Deceiving Their Minds (Tactum Obscurae, #1)

Set in the small coastal town of Alabastor Cove, where nothing is as it seems. Enter the world of spoiled heirs, hidden secrets, and dangerous betrayals in Deceiving Their Minds, the first book of the Tactum Obscurae Series, from indie author Laiken Rhodes. Deceiving Their Minds. Perfect for readers who love the intricate world of Shantel Tessier, the gritty romances of Rina Kent and the intense pacing of Tate James.

I bow to no man. No country. No King.

Audrey
When an invitation arrived inviting me to participate in the first Viperae Rosarum Ludi, I was reluctant to accept. My past was already dipped in tragedy, and fighting for a seat within a feared secret society held no appeal to me.

The lure of power and riches did nothing for me as a girl whose birthright held the promise of crowns, yet I found myself entering the Ludi with the other heirs of the Cove by my side.

I quickly came to realize the forefathers holding the Ludi aimed to break me, to carve me open and find what made me tick.

Little did they know that I was not the naive girl they believed me to be…

And The Guilda Sanguis Venenati just opened their doors to something much worse than the monsters they have lurking within. This ‘innocent little princess’ lost her innocence long ago, and now I planned to seek vengeance on all those who dared to wrong me.

The Shadow
Princess Audrey Yates. My obsession. My prey. The target the Guild placed right in front of me again.
The girl who should have run far, far away from me.

Tropes:

Dark Secret Society
Romantic Suspense
Morally Grey to Black Characters
Multiple POVs
Hate to Love You
OTT/ JP Antihero
Forced Proximity
Touch Her &
Primal Play
Group Play (MM, MMF, MFM)
Hidden/ Repressed Memories
Brutal Cliffhangers

**Deceiving Their Minds is the first book in a four-book series. Readers are warned that each book will have a brutal cliffhanger until book four when the couple has their HEA. Of note: the FMC in this book is an unreliable narrator, and at times, won’t express the emotions you feel she should. This is a dark romance that contains mature themes and content that can be triggering to some readers. Reader discretion is advised as it may not be suitable for everyone. Please check the author's note and trigger/ content warnings list before reading. **