The Radiant Prison

Bonded

The air was different here. Crisp, cold, and heavy with the scent of something ancient. It clung to her skin like a warning, whispering that this place—this world—was not her own.

Elara's breath hitched as she took in the scene before her. A sprawling forest, bathed in twilight, with trees taller than any she'd ever seen. Their trunks twisted and coiled, reaching up toward a sky that was neither night nor day, but a blend of both, suspended in a perpetual in-between.

But it wasn't the strange beauty of the place that made her heart race. It was the silence.

No wind. No birdsong. Just the stillness of a world holding its breath.

She took a hesitant step forward, the soft earth sinking beneath her boots. The portal had disappeared behind her as if it had never existed, leaving her stranded in this unnervingly quiet forest. Panic bubbled up in her throat, but she swallowed it down. She had to find a way back.

Another step. Then another. Each one echoed in the silence, unnerving her further. She reached out to touch the bark of one of the twisted trees, seeking some connection to reality, but the rough surface felt too cold, too lifeless.

And then, without warning, the silence shattered.
Laughter. Sharp, mocking laughter, echoing from every direction.

Elara spun around, her eyes wide, searching for the source. But there was no one there. Just the trees, the twilight, and the shadows that seemed to move just out of sight.

"You're lost, little flame," a deep voice whispered, so close to her ear she felt a cold breath on her skin.

Elara jumped, whirling around, but there was no one. Only the laughter, growing louder, more sinister, until it surrounded her, filling the air with its cruel mirth.

"Go away!" her voice cracked and shook with fear as she screamed, a rare moment of terror in her otherwise fearless life.

But the laughter only grew louder, and with it came whispers from others—snide, venomous words that curled around her like smoke.

"Human."

"Pathetic."

"Doesn't belong."

Elara's heart pounded in her chest, her fear turning to anger. She wasn't going to let these voices, these unseen tormentors, break her. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to take another step forward, even as the whispers intensified, mocking her every move.

Just when she thought she couldn't bear it any longer, the laughter stopped. The forest fell silent once more, but this time, the silence was different—heavy, expectant.

And then, from the shadows, he emerged.

A figure whose presence commanded attention. Towering above all others, the figure was a marvel to behold with impossibly symmetrical features and a flawless complexion. Their hair cascaded down in waves of warm honey, reflecting the light with each movement. But it was their eyes that truly captivated, shining with an otherworldly blue glow that seemed to pierce through the darkness. He stepped into the twilight, and the world seemed to shift around him, bending to his will.

Elara's breath caught in her throat. He was everything the voices were not—radiant, kind, and for a moment, she felt hope flicker in her chest.

He smiled at her, a smile of pure warmth and gentleness, like the sun on a summer day. It radiated from his whole being and made her feel more than just warm, it felt like a protective shield against the harshness of the world around them. Elara allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't entirely alone.

He took a step closer to her, but she instinctively shrank back until her back hit the rough bark of a nearby tree. She cursed under her breath as she realized she had nowhere else to go.

The man—if he could even be called that—seemed to sense her apprehension and came to a stop. "Come," he said, extending his hand towards her. She shook her head, still wary of this stranger who seemed too good to be true in this harsh world she found herself trapped in.

"I don't bite," he chuckled lowly, his laughter sending shivers down her spine. Against her will, she found herself reaching out and taking his hand as he intertwined their fingers. The touch sent an overwhelming rush through her body, as if she were suddenly engulfed in flames. She pulled away, panic rising in her chest at the intensity of the sensation.

"What did you just do?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"What did you feel?" he replied calmly, his expression unreadable.

"Fire...but now I'm cold. So cold." The man's face fell, his warm facade crumbling away to reveal a new emotion she couldn't decipher.

"We're bonded," he stated matter-of-factly, his lips pressed into a thin line. She had no idea what that meant, but by the look on his face, she knew it couldn't be good. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair as he muttered, "my mate is a human."

In that moment, she didn't know whether to be offended or scared. But as she scowled at him, she was leaning more towards offended.

"Do you know of any way out of here?" she snapped back, ignoring his distraught words. She no longer craved the warmth of his touch, instead longing for cold, rainy days that left her shivering. Anything was better than this inexplicable bond.

"No," he replied quietly, his dark blue eyes avoiding her light green ones. It seemed this bond had thrown him for a loop, transforming him from a carefree man into a shy and distraught mess. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of power the word 'bonded' held for it to have such an effect on him. She also couldn't help but wonder why another human had referred to her with such disgust. Her mind raced with the possibilities, until a thought manifested in her head—perhaps he wasn't human at all. The idea sent a shiver down her spine and she shook her head in disbelief, causing her long, light blonde hair to tickle her face. She questioned whether this was all just a dream or if she had truly gone insane. Every detail around her felt unreal, like she had entered into some alternate reality where nothing made sense anymore. As she stood there, confusion and fear swirling inside her, she couldn't escape the nagging feeling that something was very wrong here.

Authors note:
I'm so excited to bring this to you guys! I haven't been this excited about writing in awhile! This book will be more lovely than you'd expect but the second book is when it gets good. I can't wait to bring you guys the heat, the passion, and good old enemies to lovers in book 2 and 3. But while you're here, enjoy the comfort of book 1❤️‍🔥