Inkwater Series by Atley Wykes

Pain provides clarity. Suffering builds strength. Mercy is a weakness.Mardella believed the lessons etched into her skin and memory would prevent her from ever being captive to another again.She was wrong.After a disastrous encounter in her enchanted swamp, she finds herself in chains and her magic bound at the feet of her enemy. The gorgeous and imposing fae general demands she release his people from her curse, or he’ll happily kill her for her past crimes... morePain provides clarity. Suffering builds strength. Mercy is a weakness.Mardella believed the lessons etched into her skin and memory would prevent her from ever being captive to another again.She was wrong.After a disastrous encounter in her enchanted swamp, she finds herself in chains and her magic bound at the feet of her enemy. The gorgeous and imposing fae general demands she release his people from her curse, or he’ll happily kill her for her past crimes.The only thing is, she isn’t the one poisoning the fae.Roric doesn’t trust the witch or her denials. Her beauty is as diabolical as the pernicious flowers that adorn her home. The darkness poisoning his people originates from her cursed swamp and he’ll keep her close as he forces her to guide him through her treacherous waters. Once the curse is removed, he’ll rid the world of the dangerous creature.Even if his twin soul whispers that the fearsome witch is his mate. less

“You must rule with tooth and claw—a wolf amongst lesser dogs.” Lowan’s father ruled the pack with cruelty for centuries. After his death, Lowan is left in the ashes of the fallen Inkwater swamp, desperate to save his people and maintain the fresh peace with the fae without resorting to the same tactics as his father. They only ask one thing from him to solidify their fragile alliance…He must take a fae bride... more“You must rule with tooth and claw—a wolf amongst lesser dogs.” Lowan’s father ruled the pack with cruelty for centuries. After his death, Lowan is left in the ashes of the fallen Inkwater swamp, desperate to save his people and maintain the fresh peace with the fae without resorting to the same tactics as his father. They only ask one thing from him to solidify their fragile alliance…He must take a fae bride. Chrystalyn always knew her father’s ambition would bring about her ruin, though she never thought it would be this complete. Her plans to flee her father’s clutches and explore her secret heritage are lost when he threatens to expose her. She’s met with an ultimatum…Marry the beast or resign herself to live forever under her father’s thumb. Her father promises her this will be their last ploy and that he’ll give her the information she’s always wanted. As Chrystalyn reluctantly helps put her father’s plans in place, she bonds with her husband, who isn’t anything like the fearsome creatures of their legends. He’s handsome, kind and entirely too tempting which presents a new problem.She’s fallen for him. It doesn’t matter that she isn’t his true mate. That helping him would leave her with nothing. His gentle smiles and wild nature thaw her frozen heart until she’s left with one question.Will she help her father to gain what she’s always wanted, even if it means betraying the man she loves? less

“Your heart drips with shadows, like lies from your lips. You don’t know how to love.”Cianán can do nothing right when it comes to Halana. From their constant bickering to his failed attempts to seduce her in the Inkwater swamp, he’s always screwing things up. By the time he realized the headstrong half-fae warrior had feelings for him, he’d ruined it. She dismisses his many attempts to win her affection as he follows her mad dash across the countryside... more“Your heart drips with shadows, like lies from your lips. You don’t know how to love.”Cianán can do nothing right when it comes to Halana. From their constant bickering to his failed attempts to seduce her in the Inkwater swamp, he’s always screwing things up. By the time he realized the headstrong half-fae warrior had feelings for him, he’d ruined it. She dismisses his many attempts to win her affection as he follows her mad dash across the countryside. But now that she’s been abducted…Nothing will stop him from finding her.Halana—left reeling after her twin brother’s death—fled Frosthold for a life of danger. She tries to outrun her grief and the dominating, yet sensual shadow fae tracking her every step, but she can’t run forever. Soon she’s captured by witches, bound on a ship to Adria and an unknown fate.If only she’d trusted the shadow fae…Cianán is determined to rescue Halana and prove that he can be more than a rake, even if he’s the last person she wants to see. However, unbeknownst to either of them, war is on the horizon and Halana’s abduction is only a piece of the larger puzzle. Stielor is under attack and they have to work together to prevent their homeland’s destruction. Can they put aside their fiery tempers to protect their home?Or will their love scorch them both? less