This world is full of deadly beasts. And I might be worse than any of them…
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About the Book
Forged In Lies
The Monarch Book One
by Raven Dark and Jenna Stirling
Published 23 April 2023
Genre: Dark Dystopian Romance
Page Count: 348
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This world is full of deadly beasts. And I might be worse than any of them…
I remember life before the solar flare destroyed society. And I remember pieces of the dystopian hellscape that followed.
But my memories are fractured. Full of holes and inconsistencies.
How I managed to slit the throat of a biker twice my size is a complete mystery.
But I did. Easily and without thought.
Now, the dead man’s four ruthless MC brothers want me as their captive plaything in the bedroom, and their assassin in the outside world.
I should hate them. Fear them. But I don’t.
My attraction to these sexy savages is as inexplicable as my nagging feeling that something—or someone—is coming for me.
All I can do now is hope the sleeping beast inside me is ready to kill when I need it…and that the brutal men I’m falling for don’t get caught in the crossfire.
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“Forged in Lies, book 1 in the Monarch series, is a dark, post-apocalypse why choose romance featuring a strong heroine, and the merciless alpha males who love her. (Think The Handmaid’s Tale meets Sons of Anarchy, mixed with a dash of Firefly, but with more happy endings and spicy times.) Download today and hope your e-reader doesn’t go up in smoke.
***WARNING***This book contains sexual situations and dark scenes that may upset some readers. If you have triggers, please do not buy this book. Cliff-hanger ahead. HEA at end of series.
Excerpt
Havoc’s grip tightens, unmistakably possessive. His eyes gleam down at me. “Back off, Twig. I choose who she’s with. And you won’t be on the list.”
Twig’s brows go up in surprise.
Havoc looks at me and blinks, apparently caught off guard by his own words. “Relax, pretty girl,” he adds, pushing past Twig. “You belong to me now. No one will touch you unless I say so.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I mutter.
And yet my sex slicks at his sheer possessiveness.
“Not sure how you’re getting to me, but you’ll pay for it later.” His voice is suddenly gruff.
“You better count on a rough night.”
My pulse stutters. What’s with this guy? One minute he sounds as if he wants to keep me all to himself, and the next he wants to pass me around. How many guys are we talking here?
Trying to distract myself from Havoc’s effect on me, I dig the bread out of my pocket and nibble on it. I look at Sage. Not sure what I’m hoping for, but his expression tells me nothing. It’s as if I’m frozen out, and something between us has evaporated.
“Havoc, Sage,” a guy shouts, striding over to us. He’s tall and athletic-looking like Sage, but with blond hair pulled into a ponytail. “What the fuck took you two so long? Venom’s pissed.”
“That’s nothing new.” Havoc grabs a beer from a barrel near him, and Sage does the same.
“What happened at Gore’s?” Ponytail smirks, watching me eat. I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. “And what’s up with the strange?” he adds.
My gaze zeros in on the patch on his cut. I take in the acronym, committing his rank to memory. Second In Command.
At his tone, Havoc’s hand moves to my nape. I could swear Sage stepped closer. Ponytail’s smile widens.
“Gore’s dead,” Havoc says, guzzling his beer. “Couldn’t pay his dues.”
“Fuck. Another one? This’ll put the Keep in a hell of a mood. What about his women?”
“Dead too,” Sage says. “They were gone by the time H found them.”
“Shit. They would have fixed a lot of problems. All right, Sage, send a couple guys out there to scavenge.”
“You got it, Hutch.” Sage heads over to a group of guys standing with Twig.
“So, who’s the bitch?” Ponytail—Hutch—asks, nodding to me.
“Gore tried to hide her when we showed up,” Havoc says. “She wasn’t his, though.”
“Stray pussy, is it?” Hutch’s eyes narrow on me. “I’ll take first crack at her.”
Havoc pushes me behind him. I think I actually hear him growl.
Hutch grins and lifts his shoulders. “Fuck, what’s with you? You’re like a dog with his food.
Well, you better bring her to Keep first before you stick your dick in her.” He’s laughing as he
turns and heads for the house.
I scrunch my brows at his retreating back, then glance up at Havoc. He knows I’m MC. Why didn’t he report it to his Second?
“This way,” Havoc orders me, heading after Hutch. “Wait until Venom sees you. He’s probably gonna want your ass first.” He pauses and leans down, lowering his voice to that growl that makes my blood heat. “And I’ll eat up every second, pretty girl. I bet watching would be almost as good as fucking you.”
Alarm bells ring in my head. I gotta get out of here now before this gets any worse. And I have to get to Charlie. As long as I’m here, I can’t do that.
Heart in my throat, I lower my eyes, searching for an escape route. Some of the bikes sit without men near them, keys dangling from ignitions. One’s a few feet away. Even if I could get Havoc to let go, he’d catch me before I reached it.
Still…
We’re closing in on the front doors, Havoc’s long strides eating up the grass. If I’m going to act, it has to be now.
I lurch, pretending to stumble. Havoc loses his grip. I whip around and sprint toward the nearest bike.
Havoc curses. Shouts ring out. Panting, I swing onto the bike, kick the stand up, and fire up the engine.
“Stupid bitch,” Havoc roars.
Out of nowhere, a strong arm snakes around my neck and I’m yanked off the bike. I land on my ass with a yell before I’m pulled to my feet and spun around.
I have about a half a second to see silver-blond hair before the guy swings his fist right at my face.
About the Author
As a young girl Raven Dark dreamed of being abducted by a savage alien warrior, whisked away by a brutal pirate, or rescued by a cape-bearing hero. When none of these men came to claim her, she brought them to life in her stories. Then twelve years ago she met the man of her dreams. He doesn’t wear a cape, fly a spaceship, or wield a sword, but sometimes she swears they’ve mind melded.
Raven lives with her dream man and their one cat that thinks she’s a dog in the Mundane world’s version of Ontario, Canada. When she isn’t working on her latest erotic romance novels and crafting interesting worlds in which to set them, she’s spending too much time with friends, feeding her Youtube addiction, or curled up on a couch watching favorite shows with her future husband.
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