by Dani René
“He’s given me an ultimatum,” Finn spits. “Even after he agreed I could do my own thing. He’s gone back on his fucking word.” I can’t believe our father could do this, but if he has, there must be an explanation.
“I don’t understand. He has never gone back on his word when he’s promised us something,” I tell my brother, who nods in agreement. “What is he asking you to do?”
“Well, since you and Damien both have wives—”
My chest tightens. “Kalyn and I aren’t even engaged yet.”
“Well, you’re practically married,” Finn throws back in frustration while rolling his eyes. He’s right; we live together, we’re inseparable. “Dad wants me to… he wants me to marry some spoilt brat to ensure her father will sign a deal. Apparently, her father is some fucking bigshot capo that wants his daughter to have a ring on her finger before he signs Dad’s contract.”
“An arranged marriage?” My tone is incredulous. “But don’t they tend to marry within the familia?” I ask, my hackles rising as I consider the ramifications of our family getting involved in something like this.
“Most times, yeah, but apparently this girl is special. If I don’t agree, Dad loses one of the biggest contracts Thorne Industries has ever seen. This could make or break our family name.”
“Jesus.” Running my hand through my now growing hair, I lean into the chair and regard my youngest brother. He’s always been a party animal, so for him to marry someone he’s never met is a tall order. Perhaps our father expects him to calm down the partying and roguish behavior, but even so, I think it’s unfair to ask Finn to give up his whole life to do this.
“Anyway, what’s going on with you?” he asks, gesturing with his chin at the box on my desk.
“I’m going to ask Kalyn to marry me,” I tell him; opening the box, I show him the ring.
Finn whistles as he takes it in. The star-shaped diamond shimmers on the gold band that is dainty for Kalyn’s slender fingers. “That’s a definite yes from her,” he says, a smile on his face. “Congrats, brother.”
“I don’t want to think it’s set in stone,” I respond. “She could change her mind and decide I’m not for her.”
“Like that will ever happen.”
“Cass?” Kalyn’s gentle voice comes from the door, causing me to jump to my feet. The box drops to the desk with a soft thunk as she pads barefoot toward us. “Is…” Her eyes are wide on the ring. I had plans on how I would do this, and now, now I can’t do that because she’s seen the goddamned ring.
“You’ve spoiled my surprise, little liar,” I say.
“That’s mine?” she asks, finally finding her voice.
Finn rises quickly. “I’ll see you later; I think you two need a moment.”
“Tell me what you decide,” I tell my brother. He nods before walking out of my office. I pick up the box, pulling the ring from the cushion. Rounding my desk, I stand before Kalyn, then drop to one knee. “I wanted to do this in a more romantic setting, but since you’re here, I better do it now.”
“I’m sor—”
“Kalyn Narro, you’re my life,” I interrupt her. “You saved me, but you’ve also given me something to live for. You complete me in ways I didn’t think were missing. And I want to spend my life showing you just how much you mean to me. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Tears trickle down her cheeks, and for a moment, I expect her to say no, but then she nods and laughs. “Of course, I will.” The ring fits perfectly on her finger, and I rise to full height to pull her into my arms.
“I love you, little star,” I whisper the words in her ear before pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Kalyn looks up at me, her eyes shimmering with tears as she smiles. “I love you too, fiancé,” she murmurs against my lips just before I steal them and dip my tongue into her warmth, tangling with hers. I deepen our connection; lifting her against me, I set her on the desk.
I pull away, locking my stare on hers. “You’re a high so sweet I never want to come down from.” Before she has time to respond, I kiss her again; this time, I inhale every moan and whimper. Time to show her just how much I love her.
My future wife.
My forever.
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Sneak Peek - A Death to Seek
SNEAK PEEK
FINN
As a Thorne, I have a responsibility to obey my father. It doesn’t matter what I want, it also doesn’t matter than I’m almost twenty-six, an adult, I need to marry the woman of my father’s choosing.
I’m angry.
My brother’s got to choose their partners, but I’m being given a pretty girl who I’m certain is still a virgin.
But this is not a marriage filled with love and happiness.
It’s a transaction.
We’re two business partners.
And that’s the only thing she’ll ever get from me.
Only… I have a feeling she’s about to blow my world wide fucking open.
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If you’ve already met Damien Thorne, why not check out Deviant, a student/teacher romance with stalker vibes!
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PROLOGUE
ABNER
I’m pacing a pathway in the carpet of my office as I think about the future. My youngest son’s sixteenth birthday is coming up, and I know I’m going to have to tell him about the Sovereign. But I have a feeling he already knows.
Glancing at the clock on the wall above the fireplace, I note it’s almost midnight. My plan is in place for next week. It took me years to make sure I had the right people in my corner. And it’s finally time.
My office door clicks open, and Philipe saunters in with a smile on his face. My eldest son, who is eighteen now, is like me: cold and ruthless, and he doesn’t care for anyone outside our family. That’s what a true Sovereign is, but Ares, I worry about him. I don’t know if he has it in him to join us.
“The job is done,” Philipe tells me, satisfaction on his face at the admission. The blood splattered on his shirt is evidence that he’s finished the job correctly.
“Good,” I nod, before turning to my desk to pick up the folder. Philipe will take over the head of the table from me when he turns twenty-one, but he’s been doing odd jobs for me since he came of age.
Once he joins the Sovereign, he’ll have all the power I ensured for him. This is our legacy. I hand him the manila folder and watch him flip it open.
“They voted this evening,” I tell him. “You’re taking my seat at the table, you’ll only be sworn in when you hit the age set out in our history. Ares will be the second chair once he’s old enough.”
“I doubt Greg will be happy about this,” my son remarks. The second eldest member of the Crowns, Gregory Birchwood, wasn’t happy about two Lancasters at the table, but he can’t do anything about it. His daughter isn’t allowed to step up. Grecia Birchwood isn’t meant to wear the gilded crown.
“He made his vote. There’s no going back. The oath was signed; blood was shed.” I make my way to the armoire, which sits in the corner of my office and pour myself and Philipe a shot of whiskey. Handing a tumbler to him, I lift my own. “To the Sovereign and the rule of the Lancasters.” I clink my glass on my son’s, and a smile beams from his face.
It’s uncanny how much he looks just like his mother. There’s a so
ft golden hue to his light brown hair, and his eyes, the color of the freshly grown grass on a hot summer’s day, match hers almost identically. I watch him take a sip before he narrows his gaze on me.
“I’m leaving,” he utters. “I’m ready to go to New York. It’s the one thing I’ve wanted, and it’s time. I’ll be back for my inking.”
“I didn’t think you’d stay, but remember, if we need you…” I allow my words to trail into the heavy silence in the office. He doesn’t realize what being an Elder means, but he’ll learn.
We still have time before Ares, Etienne Durand, and Tarian Calvert come of age, so Philipe will take the reins until the three younger boys step up and they form one entity.
Philipe swallows down the amber liquid before offering me a grin. “I’ll be here whenever you need me.”
“Go, I know you’re itching to get to your girl,” I tell him, shaking my head when he chuckles.
“See you tomorrow.” He leaves me in the office with my thoughts. I’ve done things in my life that were needed to ensure my family are safe. Even though most wouldn’t agree with my actions, it is my choice, and I’ll never apologize.
My phone rings shrilly on the desk; when I pick it up, I note the name before answering. “What?”
“We found her. She’s a crown,” he tells me. I knew they would. The men I have around the country, around the world, would’ve tracked her down one way or another, and she knows it.
“Good, we’ll keep an eye on her. The father?”
“He’s around.”
“Bring him in, the job I have for him is important. I want it done next week.” Hanging up, I smile when I pour myself another drink and savor the burn of the whiskey as it travels down my throat.
I sit back and stare out the window. The full moon is high, reminding me of how small and insignificant we truly are in the grand scheme of things. But I also know that nothing can stop the events that will take place in the coming years.
My sons will rule the Sovereign with iron fists.
I gulp down the last of my drink as my office door opens, and my wife strolls in. She’s my life. I fell for her when I was a boy, and even though she knows of the darkness that resides inside me, she hasn’t run; she continues to love me even after all the shit I’ve put her through.
“Are you coming to bed?”
“I am. Philipe was just here to collect a docket,” I tell her, crooking my finger to call her closer. “Ares will know about his new role in this household. I plan to speak to him tomorrow.”
“I don’t know if he’s ready,” she shakes her head, worry etched on her beautiful face. She voices my concerns out loud.
Sighing, I stand and go to where she’s standing at the edge of my desk, pulling her into my arms. “He will be. He’s a Lancaster, it’s in our blood.”
“This isn’t some supernatural occurrence, Abner. He’s not going to suddenly become powerful and grow wings,” she bites out in frustration. Our son may not be something from a comic book, but there are things about the four new Crowns who will take over that nobody would ever guess.
Ares being one of them.
But what she doesn’t know can’t hurt her, which is why I’m not the one to complete the task I’ve set in motion. So instead of saying anything, I scoop her up and make my way through the house and up to our suite.
“I think it’s time we made love again,” I murmur in her ear, with my eyes shut, I pray she’ll calm the fuck down. The darkness grips me when I think of the violence to befall us.
Her hands land on my shoulders, holding me away from her for a moment before she shakes her head. “Don’t push me away and treat me like I’m fragile.”
“You are fragile.” I can easily overpower her, and she knows it. I could lift her with one hand, squeeze, and her breath will be stolen. I don’t. I do allow her to glower at me though because that will ensure our night in bed together will be short.
“I’m not, Abner,” she bites out, and I can see this night isn’t going as planned. All I need, want, was a chance to feel her, but she’s not having it.
I rise, turning away from her, and head into the bathroom. I don’t need this. I really can’t lose my shit so close to Philipe’s inking. The moment my eldest son wears the mark of the Sovereign, I can take a back seat on the day to day running of the society.
“Don’t walk away from me,” she retorts, her voice shrill and angry.
“Darling, I suggest you go to bed.”
“Like fuck, this is ridiculous. What are you not telling me? You’ve hidden enough from me over the years, Abner. The women, the killing, I see the blood on your clothes; I’m not stupid.”
One rule of the Sovereign is to never speak of it with those outside the society. Even our partners. The only people who know about it are the children who will step up to the table.
No females.
No outsiders.
It may sound misogynistic, but that’s what the ancestors wanted, and that’s what they’ll get. We observe their rituals, their way of life.
“Abner.”
“Lilian. Go. To. Bed.” My voice is low, a warning tone that makes her stop for a moment. I feel her. Every part of me knows what she feels because I can feel it, too. I sense every argument she has raging around in her mind.
I glance over my shoulder, meeting her questioning gaze before she shakes her head and turns away from me. I watch her slip under the sheet and curl into a ball. Her shoulders shake, but I don’t go to her. I’m not that type of man.
Closing my eyes, I quell the urges inside me, and I calm my erratic heartbeat. My sons don’t know about me; they have no idea who their father truly is, and I refuse to let them find out by me ripping their mother to shreds in a fit of fury.
Once I step down, my secrets will be safe.
I’ll make sure of it.
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Need someone to listen?
If you’ve been through what Kalyn has and you’re in need of help, I’ve included a few links below that have information. Reach out to someone.
United States
National TASC
United Kingdom
mind.org.uk
Australia
Health Direct
Canada
Addiction Center
Acknowledgments
This is one of the scariest books to put out there. After months of turmoil, I’m sitting here writing the acknowledgments to A High so Sweet. When I figured out Kalyn’s past, it hurt so badly. Heartbreak. Pain. Loss. I hope that I’ve portrayed her as the strong woman I know her to be in my mind. And I hope that you’ve all fallen in love with Cassian just like I did when I saw how far he would go to prove his love to Kalyn.
I want to thank my amazing editor, Rebecca Barney (Rebecca’s Fairest Reviews), who took this rough, unpolished draft and worked magic on it. I appreciate your insight, advice, and your expertise. It’s always a pleasure working with you.
A thank you to Zainab from Heart Full of Reads for doing a BETA read of this as well. Your comments were truly helpful and it just added an extra layer of emotion to the story.
To my proofer, Brian (Illuminate Author Services), as always, a huge thank you for all your hard work on catching those final changes.
To my readers, the amazing ladies in my reader group, The Deviants, thank you for always being so incredible, and to my Captive Angels for pimping my ass out, you ladies ROCK!
To the author colleagues who read A High so Sweet, and helped share and promote it, thank you so freaking much! I love you ladies!
And to the bloggers and bookstagrammers who were so excited to meet these characters. I truly hope the book lived up to your expectations. Thank you for always taking time out of your busy lives to help support and promote me. Your love is humbling.
Mad love,
Dani xo
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Abo
ut the Author
Dani is a USA Today Bestselling Author of seductive and deviant romance.
Her books range from the dark to emotional, but every hero is alpha, and each heroine is strong-willed, bringing the men down to their knees.
She now lives in the UK, after moving from Cape Town, with her better half who does all the cooking while she writes all the words.
When she's not writing, she can be found binge-watching the latest TV series, or working on graphic design. She has a healthy addiction to reading, tattoos, coffee, and ice cream.
www.danirene.com
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