Vines & Venom Series by Rachel Mays

Emilie: I never asked to marry King Cyrus, the ruler of the neighboring realm. But after his wife passed away, my parents saw an opportunity to gain his favor. They didn’t hesitate to offer my hand in marriage. Despite the circumstances, I’m determined to make the best of the situation. After all, becoming royalty comes with plenty of advantages. But first I’ll have to get past an unexpected obstacle—the king’s brother, Ladon... moreEmilie: I never asked to marry King Cyrus, the ruler of the neighboring realm. But after his wife passed away, my parents saw an opportunity to gain his favor. They didn’t hesitate to offer my hand in marriage. Despite the circumstances, I’m determined to make the best of the situation. After all, becoming royalty comes with plenty of advantages. But first I’ll have to get past an unexpected obstacle—the king’s brother, Ladon. Ladon: I’ll do anything to protect my family, even if it means sabotaging my brother’s upcoming marriage. I know the truth—that Emilie is a money-hungry opportunist who is unfit to be the queen. I'll do whatever it takes to see their engagement come to an end. She thought she was entering paradise, but I’m going to give her hell. Until disaster strikes... Now, we only have each other. Working together might be the only way to survive the twisted games we’ll be forced to play. Author’s Note: Nights of Obedience, the first book in the Vines & Venom duet, is a spicy, enemies-to-lovers romantasy. This book features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For a complete list of content warnings, check the author’s website. less

EmilieEscaping Murvort should have been the end of my nightmares, but everywhere I look, I'm tormented by the ghosts of my enemies. Their phantom gazes linger on me, and their fingerprints are permanently etched into my skin. I can only pray to the gods that I'll be able to move on with my life once Reyna and her loyalists are all dead and buried.LadonGuilt weighs heavily on my mind. My brother saved my life, but in doing so, put his at risk... moreEmilieEscaping Murvort should have been the end of my nightmares, but everywhere I look, I'm tormented by the ghosts of my enemies. Their phantom gazes linger on me, and their fingerprints are permanently etched into my skin. I can only pray to the gods that I'll be able to move on with my life once Reyna and her loyalists are all dead and buried.LadonGuilt weighs heavily on my mind. My brother saved my life, but in doing so, put his at risk. Even worse, while Cyrus lies unconscious in the healers' ward, I can't keep my thoughts off of his betrothed. When he wakes, I know I'll have to repent for my disloyalty, but nothing will stop me from being with Emilie. We've been through hell together, and she's the only one who can ease my suffering.A glimmer of hope arises when our spies catch wind of Reyna hiding in a coastal town. She has evaded us for far too long, but that ends now. Even if it kills us—vengeance will be ours. less