fate—no matter where she goes.

The Shadow Mission (The Athena Protocol #2) by Shamim Sharif: Jessie Archer faced down death to prove her dedication to Athena, the elite organization of female spies she works for. Now she’s back on the team, in time to head to Pakistan to take down the man whose actions spurred Athena’s founders to create the secretive squad.

The Shadow of Kyoshi (Kyoshi #2) by F.C. Yee: Kyoshi’s place as the true Avatar has finally been cemented. With her mentors gone, Kyoshi voyages across the Four Nations, struggling to keep the peace. But while her reputation grows, a mysterious threat emerges from the Spirit World. To stop it, Kyoshi, Rangi, and their reluctant allies must join forces.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa: Demons have burned the temple Yumeko was raised in to the ground, killing everyone within, including the master who trained her to both use and hide her kitsune shapeshifting powers. Yumeko escapes with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll. Fate thrusts her into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko knows he seeks what she has…and is under orders to kill anything and anyone who stands between him and the scroll.

Shadow Girl by Liana Liu: When Mei arrives at the beautiful home on Arrow Island, she can't help feeling relieved. She's happy to spend the summer tutoring a rich man's daughter if it means a break from her normal life. Yet she can't shake her fear that there is danger lurking in the shadows of this beautiful house, a darkness that could destroy the family inside and out...and Mei along with them.

Shadowsong (Wintersong #2) by S. Jae-Jones: Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. But when troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be.

Smoke in the Sun (A Flame in the Mist #2) by Renee Ahdieh: After Okami is captured in the Jukai forest, Mariko has no choice—to rescue him, she tricks her brother, Kenshin, and betrothed, Raiden, into thinking she was being held by the Black Clan against her will. But each secret Mariko unfurls gives way to the next, ensnaring her and Okami in a political scheme that threatens their honor, their love and very the safety of the empire.

Sisters of the Snake by Sasha & Sarena Nanua: an Indian-inspired fantasy where twins separated at birth—one now a princess, the other a street thief— must switch places in a bid to stop a catastrophic war that threatens to tear their kingdom apart.

Silver Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia #1) by Cindy Pon: With her father long overdue from his journey and a lecherous merchant blackmailing her into marriage, 17-year-old Ai Ling becomes aware of a strange power within her as she goes in search of her parent.

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2) by Roshani Chokshi: Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but at a terrible cost. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God. Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into icy heart of Russia.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim: The Wild Swans meets East Asian fantasy where an exiled princess, Shiori, must unweave the curse that turned her brothers into cranes, assisted by her spurned betrothed, a mercurial dragon, and a paper bird brought to life by her own magic.

A Sky Beyond the Storm (An Ember in the Ashes #4) by Sabaa Tahir: Laia of Serra is now allied with the Blood Shrike, Helen Aquilla. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory–or to an unimaginable doom.

Skyhunter by Marie Lu: Robbed of her voice and home, Talin Kanami knows firsthand the brutality of the Federation. Their cruelty forced her and her mother to seek asylum in Mara. When a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye.

The Shadow Glass (Bone Witch #3) by Rin Chupeco: Bone witch Tea’s dark magic eats away at her, but she must save the one she loves most, even while her life—and the kingdoms—are on the brink of destruction.

Song of the Abyss (Towers of Wind #2) by Makiia Lucier: When menacing raiders attack her ship, navigator Reyna must use every resource at her disposal, including placing her trust in a handsome prince from a rival kingdom.

Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao: After cruelly rejecting Bao, the poor physician’s apprentice who loves her, Lan, a wealthy nobleman’s daughter, regrets her actions. After learning that Bao’s soul has been trapped inside a flute by a witch, Lan vows to make amends and help break the spell.

Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) by Julie Kagawa: As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.

A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna: In this sci-fi retelling of the Mahabrahata, Esmae learns that the King of Wychstar is offering the unbeatable warship Titania to the winner of his competition and she sees her chance to return home and help her brother win back his kingdom.

The Speaker (Sea of Ink and Gold #2) by Traci Chee: Having barely escaped the clutches of the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run, slipping into the safety of the forest to tend to their wounds and plan their next move.

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim: 17-year-old Maia Tamarin poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor, and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars, with help from the mysterious court magician, Edan.

Spell Starter (Caster #2) by Elsie Chapman: Yes, Aza Wu now has magic back, but now she’s in the employ of the gang leader, St. Willow. Who soon decides that having Aza as a fighter is much more lucrative than as a fixer.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar: Inspired by Hindu mythology, half-mortal, half-star Sheetal enters a celestial competition to save her human father’s life.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi: Treated with scorn and fear in her father's kingdom because of a formidable horoscope, 16-year-old Maya commits herself to her education only to land in an arranged marriage that culminates in her sudden elevation to the throne, a situation that is threatened by dark secrets and Otherworldly magic.

Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Choski:Three lush and adventurous stories in the Star-Touched world.

Steelstriker (Skyhunter #2) by Marie Lu: After the fall of Mara, and with the fate of a broken world hanging in the balance, Talin and Red must reunite the Strikers and find their way back to one another.

Storm the Earth (Shatter the Sky #2) by Rebecca Kim Wells: Maren and her girlfriend Kaia set out to rescue Sev in Zafed, and free the dragons from the corrupt emperor.

The Storyteller (Sea of Ink and Gold #3) by Traci Chee: Sefia is determined to keep Archer out of the Guard’s clutches and their plans for war between the Five Kingdoms. As Sefia and Archer watch Kelanna start to crumble to the Guard’s will, they will have to choose between their love and joining a war that just might tear them apart.

Stronger Than A Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan: In this steampunk fantasy set in Qing dynasty-inspired China, warrior girl Anlei teams up with a thief to save her village from shadow spirits, but after arriving at the Courts of Hell, a discovery challenges everything they know about who the real enemy is.

The Suffering (Girl From the Well #2) by Rin Chupeco: When an old friend disappears in Aokigahara, Japan's infamous 'suicide forest,' Tark and the ghostly Okiku must resolve their differences and return to find her. In a strange village inside Aokigahara, old ghosts and an ancient evil lie waiting.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong: In 1920s Shanghai, starcrossed heirs to rival gangs, Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, must work together to face a monster that hunts the city streets before the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: A fantasy about triplet sisters separated at birth, where one of the sisters will grow up to be queen of their magical island, but in order to ascend to the throne she must hone her magic for a dark purpose: assassinating her other two sisters before they kill her first.

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman: 15 bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate.

A Thousand Fires by Shannon Price: In modern-day San Francisco where three gangs rule the city streets, half-Filipina teen Valerie Simons enters the Red Bridge Wars to seek vengeance for her younger brother’s death, but soon finds herself torn between old love and new loyalty.

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala: In ancient India, soldier Kunal hunts the “Viper,” rebel girl Esha accused of killing his General, embarking on a dangerous cat and mouse game and where both must decide—loyalty to their old lives or to a love that’s made them dream of new ones.

Timekeeper by Tara Sim: set in an alternate Victorian era where clock towers control time, about a teen clock mechanic who is assigned to repair a damaged tower and finds himself falling in forbidden love with the boy he mistakes for his apprentice, but is actually the tower’s clock spirit, and whose life is threatened by a mysterious attacker planting bombs in clock towers across England.

A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir: Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake: A victorious Katharine sits on the throne, Mirabella and Arsinoe are in hiding, and an unexpected renegade is about to wage a war of her own. The crown has been won, but these queens are far from done.

Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars #2) by Elizabeth Lim: With a war brewing, master tailor Maia Tamarin will stop at nothing to find her love Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.

Vicious Spirits (Gumiho #2) by Kat Cho: With the support of Somin and Junu, Miyoung and Jihoon might just have a shot at normalcy. But Miyoung is getting sicker by the day and her friends don’t know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let’s be honest, Junu isn’t known for his “generosity.”

Want by Cindy Pon: Set in a teeming, pollution choked Taipei which follows a group of teens living on the seedy fringes of a highly divided society that works only for the elite as they decide to risk everything to take down the powerful company which controls the city.

Warcross by Marie Lu: When teenage coder Emika Chen hacks her way into the opening tournament of the Warcross Championships, she glitches herself into the game as well as a sinister plot with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

Warrior (Dragon King Chronicles #2) by Ellen Oh: Kira, the yellow-eyed demon slayer of Hansong, continues her quest to find the lost treasures of the dragon king's prophecy, save her cousin, the prince, unite her kingdom, and defeat the demon lord

We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal: In a world inspired by ancient Arabia, 17-year-old huntress Zafira must disguise herself as a man to seek a lost artifact that could return magic to her cursed world.

We Free the Stars (Sands of Arawiya #2) by Hafsah Faizal: When Zafria, the Hunter, and Nasir, the Prince of Death both embark on a quest to uncover a lost magic artifact, they encounter an ancient evil long thought destroyed - and discover that the prize they seek may be even more dangerous this time.

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles: Showgirl Kallia, haunted by a dark past, must compete in a magician’s competition in order to secure her ambition and freedom from the handsome, enigmatic keeper of the club, Jack, even as mysterious accidents seem to plague her every move, while crossing paths with another talented magician, Demarco.

When Night Breaks (Kingdom of Hearts #2) by Janella Angeles: The competition has come to a disastrous end, and Daron Demarco’s fall from grace is now front page news. But little matters to him beyond Kallia, the contestant he fell for. With time running out, Kallia must embrace her role in a darker destiny.

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho: After 18-year-old Miyoung Gu, a nine-tailed fox surviving in modern-day Seoul by eating the souls of evil men, kills a murderous goblin to save Jihoon, she is forced to choose between her immortal life and his.

Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu: Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Knowing the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she is determined to put a stop to his plans.

The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad: A a multi-perspective feminist narrative about a fierce band of magic-wielding girls—the Wild Ones—who have collectively survived unspeakable things, and together are determined to save other girls from the cruelties and tragedies they’ve had to endure in their own past lives.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones: After her sister is kidnapped by the Goblin King, Liesl journeys to the Underground and is faced with an impossible decision when she finds herself captivated by the strange world and its mysterious ruler.

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco: A girl descended from Filipina mythological heroine Maria Makiling, finds herself caught up in a war between two fairy tale kingdoms, where the fate of Avalon is at stake.

Windborn by Mary Fan: With magicians hot on their trail, air nymph Kiri and magician’s apprentice Darien embark on a treacherous journey through dangerous lands to freedom.

World After (Penryn & The End of Days #2) by Susan Ee: Penryn's search for her kidnapped sister, Paige, leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, while Raffe must choose between reclaiming his wings--and his role as the angels' leader--or helping Penryn survive.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Adhieh: In this reimagining of The Arabian Nights, Shahrzad plans to avenge the death of her dearest friend by volunteering to marry the murderous boy-king of Khorasan but discovers not all is as it seems within the palace.

Zeroboxer by Fonda Lee: As 17-year-old Carr 'the Raptor' Luka rises to fame in the weightless combat sport of zeroboxing, he learns a devastating secret that jeopardizes not only his future in the sport, but interplanetary relations.

#authors of color #booklr #book recommendations #book recs #asian authors #yalit

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biffhofosho · 3 years ago

Text

Succumbing to Sybaris | Prologue

Fandoms: Monsta X, NCT/WayV, Eric Nam, EXO, 2NE1, Everglow

Genre: 90s, Mystery, Police Procedural, Vampire, Multichapter

Pairing: OT7 x OC

Chapter Word Count: 2.5k

Trope: Enemies to lovers, love/hate, different worlds, reverse harem, hurt/comfort, soulmates and fate

Synopsis: It's 1997 and everything is changing—the clothes, the music, the zeitgeist. With the advent of the internet, people are more accessible than ever, and for the women of Portland, that means more accessible to predators, too. With eight missing girls and a past of her own, Detective Amber Spiros has a hunch the mysterious chat handle chwSUX might be the key to unlocking everything—even her inhibitions.

The Vibe: Monsta X as actual fucking monsters, complicated relationships, working with handsome exes, disruptive patriarchy, problematic villains at their finest, Eric Nam is best friends goals, dark existential themes, love and loss, grief and hope, puppet masters like whaaaat, gratuitous beach scenes, an OC with an unhealthy addiction to danger, mythology everywhere you look, loneliness in spades, halves making a mutli-sided whole

A/N: THERE ARE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS IN THIS. I DO NOT AND WILL NOT EVER WRITE IN SECOND PERSON POV.

This is your only warning: This is basically an overloaded garbage scow disguised as a classy cruise ship. Don't let it distract you from what it really is—another trashterpiece. It's a lot of reverse harem vampire smut starring Monsta X (and plenty of other cameos) with slightly more plot for balance so I don’t feel so bad about being so filthy. I’m serious—smut of every kind of kink and position is in these pages.

Also, for this chapter only, I went, like, way way way overboard on the custom content. Since I have come to terms with the fact that I am significantly older than probably 85% of any potential reader-base--and, as previously noted, I am pretty far removed from reality--I thought I might bring back to life some of the magic of the early internet for you young’ns as well as set the mood for this piece.

THIS PROLOGUE CONTAINS GIFS. WATCH UNTIL THE END. As they are meant to be live chats, there are lots of pauses. You know you’ve seen the whole chat when it loops back. If you’re too impatient, this will be up on ao3 under my same name with text only.

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn’t pay homage to the song that inspired this entire fic. Listened to it while falling asleep one night, and the next thing I knew, I’d written 20 pages. The Midnight - America Online

Okay, enough blabbering. tl;dr: Gifs. Tons of graphic sex. OT7. 90s, yo. Vampires. More sex.

Cvr | Tr | Pr | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | Ep

chwSUX: Hi, Honey. A/S/L?

Like the other twenty-two faceless chatters, his handle glowed royal blue, yet she zeroed in on him at once, even with the same question she'd answered at least fifty times in a half-dozen fruitless chatrooms tonight. Now, as she lurked in the Bored room, casting out her ubiquitous “hi!!!”, she hoped for better luck. She couldn’t explain it, but after hours at her keyboard and what would probably be an astronomical bill from her ISP, his name seemed more in-focus than the others.

Her fingers clacked over the keys with perfect rehearsal.

She clicked on his buddy info, but unlike most of the users in the chat, it was blank. Not even a melodramatic song lyric or inspirational quote to impress the ladies.

She imagined he’d scoped out hers as well, which was probably why he’d taken the bait. The one she was looking for would be looking for someone just like her as well.

Honeymoon79: hey neighbor!!!

chwSUX: Favorite book?

This was new. And promising. No "want 2 cyber?" clogging up the chat space for a change—well, not by him anyway. She glanced at her notebook of ideas and hurried to answer.

Chatting was a game of speed, especially with so many other handles jumping in to answer. The window was already crowding with pretentious responses, all jockeying to impress each other or find a kindred spirit. But her quarry didn’t acknowledge any of them and neither did she.

He was silent for at least three windows of random chat, which had now devolved into a debate over whether Fight Club or American Psycho was the bigger mindfuck, and she began to suspect she had lost her prospect. With a sigh, she scrolled through the other busy chatrooms in hopes of more fertile poaching grounds when his screen name blazed across the chat window anew.

chwSUX: Favorite movie?

She frowned. It was her turn to ask a question—that was chatroom etiquette—but he was proving he was different and she had to treat him differently.

Another glance at her notebook.

Honeymoon79: idk!!! probably the craft

Honeymoon79: what about u???

chwSUX: Favorite color?

Now, she was hissing in frustration. The guy she was looking for would be interested in her but would also seek her trust. This one seemed determined to dissect her. Or maybe he was fishing for someone specific just as she was. The possibility ended up being too tantalizing, so she promised one more round before she said goodbye to Mr. SUX and swam for more rewarding ponds.

Honeymoon79: yellow

chwSUX: Why?

It was a strange question to a simple answer, especially since he’d ignored the others. There was weight behind those three letters, maybe genuine curiosity or maybe the search for a correct answer. She wasn't prepared for it though, so she let an unrehearsed answer flow through her fingers and hoped it was good enough.

Honeymoon79: it reminds me of the sun. never get enough of that here lol. and its warm and inviting. it makes me forget.

chwSUX: Forget what?

Honeymoon79: everything. u can't b sad looking at yellow

Another long wait for an answer, and she figured she'd either tripped herself up or bored him to death. Maybe it was too depressing of an answer, one a teen who favored three exclamation points and Comic Sans might not give. Either way, she had just blown her best chance all night.

She took a bracing swig of cold black coffee, but that wasn’t what perked her back up.

chwSUX: I like red.

Her heart raced. He was still there, still promising, finally engaging.

Honeymoon79: y?

chwSUX: I think it’s the warmest color.

Her fingers hovered over home row, unsure of how to respond. It was an odd answer, but she could feel he was waiting for her to make a new move.

Her eyes narrowed and flicked from the soft buzz of the monitor to the ice-cold black beverage in her Central Perk mug. Something rippled down her back.

Honeymoon79: been too hot for coffee. iced tea?

chwSUX: Let me get the door for you, my lady.

Honeymoon79: such a gentleman

A private message from chwSUX supplanted the chatroom so that her monitor was filled only with him. It wasn’t her first private message of the night, but it was the only one she had wanted to receive.

There was a charm about him, something no one else she’d encountered online seemed to possess. He had an elegance and a confidence to him that made him realer than every other absurd moniker she’d seen that night. Most chatters were attention-seekers desperate for connection or validation, but not him. He could take her or leave her, and the only one who would regret it would be her.

She followed him eagerly into their private room.

There was a tangibility to their exchange, something strangely supernatural about it, as though her shabby office was now a busy coffee shop where the pair of them had tucked themselves into a back booth. She could almost smell him under toasted beans.

Her skin prickled. She shouldn’t care about some stranger’s approval, especially his, but she couldn’t help the way her pulse quickened.

She found herself laughing into the sad echo of her study.

And that’s how most of their conversation passed, her teasing and him deflecting with sophistication. He asked as many questions as she did but answered only those that he wanted. One hour became two. By hour three, her eyes were burning. She hadn’t blinked much; it was hard to tear her eyes away from his stupid name.

Everything he said surprised her. He traveled for a living. He’d been to Papua New Guinea and Iceland and the Maldives and other places she’d only heard of on the news or in social studies. He spoke a half-dozen languages and understood a half-dozen more. He had brothers—a lot from the sounds of it, though he didn’t say how many—and no sisters.

He always knew the right word and how to drip elegance from every line, and she found herself picturing the mouth that would say such things. Pink lips, white teeth, and soft curves and corners to manipulate the delicate sounds of any language he desired. In actuality, he was probably a fifty-year-old janitor with a boil the size of a golf ball on his neck and half a hard-on right now, but, as stupid as it was, she didn’t want to believe that. She wanted to believe he was typing in a suit, legs crossed, with a decanter of bourbon breathing at the corner of his mahogany desk. That was dangerous.

She wanted to believe him, and she was no doubt not the first.

He was slow and deliberate and very, very good at making her open up for him. She said things she shouldn’t have. He had a way of circumventing her precautions before she even knew it happened, and she had been careful. His questions came like the tides, and when they receded, her fortress was ruined.

There was an intensity to this faceless man that she couldn’t remember from any of her many real first dates and certainly none of the perverts online tonight. This was exactly the sort of man she’d been hunting all night, and yet, somehow, he remained just out of reach.

They had passed through the heart of night so effortlessly that she hadn’t felt the oncoming creep of dawn, but as her eyes slid to the blocky gray clock in the corner of her monitor, she knew she was running out of time to reel him in. Problem was every time she tried to steer the conversation to where she needed it to go, he would override her with a distraction of some kind. Now, she had no choice but to press the issue.

Honeymoon79: okay chw i really gotta go for real. i have class in a couple hours and i’m gonna fall asleep at my desk!!1 i’ll be on tomorrow night again if you want to chat

chwSUX: Describe your perfect day, Honey.

Damn him. He was controlling the narrative again. She should ignore him like he ignored her, sign off and leave him wondering what he’d done wrong. In a show of defiance, her cursor hovered over the red X in the corner. Maybe he’d look for her tomorrow in the chatrooms and beg her to let him make it up to her.

But she knew in her heart that wasn’t what would happen. He would disappear into the dark waters of cyberspace, leaving only a ripple as a tease that he had ever been there.

That left his challenge burning crimson on her screen. It was another question she hadn't anticipated, but something inside her told her this was it. If she passed this test, she could bend him to her will, but she had no idea what he wanted to hear. With no other choice, she closed her eyes and let the answer come to her.

Honeymoon79: i wake up halfway thru the day bc nothing interesting ever happens in the morning anyway. its been gray and rainy all morning, perfect for sleeping and keeping people away. when i finally get up i eat something ridiculous for breakfast like cake bc no one is gonna judge me today

Honeymoon79: the clouds are gone, but its to late for anybody to go out accept for me. i drive until i get to tillamook where i watch the sunset thru the trees. the sky is still peachy when i leave. by the time i get to seaside, all the stars are out and the tourists have gone home. the tide is low and i walk out as far as i can until the water hits my toes. i strip and swim out until its just mountains and black water and sky. i float there until my limbs get so cold i'm not sure i can make it back, but i do and i stand there drying in the breeze and i've never been happier

Finished, she sat back exhausted and almost out of breath. How much of what she had written was her character and how much was her? Teenage typos aside, it had come out so naturally that she wasn’t sure. She’d never thought about it before, but as she read back through, it didn’t feel like a lie.

Three minutes passed and, still, he said nothing. She ground her teeth. It was time to play hard ball.

Honeymoon79: i really gotta go

Honeymoon79: nice chatting w/ u chw ::waves::

His response was almost instantaneous.

chwSUX: Let’s meet.

In the quiet of her study, she could hear her short, eager breaths, but it was her turn to make him wait.

chwSUX: I know this is sudden, and you can let me know if I’m overreaching, but if you're open to it, I'd love to meet you, Honey, to continue our conversation in person.

chwSUX: There's never anybody from Portland on here, but beyond that, I feel a connection to you. Don’t you feel it, too?

She let it hang for a long moment. She had to make him believe she hadn't already made up her mind.

Honeymoon79: idk i mean you could be jack the ripper for all I no

chwSUX: And you could be Rodrigo, my 250lb gardener, but I think you're worth a little risk.

She held back her response in hopes he would press more firmly, and he didn’t disappoint.

chwSUX: It's thrilling, isn't it? The possibility that letters on a screen could be anyone in the world. I don't feel much excitement anymore, but the possibility of you, Honey, that's exciting me more than I can explain.

“The possibility of you,” she read aloud to her empty office.

He was good and he was right. The possibility of chw was exactly the sort of thrill she was looking for. There was a sharpness to his words as exhilarating as a cliffside overlook and as dangerous as one step nearer to its edge, but she still wasn't ready to give in.

His pager number glowed like dried blood on the screen, and she hurried to write it down, not that she could forget. It had already been burned into her memory.

chwSUX: I’ll be waiting.

“You better be, asshole,” she hissed before she signed off and her real work began.

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