I return home from college to a nightmare, discovering my parents plan to marry me off. Rather than being forced into a loveless marriage, I grab my cat and embark on an adventurous journey to the Wild West. I may be trying to find myself, but what I find instead is the handsome Jack Graysen. Or rather, he finds me.

Some might call Princess Anja of Ivermere brave for offering herself up as a bride to Kael the Conqueror, a barbarian warlord who'd won his crown by the bloodied edge of his sword. It was not courage that drove Anja from her magic-wielding family's enchanted palace, however, but a desperate attempt to secure a kingdom of her own—even if she has to kill the Conqueror to do it. She expects pain beneath his brutal touch as she awaits her chance. She expects death if he discovers the truth of her intentions.

There is no easy path for a woman aspiring to power. A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the emperor's attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. But young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the emperor a gift he can never forget.

Thornfield Academy is a place where I, Ivy Hammond, blend in with the everyday supernatural creatures that flock these halls. But when darkness falls, I embrace my calling. I'm a shapeshifting assassin, summoned through a combination of ancient rituals and the dark web to deliver supernatural justice where mortal laws fail. This me is called Poison, and I'm a master of secrets. But when an assignment comes up, for the first time, I can't complete a job, and it could end up being my last days. My bosses are not the type of creatures you want to mess with, but this one…strikes too close to home.

It was supposed to be a one-night stand with a sinfully gorgeous stranger. A man I’d never see again. I was stranded, he had a hotel room (which I had broken into), and the rest is history. Until he shows up at my doorstep five years later with a marriage proposal.