Bound by Blood & Moonlight

Chapter 1

Prologue

Chapter One

Before

"In this blood moon, the queen has been blessed, blessed by the Mother—two heirs to the throne! A prince and a princess!" The room fell into a stunned silence, the weight of the announcement hanging in the air. Then, as if a spell had been broken, the silence shattered into an eruption of cheers and celebration. Duke Monroe stood still, silent as ever, watching the crowd. He was a man of few words, and in this moment, none came to him.

His eyes drifted toward the chambers where his queen, Darla Soferani, lay with their offsprings. Two heirs. He had expected one—a son. A boy to carry his legacy, to take the throne. But a girl? He hadn't planned for a princess. He had only ever imagined a future king.

With deliberate steps, Duke Monroe made his way to the chamber. Inside, he found Darla holding their two children, her face glowing with the joy of motherhood. She looked up at him, her smile broad and radiant as she held the infants out to him. "Two," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "The Mother has blessed us with two." Tears glistened in her eyes, and the duke could feel the miraculous weight of the moment.

He looked down at the two offsprings—his heirs. His future.

"What shall we name them?" She asked softly.

"Titan," he said, his voice firm as he gazed at the boy, the son he had always desired. "And... Scarlet." He hesitated slightly as he looked at the girl, his daughter. Something stirred within his chest—something unfamiliar, perhaps even unexpected.

Titan and Scarlet. Though twins, they were as different as night and day.

Titan Monroe was unmistakably his father's son. Pale-skinned, with dark curls framing a face of striking charm, his turquoise eyes gleamed beneath thick lashes. He already possessed that roguish grin, the kind that would one day captivate and command those around him. Outspoken and charismatic, Titan was everything a future king should be.

Scarlet Monroe, however, was entirely her mother's daughter. She had the same alabaster skin, but her features were bold, her expression thoughtful. Her long, straight burgundy hair and eyes like fiery whiskey made her striking in a way that was entirely her own. Scarlet was quiet, reserved, and far more measured than her brother. She spoke only when necessary, careful with her words, never one to stir conflict unless it was justified.

Duke Monroe didn't fully understand this side of her. He had hoped she might be more like Titan—bold, assertive. "No one respects a quiet queen," he would remind her. "You need to learn to fight, to lead."

Scarlet would only nod, her face impassive, never arguing, never pushing back. Over time, however, Duke Monroe began to see the strength in her silence. Her restraint, her calm calculation—these were traits that could serve them well. Even so, he wanted more for her, wanted her to embody the strength of a warrior queen.

But for now, the two heirs had arrived, and a new era was beginning. The future, uncertain as it was, belonged to Titan and Scarlet Monroe.