Bound By Shadow Saved By Light

Bound By Shadow Saved By Light

Audrey Richard · Completed · 111.3k Words

907
Hot
908
Views
272
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

In a kingdom filled with power, mystery, and old secrets, King Alden and Elara, an ordinary woman, find themselves in an unexpected fight. When a scary force rises from the darkness, threatening to ruin everything Alden has worked for, they must face a powerful enemy that they can't fully understand. Elara has the key to saving the kingdom, and Alden must keep her safe while his feelings for her grow. However, the danger is getting closer, and it becomes hard to tell who is a friend and who is an enemy. The future of the kingdom, their love, and their lives depend on something neither of them is ready for. As they face a major challenge, they need to uncover Elara’s past before it’s too late. Will they overcome the darkness, or will it consume them?

Chapter 1

Elara's Pov

“Be careful, girl,” hissed Master Rolan, the head steward, his face always frowning. “That’s not just any burn mark; it’s from his claws. Handle it with care.”

The Kingdom of Emberfire buzzed with light and sound as the annual Dragon Festival kicked off. Bright banners hung from the city streets, colorful flames lit up the sky, and dragons of all sizes flew gracefully above. But inside the royal palace, I focused on scrubbing the last burn mark from the floor near Ignis’s enclosure, my back sore from all the work.

I held back a response and kept scrubbing. Ignis, the royal dragon, was the king’s pride, symbolizing Emberfire’s strength and unity. However, to me, he was a cranky creature who always craved attention and cooked meat. Even though I secretly liked him, I still didn’t enjoy cleaning up after him.

Once the floor was clean, I straightened up, my hands red and sore. A low growl came from Ignis’s chamber. I looked back at the heavy iron gate. Dragons were meant to be loyal, but Ignis often got into trouble, even as a royal dragon.

“Stay out of trouble, okay?” I whispered as I set aside my cleaning tools.

As night fell, I headed to my small room. The festival sounds echoed faintly through the stone walls, reminding me of a world I could only watch from afar. As a maid for the royalty, I saw the palace's beauty but never truly belonged.

A sudden, distant roar made me stop.

My stomach tightened. Dragons could be loud, but this roar was different—wild, feral, and completely wrong. I dashed down the slick floors. The roar came again, louder and sharper. It came from Ignis’s chamber.

When I arrived, chaos was everywhere. Guards were gathered near the enclosure, shouting and pointing at the wide open iron gate. Inside, the chamber was empty. Ignis was gone.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice shaky.

Master Rolan’s face was pale. “He’s gone,” he stammered. “The beast has vanished. This is treason.”

I stepped into the enclosure, looking at the mess. Deep claw marks were carved into the stone floor, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Something shiny at the back of the chamber caught my eye. I crouched down and picked up a dragon scale, shiny and colorful, but not like Ignis’s deep red color.

“What’s this?” I asked softly, holding it up.

Rolan took it from me quickly, narrowing his eyes. “This doesn’t belong here.”

“It’s not Ignis’s,” I said. “But how—”

Before I could finish, the sound of armored boots echoed down the hallway. King Alden appeared, his green cloak flowing behind him. His presence hushed the room. Young, stern, and commanding, Alden was exactly the ruler his kingdom needed, yet I noticed a hint of doubt in his eyes.

“What’s going on, what did you do?” he asked, his voice colder than a winter night.

“Your Majesty,” Master Rolan bowed, stuttering, “Ignis... has been stolen. We are still figuring out the details...”

“Stolen? From this palace?” Alden’s eyes narrowed. “How could a dragon like Ignis disappear from the heart of the palace without anyone noticing?”

Rolan stumbled over his words. Holding the cleaning rag tightly, I took a step forward before I thought better of it.

“I found this,” I said, showing the scale.

Alden quickly looked at her, clearly evaluating. He took the scale, his fingers lightly touching mine, which sent a shock through me, but his face showed no emotion.

"This isn't Ignis's," he said, turning the scale in his hand. "Whose is it?" Before anyone could respond, a guard rushed into the room.

"Your Majesty, we found tracks leading to the eastern gate. They were burned away, but not perfectly." Alden tensed. "Burned away? Someone tried to hide their escape." He looked at Rolan. "Increase the guards at every entrance. Lock down the palace. No one leaves until we find Ignis."

"Yes, Your Majesty." As the guards began to follow orders, Alden looked at me again. "You," he said.

My breath caught. "Me?"

"You were here last. Did you notice anything?" "No, Your Majesty. I finished cleaning and left." He examined me for a moment more, then nodded. "You’ll come with me tomorrow to inspect these tracks." "Me?" I said, surprised.

"You found this scale," he said, holding it up. "That makes you part of this now."

Before I could argue, he left the room, his cloak a blur of green and gold. The room emptied quickly, leaving me alone in the wreckage of Ignis's chamber. My heart raced as I looked at the empty spot where the dragon should be. Suddenly, the scale in my hand started to glow softly, a gentle hum coming from it. I froze. The sound was only loud enough for me, deep in my chest like a call. Before I could think more, a chilling voice echoed from the shadows.

As I turned to leave, something cold rushed past me, even though the chamber had no windows. The torches flickered, and for a moment, I thought I heard a voice calling my name.

"Elara." "You shouldn’t have seen that."

That was all I caught as I tried to move toward the exit, my heart pounding loudly. I rushed into the corridor, desperate for light and safety from the guards. But the corridor felt like a wall, just as I was about to shout for a guard. But I was hit with something I can't seem to describe.I felt a sudden pain at the back of my head and then blacked out.

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

The CEO's Unspoken Love

The CEO's Unspoken Love

286.7k Views · Completed · Lily Bronte
"You want my forgiveness?" he asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous timbre.

Before I could answer, he moved closer, suddenly looming over me, his face inches from mine. I felt my breath caught, my lips parting in surprise.

"Then this is the price for speaking ill of me to others," he murmured, nipping my lower lip before claiming my mouth in a real kiss. It began as punishment but quickly transformed into something else entirely as I responded, my initial rigidity melting into compliance, then active participation.

My breathing accelerated, small sounds escaping my throat as he explored my body. His touches were both punishment and pleasure, drawing shudders from me that I thought he felt reverberating through his own body.

My nightgown had ridden up, his hands discovering more of mine with each caress. We were both lost in sensation, rational thought receding with each passing second...

Three years ago, to fulfill the wish of his grandmother, I was forced to marry Derek Wells, the second son of the family that had adopted me for ten years. He didn't love me, but I had secretly loved him all along.

Now, the three-year contractual marriage is about to end, but I feel that some kind of sentiment has developed between Derek and me that neither of us is willing to admit. I'm not sure if my feelings are right, but I know that we can't resist each other physically...
The Deadly Mafia Princess

The Deadly Mafia Princess

8.5k Views · Ongoing · Tonje Unosen
Ro was taken from her real family when she was 1 year old. Those she believed is her parents have been abusive towards her do years. Despite she being a very feared gang leader of a well known gang, she can’t find it in her to stand up against what she think is her parents. The little girl in her wants their love which she never will get.
Her gang take the matter in their own hands, to try to save their leader from the horror of her home. What none of them know, they wasn’t her real parents, and now Ro will be sent away to live with her real family. That makes her closest members in her gang pack up and move as well. They don’t want to be far away from their leader.
Goddess Of The Underworld

Goddess Of The Underworld

889.8k Views · Completed · Sheridan Hartin
Left at a pack border with a name and a stubborn heartbeat, Envy grows into the sharpest kind of survivor, an orphaned warrior who knows how to hold a line and keep moving. Love isn’t in the plan…until four alpha wolves with playboy reputations and inconveniently soft hands decide the girl who won’t bow is the only queen they’ll ever take. Their mate. The one they have waited for. Xavier, Haiden, Levi, and Noah are gorgeous, lethal, and anything but perfect and Envy isn’t either. She’s changing. First into hell hound, Layah at her heels and fire in her veins. Then into what the realm has been waiting for, a Goddess of the Underworld, dragging her mates down to hell with her.

When the veil between the Divine, the Living, and the Dead begins to crack, Envy is thrust beneath with a job she can’t drop: keep the worlds from bleeding together, shepherd the lost, and make ordinary into armour, breakfasts, bedtime, battle plans. Peace lasts exactly one lullaby. This is the story of an orphan pup who became a goddess by choosing her family; of four imperfect alphas learning how to be better. Steamy, fierce, and full of heart, Goddess of the Underworld is a reverse harem, found-family paranormal romance where love writes the rules and keeps three realms from falling apart.
Where The Ice Gives Way

Where The Ice Gives Way

28.2k Views · Ongoing · Sheridan Hartin
Charlotte Pierce is used to surviving in motion. New towns, new schools, the same old house on the edge of nowhere, and the same rule that keeps her standing. Keep her twin brother, Charlie safe. Keep his hockey dream alive. Keep her own needs quiet. She works too much, sleeps too little, and saves the one thing that still feels like hers for the middle of the night, when she can lace up her worn skates and carve freedom into dangerous frozen ice. Charlotte and Charlie shifted once, years ago, and never understood what it meant. They had no pack, no guidance and no protection. Just two twins clinging to each other and pretending the voice in their heads was stress, imagination, or loneliness. Then they move to Wellington.
Blake Atlas scents his mate the moment Charlotte arrives. The bond hits hard and unmistakable, but Charlotte doesn’t recognise it. She doesn’t know why her chest keeps pulling toward the one boy she absolutely cannot afford to want. Blake is Charlie’s new hockey captain. Charlie’s chance at making something good. Charlie makes it clear; his sister is off-limits and Blake tries to do the right thing, but secrets don’t stay buried forever. Rogues prowl the edges of town. The ice cracks. The bond tightens. Then Charlotte’s rare white wolf awakens, the very thing that makes her powerful, also makes her a target.
Shanti needs Shakti. (Peace needs strength.)

Where the Ice Gives Way is a slow-burn YA paranormal romance filled with fated mates, protective alpha energy, fierce sibling loyalty, found family pack bonds, hurt/comfort, and quiet, aching tension. It’s a story about first belonging, learning to be cared for, and what happens when the girl who has always held everyone else up finally falls, and someone catches her.
Lightborn: The Demon’s Bond

Lightborn: The Demon’s Bond

5.2k Views · Completed · ngocvynguyen985
Valerie accidentally forms a bond with Maxwell, a light demon, and begins seeing the dangerous supernatural world hidden around her. As the two constantly bicker yet protect each other, Valerie gradually discovers her own light-based powers and confronts many dark forces, including a serial kidnapper, the dark demon Zane, and other malevolent entities. Maxwell, haunted by the death of his former lover Juliana, repeatedly tries to distance himself from Valerie to keep her safe, causing both of them pain. Yet every time Valerie is in danger, Maxwell returns to save her, and their feelings grow deeper. The climax comes when they face Mason, a fire demon who hunts human–demon couples; Valerie risks her life in battle while Maxwell nearly collapses from exhaustion. In the end, Mason is destroyed, the threats fade away, and Valerie and Maxwell can finally stay together in peace.
Accardi

Accardi

1m Views · Completed · Allison Franklin
“I thought we discussed this earlier, Weakness? I warned you. His death is on your hands.”
“I thought you said you were done chasing me?” Gen mocked.
“I am done chasing you.”
Before she could formulate a witty remark, Matteo threw her down. She landed hard on her back atop his dining room table. She tried to sit up when she noticed what he was doing. His hands were working on his belt. It came free of his pants with a violent yank. She collapsed back on her elbows, her mouth gaping open at the display. His face was a mask of sheer determination, his eyes were a dark gold swimming with heat and desire. His hands wrapped around her thighs and pulled her to the edge of the table. He glided his fingers up her thighs and hooked several around the inside of her panties. His knuckles brushed her dripping sex.
“You’re soaking wet, Genevieve. Tell me, was it me that made you this way or him?” his voice told her to be careful with her answer. His knuckles slid down through her folds and she threw her head back as she moaned. “Weakness?”
“You…” she breathed.


Genevieve loses a bet she can’t afford to pay. In a compromise, she agrees to convince any man her opponent chooses to go home with her that night. What she doesn’t realize when her sister’s friend points out the brooding man sitting alone at the bar, is that man won’t be okay with just one night with her. No, Matteo Accardi, Don of one of the largest gangs in New York City doesn’t do one night stands. Not with her anyway.
The Alpha's Stripper Mate

The Alpha's Stripper Mate

53.9k Views · Completed · Havilworth
"Come here."
"What?" It was out of my mouth before I could stop it. I did not wait for him to answer me, I walked toward him.
"Dance on my lap."
My head screamed at me to turn around and run. But my whole body responded to his command.
"Yes, Alpha," I pulled my dress over my body, it dropped over my head and fell to the ground behind me. I was left in nothing but my matching bra and thong. My hands covered my chest on reflex.
"Let me see."
My hands dropped to my sides.
I lowered myself into his lap, facing him. His eyes peered into mine, and I could feel his hot breath fan my face. His dick responded to all my moves, hardening against my now-moist vagina. I swallowed hard, allowing my lips to part in a ragged breath. His hands trailed up to my waist.
"No touching."


At the tender age of eleven, JoJo Wyatt was forced to grow up far sooner than she should have. Born to a cruel father and a weak mother, she quickly realized she had to become the breadwinner for herself and her sister. Nothing else mattered to her, not even the hottest men. In fact, she despised them. After one horrific night, she swore never to have any contact with the male species again. That was, until she started working for him as his stripper.
Meanwhile, Alpha Lake Rush, thirty, was the most feared Alpha in the country. Burdened by his own share of life's struggles, he had learned only to be cruel and reckless, rejecting not one but two mates. But what happens when he discovers yet another mate, and she turns out to be his stripper?
Avery and the Cursed Alpha

Avery and the Cursed Alpha

3.5k Views · Completed · Lyra Lupine
After losing her mother to cancer and drowning in crushing debt, Avery Wellesley is running out of options. Her house is about to be seized, her job is hanging by a thread, and every door she knocks on seems to slam shut in her face.

Then a mysterious billionaire offers her a deal that sounds too good to be true.

Alexander Ravenswood is powerful, wealthy, and feared throughout Tenebrous City. Behind his perfect public image lies a deadly secret. He is the Alpha of the Nocturne Pack, cursed by an ancient bloodline that is slowly driving him toward madness and death. His only hope lies in finding the legendary Aethon Orb—or the prophesied mate destined to save him.

When Alex discovers that Avery can draw symbols connected to the long-lost artifact, he offers her a contract she cannot refuse: become his fake fiancée for six months in exchange for enough money to erase her debts and save her home.

What begins as a business arrangement quickly becomes something far more dangerous.

As they search for the missing Orb, Avery is drawn into a hidden world of werewolves, ancient prophecies, and deadly pack rivalries. Powerful enemies want Alex's throne. A jealous Alpha heiress wants Avery gone. And a ruthless rival Alpha will stop at nothing to claim the Orb for himself.

But the greatest secret of all may be Avery herself.

Because the closer she gets to Alex, the more impossible truths begin to surface about her past, her strange abilities, and the destiny that has been waiting for her all along.

With a curse threatening Alex's life, enemies closing in from every side, and a forbidden bond growing stronger by the day, Avery must decide whether to walk away from the dangerous Alpha who needs her—or risk everything for a love written by fate itself.

In a city where secrets kill and destiny cannot be escaped, can a fake engagement become a love powerful enough to change the future?
The Game of Claiming

The Game of Claiming

12.7k Views · Completed · Billie Patsy
When Lila Moreno stepped into the Romano mansion, she didn’t expect to be caught in the middle of a silent war. The four infamous Romano brothers rule the city’s underworld with blood and money—yet the moment they see her, their power turns personal.
A drunken bet becomes their private game: win the maid.
The rules?
Don’t let the others know you’re falling for her.
And never, ever let her leave.
But each brother plays differently—
The eldest buys her obedience.
The second steals her breath.
The third corners her in the dark.
The youngest ruins anyone who touches her.
Lila isn’t sure if she’s a player in their game… or the prize they’ll destroy each other to claim
The Rogue King II

The Rogue King II

1.6k Views · Ongoing · MishanAngel
The hole left by Aelia’s death has a ripple effect through the world. The Alpha King retires, ushering in a new era. The Rogue King title now left vacant for the time being. Silas losing his sister, again. Nate losing his mate. Finn and Noah losing their Alpha and their lover.
Under the weight of his grief and pain, along with of the uncertainty of the new mate bond forged between Silas and Nate, Silas decides that he needs help. The weight of being Alpha that nearly just lost his pack if his little sister hadn’t been there, Silas decides to push everything away to be a better and stronger Alpha. Using magic is father gave him, Silas loses so much more than his way.
Nate, struggling with the mate bond, what the bond means for him, has continued to fight Silas, his Alpha, his best friend, and now his mate. When their fight goes too far, both Silas and Nate must deal with the consequences. It both pulls them together and tears them apart. Eventually leading to a full break in any relationship they had ever had.
On his own, Silas has to navigate through the next chapter alone. Coming to realize his actions, the consequences, and just how much it’s going to take to repair the damage he has done.
Nate, also on his own, works through what it means to step up in more ways than one. Somehow, even after her death, Aelia is still reaching out and helping Nate navigate the world on his own. He vows to grow and step up into the wolf that she knew he could be.

Book 2 in The Rogue Kings following immediately after The Rogue Kings I - Solaris' Reign. Trigger Warnings. Rated 18+.
Lone Wolf

Lone Wolf

6.6k Views · Completed · roanna hinks
We were surrounded by three wolves, Sapphire killed one but two big ones came up behind them before we could finish them off.
I am completely a sobbing mess.
But before I can do or say anything, Sapphire pushes through and pushes me back into the darkness with a block on me.
I am in darkness yet again due to my wolf, why is she doing this?
I have had enough of this, I want out. I want answers.

Mila Dawson and her wolf Sapphire are the white wolf creation of the Moon Goddess herself. However, Mila is the only wolf in a small town full of supernatural beings and has no memory of how she came to the small town. When a new pack of wolves moves into the territory near the town, Mila is stunned to find out that the alpha’s son Nathaniel is her mate. When she turns 18, memories flood back and she is hit with some dark secrets, a lost family member, a guardian, and a pending war to face. This is the Book 1 of 2.
The mafia princess return

The mafia princess return

913.4k Views · Completed · Tonje Unosen
Talia have been living with her mother, stepsister and Stepfather for years. One day she finally get away from them. Suddenly she learn she have more family out there and she have many people that actually love her, something she have never felt before! At least not as she can remember. She have to learn to trust others, get her new brothers to accept her for who she is!