Darkholm Series by Aria Adams

Eskara has been enslaved to the evil warlock Garamond for the last three years, and tonight, on her eighteenth birthday, she is doomed to become a sacrifice for one of Garamond’s spells. She doesn’t want to die, but she is resigned to her fate. Until Emmett steals her away, that is. The hot, gruff woodcutter doesn’t know why he’s drawn to the young witch, but when he sees an evil old man trying to kill her, he has to intervene... moreEskara has been enslaved to the evil warlock Garamond for the last three years, and tonight, on her eighteenth birthday, she is doomed to become a sacrifice for one of Garamond’s spells. She doesn’t want to die, but she is resigned to her fate. Until Emmett steals her away, that is. The hot, gruff woodcutter doesn’t know why he’s drawn to the young witch, but when he sees an evil old man trying to kill her, he has to intervene. Emmett inadvertently claims Eskara, and he has to consummate before the sun goes down or they both die. But when Garamond uses his great power to steal Eskara away again, how can Emmett ensure she is safe, permanently? Note: The bad guy is a total bastard. This 12,500-word story contains much unpleasantness. If you prefer lighter reads, this one's probably not for you. less

The beasts want to destroy her. The mirror-world won't let her stay. The castle hides too many secrets. And when Marea finds out how to break the curse, is she willing to do whatever it takes to save two creatures of pure evil, to whom she is nothing? Marea Belle was doomed at birth. In Darkholm, having red hair means only one thing: Witch. After her parents are executed in a witch hunt, the only thing that saves Marea is the chastity device that proves her purity... moreThe beasts want to destroy her. The mirror-world won't let her stay. The castle hides too many secrets. And when Marea finds out how to break the curse, is she willing to do whatever it takes to save two creatures of pure evil, to whom she is nothing? Marea Belle was doomed at birth. In Darkholm, having red hair means only one thing: Witch. After her parents are executed in a witch hunt, the only thing that saves Marea is the chastity device that proves her purity. Spared the flames, Marea is dumped in a sack at the doors of a cursed castle; a sacrifice to appease the monsters within. The denizens of the castle want nothing more than to devour Marea's soul. The huge, terrifying beasts take her to an underground experiment room and make her their plaything. Somehow, she survives and escapes the monsters, hiding deep within the castle, where she finds a magic mirror which becomes her sanctuary. Inside the looking glass, she falls in love with two men. But she can only remain there for a few hours at a time before she has to return to the castle's inevitable horrors. No-one can escape the castle, and no-one can survive the beasts within. When Marea is forced to give herself to the beasts, she risks losing herself forever, but will her sacrifice be enough to break the ancient curse? This full-length story is grim and a little complicated. This is a dark fairytale that tiptoes on the boundary between horror and romance. It is disturbing, bleak, and certainly not for the faint-hearted. less