Kate_Taylor_7473

When Ivy Wren inherits Thornhaven Manor, a crumbling estate shrouded in legend and mystery, she sees it as a chance to escape her empty life and start anew. But the manor is more than just a hauntingly beautiful relic of the past—it’s a place where shadows move of their own accord, secrets are buried in its walls, and an ancient power stirs beneath its foundations.

At the heart of the mystery is Gabriel Thornhaven, the brooding and enigmatic guardian of the estate. Gabriel is as much a prisoner of the manor as its protector, bound by a curse tied to a powerful relic known as the Veilglass. Drawn together by forces neither of them can explain, Ivy and Gabriel share an undeniable connection that defies reason, a connection that deepens even as Gabriel tries to push her away.

As Ivy uncovers the truth about the Veilglass and its ties to a dark, malevolent force, she finds herself at the center of a centuries-old battle between light and shadow. The relic whispers to her, calling her with promises of power and answers, even as it threatens to consume her.

Gabriel, haunted by his past and his growing feelings for Ivy, is determined to protect her at all costs—even if it means risking his own humanity. But as the tension between them ignites into passion, Ivy and Gabriel must confront not only the curse that binds them but also the shadows that lurk within themselves.

With time running out and the Veilglass’s power growing, Ivy and Gabriel must decide: will they succumb to the darkness, or will their bond be the key to breaking the curse and saving them both?

Thornhaven’s Curse is a steamy, atmospheric romance filled with forbidden desires, tantalizing mysteries, and a love that could either shatter the darkness—or be consumed by it.

The Curse of Thornhaven manor

The days passed in an excruciating blur, each one dragging Ivy and Gabriel closer to a breaking point neither seemed ready to face. Gabriel avoided her as much as he could, but the sheer size of Thornhaven Manor ensured that their paths inevitably crossed.

Every encounter was a battle—a simmering tension that refused to dissipate. Gabriel's eyes lingered on her longer than they should, his tone sharper when he spoke to her, his movements more restrained, as if he were constantly holding himself back. Ivy, meanwhile, found herself caught between anger and a maddening desire she couldn't shake.

One evening, she found him in the study, pouring over old texts by the fire. He didn't acknowledge her at first, his broad shoulders tense as he leaned over the desk. The room smelled of parchment and the faint spice of his cologne, a combination that sent her pulse racing.

"I thought you'd given up hiding in here," Ivy said, leaning against the doorframe.

Gabriel's gaze flicked to her, and his expression tightened. "I'm not hiding."

"No? Then what would you call this?" she asked, gesturing to the stack of books.

"Research," he said curtly, turning back to his work. "The shadows are growing stronger. We don't have time for distractions."

The word stung, but Ivy didn't let it show. Instead, she moved closer, her footsteps soft on the Persian rug. "Is that what I am to you? A distraction?"

Gabriel's jaw clenched, but he didn't answer.

She stepped closer still, her fingers trailing over the edge of the desk. "You can't keep shutting me out, Gabriel. We're in this together, whether you like it or not."

"Ivy," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't."

"Don't what?" she challenged, her heart pounding. "Don't ask for answers? Don't demand that you stop treating me like some fragile thing you need to protect? Or don't get too close because you're afraid of what might happen?"

His head snapped up, his golden eyes burning with intensity. "You don't understand," he said, his voice rough. "Every time I'm near you, it's a fight not to—"

"To what?" she pressed, stepping into his space. "Tell me, Gabriel. Stop hiding behind your walls and tell me what you're so afraid of."

The room seemed to hold its breath. Gabriel's hand shot out, gripping the edge of the desk as if to anchor himself. His other hand hovered in the air between them, inches from her face, before he pulled it back like he'd been burned.

"I can't," he said, his voice barely audible. "If I let go, I won't stop."

"Maybe I don't want you to," Ivy whispered, her gaze locked on his.

The fire crackled in the silence, its warmth the only thing breaking the tension between them. Gabriel's breathing was uneven, his eyes searching hers for something—permission, absolution, control. Whatever it was, he didn't find it.

With a curse, he stepped back, the spell between them broken. "You should go," he said, his tone cold and final.

Ivy stared at him, her chest tight with frustration and hurt. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the study, the sound of the door closing behind her echoing in the empty hall.

But even as she left, she couldn't shake the feeling that Gabriel's control was slipping—and that it was only a matter of time before it snapped.

The Fire Beneath the Surface