Duke Aric of Aurenfell wants nothing to do with marriage—or with women at all. But as the emperor berates him yet again for not finding a bride, the door bursts open, and she appears. "I can help!" she chirped, practically glowing with life as tiny petals drift from her hair, the scent of blossoms filling the room. Smiling as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, she declares, "You need a bride, Duke Belfort, and I happen to be... well, free." And just like that, Aric’s world tilts. Now he must contend with a woman as unrestrained as spring itself, while battling the deadly Aedra that threaten to devour his homeland. But it’s his own guarded heart that might prove his greatest enemy yet.

"Mommy!" The little girl cheered when she came into the conference room. "Hi sweetie", Emma took the girl from Linus' arms, "did you have fun?" The girl cheered, and then she looked at Linus. "What about you?" "Kid's a handful as usual", he complained half-heartedly. She stuck her tongue out at him, and Linus ruffled her hair. "Daddy's just a sore loser." Both adults froze. "What did you say?" Emma stared at the girl wide-eyed. "I saw you kissing so he's my Daddy now, right?" Emma's cheeks were going red. The child looked at her worriedly, "are you sick?" Emma hid her face in the girl's hair. "No", she murmured, "I'm fine." She was not. Emma wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

"Help me," Diana croaked. The taste of saltwater on her was now a bitter reminder of her vulnerable state. Her fingers flexed, wanting to physically reach out to him. "To extend a hand to a being such as myself. You are either exceedingly courageous or remarkably imprudent, my dear," the voice mused. "Pray, mortal, what is it that you desire? Divulge your desires swiftly, for time favours you not on this eve." Little does Diana know that this offer sets in motion a series of aquatic adventures that will forever alter the course of her destiny.

Dare to be a teen- Meet my hybrid girl writing contest. I grabbed the railing and pulled myself upright and slowly unfurled the leg I had landed on, blood gushed out with every flex of movement. I ran my finger along the bloodied jeans, a hiss forced it way past my teeth when I agitated the shot wound. Swallowing the pain was barely an option, my thighs cramped agonizingly as if dealing with it is energy expenditure enough. Of course, baby steps wouldn't be able to save anyone. My head was yanked back. I screamed because of the unforgiving grip that yanked me away from my only support, my feet no longer touched the ground. I frantically scratched at the hand in my hair. My body goes still when I faced the featureless darkness looking down at me. It would cost me to keep fighting but the price of being still seemed greater. “I want to survive!” I grit my teeth. “Let go of me!” I sink my nails in this thing's hand. Suddenly a howl filled my ears and I was falling. I collided with the ground head first. I lifted her face from the ground, white comforting cotton-like balls fluttered before my eyes. “Snow?” I sat up, hard white under my palm. “Where did all this ice come from?” Had the ground always been froze “Oh god, I'm going to die alone.” Something escaped my eyes or was it the rain still hitting my face. I didn’t know, it was all so cold. When did it get this cold? I raised her hand, the tumultuous sky blurred and her eyes stung. “Rohan”, my lips trembled. But I’ve given it everything, nothing left to hold me together and the dam burst. “I'm scared”, I wailed, “I don't want to die.” “I won't let you.” Hallucinating in my last moments? Life is too cruel. A larger hand covered my own, beautiful pale fingers laced with mine. We fit like pieces of a puzzle. The other arm gently cradled me to his side. He pressed his lips to the back of my hand. His dark eyes held mine, the golden specks glistening with an emotion I’ve never seen on him, “sorry for being late.”