Chained (A Choice of Light and Dark book 1) - Signed Paperback

"For Endre, Viktor, and myself, that meant risking our necks to put Izidora on the throne; for Izidora, that meant playing a deadly game without knowing the rules."

Princess Izidora of the Night Realm was kidnapped at birth, chained in darkness, abused by her captors, and wholly unaware an entire world was looking for her. That is until the eve of her 21st birthday, when the Nighthounds, led by the striking High Lord Kazimir, rescue her from a cave in the highest peak in the land. Now, the Lost Princess must reclaim her power before they reach the vicious capital of the Night Realm, where the story everyone was told about her disappearance might have been just that – a story. Will Izidora overcome her trauma or succumb to the whims of the madman who sits on the Night Throne?

Chained is the first book in the bestselling dark romantasy series A Choice of Light and Dark. With a cast of morally grey characters, MMCs with touch her and die energy, and a prophecy that will change the course of history, dive deep into this dark + spicy story of trauma healing and finding love. Perfect for fans of Gild (The Plated Prisoner Series), To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, and Game of Thrones.

Chained is a dark fantasy romance suitable for audiences of 18+. This book contains scenes that sensitive readers might find disturbing. Your mental health matters, and you should make the choice with which you feel most comfortable.

Trigger warnings:

Torture, kidnapping, mentions of rape and sexual assault, nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, graphic violence, explicit sexual content, death, and mentions of physical, verbal, mental, emotional, and child abuse.

Survivors are the strongest ones of all, and I promise if you make it to the end, you’ll see just how strong a survivor can be.

PROLOGUE
Blood was everywhere. The sheets, the towels, and the arms of the healers were all soaked in the ruby liquid gushing from between the queen’s thighs. She screamed, her voice ripping with the effort of delivering her babe into the cruel world. Her voice died out, only to have the child pick up the end of the piercing note, wailing as the Royal Healer caught her.
“It’s a female!” she exclaimed, but Queen Liessa no longer had the strength to hold herself upright and had collapsed backward in a heap of sweat, blood, and tears. She was deathly pale, and the Royal Healer’s helpers rushed to her side, dabbing her salty face with cool cloths and wrapping her in a blanket as chills set her body trembling.
The Royal Healer quickly cleaned and swaddled the princess, returning to the queen’s side in an attempt to rouse the delirious female and hand her the babe.
Shouts rang out in the hall outside the chamber, followed by the clash of steel. The healers immediately jerked their attention toward the door. One took a tentative step forward as if she would fling herself to the lock and slam it down before the chaos outside could barge into the lavish room where the queen and the princess moaned and cried.
But she was too late.
The door broke from its hinges, splintering into pieces as males boasting thick armor shoved their way into the space, swords drawn. “Give us the babe,” the lead soldier growled.
“No!” The brave healer clutched the babe to her chest, bending over her in an attempt to shield the princess and sprinting to the adjoining bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
More screams filled the room as the soldiers began slaughtering the healers one by one, merciless in their attempt to reach the princess.
“No harm will befall you if you open the door,” the leader said to the Royal Healer.
The female only looked at the ceiling, offering a whispered prayer to the Goddess. Before she could finish her plea, the door at her back slammed into her, sending her and the babe flying into the stone floor. The wails of the newborn reached a crescendo just as the sword sliced through the Royal Healer’s neck, spraying blood over the princess.
With one large hand, the leader scooped up the babe, tucked her under his arm, and trudged through the sea of bodies. He returned to the frenzied halls where more of his soldiers battled against the Fae both young and old.
“Leave no one alive,” he threw over his shoulder, pushing into the cool night air through a side door. The full moon greeted him, along with his dark steed. He mounted the beast, spurring him into a gallop, and disappeared into the night.