Worm (Parahumans #1) - Chapter 173: Monarch 16.5

[COMPLETE] Can a royal Romeo and Juliet find their happy ending?

Ayleth, Princess of Zenithra, is secretly trained in hand-to-hand combat, and collects swear words she doesn't know how to use. During the Festival of Peace, in which every royal son on the continent will be at the castle for a month, she is instructed by her parents to find a husband. Yet, Ayleth has never even been kissed—until the very first ball, when she meets the man in the Lion mask.

Etan is a seasoned warrior, and the Prince of Summitras. He attends the Festival hoping to find a powerful wife who will help him conquer the dark sorcery of their bloodsworn enemies, the Kingdom of Zenithra. But at the very first ball, he discovers the masked woman who captures his heart is the Heir to the evil empire.

Ayleth and Etan face an impossible battle. Will their love survive? Or will their parents' dark dealings keep them apart forever?

[Mature content. No sexual violence.]

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“You…” She stepped back. Then back again, her mouth dropped open. “You… You cannot be…”

“I am,” Etan said, and his hair raked back as he pushed his mask off his handsome face. So handsome her heart raced.

His hair was ebony black, his skin a warm brown that threatened to fade in in the winter months. He stared at her with glittering green eyes, over high cheekbones and a noble nose, his jaw tight and shadowed this late in the day. His chin was high over the pillar of his neck that she’d just touched with its hard lines and steel strength, so different to her own. And his chest... She gasped and covered her eyes. She’d humiliated herself revealing her stupid, childish curiosity.

“No, Ayleth. This changes nothing.”

“How can you say that? It changes everything!” She was horrified to realize she was crying.

“Ayleth, please.” His voice cracked on the plea and she stared at him, shoving her mask up and off, despite how it would pull her hair out of the beautiful twist the maid had managed for her.

His eyes locked on hers and she couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe.

She had met her One. And he was the son of her bloodsworn enemy.

She stared at him as he stepped forward again, offering both hands, palm up. “Touch me,” he whispered. “Hold my hands. This is real, Ayleth. I don’t know how it happened, but this is real. Please don’t deny it.”

She couldn’t resist. She raised a trembling hand to his cheek, letting her palm catch on the scruff of his jaw. He blew out a breath and put his hand over hers, and that jolt that happened whenever they touched shivered through her again.

“Please, Ayleth.”

“I cannot deny it,” she whispered.

Lu Qingshan, a renowned player ranked in the top ten of the Sword Cultivators’ leaderboard in “Nine Heavens,” had been reincarnated into the very game world for which he had always strived. Sword Cultivator, a class in “Nine Heavens,” known for dealing the highest damage but also having the least amount of health, leading to their nickname “Brute.” In this life, Lu Qingshan had still chosen the path of the Sword Cultivator. However, this Sword Cultivator seemed a bit too stable???

Li Xiaofei, thrust 500 years into the future, finds himself as a young orphaned man in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world. Raised by a woman only slightly older than himself in the unforgiving slums, he quickly learns that survival requires both strength and cunning.In a world ravaged by alien star beasts, where gangs rule the streets and political factions vie for control, chaos is the order of the day. Amidst this turmoil, Li Xiaofei must carve out his own destiny. Armed with the mysterious Moonlight Treasure Box, he embarks on a perilous journey to make a name for himself and protect the ones he loves.Will Li Xiaofei rise above the chaos to bring peace to his world, or will he be consumed by the darkness that surrounds him?Official BlurbThe star beasts invaded, and Earth’s civilization collapsed. A young man, wielding the artifact Moonlight Treasure Box, drew upon the legacy of three thousand martial arts techniques from various worlds. He protected humanity, won the hearts of beautiful women, slew star beasts, suppressed myriad races, ruled the universe, and commanded the heavens. In the vast cosmos, he was invincible!

After dying from staying up too late, Su Yijia found herself transmigrated into a historical novel as a minor female character.Giving money and treasures to the female lead? Daydreaming! All the good stuff belongs to her!Forget about golden fingers; she has natural talent as the daughter of a wealthy family. Tricked her into marrying a disabled tycoon? No problem, he can still be of use after a little fixing.As for conspiracies and schemes.... Watch how she tramples her enemies, punishes the scum, and beats down all those with evil intentions.The yield-boosting liquid she invented help crops to surge fivefold? Her ointments are being snatched up globally?Want to buy something? Take it slow! The treasures she has are beyond your imagination.Becoming rich is nothing. She wants to stand proudly with her beloved homeland, dominating the world together!What? To use the golden finger requires her to kiss and hug her husband?Come on sweetheart, today is also a day for us to cuddle sweetly.Qin Kaize: Online plea for help! With a wife sweet and charming alike, he can't stand one more moment of being confined to a bed. What can he do?“Passionate and Sweet Little Spouse vs. Cold and Mysterious Disabled Tycoon”