#~ lia's betrayal series ~

[liahaslosthermind]

~ 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥 ~ Series Masterlist

Summary: Adelaide was Rhysand's lover for over 300 years, she had planned on spending her whole existence with him. Technically she did, for it was only in her last moments that he betrayed her. But death isn't the end of her story, only the beginning. Pairings: Eventual Azriel x OC, Rhysand x OC (past)

𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 1. 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 2. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒔 3. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒍 4. 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 5. 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓 6. 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 (𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒆) - 𝑨𝒄𝒕 𝑻𝒘𝒐 - 7. 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒉 8. 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞) 9. 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐨) 𝑻𝒐 𝑩𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅... 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 (Can be read in any order) 1. 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 Current Taglist: @rcarbo1 @bravo-delta-eccho @thebeautifulmysteriesoflife @tele86 @janebirkln @cleverzonkwombatsludge @weekendlusting @dxjaaaa @saltedcoffeescotch @thegoddessofnothingness @blessthepizzaman @a-new-romantic @bookwormysblog @secretsicanthideanymore @acourtofbatboydreams @theravenphoenix26 @paige0103 @merovingianprincess @tee-hee135 @vaf24 @fuckingsimp4azriel

[jinnieboosworld]

Ho Phase

Sunwoo x Reader

@deoboyznet @a-dream-bookmark @k-labels

Genre: Smut, RomCom

Part of The MeetCute Series

Summary: Y/n a college freshman catches her boyfriend of 4 years making out with a girl in their shared apartment. So after moving in with her best friend she decides to go through a hoe phase. So when she goes to her first college party she’s extremely upset when she meets a guy who makes her forget about her hoe phase completely.

Word Count: 5986

!!Minors Do Not Interact!!

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The apartment smelled like betrayal and overpriced candles—lavender and eucalyptus, her ex’s favorite combo. Y/N didn’t even need to see them to know. The telltale sounds of a Netflix drama playing faintly in the background and the muffled giggles from the bedroom made it crystal clear.

She opened the door to the bedroom slowly, not to give herself time to think, but to give them time to scramble. Predictably, her boyfriend—scratch that, ex-boyfriend—was tangled in the sheets with someone she vaguely recognized from his office party.

“Oh,” Y/N said, leaning casually against the doorframe. Her face betrayed nothing, though her pulse roared in her ears. “Am I interrupting?”

“Y/N!” he yelped, scrambling to cover himself. The girl next to him let out a shriek and disappeared under the duvet like a groundhog on February 2nd.

“Relax,” Y/N said, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m not here to fight. I’m here to pack.”

“Baby, I—” he started, but she held up a finger, silencing him with the same energy as a teacher about to hand out detention.

“Let’s not make this awkward. You cheated. I’m leaving. End of story.”

As he stammered out excuses, Y/N grabbed a suitcase from the closet and began filling it with essentials: her favorite jeans, skincare products, and that hoodie he always tried to claim but was way too good for him.

He was still talking—something about “miscommunication” and “it didn’t mean anything”—when she paused, holding up a pair of lacy underwear that definitely wasn’t hers.

She arched an eyebrow. “Miscommunication? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Y/N, please—”

“Save it.” She stuffed the mystery lingerie into the suitcase, purely for dramatic effect, and zipped it shut. Turning to leave, she glanced back one last time, her lips quirking into a sardonic smile. “By the way, you should really wash those sheets. They reek of desperation.”

She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a deep breath. The anger was manageable, but the hurt? That was going to take a while.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Fifteen minutes later, Y/N was sitting cross-legged on her best friend Lia’s couch, inhaling greasy pizza and venting like her life depended on it.

“And then he had the audacity to stammer like he was the victim!” Y/N said, waving a slice of pepperoni for emphasis.

Lia snorted, handing her a glass of wine. “Men are predictable. You date a loser; you get loser behavior.”

“Four years, Lia. I wasted four years of my life on that guy.”

“Well,” Lia said, tilting her glass toward her, “here’s to starting over. Clean slate. No losers, no drama, and definitely no more ‘boyfriend’ nonsense.”

Y/N clinked glasses with her. “Amen to that.”

Lia grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. “You know what you need? A ho phase.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “A what now?”

“A ho phase,” Lia repeated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’ve been playing housewife since you were eighteen. It’s time to cut loose. No strings, no commitments—just fun.”

Y/N took a sip of wine, mulling it over. “A ho phase, huh?”

Lia nodded, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “We’ll start tomorrow night. There’s a party at Zach’s place, and trust me, it’ll be crawling with eligible distractions.”

Y/N laughed despite herself. “Alright, fine. One party. But if it’s lame, I’m bailing.”

“Deal,” Lia said, raising her glass. “To your ho phase.”

“To my ho phase,” Y/N echoed, clinking glasses again. But as she stared into her wine, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was really cut out for this.

Still, one thing was certain: her ex was the past, and the future? Well, the future was wide open.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The Beginning: The Heartbreak

The apartment smelled like betrayal and overpriced candles—lavender and eucalyptus, her ex’s favorite combo. Y/N didn’t even need to see them to know. The telltale sounds of a Netflix drama playing faintly in the background and the muffled giggles from the bedroom made it crystal clear.

She opened the door to the bedroom slowly, not to give herself time to think, but to give them time to scramble. Predictably, her boyfriend—scratch that, ex-boyfriend—was tangled in the sheets with someone she vaguely recognized from his office party.

“Oh,” Y/N said, leaning casually against the doorframe. Her face betrayed nothing, though her pulse roared in her ears. “Am I interrupting?”

“Y/N!” he yelped, scrambling to cover himself. The girl next to him let out a shriek and disappeared under the duvet like a groundhog on February 2nd.

“Relax,” Y/N said, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m not here to fight. I’m here to pack.”

“Baby, I—” he started, but she held up a finger, silencing him with the same energy as a teacher about to hand out detention.

“Let’s not make this awkward. You cheated. I’m leaving. End of story.”

As he stammered out excuses, Y/N grabbed a suitcase from the closet and began filling it with essentials: her favorite jeans, skincare products, and that hoodie he always tried to claim but was way too good for him.

He was still talking—something about “miscommunication” and “it didn’t mean anything”—when she paused, holding up a pair of lacy underwear that definitely wasn’t hers.

She arched an eyebrow. “Miscommunication? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Y/N, please—”

“Save it.” She stuffed the mystery lingerie into the suitcase, purely for dramatic effect, and zipped it shut. Turning to leave, she glanced back one last time, her lips quirking into a sardonic smile. “By the way, you should really wash those sheets. They reek of desperation.”

She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a deep breath. The anger was manageable, but the hurt? That was going to take a while.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Fifteen minutes later, Y/N was sitting cross-legged on her best friend Lia’s couch, inhaling greasy pizza and venting like her life depended on it.

“And then he had the audacity to stammer like he was the victim!” Y/N said, waving a slice of pepperoni for emphasis.

Lia snorted, handing her a glass of wine. “Men are predictable. You date a loser; you get loser behavior.”

“Four years, Lia. I wasted four years of my life on that guy.”

“Well,” Lia said, tilting her glass toward her, “here’s to starting over. Clean slate. No losers, no drama, and definitely no more ‘boyfriend’ nonsense.”

Y/N clinked glasses with her. “Amen to that.”

Lia grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. “You know what you need? A ho phase.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “A what now?”

“A ho phase,” Lia repeated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’ve been playing housewife since you were eighteen. It’s time to cut loose. No strings, no commitments—just fun.”

Y/N took a sip of wine, mulling it over. “A ho phase, huh?”

Lia nodded, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “We’ll start tomorrow night. There’s a party at Eric’s place, and trust me, it’ll be crawling with eligible distractions.”

Y/N laughed despite herself. “Alright, fine. One party. But if it’s lame, I’m bailing.”

“Deal,” Lia said, raising her glass. “To your ho phase.”

“To my ho phase,” Y/N echoed, clinking glasses again. But as she stared into her wine, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was really cut out for this.

Still, one thing was certain: her ex was the past, and the future? Well, the future was wide open.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The bass from Eric’s party was so loud it practically had its own gravitational pull. Lia was already dragging Y/N through the front door before she could come up with an excuse to leave.

“Okay, ground rules,” Lia said, gripping Y/N’s arm as they weaved through the crowd. “No sulking in the corner, no long rants about your ex, and absolutely no turning down free drinks.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Got it, Mom.”

“I’m serious!” Lia said, pausing to adjust Y/N’s top, which she claimed needed to show “just a little more clavicle.” “Tonight’s about you. Fun, freedom, and maybe a little chaos.”

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “Fine. Fun, freedom, chaos. Got it.”

They made their way to the makeshift bar in the kitchen, where Lia handed Y/N a solo cup filled with something suspiciously blue. “What is this?” Y/N asked, eyeing the drink.

“No idea,” Lia said, taking a sip of her own. “But it’s strong, so drink up.”

Y/N took a tentative sip, grimacing as the sweetness hit her tongue. It tasted like regret and gummy bears, but she wasn’t about to back down.

“See? You’re already having fun,” Lia said, grinning. “Now, go mingle. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Before Y/N could protest, Lia disappeared into the crowd, leaving her alone in the chaos. She sighed, leaning against the counter and sipping her drink. Maybe this whole “ho phase” thing wasn’t for her after all.

And then she saw him.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

He was leaning against the wall across the room, a red solo cup in one hand and an easy, confident smile on his face. His dark hair fell perfectly into place, and his eyes had a mischievous glint that made him look like he was always on the verge of saying something outrageous.

He caught her staring and raised an eyebrow, his smile widening into a smirk.

“Uh-oh,” Y/N muttered to herself, turning back to her drink.

A moment later, she felt someone step up beside her.

“Deer in headlights,” the guy said, his voice low and teasing.

Y/N glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve got that look,” he said, leaning against the counter next to her. “Like you’re wondering how the hell you ended up here.”

“I’m wondering how you ended up here,” Y/N shot back.

He laughed, and the sound was warm, like honey drizzled over a snarky comment. “Fair. I’m Sunwoo, by the way.”

“Y/N,” she said, taking another sip of her drink.

“Y/N,” he repeated, like he was testing the name on his tongue. “So, what brings you to the circus tonight?”

“My friend dragged me here,” she admitted. “Apparently, I need to ‘cut loose.’”

Sunwoo raised an eyebrow. “And how’s that going so far?”

“Well, I’m talking to you, so… mediocre at best,” she said, her lips twitching into a smile.

He grinned. “Ouch. Guess I’ll have to step up my game.”

Before she could respond, someone called Sunwoo’s name, and he glanced over his shoulder. “Looks like I’m needed,” he said, turning back to her. “But I’ll see you around, Y/N.”

And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd like a magician after the big finale.

Y/N shook her head, trying to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat.

“Fun, freedom, chaos,” she muttered to herself. “What could possibly go wrong?”

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The music in the party was pounding louder now, the bass vibrating through the floor as Y/N stood alone by the counter, nursing her drink. She couldn't get Sunwoo out of her head. The way his smirk lingered when he looked at her, the playful way he talked—it was all too much.

What had just happened? One

conversation, and she felt like her whole night had shifted. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed or excited.

Then, just as her mind began to race, she saw him again.

Sunwoo was making his way across the room toward her, his confidence unmistakable.

When he reached her, he leaned in close, the scent of his cologne making her pulse quicken.

"Back again, huh?" His voice was low, teasing, but there was something in it that made her heart race.

"Couldn't stay away," she said, surprised at how easily the words slipped from her lips. "You must be getting desperate."

He grinned, eyes twinkling.

"Not desperate. Just interested."

"Interested in what exactly?"

Y/N couldn't help but ask, arching an eyebrow.

Sunwoo's gaze dropped to her lips for just a second before flicking back to her eyes. "In you."

The words hung in the air, heavier than anything she could have imagined.

Y/N's breath caught. She

swallowed, trying to focus on something-anything-other than the feeling of his

presence overwhelming her.

"I'm not really the kind of girl who does this kind of thing."

He smirked, leaning a little closer. "Lucky for you, neither am I."

Y/N couldn't resist the urge to glance at his lips again, her heartbeat thundering in her chest. Was this really happening? Could it be this easy? She had sworn off relationships, but this... whatever this was with Sunwoo, felt like an escape.

Before she could say another word, Sunwoo closed the gap between them. His lips brushed lightly against hers, a tentative touch that sent sparks flying through her. Her pulse spiked. She hadn't expected it to feel like this, not with someone she'd just met.

His hand found her waist, pulling her closer, and she didn't resist. The heat between them intensified, and before she knew it, she was kissing him back, responding with the same urgency. His lips were soft but insistent, and Y/N felt something unfamiliar stir inside her-something she couldn't quite name but wanted to explore further.

She pulled away just enough to breathe, but Sunwoo wasn't having it. His lips found hers again, this time deeper, hungrier.

One of his hands slid to her back, pressing her body against his. The chemistry between them was undeniable.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her body already responding to him in ways she couldn't control.

Sunwoo's grin was sly. "Are you?"

Y/N closed her eyes, shaking her head. It didn't matter. The night had already taken a turn she hadn't planned, and part of her wanted to see where it went. She wasn't just going to let the moment slip away. Without thinking, she kissed him again, deeper this time, pulling him in even closer. He responded immediately, his hands roaming as his body pressed against hers, both of them forgetting about everything else in that moment.

The noise of the party, the people around them, it all faded into the background as Y/N allowed herself to focus on the only thing that mattered right then: the way Sunwoo made her feel.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow across the room. Y/N's head was spinning, a mix of alcohol and the lingering heat of the night before. She groggily blinked, her body aching in all the right places, and for a brief moment, she forgot where she was.

Then, she heard it—a soft snore.

Her gaze shifted to the bed beside her, and there he was, sprawled out next to her.

Sunwoo. His dark hair was a mess, his lips slightly parted in sleep, and his arm was draped over her waist, pulling her closer even in slumber. It didn't take long for the memories of the previous night to come rushing back.

The kiss. The way their bodies had moved together in perfect harmony. The heat. The connection.

She exhaled sharply, guilt flooding her chest. What had she just done?

Y/N gently shifted away from Sunwoo, careful not to wake him, and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. The harsh reality of her situation settled in-she'd really gone and done it. And she had no idea what this meant. Was this just a random hook-up?

A one-time thing? Or did it mean something more?

Her thoughts spiraled as she swung her legs off the bed, feeling the aftermath of their passion in the soreness that radiated through her limbs.

As she stood, trying to steady herself, she froze when she heard Sunwoo shift behind her.

"Morning," he said, his voice still rough with sleep but warm and inviting.

"Where are you going?"

Y/N turned around, trying to play it cool. "I was just... getting some water."

Sunwoo grinned sleepily, pushing himself up onto his elbows. "Sure. Water. You're running away already?"

"I'm not running," she lied, her voice tight as she grabbed the glass from the side table and took a long sip. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn't understand why.

The silence between them was thick, and Y/N couldn't decide if it was awkward or just... new. Sunwoo didn't seem to mind, though. He sat up fully, stretching his arms over his head, revealing the toned muscles of his chest.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, trying to regain some semblance of control.

Y/N bit her lip. "It was just... a thing," she muttered, her gaze flicking to the window. "A one-time thing."

The words left her mouth, but they didn't feel right. The way she'd felt in his arms— there was no way it could've been just a "thing." But she wasn't ready to admit that.

Not to herself, and definitely not to him.

Sunwoo was silent for a moment, and for a brief second, Y/N wondered if she'd said too much.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Sunwoo’s lazy grin never faltered as he watched Y/N, sensing her unease but not pushing her to explain herself. He sat up fully now, stretching his arms above his head, his toned chest catching the morning light. Y/N’s gaze instinctively dropped to the defined muscles of his torso, and she quickly averted her eyes, trying to regain her composure.

He seemed to find amusement in her discomfort, but he didn’t tease her too much. Instead, he let the silence hang for a beat, the air between them thick with something neither of them were quite ready to address.

“So,” Sunwoo said, breaking the tension with his usual playful tone, though there was a glint of something more serious beneath the surface, “If it was just a ‘one-time thing,’ it must’ve been a pretty damn memorable one, huh?”

Y/N’s heart skipped at his words, but she quickly masked her emotions with a shrug. “Yeah, it was memorable,” she muttered, not quite meeting his eyes as she stared into her water glass. The words felt wrong coming out of her mouth, but she didn’t let herself think about it too much. She wasn’t going to let herself feel anything more than what she was willing to admit.

“Right,” Sunwoo said, his voice still teasing, though now it had a hint of something deeper. “And what happens now?”

She shook her head quickly, her words coming out almost too fast. “Nothing,” she replied with a tight-lipped smile. “It was just… fun, you know? No need to make it complicated.”

Sunwoo raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Complicated? Who said anything about complicated?”

Y/N could feel her pulse quicken at the way he looked at her, but she ignored it, forcing herself to stand up. “I need to get dressed,” she said, her voice more clipped than she intended. She wasn’t going to let this moment become more than it was. She wasn’t going to let him become more than just a one-night thing.

Sunwoo didn’t press her any further, though the disappointment in his eyes was subtle enough to make Y/N’s chest tighten. But she wasn’t going to deal with that. Not now.

As she grabbed her clothes from the floor, she heard him mutter under his breath, “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

The words hung in the air as Y/N dressed quickly, trying not to let herself dwell on the emotions that threatened to rise up inside her. She wasn’t going to let herself fall for him. She wouldn’t.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, she finished dressing and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. Sunwoo still sat on the bed, his eyes following her, but he didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. Y/N knew what he was thinking, but she wasn’t ready to admit it.

“Thanks for… last night,” she said, her voice clipped as she moved toward the door. It was the only thing she could think to say without letting her emotions show.

Sunwoo didn’t respond immediately, but as she reached the door, he spoke, his tone softer now. “Anytime, Y/N. But you know, it doesn’t have to be a one-time thing.”

Y/N didn’t look back as she stepped into the hallway, the words echoing in her head. She wasn’t going to let herself believe it.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Y/N was grateful for the crisp autumn air that greeted her as she stepped outside Lia’s apartment complex. Her thoughts swirled like the golden leaves at her feet, but she didn’t stop walking. She needed space, clarity—anything to quiet the noise in her head.

The night before was unforgettable, but she was determined to reframe it as just a night. Nothing more, nothing less. A mistake she wouldn’t let happen again.

“Why does he have to be so…” she muttered to herself, her boots crunching against the pavement. “So smug. So charming. So… Sunwoo.”

The very thought of him made her heart race, which only frustrated her more. This wasn’t part of the plan. She was supposed to have fun, be carefree, and maybe kiss a cute guy or two. Not whatever this was.

She turned the corner onto campus and was immediately met with familiar chatter and bustling energy. Students crowded the sidewalks, clutching their coffee cups and rushing to classes. The normalcy of it all was oddly grounding.

Until she saw him.

Sunwoo, leaning casually against a lamppost just outside the student center. His dark hair was still messy from the morning, but now it looked intentional. He was talking to someone—a girl, smiling and laughing at whatever joke he’d just made.

Y/N’s stomach twisted.

“What the hell is that?” she muttered under her breath. The jealousy hit her before she could rationalize it, and it annoyed her to no end. She had no right to feel this way. It was one night. One damn night.

Still, she found herself ducking behind a nearby tree, peeking around it like some lovesick teenager.

“What are you doing?” a voice whispered behind her.

Y/N jumped, spinning around to find her best friend grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

“Nothing!” she hissed, trying to compose herself.

“Oh, please,” her friend said, crossing their arms. “You’re staring at him like he hung the stars in the sky. Didn’t you say this was supposed to be a one-time thing?”

“It is!” Y/N insisted, though the heat rising in her cheeks betrayed her. “I’m just… making sure he’s not following me or something.”

Her best friend snorted. “Right. Because he’s so obsessed with you that he’s hanging out with other girls just to get your attention.”

“Exactly!” Y/N said, before realizing how ridiculous it sounded. “Wait, no. That’s not what I meant.”

“Uh-huh.”

Before Y/N could argue further, Sunwoo’s voice carried over the noise of the crowd. “Y/N!”

Her heart dropped. She turned to see him walking toward her, a lopsided grin on his face. The other girl was gone, and now it was just him. And her. And the increasingly smug expression on her best friend’s face.

“Hey,” Sunwoo said, his tone casual but his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Yeah, funny how that works on a campus full of students,” Y/N replied, trying to sound indifferent.

Her best friend coughed something that suspiciously sounded like liar and wandered off, leaving them alone.

Sunwoo tilted his head, studying her. “So, did you sleep okay?”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know. Just being polite.” He shrugged but didn’t stop smiling.

“Well, thanks for your concern. I’m fine.”

“Good,” he said, stepping closer. “Because you seemed a little… tense this morning.”

Y/N crossed her arms, determined not to let him get under her skin. “I’m fine, Sunwoo. Really.”

He leaned in, his voice dropping just enough to make her pulse quicken. “You sure about that?”

“Yes,” she said firmly, though the way her voice wavered betrayed her.

Sunwoo didn’t push further, but the look he gave her was enough to send her thoughts spiraling again. There was something about him—something infuriatingly magnetic—that she couldn’t shake.

“Anyway,” she said, clearing her throat and stepping back, “I’ve got class. See you around.”

Before he could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, determined not to look back.

But she felt his gaze on her the whole time.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The music pulsed through the dimly lit house, the bass reverberating in Y/N’s chest as she nursed her second drink of the night. Lia had dragged her out again, insisting she needed to stop moping and have some actual fun.

“You’re supposed to be in your ho phase, not your hermit phase,” Lia had joked earlier, handing Y/N a cup before disappearing into the crowd.

Y/N leaned against the wall, scanning the party with a mix of boredom and apprehension. That was when she saw him. Sunwoo. Of course, he was here. He seemed to be everywhere lately, infiltrating her thoughts and now her weekends.

He was standing across the room, chatting with a petite girl with long, wavy hair. She laughed at something he said, her hand brushing his arm, and Y/N felt her stomach churn.

“Why do I care?” she muttered to herself, taking a bigger sip of her drink.

But no amount of rationalizing could stop the jealousy that bubbled up, uninvited and undeniable.

Lia appeared out of nowhere, a sly smile on her face. “You’re glaring. It’s kind of terrifying.”

“I’m not glaring,” Y/N snapped, too quickly.

“Oh, totally,” Lia said, leaning against the wall beside her. “You’re just admiring the decor. Very intense admiration.”

Y/N groaned, tipping her head back against the wall. “I’m not jealous.”

“Did I say you were?” Lia teased, grinning.

“Go away,” Y/N muttered, though there was no heat in her voice.

Lia patted her shoulder. “Relax. I’ll be back later to pick up the pieces of your denial. Have fun!”

Y/N rolled her eyes as Lia disappeared again, leaving her alone with her thoughts—and her drink, which was disappearing way too quickly.

Before she knew it, Sunwoo was standing in front of her, that infuriatingly charming smirk plastered on his face.

“Hey,” he said, leaning in slightly to be heard over the music. “You’ve been avoiding me all night.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, but she played it cool, crossing her arms. “I’ve been busy. You know, doing my own thing.”

“Sure,” Sunwoo said, his tone light but his gaze unwavering. “Your own thing involves staring at me from across the room?”

“I wasn’t staring,” she shot back, though her cheeks betrayed her with a faint blush.

Sunwoo chuckled, stepping closer. “Right. Just like you’re not jealous right now.”

Y/N scoffed, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened. “Why would I be jealous? You can talk to whoever you want.”

“Good to know,” he said, but the teasing lilt in his voice was gone. He tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that made her want to squirm. “What’s wrong? Seriously.”

Y/N looked away, the sudden sincerity in his voice throwing her off. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine,” he said, his voice quieter now.

“Why do you care?” she snapped, the alcohol loosening her tongue more than she intended. “Go back to your fan club.”

Sunwoo frowned, his brows knitting together. “Is that what you think? That I’m just messing around?”

She didn’t answer, and that seemed to frustrate him even more.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice soft but firm, “you’re jealous.”

“I’m not!” she insisted, but even to her own ears, the words sounded hollow.

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“Because!” she started, but the words caught in her throat. She had no good answer. At least, not one she was ready to admit.

The tension between them crackled like static, and before she could think of something else to say, Sunwoo leaned in, his lips crashing against hers.

Her cup slipped from her hand, forgotten, as she grabbed his shirt to pull him closer. The kiss was heated, desperate, and all the feelings she’d been trying to bury came rushing to the surface.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Sunwoo rested his forehead against hers.

“You don’t have to say it,” he murmured, his hands still on her waist. “But stop lying to yourself.”

Y/N swallowed hard, her mind racing. For once, she had no witty comeback, no sarcastic remark. Just the sound of her heart pounding in her ears and the weight of his words sinking in.

Still caught in the heat of their argument-turned-kiss, Sunwoo grabbed her hand, leading her out of the party. Y/N followed without hesitation, her emotions spiraling somewhere between anger, attraction, and confusion.

Back in Sunwoo’s room, the tension between them spilled over, escalating into another round of feverish kisses. Sunwoo’s usual teasing demeanor was replaced with a raw vulnerability, and Y/N found herself letting her guard down in a way she hadn’t expected.

Their intimacy was both passionate and tender, the playful edge of their earlier encounter now replaced by an undeniable connection. In this moment, Y/N couldn’t deny that there was something deeper between them—something she wasn’t ready to name but could no longer ignore.

Afterward, lying tangled together, Sunwoo broke the silence.

“You’re not just a fling to me, you know,” he murmured, his fingers brushing softly against her arm.

Y/N, still trying to steady her racing thoughts, whispered, “Don’t ruin this by talking.”

But her walls had already begun to crumble.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Over the next few weeks, Y/N’s life became a whirlwind of accidental run-ins, teasing banter, and stolen moments with Sunwoo. He seemed to be everywhere—at the coffee shop she frequented, the campus quad, even the library during her late-night study sessions.

“Fate, maybe?” he would say, his signature smirk making her stomach flip.

“Or just bad luck,” she’d retort, though her flushed cheeks always gave her away.

Lia, of course, noticed immediately.

“You’re acting like a teenager with a crush,” Lia teased one evening as they lounged on the couch.

“I do not have a crush,” Y/N insisted, her voice rising an octave.

Lia raised an eyebrow. “You literally turned down a guy at the bar last night because he wasn’t Sunwoo.”

Y/N groaned, throwing a pillow at her friend. “That’s not what happened.”

“Oh, it is. You’re basically doodling his name in your notebook at this point,” Lia said, laughing.

Y/N crossed her arms, glaring. “I don’t like him. He’s… annoying!”

“Sure,” Lia said, rolling her eyes. “And I’m Beyoncé’s backup dancer.”

Meanwhile, Sunwoo wasn’t making things any easier. Every time he saw her, he would grin like he knew something she didn’t.

“You’re cute when you’re in denial,” he said one afternoon after catching her staring at him during a group study session.

“I’m not in denial,” Y/N shot back, her face heating.

“You keep telling yourself that,” he said with a wink, before returning to his notes like he hadn’t just derailed her entire focus.

Despite her protests, Y/N couldn’t shake the growing warmth in her chest whenever he was around. But she refused to acknowledge it. Admitting it would mean accepting that she’d broken her vow of no attachments, and she wasn’t ready for that.

“Denial,” Lia would sing-song whenever Y/N tried to change the subject.

But deep down, Y/N knew there was only so much longer she could keep lying to herself.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

It was late in the evening when Y/N found herself wandering the campus courtyard, trying to clear her head. The events of the past few weeks had her spiraling—Sunwoo’s constant presence, the teasing, the way her heart betrayed her every time he smiled.

She spotted him across the courtyard, sitting on a bench with his headphones in, scrolling through his phone. For a moment, she considered walking away, but Sunwoo looked up, as if sensing her presence. He grinned and gestured for her to come over.

“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, his voice light.

Y/N crossed her arms, standing a few feet away. “We go to the same school. It’s not exactly a miracle.”

“True. But you don’t usually come looking for me.”

“I wasn’t looking for you!” she said, too quickly.

Sunwoo tilted his head, his smirk softening into something gentler. “Why do you always push me away, Y/N?”

Her heart sank. His question caught her off guard, and for once, she didn’t have a snappy comeback.

“I don’t…” she started, but her voice faltered.

“You do,” Sunwoo said, standing and closing the distance between them. “It’s okay, you know. You don’t have to keep pretending.”

“Pretending what?” she said, her tone defensive.

“That you don’t like me,” he said softly.

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come.

“You’re infuriating,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sunwoo chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I didn’t say yes!”

“But you didn’t say no,” he pointed out, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Y/N groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Fine. Maybe I like you. Happy now?”

Sunwoo gently pulled her hands away from her face, his touch warm and grounding. “Ecstatic,” he said, his voice sincere. “Took you long enough.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips. For once, she stopped resisting the fluttering in her chest and let herself feel it fully.

“You’re such a pain,” she muttered.

“And yet, here you are,” Sunwoo said, leaning in closer.

She didn’t pull away this time.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Dating Sunwoo wasn’t something Y/N ever expected, yet here they were, strolling down the campus quad hand in hand. Lia had teased her mercilessly that morning, recounting how Y/N had finally admitted to liking him, but Y/N ignored her best friend’s jabs. She was too busy replaying how Sunwoo had kissed her after her confession, how his smile hadn’t left his face all night.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Sunwoo said, glancing at her with a smirk.

“Just thinking,” Y/N said, rolling her eyes when she noticed his expression.

“Thinking about how great I am?”

“Hardly,” she replied, though her heart betrayed her by skipping a beat when he laced their fingers tighter.

Stopping by a campus bench, Sunwoo tugged her down to sit beside him. His usual teasing demeanor softened as he looked at her. “I know this is new for you. For us. But I meant what I said—I’m not going anywhere.”

Y/N’s chest felt lighter than it had in weeks. “I know,” she admitted.

“And just so we’re clear,” Sunwoo added, grinning now, “this means your ho phase is officially over.”

“Who says I’m done?” she teased, nudging him playfully.

“You did. The second you confessed.”

Y/N laughed despite herself, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Guess you’re right. But don’t let it get to your head.”

“No promises,” Sunwoo said, pressing a kiss to her temple.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Mystery: Daughters of the Drossyard Pact

Originally intended to be sacrifices n a fiendish ritual , three orphan sisters managed to outsmart the warlock who’d adopted them and managed to offer him in their stead, Inadvertently becoming the beneficiaries of his profane dealings. Decades later, with the renewal of the pact looming one of the sisters has gone missing, leaving the other two in a lurch fearing the other had something to do with it. One sister desperately wishes to be free of the deal,  while the other may be willing to do anything to hold on to the power it has granted her. Neither trusts the other but both want the party’s aid in discovering the fate or whereabouts of their missing sibling.

Adventure Hooks: 

A pious noblewoman by the name of Lia Rolland initially hires our heroes to investigate the disappearance of a local playwright she serves as patron to as well as look into the strange occurrences around the theater which have only seemed to escalate since. Sleuthing around turns up a gaggle of disgruntled actors and stagehands stretched to the breaking point by an endless series of accidents and mishaps and delays. On top of everything else, prior to her disappearance Mecona, the playwright,  kept insisting on revising the piece over and over again and was prone to bringing production to a halt for days at a time while she buried herself in rewrites, which is why no one initially noticed that she was gone.  If the party are careful with their questions they may just discover that lowborn Mecona and highborn Lia are apparently sisters, a truth discovered by a snooping costumer looking in on one of their meetings. 

As it turns out, the strange occurrences are the fault of a host of dark spirits that have taken up residence in the forgotten corners of the theater, who’ve been amusing themselves by causing all kinds of minor chaos. Inevitably the party will be victim to a few of their cruel pranks or sabotauge, escilating until have to fight an entire possessed prompts department and worse as the demons boil out like a kicked hornet’s nest. 

 Into the chaoic (and potentially burning) theater strides Doc Briar, a scarred and swaggering practitioner of dark magic who aids the party in putting down the fiendish threat before warning them not to trust their employer and portaling out.  Briar will be shadowing them for the rest of the adventure just in case they get into any more scrapes, though it appears she has a motive of her own. 

Background: Once there were three orphan sisters, Rose, Camellia, and Poesy, their parents and last name taken from them by an awful war that saw them bourne from the smouldering remains of village to the big city. For years they were overlooked in the crowds of other refugees, falling ever deeper through the cracks until they were atlast taken in by a cold-eyed man who saw them brought up as servants in his great an empty house. Warry Camellia suspected the man had torrid plans for them, but ever-practical Rose was willing to put up with anything if it meant the  younger two would be saved from the street.

The cold-eyed man did have designs on the sisters, but they were far more sinister than what cruel old men usually do to those who are dependant on them. The man was an occultist of great ambition, and had spent his life seeking the means of summoning a fiend capable of granting his desire for power. After much dark dealing he’d found one, Calceinatis the profaner, but her summoning ritual required betrayal on the part of the summoner. Thinking himself clever he brought the three sisters into his home, taught them the basics of his magic,  and claimed that he’d take the most promising of the girls not only as his apprentice, but as rightfully acknowledged heir to all his wealth and holdings.  Over the next few years the cold-eyed man moved his favor from one girl to the next, hoping to stoke resentment and envy between the sisters, laying the groundwork for that most nessisary betrayal.

It was reticent Cammellia was his eventual selection, passing over Rose who wanted it most and young impressionable Posey to whom he was most like an actual father.  He passed the middle sister off to his peers as his bastard,  an indiscretion from years back that he had sheltered out of shame and only now worked up the courage to admit. Society applauded him for it, and he grinned as he introduced his “daughter” to polite society, thinking of how the other two must have watched their sister from the back rooms with covetous hatred. 

It would take a fool not to notice that the sisters had been on to his game for years, but the cold-eyed man was not just a fool, he was hollow hearted and narrow minded, ignorant of the bonds of love and convinced that all people were as motivated by the promise of power and station as he was.  While the sisters couldn’t know exactly what he had planned, they’d swore to stick by eachother no matter what, and so when their benefactor took them out to the great ash dusted badlands at the foot of the mountains as part of Cammellia’s “ascension ritual” they knew they had to act soon.   The rite had barely begun before the cold-eyed man tossed the sacrificial knife between the girls, claiming that he needed only one blood offering and the other two would be greatly rewarded if they did the deed. He drew close as the girls squabbled over the blade, unwilling to deny himself the violence that would lead him to everything he wanted, the oft imagined vision of young veins sliced open and spilling forth everything he could have wanted. 

The Cold-eyed man never could have imagined that his girls, his pawns, his wretched little orphans, would drive the knife into his belly with all the stregth their little arms could muster. That three little sets of hands would pull as one to tear open his fine suit and spill his guts into the ashen earth. 

He was still alive when the demon loomed over him, two sets skulls grinning, he was still alive when the sharp bear fangs started in on his flesh while the goat congratulated the girls on their marvelous betrayal and the boons they would be granted for this fine offering, he was still alive when the blunt goat teeth started in on his bones while the bear intoned that if the sisters wanted to keep these gifts they would need to return to this spot every sixth year and use the same knife to spill a few drops of their own blood or else… The demon did not finish what it was saying, the cold eyed man had finally died and so the meal was done. It disapeared, leaving Rose, Camellia, and Poesy to drag their father/employer’s body back to civilization, claiming to have been the victim of some savage animal attack. 

Motivations & Complications: 

Lia Rolland  (Cammellia): Forced to maintain the deception that she was the illgotten daughter of the man she helped murder has put Lia in a bind. She would like nothing more than to abandon his legacy and the pact but the resources granted to her but necessity has forced her time and again to rely on both. Wealth allowed her to support her sisters into adulthood, and the few supernatural abilities she’s allowed herself have seen her through hard times as she’s made a family and become a patron of the arts. She’d never break the pact on her own, fearing that all the good things in her life would be stripped away, but she’s terrified Briar has given in to her powerhungry nature and hurt or even killed Mecona to strike a new bargin with the demon of the drossyard.

Doc Briar (Rose):  A life spent looking out for two younger sisters convinced Briar that she need to do whatever it took to gain control of her life, which led to her fully embracing the gifts of the pact. She suspects Lia has done something with Mecona to ensure the pact cannot be restruck, and has hired the party as cover. Knowing she’s on a deadline for the next renewal of the ritual, she aims to track down both her sisters and convince them to return to the drossyard. Failing that, steal the knife and get a bit of Lia’s blood which she can hopefully use to stave off the demon for another half-decade. 

Mecona (Poppy):  Barely old enough to remember her parents before she and her sisters were taken in by the cold-eyed man, Poppy was the only one he seemed to show actual parental affection for, if only out of an attmept to make the other two resent their most innocent sibling. This gaslighting seeded her mind with confusion and guilt as to whether the cold-eyed man really meant them any harm, and if they were really without blame for killing their abuser.  These troubled feelings led her to the arts and later to the stage writing under an assumed name, having developed a real talent for portraying complicated relationships that resonated with  audiences.  As the sixth anniversary of the pact rolled around her guilt over the mater came to a boil (were they really any better than the old man if they benefited from the same dark magic as he intended to use them for?), she decided to isolate herself, let the pact end, and see just what her sisters would do with the matter. 

Calceinatis: What the daughters of the drossyard do not yet realize is that they are once again being manipulated, this time by the fiend whispering in their minds and stoking their darker impulses. Sometime while devouring the old warlock’s soul the profaner realized that the three young women could be useful tools in feeding it again, but realized it would have to play the long game if it wanted them to truely turn the knife on eachother.  By feeding Rose’s ambition, Camellia’s fear, and Poppy’s regret, the Drossyard demon has separated the sisters and set them against eachother just as the cold-eyed man once did, Now all she has to do is sit back, wait, and let momentum carry one of the three past the point of no return. 

If you want to use this in your game, why not take a look at my How to run mysteries for d&d post. 

[hwanchaesong]

━⁠☞🍽️ Eighth Course: If you squint, you'll effectively recognize the facts that everything about his new girl is... disgustingly similar to your image. Talk about serving it in a silver platter. 🥢

🎧: Olivia Rodrigo - Deja Vu

wc: 838

genre & warnings: angst, flashbacks, hints of betrayal/cheating, cursing, lovers to exes, Lia of ITZY is featured here, etc etc

a/n: this is a part of The Sour Restaurant series. if y'all want, you can read the other album inspired fics of other groups here.

You almost laughed at the man who was standing on your porch, looking like a poor child in need of assistance.

"Choi Jongho, what the fuck are you doing here?" you asked incredulously, crossing your arms in annoyance at this ridiculous situation.

He pouts at your aggressiveness, not used to this kind of attitude of yours towards him.

Normally, you'd be so sweet and nurturing, kissing his pout away and cooing at him, asking him what's wrong. But he guesses that disturbing your sleep and knowing that you still haven't forgiven him are good reasons for your change.

His silence further vexes you, raising your eyebrow along with your voice.

"Jongho, I asked you a damn question. Answer it! What are you doing here?!"

"I missed you." he mumbles and you nearly didn't hear him, but you did.. and you are absolutely, insanely furious at his audacity.

He comes barging in your life, causing a cyclone, then he leaves you in the middle of the storm, and he returns like nothing ever happened.

He's treating you like some kind of motel, and it's very disrespectful on your side.

"You missed me? Why? Did your new girl dump you?"

"No, but she resembles you so much that I can't help but remember you through her."

Lame. Lame fucking excuse but you somehow understand it.

Why?

Because you saw how she's basically you, a twin perhaps.

When you and Jongho broke up, which was a nasty one, it left you incredibly shattered. You were basically shaking as you picked up your pieces and tried to glue it back together so you'll be able to function like a human being again.

But you also went into the stages of grief, the worse one was the in-denial part.

You were about to throw your phone on the wall, an action that you will definitely regret later but your friend, Lia, thankfully stopped you from doing so.

"No! Y/N, calm down!" she yells, pinning you down on the mattress and doing her best to comfort you.

You let go of your phone, from your palm it landed on the sheets and Lia's eyes went over to it. Realizing that you're stalking Jongho's social media account.

She shakes her head in disappointment but she can't exactly blame you. She knows what you're going through and she's willing to take care of you until you can stand on your own feet again.

"Lia!" you wailed in her arms, bags in your eyes and hair turning greasy for not showering the whole day.

"I-I see his new girl and it's m-me! If he wants a girl like me then I'm here! Why does he need to look for others!?" you shouted and cried and she stayed there to listen to your rants.

Lia scans the phone again, lulling you into sleep and she can't help the cringe on her face.

Jongho's new girlfriend does seem like a clone of you.

Same hair, same facial features, same physical attributes, heck even the way she dresses.

If you are the standard that he's keen on keeping, then why would he leave you alone at the end of the altar while he meets other girls that will inevitably bring him back to you.

You do not, cannot, and will not accept such bullshit.

But that was back then, when you were too naive to realize that the world is a large place to explore. You had to be the bigger person, no, not forgive but you'd rather forget, and you did say to your family and friends that you wish Jongho well.

Now though, that he stands in front of you, all you could think of is how you should've wished him hell instead.

"Oh you've got to be bullshitting me, Jongho." you chuckled, tone full of mockery and irony, "I'm not dealing with this, I'm done with you."

Before you can shut the door on his face, he puts a foot in and it accidentally gets caught in the middle. You winced and almost apologized but you held yourself back, in the back of your head, he somehow deserves that pain.

"Ow!" he grumbles, but he straightens himself up in a mere second, "Y/N, please. We can talk this out."

If you hear one more begging, you think you'll have to choke yourself.

"Jongho, the 'talk' you're saying has been long overdue." you smile, truly infuriated, "Well then, go have fun recycling our routine to your new relationship."

You slammed the door, locking it— locking him out.

You have spent lots of sleepless nights thinking about the things that he's doing with his new girlfriend, the one that he easily replaced you with.

You have thought about them eating at the restaurants that you frequently went to, watching the movies that you have recommended to him before, singing their hearts out during late night drives.

It's maddening, and now that you're only starting to get some rest, you are not gonna allow him to ruin that.

taglist:

@acciocriativity @iarayara @stolasisyourparent @xdannix @nsixns @heartssol @vixensss @shakalakaboomboo

[tmf-confessions]

In regards to confession 714 and 709— hello! I was the anon, lol, and I’m glad to see that people agree with me that the dromies are immature and written slightly unrealistically.

To be honest, I completely agree with what you said about the dromies only being popular as a plot point— a plot point that has quite a few holes, unfortunately, because they were written… abut poorly, actually. I don’t want to criticise Rosy’s writing in any way, because I respect her and her series so much, but having the Dromies, who are genuinely really interesting characters, and not writing their character dynamics effectively and realistically honestly degrades the storyline and their characterisation, because they should have been shown to be popular. And that’s my major gripe with the series, because if that was done effectively, it would have had serious implications for not only the Dromies themselves, but Jake’s dynamics with them, as it would have made more sense for him to stay with the dromies for that safety and mental support. It would have made Jake’s betrayal more easier to swallow, rather than making me burst out laughing. Only Drew can make the word ‘freak’ a slur 0-o.

Your reasoning as to why they are so-called popular makes a lot of sense, and I was thinking the same way when I was watching the series. But I think you slightly missed my main point, or I just didn’t explain it clearly enough in my first ask, but I do realise that the Dromies are popular because of their respective abilities, e,g Drew for being rich. but no one except Zoey is really shown to have that ability to be popular, and do not have any real interactions with anyone else.

Zoey is clearly a popular character, for she’s shown to have her own influence over several characters who aren’t her immediate friends, such as those two teenagers in episode ten, whereas the Dromies don’t interact with anyone except themselves. In episode five (or four?), we see them play football, but Drew and Liam don’t gravitate towards anyone the way Jake or Luke does in that episode. Of course there’s that scene in episode nine where Drew is asked to play football, but he immediately shuts it down in favour of Jake, which suggests to me that Drew doesn’t care that much about the social aspect of popularity, but rather being seen as ‘a threat’ or domineering. Thanks to episode two, I genuinely believe that Jake is the most popular out of all the Dromies, because Jake has that natural charisma and he’s popular with the girls. Whereas the others are infamous, just like you said. Lia, Zoey and Maria do also genuinely seem popular though, outside of the Dromies. Could it possibly be that they’re actually the least popular now, and they’ve lost the qualities that once made them popular, and are only popular because Jake and Zoey are well-liked/feared?

confession #722

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: The Inheritance Games meets Ocean’s Eleven in this cinematic heist thriller where a cutthroat competition brings together the world’s best thieves and one thief is playing for the highest stakes of all: her mother's life.

At only seventeen years old, Ross Quest is already a master thief, especially adept at escape plans. Until her plan to run away from her legendary family of thieves takes an unexpected turn, leaving her mother’s life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid, she enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a series of dangerous, international heists where killing the competition isn’t exactly off limits, but the grand prize is a wish for anything in the world—a wish that could save her mom. When she learns two of her competitors include her childhood nemesis and a handsome, smooth-talking guy who might also want to steal her heart, winning the Gambit becomes trickier than she imagined.

Ross tries her best to stick to the family creed: trust no one whose last name isn’t Quest. But with the stakes this high, Ross will have to decide who to con and who to trust before time runs out. After all, only one of them can win.

Review:

A cutthroat competition amongst the best thieves and winner gets one wish granted, but one thief is playing for the greatest stake of all: her mother's life. Rossalyn "Ross" Quest is a seventeen year old girl and a master thief, her mother raised her to be one, and she's excellent at escape plans... yet the only escape plan she hasn't been good at is escaping her mother and her life as a thief. All Ross has ever wanted was to be normal, to have friends, to make connections, and just as she was getting ready to enact her escape to go to college her mother is suddenly captured and won't be released unless Ross comes up with a billion dollar ransom. Luckily for her, her antics have not gone unnoticed and she is invited to participate in the Thieves' Gambit, a series of dangerous international heists against other competitors... and killing isn't off limits. The winner is granted one wish, anything they want, and Ross knows that this is the only way to save her mother. Yet this competition has it's own issues, from the fact that some of the competitors include her childhood friend turned nemesis and a handsome guy who might just steal her heart. Ross knows she'll have to do whatever it takes to win, but can she backstab some of the people she's begin to think of as her own friends... and are the betrayals awaiting her closer to home than she realizes? The Quest family creed is : trust no one whose last name isn't Quest.... yet she's in for a shock. This is the first book in the series and the end of this book definitely has you looking forward to the next one. This was a really fun heists/puzzle adventure and lives up to the Ocean's Eleven aspect. Filled with fun heists and cutthroat competition, I can't wait to see where the next book goes and how the relationship drama works out! This is a fun read for anyone who likes heists stories.

*Spoiler: Ross falls for Devroe, who later betrays her and asks that his wish be saved for later. Ross's mother competed and won the tournament years before and never told her. Devroe's mother was in the same competition as Ross's mom and wanted to use the wish to save Devroe's father (who died) and Devroe wanted revenge. The last phase of the competition involved kidnapping someone and Ross finds out that her mother had conned her the entire time to get the billion dollars and that she knew her aunt would be kidnapped in the competition. The competition curators agree to give back Ross's beloved aunt if she works for them for a year... and works in a partnership with Devroe. Ross and Lia (her childhood nemesis make up and become friends after Ross finds out her mother sabotaged that friendship). Ross agrees to work for the curators of the competition and with Devroe, despite his betrayal and the fact that he broke her heart. The book ends with her saying she should have known better than to trust anyone).

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[ismahanescorner]

The Remnant Chronicles | Series Review

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Genre: YA Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co

Release Date: 08/07/2014 - 07/07/2015 - 02/08/2016

Rating: 3.75/5 🌟

Synopsis:

The Kiss of Deception: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟 In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met. On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

The Heart of Betrayal: 3/5 🌟🌟🌟 Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw. Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

The Beauty of Darkness: 3.75/5 🌟🌟🌟 💫 Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it. With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down. In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.

Review:

BOOK ONE:

okay, so yeah, this one actually lives up to the adequate hype it has! honestly, it should have more hype since it’s much better and well plotted than most new releases!

anyways, the first half of the book was a game of who’s who?! and it legit had me pulling my hairs out!!! cuz i sooo wanted her to fall for the prince but these shitty stories always have the princess falling for the rugged broke bitch … ugh!! i was all nerves!!! thankfully, around the 70% mark, we get the truth out !!! anywho, really like this one. i’ll be picking up the next in a couple of days! highly recommend the audiobook too!!

BOOK TWO:

unfortunately, this one suffered from “sequel blues”! it wasn’t bad per se, but it didn’t have the mystery element of the first one that kept me reading! that element could have easily been swapped for who is “the betrayer” the book is named after (ie: **** ******)! the exposition of the events wasn’t as gripping as in the first book either! still the ending offered a good fight scene and a resolution to the current situation so i’m not too mad at the book!

I hope the final book is more like the first than the second!!

BOOK THREE:

this one wasn’t as gripping and thrilling as the first, but it didn’t suffer from sequel blues like the second. the events that transpired in the last 10% weren’t exactly my cup of tea and brought my overall enjoyment down, thus the 3 stars instead of 4 stars! hey at least we got peace and no stupid draconian border treaties!!

📷 Mary E. Pearson on Twitter.

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

Armageddon is coming, and this is her final stand.Preorder Reality Bites by Lia Davis now!

Universal: https://geni.us/RealityBites The end is near.

In the wake of Vassago’s deadly game, Randi endures a lull almost worse than another tango with Stone. Her paranoia feeds on the quiet, filling the silence with fears of Shade reprisal. Sure, the Vampire Council is rebuilding, her once-dead husband has come home, and she’s got time again to spend with her son, Logan.

But what are her enemies up to?

It doesn’t help matters when her new friend, Misty Drake, reports fractures in the unholy alliance that point to possible Shade spies. And then there’s the dead John Doe case, which seemed at first to be a garden variety mob hit but reveals magical connections.

When the investigation dovetails with Shade machinations, Randi slowly uncovers Stone’s biggest plot yet. But Shade spies and secret agents abound, thwarting Randi at every turn. Attacks, betrayals, subterfuge, and a hurricane brewing off the coast of Florida conspire to try and defeat Randi and her coalition of the middle.

When the storm makes landfall, Armageddon comes to Jacksonville. With the help of her two lovers, Cash and Kalon, as well as new allies and old friends, Randi prepares to make the final stand.

The last chapter in the Shade saga packs a punch of apocalyptic proportions. The ultimate battle for the middle unfolds in an epic and emotional climax that will put Randi Sanderson’s strength, heart, and soul to the test.

#teaser #teasershare #comingsoon #bookpreorder #preorder #sneakpeek #realitybites #randisanderson #urbanfantasy #romanticurbanfantasy #paranormalfiction #supernaturalfiction #fantasyfiction #books #readers #reading #booklovers #bookbuzz #booknews

About Lia:

Lia Davis is the USA Today bestselling author of more than forty books, including her fan favorite Ashwood Falls Series. A lifelong fan of magic, mystery, romance and adventure, Lia's novels feature compassionate alpha heroes and strong leading ladies, plenty of heat, and happily-ever-afters.

Lia makes her home in Northeast Florida where she battles hurricanes and humidity like one of her heroines. When she's not writing, she loves to spend time with her family, travel, read, enjoy nature, and spoil her kitties.  She also loves to hear from her readers. Send her a note at lia@authorliadavis.com!

Follow Lia Online:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LY50TH

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2N3X2dS

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Website: https://authorliadavis.com

[percontaion-points]

Covet chapters 76-79

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Chapter 76

“He used that trust to take out the biggest threat to his domination—the gargoyles—and then, once they were gone, he set his sights on destroying us as well.”

How does that go again? About not standing quietly by as they take other people out, or else you’ll be next, and have one less ally?

Yeah. That. 

“Cyrus has finally hit the tipping point—he’s taken so much from so many people that the thirst for justice is completely overwhelming the fear. All we have to do is harness that thirst, stoke it, and —when it’s time—let it loose. He won’t stand a chance.”

Chapter 76 summary: Nuri holds up the key after staring down Grace for a moment. Grace gets angry when she realises that Nuri hadn’t actually meant to detain Hudson for long, only to use him as a bargaining chip against Grace. She tells Nuri off, and tells her not to use any of her loved ones again. 

Nuri says that the dragons helped to eliminate the gargoyles, but goes on to say that it was before she was born. And that although history won’t exactly look back at that period fondly, history is often more complex than the narrative of “history is written by the winners” that Grace knows from school. 

She also has a random aside about how Flint hadn’t actually known what his mom was doing. But Grace shouldn’t be so quick to forgive Flint, simply because he had almost killed her earlier. And he almost ruined everything simply because he was too stubborn to ask for help with Lia. 

Chapter 77

[Nuri] may think we’re on the same side, but I don’t doubt for a second that she’d exploit my weakness if she thought it would help keep Flint—or her precious Court—alive.

Oh good, Grace isn’t stupid enough to fall for the fake olive branch Nuri is offering. This series might be an overly-long chore to read through, but at least we’re not going to have a court betrayal because Grace was too trusting and naive. 

“Better get to it, then. The banquet starts at eight, and I can’t stand it when people are late.”

Chapter 77 summary: Grace asks Nuri what the plan here is. She says to send Hudson to prison to curry favor with Cyrus. Then they’ll come up with some kind of a plan to strike back at Cyrus. She responds to Grace’s questions about the mating bond and the separation, by stating that it’ll only make Grace stronger when she comes through it in one piece. 

Grace thinks about their plan to break the blacksmith out from prison, and finally asks Nuri about how the other dragon escaped. She says that the dragon went to go talk to the crone who helped to build the prison. But that the price for her help was steep. The dragon gave up his dragonheart, which is needed in order to shapeshift. Grace knows that the price the crone would ask for would be much too steep, but she’s not going to give up without at least talking to the lady. 

Nuri tells Grace to get going, that she can only hold Cyrus off for so long. 

Chapter 78

Dungeons and Dragons: The Grace-LosesHer-Shit Edition

Are we seriously doing this?

“What?” he asks as we head up to my room. “Too soon?” 

“Waaaaaay too soon.”

Chapter 78 summary: Grace goes down to the basement, thinking about all of the horrible things the guards could have been doing to Hudson while she was chatting with Nuri. 

Instead, she finds two guards playing with a ball like they’re little children. She calls for Hudson, and finds his cell kind of destroyed. The two of them get into a fight, but it kind of boils down to that Grace was super worried about him, and this is how she’s expressing her frustration over the situation. 

She briefly explains the situation and the sub-sub-sub quest that they have to go on now. And then she asks how it was that he was able to remove the anti-power cuff before he was arrested. He says that his dad used to put them on him, and he’s in such a habit of removing one of the locking runes on them, he did it without thinking when Finn put one on him. And that people seemed to like Hudson better when they thought he was more or less harmless, so he kept it on. 

Chapter 79

Well, not on my watch, Hudson Vega. Not on my watch. Two can play this game…

Chapter 79 summary: Before Hudson and Grace can go talk to the crone (because when has anything in this book simply happened and it wasn’t bogged down with 7081098 subplots?), they all have to go to the dragon court ball. 

Grace hadn’t known that it was a ballgown kind of ball, and the only dress she has is more appropriate for hitting up a nightclub. 

But thankfully, Hudson has her and Macy covered, and sends over a rack of ballgowns. Grace feels like she’s falling harder and faster for him with everything that he does. 

[aw3s0me-t0-bl0g]

Three more days. That’s what Sven always told me. When you think you’re at the end of the rope, give other more days. And then another three. Sometimes you’ll find the rope is longer than you thought.

The Kiss of Deception Series

[liahaslosthermind]

~ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒍 ~

Past Rhysand x OC (Adelaide), Eventual Azriel x OC Part 3 of Betrayal Summary: With renewed purpose, Azriel heads to the library to see what he can get about resurrection spells. He also has to deal with a family intervention. Warnings: Suicidal thoughts and ideology, Hurt/No Comfort, Death of a loved one, Grief, Cheating, Betrayal.

Azriel raced to the library after giving Adelaide a goodbye kiss on the forehead, hoping it was the last time he would do so while she was dead.

He grabbed anything he could find on magic such as this, and scared the shit out of the priestesses in the process. He would usually take good care to show patience and nothing but kindness to them, but with the strong feelings of desperation, lack of care, and now suddenly, hope, he couldn't bring himself to hide his feelings.

Azriel started to walk back to her room when he stopped by his door.

Maybe he should shower? Change clothes?

These weren't things Azriel cared to do much anymore. He kept himself from smelling, and changed every time he did so. But that was out of necessity, and he did it as fast as he could. It was never to make himself feel better or because he cared enough to want to.

It was a weird feeling in his chest when he put on the warm clothes the house had given him. Happiness? Hope? Fear?

He didn't know what it was. He couldn't really call himself happy, only two hours ago he was planning on taking his life, but he felt he could soon be happy, he now had a future to look forward to.

A future in which his best friend was once again by his side.

In other new developments, when Azriel's stomach made enough noise for him to truly realize how much he was starving, he decided he did want a proper meal, not just the scraps he had been forced to eat by his family because he otherwise wouldn't have done so.

It was the middle of the night, a time that usually meant it was safe for him to leave her room without being disturbed. His shadows would alert him if anyone had been there, but since he had come to the decision to take his life, they hadn't been speaking to him, certainly upset at his choices.

But they also didn't leave his side. They had been a constant companion these past 6 months. At first, he begged and begged them to leave him alone and while they would keep their distance when asked, they were never father than a few feet away, tucked into the corner of the room.

The hardest moments, when his chest felt like it was caving in from grief, they became a shield from the outside world, covering him and giving him a safe space. He could feel them providing a heavy weight upon his skin, not as to crush him, but to keep him grounded.

He had appreciated it, thanking them when he remembered to. But now, he cursed them out when he walked into the dining room to see his entire family sat at the table, staring at him, surprising him.

6 months ago, something like this would never happen. The Spy Master never allowed anyone to sneak up on him, to surprise him.

But he didn't feel like the Spy Master anymore.

"Sit, boy." Amren commanded. Not unusual of her to do so, but there was more in her tone than just snappiness. Hurt? Despair? Two emotions he rarely saw from her.

He felt his shadows nudging him to the empty chair at the head of the table. Where she used to sit, Rhysand at the other end, Azriel usually by her right side.

But his usual seat was taken by Gwyn, one of the priestesses he had become almost friends with before... everything. He would train with them sometimes and he would usually go to her when getting books for himself or Adelaide.

Despite the shadows' nudging, he didn't move an inch.

"What is this?" He asked, a thousand thoughts running through his head. Everyone looked... somber. Desperate. Angry.

"Please, Azriel" Elaine managed to get out before sobs left her mouth. While whatever they had in the past had faded, they remained good friends, thats why he finally sat down at the table with his family for the first time in months.

"Gwyneth came to us after you went to the library. She said- she said there was something wrong with you." Rhysand said, grief heavy in his voice. A rare occurrence, when the High Lord couldn't mask his emotions.

"No more than usual." Azriel snapped back. This was a waste of time, and he had not forgiven Rhysand for his actions, no matter how much his brother groveled, no matter how much Azriel knew he was mourning, no matter how ashamed he was of what happened.

How could he? When at the end of the day, Feyre was the one holding his hand and comforting him, while Adelaide, sweet Addie, was lifeless in a cold marble box.

"Your family said as much to me, but it was different, Azriel. I hadn't seen you in a few months and while I know this is a difficult time, I couldn't recognize you. There was, there was something else." Gwyn spoke up.

"I went to check on you in her room, expecting to see you in the same chair, but you weren't there, just a note in your place.'" Nesta explained.

Bury me with her, thats all I ask, that was Azriel's final request, his final message to his family, after 500 years together.

Sobs came from somewhere but he couldn't tell who it was. The ringing in his ears, the blurry vision, the feeling of his stomach dropping, it was all too much for him. He should have gotten that note the moment he came back.

Cassian, who was to Azriel's left, was shaking as he tried to stop his emotions from taking over his body, spoke in a soft and pained voice, "Nesta came back to us, holding the note and looking as if she- as if she'd seen a ghost. When she read it out, to us, Rhys and I winnowed to her resting place. You weren't there, the only sign you had been was your blanket, drapped over her. We thought- we didn't know if-" Cassian couldn't finish his sentence as Rhysand interupted him, seething with anger and hurt.

"Haven't we lost enough? Why would you do this, Az? Are you truly that selfish?" He screamed. He only stopped and took a breath when Feyre put her hand on his arm, trying to offer a comforting touch. He now spoke with a more level headed tone. "Why not talk to us, talk to me? I know you are upset and hurt by my actions. Gods know I will never forgive myself for the rest of my days, but I lost the woman I had loved my whole life. We both lost her, I- all I wanted to do these past 6 months was grieve with the one other person who loved and knew her as much as I." Feyre retracted her hand, clearly jilted from Rhys mentioning his love for another woman. "You didn't lose anything. You immediately had a replacement lover! I lost everything, and I had to stay by her side as she died, watching you betray her in her final moments. You are calling me selfish for wanting to end my life, but you would have been in the same position had you not had your mate to eagerly take her place." He spit out the word mate in disgust. He had spent his whole life wishing for a mate, but seeing all the pain they seemed to cause, he now wished to never have one.

He had liked Feyre, initially. She hadn't been anything but kind to him, but she jumped at the chance to be Rhys' one and only, and the few weeks before Adelaide had died, Feyre had acted as if she had claim to the High Lord. As if a mating bond could undo centuries of love.

But Azriel guessed it could, seeing as she was now warming his bed.

"Azriel," Cassian spoke up, trying to stop him from saying what he was about to.

"No! Fuck this. You were replacing her as she was dying. Don't talk to me about how much you are mourning her. If you ever feel even a sliver of the misery I have felt for the past 6 months, it would kill you. And I hope it does."

"Azriel!" Feyre yelled, shocked at how he could speak this way to his oldest friend.

He turned to Feyre, finally addressing her for the first time in half a year, "I know you aren't, you are too self centered to, but I also hope you feel shame and disgust every second you spend with him. I hope it eats you alive and you grow to hate yourself because of it. I wish you nothing but a long and unhappy existence."

"How dare you speak to your High Lady like that." Rhysand screamed. In 500+ years, Azriel had heard him yell like that but never had it been directed at him.

The world simultaneously stopped turning for everyone in that room as it sunk in what he just said. What he just revealed. All Azriel could do was look at his family, seeing each of them not surprised at the information, but ashamed, and disgusted, and scared at what was to happen next. They all knew.

"What?" he said, with as much venom and hatred in his voice it was a shock the High Lord didn't fall dead because of it.

Rhysand was now pale, apologetic. He knew he had fucked up, and he had fucked up hard.

Swallowing his guilt and fear, Rhysand tried to calmly explain, more care in his voice than before: "A few months ago, Feyre and I accepted the bond. We then immediately married. It was a secret and intimate affair, no one else but the officiant and us two. I then declared her as my High Lady."

Silence, as they all awaited the Shadowsinger's response. He didn't move for several moments, but his shadows became thick and heavy, almost suffocating everyone in the room. The High Lord and the General had seen him do this, but that was when he was about to torture someone, as he was about to hurt someone who he hated.

Using his wings to propel him forward, Azriel launched himself at his brother, intent on giving him a slow and painful death.

[hearteyesv]

dance of thieves:

me: a-aster..??

[bigbookslilreads]

Book Review - Morrighan

Morrighan by Mary E. Pearson (The Remnant Chronicles #0.5)

Publication date: January 12th 2016 Read by me: July 30th to August 2nd 2019 Full review on Goodreads. Recommended to: fans of dark fantasy, dystopia, romance, angst, novella, character-based. Rating: 4 stars. Very enjoyable, adding some more information on the legend that is constantly referenced in the rest of the series.

Link to reviews of other entries in the series:

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)

The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2)

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3)

Blurb (from Goodreads): Before borders were drawn, before treaties were signed, before wars were waged anew, before the great kingdoms of the Remnant were even born and the world of old was only a hazy slate of memory told in story and legend, a girl and her family fought to survive. And that girl’s name was Morrighan. In this prequel novella to the Remnant Chronicles, a girl and a boy from enemy camps meet, fall in love--and set history in motion.

What I liked

Prequel, providing more background into the legends that the world of the Remnant Chronicles is "presently" drawing from;

Forbidden love trope, a sweet novella, especially for those that don't mind that angsty romance pull;

Felt like Lia x Kaden fanfic to me, and that is always a plus;

Writing, I really like how Mary E. Pearson’s writing can feel flowery without necessarily being flowery, if that makes sense.

What I didn’t like

No exposition on apocalyptic events, even though it excuses this by the argument that culture and knowledge can be lost within one generation. None of the characters lived through it, so they didn’t know what occurred. Understandable, but a bit disappointing nonetheless. 

[darliingyu]

lol ok so let’s have a book talk bc i jus finished the remnant chronicles and i feel that the trilogy should be talked abt more.

no spoilers but maybe mini spoilers ??

overall i give the series a 5/5 solely bc it made me actually cry. at first the kids of deception was very confusing bc mary decided we’re not gonna reveal who is who :’) and so we’re jus out here trying to figure out who rafe and kaden are based on their description according to lia and their povs :’))))) it was also confusing bc between chapters there were like mini parts of histories ?? sort of. like the song of venda, morrighan holy text, testaments of gaudrel, etc. it makes sense when you get to like the middle/end of the first book and onwards.BUT BROOOO all i have to say is the angst :’)))) i legit finished the third book today, like i read 40 chapters today 😭😭😭 it rlly keeps you invested like i did not put that book down at all. it was a lot of pain and me screaming at the characters. there are also sweet and funny moments in there too. but ngl i can only remember the pain i felt. like ugh, lia, kaden, and rafe are literally breaking my heart the entire time. also, there’s some mystery in there too 👀👀 like the heart of betrayal is rlly good bc it reveals everything. it also made me cry the most </3 but uh yeah. it’s rlly good, i would recommend. 5/5 a rlly good young adult book. ALSO there are some pg13/r rated ??? sort of stuff. like yk sex scenes that aren’t descriptive, and like gore i think. it’s not too bad, i don’t think it’s nearly as bloody as red queen ,,, BUT YES I WOUKD RECOMMEND I LOVE IT <333 oh and ig it’s like a hint of enemies to lovers ??? between some ppl. it’s interesting. LOL

[kreativewritin444]

betrayel ; prequel

PREQUEL to the first part of the betrayal series!!!

authors note: basically a insight of learning about amelia, her role and backstory

-

i was in the car with my twin sister elena, when our parents car went over whickery bridge. me and elena survived, not knowing how or why. our parents drowned inside the car. not so long after, aunt jenna was moved in.

jenna became legal gaurdian over us, and jer. people all the time joked about how i looked like aunt jenna, elena looking more like mom. which was true, me being a redhead, . her with brown hair, tan skin.

elena and i looked nothing alike nor acted alike, considering we were twins. we were our own person though. both of us changing after the death of our parents, for sure.

she was cheerleader, dating football player blue eyed matty. i didn’t cheer, i more so stayed to myself, occasionally smoking (trying to hide it from elena’s overbearing ass) and flirted off and on with tyler.

after the death: elena was found writing in her diary at our parents grave, she quit cheerleading, broke up with matt, and got more quiet. i on the other hand became more reckless, impulsive... just trying to avoid everything i felt. not messing around much with tyler, he got with vikki, matt’s older sister.

then elena bumped into stefan, them instantly falling for each other. he was nice, we got along. damon.. was a whole other story.

something was up with him, he always had a double meaning about everything. always bringing up stefan’s and im assuming damons ex, katherine. my relationship with the brothers was very different, than elena’s.

--

when time passed, elena and i discovered the big secret kept hidden from us. stefan and damon were vampires. then damon turned vicki, resulting in a whole lot of turmoil.

   i watch elena get thrown across the lot, “elena!” i rush forward, only to be grabbed by my throat. vikki glares down at me, dark veins ran across her eyes and cheeks. i whimper, she looked so different. so not vicki...

“no vicki pl-”

her teeth sank into my neck, a deep scream erupts from me. her grip was there, then not. stefan had pulled vik off of me, i stagger to the side. my knees gave way as blood dropped on the ground below me.

“lia!” elena was by my side, i held my neck in pain. oh my god being bit hurt so bad.

“get out of here!” i was pulled up, barely keeping up with elena. jeremy rushed through the door, elena pulling me behind her.

suddenly the door swung wider, me being yanked back. vicki missed my neck, her teeth sinking in my shoulder. my body was hot, not even having the energy to scream.

i now stare her in the face, tears in both of our eyes. a gasp escapes my lips, the only other sound i can hear other than jeremy’s screams.

my body went limp, stefan softly catching me. tears ran down my cheeks, the sight of vicki dead in front of me made me wanna throw up. “oh my g-god.” my hand covers my mouth.

the sound of jeremys screams, the pain, the flashbacks. i push away from stefan, wiping my face. instinctively, my hand flew to my neck. my hand coming back soaked with blood.

“hey, he- you aren’t looking to good.” stefan helps me up, examining my bites. i try to move away from his touch, “i-im okay.”

he gives me a look but i ignore him, my attention on damon. “i hope your happy, damon.” that’s all i could say, he didnt show a ounce of remorse.

elena storms over and slaps damon, i go to move closer towards her but stefan stops me. “you two need to take jeremy home.”

elena and i decided to compell jeremy, safer him not knowing the truth. but now elena and stefan are having relationship drama...

 we both end up at the grill, with one of stefans long time besties. lexie.

i like the girl, she’s badass, hot, and seems to really care about stefan. “so you and stefan... never?” i giggle, lexi may or may not compelled me a few shots.

“oh god no. him? he’s a great guy, but i have mine. back at home of course.” she spills, i nod. i wish i had my guy.

i go to say something but the sheriff walks forward, needle in her hand. “w-wait, no do-” they stab lexi in the neck, her falling limp. vervain.

my eyes flicker to stefan, not knowing what to do. he grabs elena walking toward the exit, i follow quickly behind. the chill air hits my cheeks as we walk around the building.

two gunshots went off, my eyes widen. the sheriff held her gun up a lexi, who was unfazed.

stefans hold us back as we watch, damon stabbing lexi in the heart. the same way i watched vikiki die.

soft tears shed my eyes, watching stefan look heartbroken over damon’s actions. why does everyone keep dying?

[themovieblogonline]

Ouija Castle Review: A Gothic Horror that Fails to Haunt

Ouija Castle, directed by Louisa Warren and penned by Jasmine Ebony Thomas, arrives on the horror scene with a premise that tantalizes but ultimately falls short of its potential. The film, which centers around the dark aftermath of Princess Thalia’s banishment by her power-hungry mother, Queen Velma, attempts to weave a tale of supernatural intrigue and royal betrayal. However, it struggles to maintain a coherent narrative, and the chilling atmosphere it aspires to achieve remains frustratingly out of reach. The story begins with a promising setup. After the death of King Eldric, the once-prosperous kingdom falls into disarray as Queen Velma, played with a measure of steely resolve by Danielle Scott, seizes control. Fearing that her daughter, Princess Thalia (Mya Brown), might pose a threat to her newly acquired throne, Velma casts a powerful spell, plunging Thalia into a perpetual sleep. The film’s central conflict arises when this dark act unwittingly triggers a series of supernatural events that threaten to destroy the very kingdom Velma fought so hard to control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DaPPYZXCPc Good Atmosphere, Weak Characters The plot weaves together various characters who each play a role in the unfolding drama. Chrissie Wunna’s Lia is a sympathetic figure, a servant loyal to the princess and determined to save her from her cursed fate. Sophie Rankin as Sofia, Velma’s enigmatic advisor, offers a performance that hovers between cold calculation and barely concealed fear, hinting at the consequences of dabbling in dark magic. Lila Lasso’s Delia, someone with her own mysterious motives, adds another layer of complexity, though her character ultimately feels underdeveloped. Finally, there’s Zazid, portrayed by Danielle Scott, who, while integral to the plot’s progression, never quite evolves beyond her role as Velma’s obedient enforcer. To its credit, Ouija Castle does have moments where its potential shines through. The gothic aesthetic, though unevenly executed, occasionally manages to evoke a sense of dread and foreboding. The castle itself, with its labyrinthine corridors and shadowed corners, serves as an effective setting for a tale of haunted royalty. Warren’s direction hints at an understanding of horror’s visual language, with certain scenes—particularly those involving Thalia’s enchanted slumber—exuding a genuinely eerie atmosphere. The concept of a royal court beset by malevolent spirits is compelling, offering a unique twist on the haunted house trope. The performances, though inconsistent, have their moments as well. Mya Brown as Princess Thalia, though she spends much of the film in a state of enchanted slumber, conveys a quiet vulnerability that makes her plight sympathetic. Danielle Scott’s portrayal of Queen Velma, while lacking in emotional depth, captures the ruthless ambition of a woman driven to secure her power at any cost. There is an underlying tension in her interactions with Sofia, played by Sophie Rankin, suggesting a more complex relationship that the script, unfortunately, never fully explores. Storytelling that Misses the Mark However, these moments of promise are overshadowed by the film’s numerous shortcomings. The most glaring issue is the disjointed narrative, which struggles to maintain a coherent flow from one scene to the next. The film’s pacing is erratic, with long stretches of monotonous dialogue interspersed with sudden bursts of supernatural action that feel more confusing than thrilling. Warren’s direction, while competent in certain scenes, fails to unify the disparate elements of the story into a compelling whole. The script by Thomas is equally problematic. The dialogue is often stilted, with characters delivering lines that feel out of place or overly expository. The central conflict—the battle between Thalia’s loyalists and Velma’s forces—is underdeveloped, with key plot points either glossed over or explained in frustratingly vague terms. The motivations of certain characters, particularly Delia and Zazid, are murky at best, leaving the audience to wonder why they behave the way they do. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Ouija Castle is its wasted potential. The film’s premise, which blends elements of gothic horror with political intrigue, is rich with possibilities. Yet, it consistently fails to capitalize on these opportunities, opting instead for cheap scares and cliched plot twists. The supernatural elements, which should have been the film’s main draw, are poorly executed, with special effects that range from passable to downright laughable. The titular Ouija board, which one would expect to play a central role in the story, is relegated to a minor plot device, appearing only sporadically and with little impact on the overall narrative. Overall The film’s climax, which should have been a crescendo of tension and horror, falls flat due to a lack of emotional investment in the characters. By the time the final confrontation between Thalia’s supporters and Velma’s forces arrives, the audience is left feeling more exhausted than exhilarated. The resolution, while tying up the main plot threads, fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion, leaving several questions unanswered and key character arcs incomplete. Ouija Castle is a film that aspires to greatness but falls far short of the mark. Its intriguing premise and moments of atmospheric tension are overshadowed by a muddled narrative, underdeveloped characters, and missed opportunities. While there are glimpses of a better film lurking beneath the surface, they are ultimately lost in a sea of mediocrity. For fans of gothic horror, Ouija Castle may offer a few fleeting moments of enjoyment, but for most viewers, it will likely prove to be a frustrating and forgettable experience. Read the full article