All Chapters of Bound in Ash and Moonlight: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Dante stood on a rocky ledge in Sunstone Peaks, his hands planted firmly on the rough stones as he gazed at the mountains sprawled beneath him, lost in his thoughts. Dusk was rapidly approaching and the late evening air was cold and smelled of pine.Then he heard it. The voice calling from far away.“Dante! We need your help.”Madeleine's voice. It was faint but clear.His body went tense. He heard the fear in her voice right away. He hadn't expected to hear her call for him and definitely not this soon.Without hesitation, Dante stepped away from the mountain's edge. The air around him shimmered with heat as his form dissolved into embers, vanishing completely.The alleyway in Valoria materialized around him in an instant. His eyes took in the whole scene at once; Madeleine, Lucas, and Sera backed against a brick wall, trapped in the narrow passage. Two werewolves blocked their escape to the street. The scarred werewolf was already mid-air, his claws extended toward Madeleine's throa

—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—"Who the fuck are you?" A voice boomed, waking Madeleine from a dreamless sleep.She bolted upright, her heart hammering against her ribs as her vision cleared. A man stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed over his chest. He was tall with golden-brown hair that fell past his shoulders, and eyes that seemed to shift between amber and gold as he glared at her."I—" Madeleine clutched the blankets closer, suddenly aware that she was in an unfamiliar bed wearing the same clothes from yesterday. The events of the night before came rushing back–Dante, the castle, phoenix."I asked you a question," the man said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Who the fuck are you and why are you in this room? In that bed?"Finding her voice, Madeleine narrowed her eyes. "Who am I? Who are you? And what kind of sick person sneaks into a room that isn't theirs and starts yelling at sleeping strangers?"The man's eyes widened, indignation flashing acro

—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—Madeleine had wandered the stone hallways of Dawnspire Castle for the past week, largely invisible to its other inhabitants. The dragons moved through their daily routines with pinpoint efficiency, barely acknowledging her presence beyond the occasional curious glance.She hadn't managed to catch a glimpse of any of the dragons in their natural form, so she spent most of her time just observing them from shadowed archways and corridors, watching their interactions with one another and their training sessions with growing fascination.The central courtyard had become her favorite place. There, the dragons sparred with weapons that glinted dangerously in the sunlight, their swords clashing against shields, daggers flipping through nimble fingers, and bodies moving with fluid grace. She'd watched them all, but her eyes continually returned to one particular fighter.Dante.He moved with a different kind of grace, his movements somehow both flu

—SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA— The forest path was well-worn but narrow, winding between ancient trees whose branches formed a dense canopy overhead. Shafts of sunlight pierced through gaps in the leaves, creating spotted patterns on the forest floor. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the sweet scent of pine and wildflowers. Dante moved with purpose, his pace brisk, and Madeleine had to push herself to keep up while remaining undetected. The underbrush provided enough cover, allowing her to duck behind trees whenever he paused or seemed about to turn. "This is ridiculous," she thought to herself as she crouched behind a particularly large tree trunk. "I should just confront him directly." But something held her back; a mixture of curiosity and an odd reluctance to face him again so soon. The memory of their last encounter was still raw, his words cutting deeper than she cared to admit. After nearly twenty minutes of this silent pursuit, they reached a small clearing. Madeleine cro

—VALORIA, AETHERIA—The carriage rattled over the cobblestone road, each jolt sending a ripple of tension through Luke's already taut muscles.He glanced at Ragnar, whose massive frame seemed barely contained by the elegant but clearly human-sized carriage. The Alpha's thick fingers drummed against his knee, his beard-framed jaw clenched tight enough to crack walnuts."Remember why we're here," Luke said quietly, his voice low enough that only werewolf ears could catch it over the clatter of hooves and wheels. "Diplomacy first."Ragnar's eyes, cold as ice, flicked toward him. "Two of my people are dead, Beta. I'll remember that before diplomacy."The carriage slowed as they approached Valoria's imposing gates. Human sentries lined the battlements, their hands resting casually on weapons as they watched with unconcealed wariness.A soldier stepped forward as their carriage came to a halt, his armor gleaming in the afternoon sun—polished daily, Luke noted, not worn from actual combat."