Hexed: Collector's Edition (Never After, #6) by Emily McIntire

dark romance • mafia romance • forbidden love • little mermaid retelling • morally gray characters

In a world ruled by power, loyalty, and dangerous family ties, falling for the wrong man could cost Venesa Andersen everything. Cunning, beautiful, and accustomed to surviving on her own terms, Venesa has learned that love is a luxury she cannot afford. Then Enzo Marino enters her world, a powerful man with a ruthless reputation and a presence she cannot ignore. He is everything she should avoid, especially when family obligations stand between them. But when desire collides with duty, even the most carefully guarded hearts can become vulnerable. Hexed is a dark, seductive reimagining of The Little Mermaid, filled with forbidden attraction, dangerous loyalties, and the irresistible pull of a love that was never supposed to happen.

The Vibe

Venesa Andersen has never been anyone's idea of a good girl. After losing her parents, she is taken in by her gangster uncle, learning to navigate a world where loyalty is demanded and weakness can be costly. Clever, resourceful, and unapologetically flawed, Venesa knows how to survive, even if it means putting her own desires aside.

Enzo "Loverboy" Marino is a wealthy businessman whose polished public image conceals his position within the criminal underworld. As the son of a powerful don, he understands that family duty comes before personal happiness. When marriage becomes part of his obligations, he is prepared to do what is expected of him, until an unexpected attraction threatens to complicate everything.

Their connection is dangerous from the beginning. With family loyalties pulling them in opposite directions, Venesa and Enzo must contend with the consequences of wanting someone who should be off-limits. Their chemistry unfolds against a backdrop of mafia politics, tangled loyalties, and the ever-present threat of secrets coming to light.

Inspired by The Little Mermaid, Hexed transforms a familiar fairy tale into a dark contemporary romance where the sea gives way to a world of criminal power, forbidden desire, and morally complicated choices. Emily McIntire delivers a provocative, high-stakes love story for readers who enjoy dangerous heroes, flawed heroines, and romance that ventures into darker territory.

Intense, sensual, and unapologetically dark, Hexed is perfect for fans of twisted fairy tales, mafia romance, and relationships that challenge the boundaries between desire and duty. Readers should review the author's content warnings before beginning, as the story contains violence and other mature themes.

Spice Level

• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)

Tropes & Tags

• Dark romance
• Mafia romance
• Forbidden love
• Little Mermaid retelling
• Morally gray characters
• Powerful underworld hero
• Cunning heroine
• Family obligations
• Arranged marriage themes
• Dangerous attraction
• Forbidden family connection
• Criminal underworld
• High-stakes romance
• Twisted fairy tale
• Contemporary romance
• Mature themes