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Chapter Nine
Last Updated:
2025-03-04 00:39:23
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Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Ten
—VALORIA, AETHERIA— The early morning light filtered through the herb-lined windows of Lucas and Sera's apothecary, casting a soft golden glow across the workbench where Madeleine carefully sorted dried lavender. Her movements were deliberate and confident. It was a far cry from the wary girl who had first arrived six months ago. "Pass the chamomile," Sera called from across the room, where she was preparing morning potions and elixirs. "And check those rose hips. I think they're starting to go moldy on the bottom of the basket." Madeleine caught the basket with practiced ease, sorting through the herbs with a critical eye. "You're right," she said, pulling out the discolored rose hips. "They've gone bad. I will see about preparing a new batch." Sera laughed, a warm sound that had become familiar over the months. "Look at you. Six months ago, you couldn't tell a rose hip from a berry, and now you're commenting on herb quality like a professional." "I've learned," Madeleine
Last Updated : 2025-03-05Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Eleven
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-08Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twelve
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—Madeleine's mind reeled with what Dante had said."Phoenix?" she whispered to herself. The word hung in the empty air, impossible and absurd. She let out a nervous laugh, running her hands through her hair. "Ridiculous."She paced across the stone floor, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous room. "He's toying with me," she muttered. "Phoenixes are myths. Children's tales. Magical birds that burst into flame and are reborn." She gestured wildly at the empty space where he had stood. "They don't exist, and they certainly should not look like..." Her hand waved dismissively. "whatever the hell he is."The air shimmered beside her, and Dante reappeared, dropping a familiar bags on the floor with a thud. Her belongings. He turned to leave, the air already beginning to ripple around him.Madeleine lunged forward, grabbing his arm before he could vanish again. His skin was unnaturally warm beneath her fingers."Be honest with me," she pleaded,
Last Updated : 2025-03-11Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Thirteen
—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
Last Updated : 2025-03-15Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Fourteen
—UNKNOWN LOCATION IN AETHERIA—The Veridian awoke with a gasp, his head pounding as consciousness returned to him. Damp soil pressed against his cheek, and the scent of moss and decaying leaves filled his nostrils. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, blinking rapidly as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.He was in a clearing. Tall trees formed a perfect circle around him, their branches reaching toward a night sky dotted with stars. How had he gotten here? The last thing he remembered was—"You've finally awakened. Good."The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, echoing through the clearing yet somehow remaining quiet enough that it couldn't have been heard beyond the tree line.The Veridian scrambled to his feet, spinning in place. "Master? What do you need from me?""Nothing," the voice replied. "Your services are no longer required. The situation has evolved beyond what someone of your capabilities can handle."A chill ran down the Veridian's spine.
Last Updated : 2025-03-15Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Fifteen
—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
Last Updated : 2025-03-22Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Sixteen
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA— Madeleine woke up the next day, still churning with frustration from her encounter with Dante. She dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of worn leather boots and a simple tunic she'd borrowed from the castle's stores. "Eight days," she muttered to her reflection in the small mirror hanging on the stone wall. "Eight days and I'm still no closer to finding my place here." She ran a hand through her tangled hair, wincing as her fingers caught in the knots. For a moment, she allowed herself to remember Dante's expression when she'd confronted him; that brief flash of something behind his eyes before the walls had come up again. Something that had made her breath catch in her throat despite her anger. She shook her head sharply. "Focus, Madeleine," she chided herself. "You're here to learn, not to moon over some arrogant phoenix." ****** The training arena was already bustling despite the early hour. The clash of steel against steel echoed
Last Updated : 2025-03-22Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Seventeen
—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
Last Updated : 2025-03-24
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Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Eight
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—Madeleine made her way through the quiet corridors of the castle as dawn was beginning to break. Sleep had evaded her for most of the night, her mind restless with questions about Dante's visit to the Oracles and what secrets they might have revealed about her true nature.She found Dante in the main courtyard beside two saddled horses—one midnight black, the other a dappled grey. His tall figure was silhouetted against the rising sun, his features composed into their usual stoic expression."You're awake early," he observed as she approached."I couldn't sleep," Madeleine replied, stopping a few feet from him.Dante studied her for a moment before speaking. "I'm leaving for Eldoria this morning. I'd like you to accompany me."The unexpected invitation caught her by surprise. She knew of Eldoria, the land of the fae, but had never visited it herself."Eldoria? Why?" she asked, searching his face for clues."I have matters to attend to," Dan
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Seven
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—It was evening by the time Dante returned to Dawnspire Castle. The towers gleamed in the moonlight as he materialized in the central courtyard, his mind still reeling from the Oracles' cryptic warnings. A cool breeze carried the scent of night-blooming flowers, but he barely noticed, lost in troubled thoughts."You're back."Dante turned to find Madeleine sitting on a stone bench beneath a flowering tree. She stood as he approached, her expression a mixture of relief and determination. The sword he had crafted for her hung at her side, the silver crystal pommel catching the light of the torches that lined the courtyard."How long have you been waiting?" he asked, noting the stubborn set of her jaw."Long enough," Madeleine replied. She stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "What did the Oracles say? From Lysander's explanation, it must have been important for them to summon you like that."Dante hesitated. How could he explain what h
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Six
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—Madeleine moved with growing confidence, her new sword almost singing as it cut through the air. Three days of practising with it had already improved her form dramatically.The blade gleamed in the morning light as she thrust forward, nearly catching him off guard.Dante stepped back, a flicker of approval in his golden eyes. "You're learning quickly."Madeleine couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. Coming from Dante, this qualified as great praise."I have a good teacher," she replied, raising her sword in preparation for his next attack.Dante stilled suddenly, his head tilting slightly as if listening to something she couldn't hear. His expression shifted, brows drawing together in a slight frown.A small flame appeared in the air between them, startling Madeleine enough that she nearly dropped her sword. The flame expanded, forming the shape of a letter sealed with a symbol she didn't recognize—three intertwined circles. The
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Five
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA— Madeleine woke to the sound of distant hammering. She sat up, pushing tangled hair from her face as she listened. Curious, she slipped from her bed and dressed quickly. She followed the sound down a spiral staircase she'd never explored before, descending deep beneath the castle. The air grew warmer with each step, until sweat beaded on her brow. The hammering grew louder, accompanied now by a strange hissing sound and the unmistakable heat of a forge. At the bottom of the stairs, she found herself in a narrow corridor lit by torches. The hammering emanated from behind a heavy wooden door at the end of the passage. Carefully, she approached and eased the door open just enough to peer inside. Dante stood before an anvil, bare-chested, his bronzed skin glistening with sweat that caught the light of the fire. In his hands, he held tongs gripping a length of metal that glowed white-hot. The muscles of his back and arms flexed as he brought
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Four
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA— Madeleine bolted upright in bed, a scream tearing from her throat. Sweat plastered her nightclothes to her skin, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might burst from her chest. For several terrifying moments, she couldn't distinguish reality from nightmare, her eyes darting wildly around the unfamiliar chamber. Moonlight filtered through tall windows, illuminating the stone walls of her room in Dawnspire Castle. Not the ceremonial grounds. Not the tent. She was safe. But the terror remained, clinging to her like a second skin. Dante burst into the room, barefoot and shirtless, golden light flickering around his clenched fists. His eyes swept the room, searching for threats, before settling on Madeleine's huddled form. "What happened?" he demanded, the flames around his hands intensifying. Madeleine drew her knees to her chest, suddenly aware of how she must look; wild-eyed, tear-stained, pathetic. "Nothing," she managed, he
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Three
—MOONSHADOW PACK TERRITORY, AETHERIA— Philip's quarters lay in disarray. Maps covered every surface, some torn at the edges, others marked with violent circles and crossing lines, and the smell of frustration filled the air. Philip paced the length of the room, his muscular frame tense with restrained energy. Dark circles shadowed his eyes from too many sleepless nights. He paused at the central table, staring down at the largest map. "Where are you hiding?" he muttered, his finger tracing a path from Lunaria through Valoria's borders. "Where did he take you?" A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Philip snarled, the sound more beast than man. "I said I wasn't to be disturbed!" The door opened despite his command. Rebecca slipped inside, her beauty carefully arranged—red hair cascading in perfect waves, her dress cut low to reveal just enough skin to be enticing without seeming desperate. She carried a tray with food and wine. "You need to eat, my love," she said, her
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-Two
—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—As dawn broke over Dawnspire Castle, Madeleine stood in the training arena, her breath forming small clouds in the crisp morning air. She had been waiting since before sunrise, determined to prove her point. Three wooden practice swords lay on the ground beside her, though she doubted Dante would appear.A week had passed since their return from the Whispering Glades. A week of Dante avoiding her, disappearing for hours at a time. A week of practising alone with a wooden sword while the dragons watched from a distance, their expressions ranging from amusement to pity.She lifted the practice sword again, moving through the basic forms she had copied from watching the dragons train. Her muscles ached from days of repetition, but she pushed through the discomfort. If Dante wouldn't train her, she would train herself."Your grip is wrong."Madeleine whirled around, nearly dropping the sword. Dante stood at the edge of the arena, arms crossed o
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty-One
—VALORIA, AETHERIA— The Valorian palace corridors gleamed with polished marble, sunlight streaming through stained glass windows and casting colourful patterns across the floor. Despite the beauty surrounding them, Luke couldn't shake the unease that had settled between his shoulder blades. He kept his expression neutral as he and Ragnar followed the royal guard toward the palace's main entrance. "That was a waste of time," Ragnar growled under his breath, his massive frame tense with frustration. The Alpha of the Ironclaw Pack had little patience for diplomatic niceties. Luke said nothing, his attention fixed on the subtle reactions of the courtiers they passed. Most avoided eye contact, turning away or engaging in sudden, animated conversations. But a few— a silver-haired nobleman, the captain of the guard, a woman in deep blue robes, watched them with barely concealed hostility. “They know more than they're telling us”, Luke thought. The meeting with King Tristan and Queen Aur
Bound in Ash and Moonlight Chapter Twenty
—THE WHISPERING GLADES, AETHERIA—Madeleine followed Dante deeper into the Whispering Glades, her senses overwhelmed by the strange beauty surrounding them. Trees with luminescent blue bark reached toward a sky painted in colors she'd never seen before. Each leaf pulsed softly, like it had a heartbeat of its own. The air here didn’t just feel alive—it whispered. The air itself felt charged with magic, tingling against her skin. A symphony of rustling leaves, distant calls of unseen creatures, and the occasional rustle of feathers filled the air.Madeleine walked beside Dante, her fingers brushing tall silvergrass as they moved through the clearing. For once, the silence between them wasn’t tense. It was comforting."How did you create all this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The forest seemed to demand reverence.Dante glanced back at her, his amber eyes catching the ethereal light. "It wasn't all at once. The Glades evolved over centuries.""Centuries," Madeleine repe
