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

That night, Ivy couldn't sleep. The events of the day churned in her mind, each interaction with Gabriel replaying like a broken record. She couldn't understand him, couldn't understand why he was so determined to push her away when every look, every touch, told her he wanted the opposite.

Frustrated, she threw on a robe and decided to take a walk through the manor. The halls were silent, the only sound the faint creak of the old wooden floors beneath her feet. She let her thoughts wander as she moved through the shadowy corridors, the flickering candlelight casting strange patterns on the walls.

Eventually, she found herself outside the conservatory—a glass-domed room filled with lush greenery and the soft trickle of a fountain. The moonlight streamed through the windows, bathing the space in a silvery glow.

Gabriel stood by the fountain, his back to her, his posture tense. He was shirtless, his broad, muscular shoulders illuminated by the moonlight. Ivy's breath caught as her eyes traced the lines of his back, the scars that marked his skin like a map of his battles.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly, though he didn't turn around.

"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, stepping inside. "What about you?"

He let out a bitter laugh. "Sleep isn't something I've had the luxury of in a long time."

Ivy hesitated, then moved closer, her bare feet silent on the cool stone floor. "Gabriel, you can't keep doing this to yourself."

"I have no choice," he said, his tone sharp. He finally turned to face her, and the look in his eyes stole her breath. There was pain there, and longing, and a desperation he could no longer hide.

"You always have a choice," Ivy said, her voice trembling. "You're just too afraid to make it."

He took a step toward her, then another, until the space between them was almost nonexistent. The heat of his body was overwhelming, and Ivy's pulse quickened as she tilted her head to meet his gaze.

"I'm not afraid of you, Ivy," he said, his voice rough. "I'm afraid of what I'll do if I let myself have you."

Her breath hitched, and she reached out, her fingers brushing against his chest. His skin was warm, his heart beating wildly beneath her touch. "Then stop fighting it," she whispered.

For a moment, it seemed like he might. His hands hovered near her waist, his body leaning toward hers as though drawn by an invisible force. But then he stepped back, his expression torn.

"I can't," he said, his voice cracking. "If I lose control, it'll destroy both of us."

"You're wrong," Ivy said, her voice fierce. "It's this—this distance, this fear—that's going to destroy us. Not the truth."

Gabriel's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. The tension between them was unbearable, an electric charge that threatened to ignite at any moment. But once again, he turned and walked away, leaving Ivy standing alone in the moonlit conservatory, her heart aching with unfulfilled longing.

She knew one thing for certain: Gabriel's walls were crumbling. And when they finally fell, there would be no turning back.

The Breaking Point