Chapter: A Fresh StartThe decision had been brewing in Lila’s mind for days, a knot of anxiety twisting tighter each time her phone buzzed. At first, she thought she could ignore it—block the number, delete the messages, pretend none of it was happening. But pretending didn’t stop the way her hands shook when her screen lit up, or how her stomach dropped at the sight of another photo she hadn’t consented to be taken. It didn’t stop the fear that whoever was behind it was watching her even now, cataloguing her life like a series of stolen moments.So on a cool Thursday morning, when the rest of the world felt caught in the slow hum of early spring, Lila marched herself into her phone carrier’s store.She sat in the plastic chair across from a clerk who looked hardly older than her, fingers flying across a keyboard as he pulled up her account. “So you’re wanting to change your number completely?” he asked, voice flat with the practiced tone of someone who’d asked the question a hundred ti
Last Updated: 2025-08-24
Chapter: Shadowed MessagesThe sunlight filtering through Lila’s blinds didn’t feel warm today—it felt intrusive. Every beam seemed to spotlight the unease curling in her chest, reminding her that no matter how much she tried to pretend, the unknown sender was still out there, still watching, still whispering into her life through texts and images. She sat cross-legged on her bed, phone in hand, scrolling through the latest barrage of messages that had come overnight. Each ping made her flinch.Nicole and Mae had insisted she bring the phone over so they could examine it together. If Terra really was behind this, they needed a strategy, and Lila wasn’t going to be the only one on edge anymore.By mid-morning, Lila had texted her friends to come over. When the doorbell rang, she opened it to find Nicole with a backpack slung over one shoulder and Mae holding a laptop like it was a weapon.“Morning,” Nicole said, her tone a mixture of teasing and seriousness. “You’ve got that haunted
Last Updated: 2025-08-20
Chapter: Splintered TrustLila couldn’t hear the world around her. The music from her phone, the hum of the ceiling fan, even the faint traffic outside her window—all of it faded beneath the roar in her chest. Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone, the screen lighting up with the last unanswered message she’d fired off at the anonymous number.Who are you? Why are you doing this? Why him? Why me?The reply had come in seconds, like whoever was on the other side was waiting, breathing down her neck through invisible wires.You’ll see. He’s not who you think he is. And I’ll prove it.And then, as if to twist the knife, the photo.Her and Anthony. From two nights ago, walking down the block after leaving Nicole’s house. She hadn’t even noticed anyone near them, let alone close enough to snap a picture. But there they were—her head tilted toward Anthony, his hand brushing hers, both of them caught in a moment that had felt so safe.Now it was ruined.
Last Updated: 2025-08-20
Chapter: Shattered LinesLila couldn’t hear the world around her. The music from her phone, the hum of the ceiling fan, even the faint traffic outside her window—all of it faded beneath the roar in her chest. Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone, the screen lighting up with the last unanswered message she’d fired off at the anonymous number.Who are you? Why are you doing this? Why him? Why me?The reply had come in seconds, like whoever was on the other side was waiting, breathing down her neck through invisible wires.You’ll see. He’s not who you think he is. And I’ll prove it.And then, as if to twist the knife, the photo.Her and Anthony. From two nights ago, walking down the block after leaving Nicole’s house. She hadn’t even noticed anyone near them, let alone close enough to snap a picture. But there they were—her head tilted toward Anthony, his hand brushing hers, both of them caught in a moment that had felt so safe.Now it was ruined.
Last Updated: 2025-08-20
Chapter: Fractures in the SilenceThe night pressed in heavy, the kind that swallowed and wrapped the world in a suffocating stillness. Lila sat cross-legged on her bed, the pale glow of her phone the only light in the room. It illuminated her face like a cruel spotlight, highlighting the tension etched into her jaw, the tear-gloss sheen in her eyes.Her screen still showed the last message, waiting for her acknowledgment like a taunt.Does he tell you he loves you? Or does he just say it because you need to hear it?She hated how the words sank under her skin, how they poisoned the very place Anthony’s voice used to soothe her. She wanted to delete them, block the number, pretend this had never crawled into her world. But she couldn’t. She never could. Every time she silenced the phone, every time she told herself she was done, the messages found their way back to her like a shadow she couldn’t outrun.Tonight, though, she was done being passive. Tonight, she couldn’t shove it aside anymore. Somethi
Last Updated: 2025-08-19
Chapter: Splintering TrustThe glow of Lila’s phone felt like fire against her palm. Another message had arrived—no name, no picture, just the same number that had haunted her for weeks.“He’ll never love you the way you think. He belongs to me.”She squeezed her eyes shut, every word carving deeper into the insecurities she thought Anthony’s presence had healed. She should have ignored it. She’d promised herself she would. But her thumb hovered over the keyboard like it had a mind of its own.Who are you? What do you want from me? she typed, heart slamming in her chest.The reply came instantly.“I want what’s mine.”Her breath caught. Fingers trembling, she typed again. You don’t even know me. Why are you sending me this?This time, instead of words, an image arrived. Her own face, taken from across the street outside her apartment. She was unlocking her car, wearing the same denim jacket she’d had on earlier that week. Her blood ran cold.The phone nearly slipped from her gr
Last Updated: 2025-08-19
Chapter: Resignation The ringing wouldn’t stop. Calliope groaned, pressing the heel of her hand against her temple. It wasn’t just her phone—it was her emails, her private messages, her socials. Every notification hit like a hammer, filling her apartment with relentless buzzing. For days, she had stayed tucked inside the cottage Eli had moved her into, quiet and invisible, but apparently invisibility wasn’t protection anymore. She grabbed her phone and thumbed the screen, already dreading what she might see. Breaking: Rumors of Jones & Vale Executive Scandal—Anonymous Source Claims Affair Her stomach sank as the headline scrolled across the news feed. There was a grainy picture beneath it—her own figure, pale and tired-looking, stepping out of the hospital doors. Eli’s shoulder was there too, broad and protective, but his face was blurred, turned just enough that the press couldn’t identify him. The caption was merciless: Who is the mystery man with Calliope Laurent? Sources close to the Jones family
Last Updated: 2025-08-29
Chapter: Web of LiesCalliope sat in the quiet of her cottage office, the soft whir of her laptop fan the only sound. She had tried to drown herself in work, building spreadsheets, reviewing design proofs, anything that would tether her to normalcy. But the silence pressed heavy, demanding her attention, dragging her mind back to everything she was trying not to think about.She clicked on the muted television in the corner. It had become a bad habit—checking the morning news to make sure her name wasn’t being dragged through the mud again. Except this time, the anchor’s voice cut through her fragile hope.“In corporate news, Atlas Jones’s fiancée—or perhaps ex-fiancée, depending on what story you believe—was spotted at the hospital earlier this week with an unidentified man. Rumors swirl about a potential affair. Witnesses report the man stayed close to her side, even leaving with her later that evening. The photo we obtained seems to confirm this mystery companion…”Calliope
Last Updated: 2025-08-24
Chapter: Behind Closed DoorsCalliope had hoped that working from her safe apartment would finally allow her a few days of calm. But calm was a fragile illusion, one shattered by the persistent storm that was Jessica.She sat at her desk, her laptop open, trying to focus on a report for work, when a sharp ping from her news alert made her stomach twist. Groaning softly, she clicked it, only to freeze.The headline was designed to grab attention: “Calliope Blackwood Spotted With Mystery Man at Hospital—Affair Rumors Fly.”Her heart raced. Her pulse spiked. She scrolled down, and her stomach sank. There it was—a photo from the hospital. Eli had been with her, but the angle of the shot conveniently left his face obscured. To the public, it looked like she was with someone else entirely, someone unknown.A low growl escaped her lips. Jessica had done this. No one else had access to her life at the hospital, no one else could have leaked that photo. She could practically hear Jess
Last Updated: 2025-08-20
Chapter: Taking ControlCalliope woke to the sterile hum of the hospital room, the morning light filtering weakly through the blinds. Her body still ached from the collapse, her muscles stiff, her stomach tender. But for the first time since the last confrontation, she felt a faint glimmer of control returning. She was alive. The babies were safe. And she had Eli—her anchor in a world that had spun wildly out of control.Eli was already at the chair beside her bed, his laptop open and documents spread across a small side table. He glanced up as she stirred, offering a faint smile. “Morning. You slept a little better than last night. That’s progress.”Calliope forced a small smile in return, even as her hand instinctively rested over her stomach. “How long… how long was I out?” she croaked, voice weak.“Not too long,” Eli said, tilting his head. “You’ve been stable. Just enough to need observation. You pushed yourself too far with the stress. You can’t do that anymore.”S
Last Updated: 2025-08-20
Chapter: Fragile GroundThe ambulance’s wail had barely faded into the night when Calliope’s consciousness began to return in fragments. The world was muted, gray around the edges, her body heavy, and every breath felt like she was pulling through thick water. Her last memory floated in the haze—the heated video call with Atlas, the sharp accusations, the sting of mistrust that had burned into her chest. And then, nothing.Her cheek pressed against the edge of her desk in the small cottage, the hard wood cold against her clammy skin. The dim glow of her laptop screen flickered faintly, Atlas’s face still frozen in the video call frame. She wasn’t awake to see him, but somewhere, his sharp blue eyes mirrored the panic that had driven him to relentless calls and inquiries.Eli’s boots thumped against the floor as he moved toward her. The faint sound of his voice came first, calm and firm, as he checked her pulse and lifted her gently into his arms. Her body sagged like a weight too heavy fo
Last Updated: 2025-08-20
Chapter: The Breaking PointThe video call had ended hours ago, but Calliope sat at her desk, staring at the blank screen as if it still held Atlas’s image. His words replayed in her mind on a loop, every accusation, every sharp edge of doubt cutting deeper than the last. She pressed her trembling hands to her stomach, whispering under her breath as if the triplets could hear, “I’m fine. We’re fine.”But she wasn’t.The stress pressed down like a vice. Every muscle in her body ached from holding in tears, from holding herself upright in front of Atlas. She knew what Jessica was doing, how expertly the woman had woven her lies, but knowing didn’t soften the damage. Atlas believed her.Calliope rose from her chair, her movements slow and stiff, and walked into the kitchen. The cottage Eli had tucked her away in was small but cozy—soft cream walls, exposed beams, and wide windows overlooking the stretch of woods beyond. It should have felt like peace. It should have felt like safety.Instead, it f
Last Updated: 2025-08-19
Bound by Darkness: Shadowborn
Bound by Darkness Book 1
Therrin was born with a secret that could destroy her—she shares her body with her twin soul, Ari, a second consciousness with her own desires, ambitions, and dangerous will. When a chance meeting with the enigmatic fey warrior Dion awakens a prophecy, the sisters are thrown into a world of shifting loyalties, forbidden magic, and a destiny neither of them asked for.
But Dion isn’t the only one drawn to them. Ciaran, a dangerous shadow lord, obsessed with Therrin, convinced she belongs to him. His pursuit is relentless, his devotion twisted, and his obsession threatens to unravel the fragile balance between Therrin and Ari.
And in the darkness beyond them both, a mysterious Mistress watches, pulling strings neither soul can see until it’s too late.
As war brews and shadowspawn hunt them, Therrin and Ari must decide whether to fight together or risk being torn apart forever. Trust becomes a weapon, desire becomes a battlefield, and every choice pushes them closer to a fate written in shadows.
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Chapter: Coming SoonAuthor’s Note – Thank You To my incredible readers, If you’ve made it to this point in Bound by Darkness: Shadowborn, I need you to know something — I am endlessly grateful for you. Whether you devoured these pages in a single sitting or savored them piece by piece, your time, your attention, and your willingness to step into Therrin’s world means more to me than words can fully capture. Writing this story has been a journey, not just for the characters you’ve met, but for me as well — one of late nights, stubborn scenes, and moments where the characters seemed to run ahead of me and refuse to look back. From the moment Therrin’s shadow-laced destiny took root in my mind, I knew hers would not be an easy path. This book is the beginning of something larger, darker, and far more dangerous than even she realizes — and watching you, the reader, take that first step with her has been a gift I’ll treasure always. You’ve met Ther
Last Updated: 2025-09-16
Chapter: Bonus Chapter: The Queen ReturnedThe Mistress’s POVThe portal closed behind her like the seal of a tomb, swallowing light and sound alike. For a heartbeat, the Mistress lingered in the darkness, savoring it, inhaling the stale, heavy air of a realm that had been abandoned to time. The stones beneath her feet thrummed faintly with residual magic—the heartbeat of a world shaped by her will, a home grown from ash and shadow. Home. Or what remained of it.Above, the sky bled rust-colored clouds, thick as coagulated smoke, stretching to jagged horizons lined with the ruins of an empire long buried under silence and sin. Towers toppled into themselves, shattered spires clawing uselessly at a sky that no longer acknowledged them. Broken statues littered the plains like forgotten kings, their faces smoothed by centuries of wind and dust, their stories lost except to the Mistress. Every ruin whispered of power and betrayal, of fear and subjugation, and she felt a deep, bitter satisfaction.In the
Last Updated: 2025-09-16
Chapter: The Blood Moon’s ReckoningThe night had settled like a slow, suffocating breath over the ancient glade. Above, the blood moon hung low and heavy, a deep crimson orb bleeding light across the clearing. Its glow twisted through the trees, making long, jagged shadows that reached like skeletal fingers toward the earth. The air was thick and damp, carrying the scent of wet leaves, moss, and something sharper—metallic, iron-like, faintly bitter. A quiet tension threaded through the space, as if the forest itself had paused, holding its breath in expectation.Torches flickered in a wide circle, their flames trembling as though aware of the forces stirring in the glade. The light bent and stretched along the uneven terrain, catching on gnarled roots and the twisted trunks of ancient trees. It seemed almost alive, flickering with desperation, fighting against the oppressive darkness. The glade itself felt older than time, steeped in rituals long forgotten, carrying echoes of power too old to be understood,
Last Updated: 2025-09-16
Chapter: The LabyrinthDion's POV The forest was wrong. Dion knew it the moment his foot touched the moss. The air smelled too sweet, like overripe fruit and a whisper of rot. The trees leaned too close, their shadows curling like fingers, but the light filtered through them in amber ribbons as if trying to be kind. It wasn't real. None of it. This was the Labyrinth — his final trial — and it had already begun. He closed his eyes and listened. No wind. No birdsong. Just the beat of his own heart, and a strange, low hum beneath everything, like the forest was thinking. Watching. He stepped forward. The path wound like a serpent, lined in white stones veined with red. Bloodstone. Old magic. This was not a trial of the body. It was of the soul — of memory, longing, and fear. He passed trees that looked like people. Bark twisted into mouths mid-scream. Branches that reached for him, but never touched. The further he walked, the heavier he felt.
Last Updated: 2025-09-16
Chapter: Crimson PromisesCiaran's POVShe said yes.A single word, carried on the chill of the evening, dropped like a blade into still water. The ripples spread across the clearing, through the trees, across the shadows, and deep into Ciaran’s chest. Everything shifted.From the edge of the forest, hidden just beyond the reach of the blood moon’s crimson glow, he felt the pulse of magic roll outward. It was a living thing, hungry, ancient, unforgiving. It snaked along the ground, curling around roots and rocks, brushing against his skin and leaving gooseflesh in its wake. This was power older than kingdoms, older than gods. And Therrin had agreed to it.His Therrin.The thought weighed on him, both bitter and sweet. He could barely name the feeling. It wasn’t relief. It wasn’t hope. It wasn’t even joy. It was something far darker. Far deeper.Satisfaction.He had waited for this moment for years. Watched silently, unseen, as she grew under impo
Last Updated: 2025-09-15
Chapter: The Splintered MoonTherrin’s POVThe sky was bruised with the blood of twilight, streaked in molten rose and crimson. The trees, once skeletal and cold, now shimmered with silvery dew, their branches bowing to the earth as if in reverence—or in warning. Above it all, the blood moon loomed, impossibly close, pulsing as if alive. Its gaze pressed down into the clearing, searing my thoughts, stirring something deep inside me I had spent too long ignoring.It pulsed.It called.And I felt it deep in the marrow of my bones, a rhythm that echoed the chaos Ari and I carried within.The night itself had grown wrong. Quiet, but not the sort of quiet that comforts. The quiet that hums with hidden things. Shadowed promises. Silent threats. I stood at the edge of the blackened clearing, the hem of my dress shifting in the breeze like it, too, wanted to retreat. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.She was waiting.“Don’t,” Ari growled in my mind, low and venomou
Last Updated: 2025-09-15
Chapter: Chapter 16: A New DayEverleigh awoke to the soft golden light spilling through the tall windows of her room. The morning air carried a faint chill, and she shivered lightly as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. The dream from the night before clung stubbornly to her mind, like mist refusing to lift. Masked dances, explosions, Krystal’s mocking laughter, Rowan’s pained gaze—they haunted her still.She rose slowly, her bare feet brushing against the cool stone floor. Today, like every day at the Academy, she would wear the assigned white dress—a gown identical to those worn by every other girl. The long, flowing sleeves brushed her wrists, the high neckline pressed gently against her collarbone, and the bodice was simple, unadorned, leaving little room for personal expression. Yet, as she smoothed the fabric over her shoulders, she reminded herself that poise and grace could speak where fabric could not.Her hair fell freely over her shoulders, unadorned and natural. She brushed it carefully, mind
Last Updated: 2025-08-22
Chapter: Chapter 15: Dreams of FireEverleigh drifted into sleep with the lingering scent of honeysuckle clinging to her skin, her body still warm from the bath, her mind lulled by the quiet of the Academy. At first, her dream was gentle, soft, like a memory she had tucked away in a pocket of her heart. She found herself in a grand hall, its crystal chandeliers casting sparkling light across polished floors. Music swirled around her, lilting and sweet, and she felt a hand slide into hers.Looking up, her heart skipped a beat. The masked man from the lottery stood before her, dressed in elegant black attire with subtle gold embroidery. The mask covered his eyes and nose, lending him an air of mystery that drew her closer. “May I have this dance?” his voice was smooth, low, and reverent.Everleigh’s lips curved into a smile, and she allowed herself to be led. They danced gracefully, twirling across the floor in time with the music, their steps perfect and effortless. She felt light, almost weightless, as if the world had
Last Updated: 2025-08-22
Chapter: Chapter 14: Evening ComfortsThe dining hall buzzed with subdued chatter as the girls gathered for supper. Everleigh moved carefully through the rows of long tables, balancing her tray with the simple meal that had been prepared for them. Compared to the modest fare she had been used to, this was luxurious—but far less than the rich, elaborate meals that Krystal and the other noble-born girls had grown accustomed to. Everleigh’s hand tightened around the edge of the tray as she caught Krystal complaining about the portions again, her voice shrill and dripping with disdain.Everleigh didn’t respond; she had learned already that words in the heat of irritation only gave the noble girls power. Instead, she focused on her meal, savoring each bite quietly, and allowed the room to hum around her as she finished. She noticed other girls sneaking glances at her, whispering to one another, and for a moment, a pang of unease stirred within her. But she reminded herself that she had survived worse attention at the lottery a
Last Updated: 2025-08-21
Chapter: Chapter 13: The Gift of ShadowsRowan’s arm remained tight around Everleigh’s waist, a silent anchor in the storm of her pounding heart. His touch was firm but careful, like he knew she was on the verge of trembling apart. The knock came again, sharper this time, reverberating through the thick oak door of her chamber.“Everleigh?” a voice called. Female. One of the girls from her wing. “You’re taking forever—are you coming down for the afternoon rounds or not?”Panic seized her chest. She couldn’t let anyone find Rowan here. If he was discovered, it wouldn’t be him who paid the harshest price—it would be her. Expulsion. Humiliation. Perhaps worse.Rowan’s grip tightened, his fingers pressing into her side with the unspoken command to stay silent. His eyes burned into hers, warning and unwavering.“I—” Her throat felt dry as parchment. Forcing the tremor out of her voice, she called, “I’ll be down in a moment!”There was a pause. A sigh. Then the faint scuff of slippers retreating down the corridor.Everleigh slumpe
Last Updated: 2025-08-21
Chapter: Chapter 12: A Bitter TasteThe dining hall of the Academy was grand enough to make even the proudest noble pause. Long polished tables gleamed beneath the golden chandeliers. The air smelled faintly of honeyed bread, spiced meats, and roasted vegetables—aromas that tugged painfully at the stomachs of those who had grown up hungry. Everleigh lingered at the back of the procession of girls as they entered, her eyes wide at the sheer abundance.It was almost cruel. She could still remember nights of gnawing hunger when her mother and she had shared a crust of bread so hard it cracked between her teeth. And now—now the tables were weighed down with dishes she’d only seen in storybooks.Roasted pheasants, their skins golden and glistening. Thick loaves of honey bread, sliced and steaming. A rich stew bubbling in a cauldron near the head table, thick with chunks of venison and root vegetables. Silver goblets filled with watered wine and crystal pitchers that caught the candlelight.Around her, murmurs rose from the g
Last Updated: 2025-08-21
Chapter: Chapter 11: The AcademyThe morning sun had barely crested the horizon when the bells of the Academy began to toll, their steady peal echoing through the marble halls. The sound was sharp, commanding—an order rather than an invitation. Everleigh stirred, rising from the thin mattress in her assigned dormitory. Around her, the other girls scrambled into motion, the air filling with whispers, yawns, and the rustle of fabric.“Up, up, ladies,” a matron’s clipped voice called from the doorway. “The King does not tolerate tardiness, and neither shall we.”Everleigh smoothed her hair with her fingers and blinked away the remnants of sleep. The dormitory was stark, rows of identical beds lined against the walls, white linens neatly tucked. It smelled faintly of lavender soap and candle smoke. She had slept little, her mind replaying the sounds of girls weeping the night before after the last cut. Thirty of them remained now. Only thirty out of seventy.Today, the real lessons began.A maid entered, wheeling a cart
Last Updated: 2025-08-21
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