The Warriors of Love & Magic Series by A.C. Fox

Two powerful men. Two bitter enemies. One chance at love. Tav Cyrdath, a powerful wind adept and a brilliant general, leads the last free humans in a war against the Boa Visk, monsters who have enslaved most of humanity. But when the man who rules Illunvia refuses to surrender, Tav is forced to take the city by sword and magic. Victorious, he intends to execute the human traitor who has done so much harm by defying him... moreTwo powerful men. Two bitter enemies. One chance at love. Tav Cyrdath, a powerful wind adept and a brilliant general, leads the last free humans in a war against the Boa Visk, monsters who have enslaved most of humanity. But when the man who rules Illunvia refuses to surrender, Tav is forced to take the city by sword and magic. Victorious, he intends to execute the human traitor who has done so much harm by defying him. But when the defeated ruler, Duric Darmain, begs him to spare the citizens of Illunvia, Tav finds himself overcome by sudden mercy. He takes the man as a hostage instead, intending to use him in a trap against the monsters who have set this war in motion. Duric is defeated, broken...and yet Tav can't get his enemy out of his mind. But how could he ever feel this way about a man who has betrayed all Tav stands for? Duric knows he was only a puppet ruler for the Boa Visk, yet he has done all he can to shield his people from the cruel overlords. Now he is a prisoner, fallen from power, hated and scorned as a traitor. And yet the enemy general begins to treat him with a curious respect and eventually even kindness. He dares not trust again, but this one-time enemy makes him want to yield his heart as hostage, even as he struggles to conquer the fears he can't escape... Magic can heal wounds, but hearts must be mended with love. Both men have deep scars. Both have seen dark times. But the chance at love exists...if only they can embrace it before the Boa Visk return. less

A ruthless warrior, a curious mage, and an ancient secret that could destroy them both... When Tamas discovers the long-forgotten ruins of the Nystrean Mor—an ancient and powerful civilization—he's certain the incredible find will lead to fame and respect. Instead it leads to the end of a Boa Visk sword, its poison blade biting his throat... moreA ruthless warrior, a curious mage, and an ancient secret that could destroy them both... When Tamas discovers the long-forgotten ruins of the Nystrean Mor—an ancient and powerful civilization—he's certain the incredible find will lead to fame and respect. Instead it leads to the end of a Boa Visk sword, its poison blade biting his throat. Tamas, a scholar mage without the power to defeat the Boa Visk warriors that surround him, is certain he'll die unnoticed in the haunted Tyrasha Forest, where no one will venture to find him. And the secrets he's spent his life trying to uncover will die with him. Until a mysterious swordsman drops from the trees and saves his life... Damen has only two things left in his life: his dragon-forged swords and his personal vendetta against the Boa Visk. The monstrous beings who've subjugated humans all across the continent have taken everything from him, leaving him broken and alone, with nothing to sustain him but the death of any Boa Visk who wander into his forest. But when he sees their captive mage, poisoned and weak, he hasn't the heart to let the man die alone. Compassion is his first mistake. The kiss he shares with Tamas is his second. With emotions he believed long dead flaring back to life, and the foolish mage destroying the walls Damen worked so hard to erect, Damen is certain his next mistake will be his last. But the secrets of the ruins that compel Tamas might be more dangerous than they imagined, more dangerous even than the Boa Visk, who have no intention of allowing them to leave the forest alive... less

To master this man, he must fight for his trust... Mikel Vaughn became a slave the night the Boa Visk burned the Grand Library of Amberseth and locked him in chains. The Boa Visk, brutal overlords who have conquered much of humanity, bring the young librarian to Gesh and sell him to the highest bidder. After he's purchased by a Boa Visk noble, Mikel fears he'll be forced to submit to the cruel whims of a vile master... moreTo master this man, he must fight for his trust... Mikel Vaughn became a slave the night the Boa Visk burned the Grand Library of Amberseth and locked him in chains. The Boa Visk, brutal overlords who have conquered much of humanity, bring the young librarian to Gesh and sell him to the highest bidder. After he's purchased by a Boa Visk noble, Mikel fears he'll be forced to submit to the cruel whims of a vile master. Instead, he's given as a reward to gladiator Bastion Hask for his latest victory in the fighting pits. Mikel is even more outraged to be owned by a human, swearing he would rather die than live as Bastion's bed slave. But the soft-spoken gladiator doesn't seem want a slave at all, much less him. Soon Mikel finds it increasingly difficult to hate an enemy who offers him kindness instead of punishment. Mikel will never trust again until he is free, and yet his new master may not be the one keeping him enslaved after all... Bastion Hask has never lost a match, not even against the twisted monsters he battles at the command of his owner. He's come to accept his life trapped in the arena, doomed to fight and die for the excitement of the crowds. He doesn't need or want the slave his noble-born owner has tossed to him like a scrap of meat. Although the young scholar is handsome enough, he seems too weak to survive in this merciless city. Yet Bastion soon finds himself protecting the other man, even putting himself at risk when for years he's only focused on his own struggle to survive. Mikel's determination to find a way free of his chains shakes Bastion's fatalism and rekindles a yearning for freedom he'd lost long ago. As danger relentlessly closes in, their fight to survive becomes a struggle for love and freedom that cannot be denied. less

A dark curse makes it impossible for him to love without pain... Coris Illiand has a secret. He's been marked with a curse rune for no other reason than he is attracted to men. Whenever Coris feels desire or thinks about a man that way, the dark magic activates, crushing him with pain. His father, Duke Illiand, intends for Coris to marry the woman he's chosen and has paid to curse his son to ensure it happens... moreA dark curse makes it impossible for him to love without pain... Coris Illiand has a secret. He's been marked with a curse rune for no other reason than he is attracted to men. Whenever Coris feels desire or thinks about a man that way, the dark magic activates, crushing him with pain. His father, Duke Illiand, intends for Coris to marry the woman he's chosen and has paid to curse his son to ensure it happens. With one last act of defiance, Coris escapes his repressive noble family and flees into the war-torn lands of Anzin. Now he is working as a healer for the rebel army while keeping himself carefully isolated from temptation...and even friends. But he's not prepared when a brash and bold mercenary captain named Garrett Otarra strides into the healing tents and tears down every barrier he has desperately erected. His secret pain vies with his growing desire, and no matter how hard he tries to push the mercenary away, Garrett is not a man who ever admits defeat. Mercenary Garrett Otarra has seen plenty of battle as humanity wars against a brutal occupation, but he also knows you must take time for the things that make life worth living. Good song, good drink, and good men are only a few examples. When he meets Coris, he's immediately hit with a wave of raw desire. The other man is wound too tightly, and Garrett is eager to introduce him to the pleasures of life. Soon he learns there is far more to Coris than he ever suspected, and his protective instincts rush to the fore after he learns the truth of the mark cursing him. He will make any sacrifice to put this right, but a curse this vicious is not easy to stop, even if their love depends upon it. Reader note: contains m/m fantasy romance themes including male male love. A stand-alone story from a series that can be read in any order. less