Novels by Ebony Black

Elara carefully examined the midnight blue dress laid out on her bed, trying to decide if she could bear to wear something so revealing. Her actions were halted by a loud knock. “Come in.” she called out expecting it to be another servant. The door opened to reveal a stern-faced woman in formal palace attire. Behind her stood two younger attendants carrying what looked like jewelry boxes. “Miss Vane. I’m Mistress Viremont, head of the royal household.” She said in a brisk, professional tone. “His majesty has sent me to prepare you.” “Prepare me?” Elara’s stomach dropped. “For what? I can do…” “For dinner, of course. In the great hall. You have an hour.” The room tilted. “T..the great hall? But I thought…I assumed…” “His Majesty dines publicly on the first day of every week. As his personal attendant, you’re expected to attend be present.” Mistress Viremont moved into the room, gesturing for the other women to follow. “Now we haven’t much time. Your hair needs to be styled, and

She’d barely swallowed two bites when another knock came at the door, this one sharp, aggressive. Not the quiet tap of a servant. “Come in.” Elara hesitantly called.The door swung open with force as a woman swept into the room as if she owned it.Elara recognized her immediately. How could she not.Lyria. The draconian dancer she’d seen leaving Draeven’s chambers just yesterday morning looking thoroughly satisfied and smug.She was even more striking up close. Tall, voluptuous with copper-colored scales dusting her temples, forearms and the curves of her breasts visible above her low-cut silk gown. Her amber eyes, with vertical slits like a dragon, fixed on Elara with pure venom.“So,” Lyria said, her voice dripping with contempt as she slammed the door shut. “You’re the filthy little slave everyone’s whispering about.”Elara stood quickly, instinctively backing away from the hostility radiating from the woman.“I don’t want any trouble…”“Trouble?” Lyria laughed, a cruel, cutting s

The sharp knock had shattered everything, once again saving her."Your Majesty, the council awaits your presence."His hand stilled between her thighs, not withdrawing immediately. His breathing harsh against her neck and his entire body shivering with barely controlled need."For fucks sake," he snarled toward the door. "Not now."But they both knew he had no choice.He pulled away leaving her gasping and disoriented on the table. As he adjusted himself and run his hands through his disheveled hair she noticed his fingernails had darkened to black talons. He was losing control of his form. She heard whispers that it usually happened when they felt emotions too intensely."Attendants will be here in two hours to help you move your belongings to the chamber next to mine. Don't think of running again because it won't end with me just touching you. And Elara..."He looked at her, hunger still evident in his gaze."What happened just now was just the beginning, tonight we finish this." H

"I came so hard I nearly blacked out, and I was still hard after all that, still aching. Because apparently, my hand isn't what I need. Do you understand me, little mouse?" Her voice completely failed her. She had absolutely nothing to say to this shameless man. "You've bewitched me somehow." His nose traced along her neck. "And I don't appreciate being made to feel like a desperate teenage boy who can't control his own dick." "Your defiance yesterday has consequences," Dread and something hot coiled in her stomach. "Please,.." "You have a choice." I can assign guards to you, permanent ones. They'll follow you everywhere, the kitchens, washrooms, even when you sleep. You'll be locked in your chamber every night. No freedom until you learn obedience." Her eyes went wide with horror. "Or," his voice dropped lower, rougher, "you accept your punishment now. Here. Ten minutes where you let me prove exactly what you've been fleeing from. "Ten minutes, for thirty days where y

Elara's eyes snapped wide open as she felt someone violently shaking her awake. Serena's face swam into focus above her., pale and frightened."Elara. Wake up. Now."The urgency in her voice cut through Elara's fog of sleep forcing her to sit up quickly."What's wrong?" She whispered back, glancing around the dormitory. The other servants were still asleep, their breaths soft and steady in the darkness."Everything." Serena quickly grabbed her arm, hauling her out of bed and into the corridor.She thrusted a piece of parchment at Elara with shaking hands."This arrived last night, from him."Elara's stomach dropped as she recognized it. Black wax stamped with a dragon in flight, the Royal Seal. With hesitation, she opened it.Each word written felt like a nail in the coffin.Permanently assigned to my personal service.Attend to me each morning at dawn.Moved to the chamber adjacent to my own.The parchment slipped from her fingers, fluttering to the ground."No," she whispered. "This

Draeven's POV____________________________*Flashback* 4 months agoHe found her in the gardens.He hadn't meant to, he'd been walking the place grounds, restless and irritable, when he'd suddenly heard humming, melodic and hauntingly beautiful.He traced it to the herb garden located at the east wall."And there she was."Kneeling among the plants, gathering stems into a basket. Her silver hair caught the afternoon sun, seeming to glow. She was humming something wordless and lovely, completely unaware of her surroundings.And the plants…When you looked closely it seemed they were leaning toward her, bending in her direction as if they were drawn to her very presence.That was not normal. Plants didn't do that.Draeven stayed hidden behind a marble pillar, watching. A minute passed, then ten, then twenty.What the hell am I even doing.She was just a girl doing her job. There was absolutely nothing remarkable about gathering herbs.But the way she moved, graceful, even as she perform