The Ivy League Obsession: A Dark Academia Secret Protector Romance (Gothic Tales)

He made a vow to protect her. Even if it meant hiding in the shadows for fifteen years.

Maren Ashby’s life is defined by logic, science, and the lingering ghost of her murdered father. As a nineteen-year-old student at the elite and historic Ashworth College, she keeps her head down, determined to decipher the cryptic research her father left behind. She thinks she is alone. She is wrong.

Ezra Blackwood is lethal, wealthy, and burdened by a fifteen-year obsession. When they were children, he took a blade meant for Maren and swore a vow to always keep her safe. Since that day, he has been her silent protector, watching from the shadows and ruthlessly eliminating anyone who dares to threaten her. Ezra doesn’t just watch her; he memorizes her, keeping a detailed log of her routines to ensure nothing harms her.

But the ruthless family responsible for her father’s death has matriculated at Ashworth to finish the job. Ezra can no longer protect Maren from the dark. He must step into the light.

Maren soon discovers that the mysterious, dangerous man who suddenly shadows her every move is the same boy who saved her life a decade ago. As the threats close in, Maren must choose whether to run from a man whose hands are stained with blood, or surrender to the only person who has never stopped watching over her.

Can Ezra keep his darkest promises without losing the only woman he has ever loved?

Tropes & Themes:

• Dark Academia: Set against the backdrop of an elite, historic college with libraries, laboratories, and hidden agendas.

• Secret Protector / Stalker Romance: An MMC who has secretly watched over the FMC for fifteen years, keeping detailed logs to ensure her safety.

• “Touch Her and You Die”: A lethally protective MMC who has killed multiple men to keep the FMC safe.

• Morally Grey MMC: An anti-hero who operates outside the law to fulfill a childhood vow.

• High Spice Level: Explicit, intense, and highly detailed intimacy with dominant elements and strict verbal consent checks.

• Dual POV: The narrative alternates perspectives, plunging the reader into both Maren’s clinical mind and Ezra’s obsessive devotion.