The only way to break the curse... is to kill the one you love. Alyenna was stolen from Earth and dragged into Tendaara, the world from her favorite book series: a land of living magic, ancient creatures, and impossible power. The Storm General, Baellnar Aethorien, is a hurricane given elven form. A master swordsman, a relentless menace, and an enthusiastic supporter of terrible puns. He finds Aly's arrival far more entertaining than he definitely should. He insists she was brought there for a reason. That there is more to her than she could ever know. For Aly every new companion hides a dark and questionable past. Every step forward pulls her deeper into a war she does not understand. Yet somehow, Tendaara is still safer than where she came from. Aethorien misses nothing. Not the bruises hidden beneath her denial. Not the strength she refuses to acknowledge. And certainly not the dangerous creature she is becoming. Where others see a broken girl, he sees steel waiting to be forged. A weapon that could save Tendaara. Unfortunately for Baellnar Aethorien, every lesson draws them closer. Every touch burns hotter than it should. And the woman he is training to save the world is rapidly becoming the one person capable of destroying him. Because lurking in the shadows is the Shifter Queen, a creature capable of wearing the face of the person you trust most. One mistaken touch. One moment of hesitation. One drop of blood. That is all it takes. The curse twists love into obsession, devotion into violence, and leaves only one command: Kill the one you love. Baellnar knows exactly what the curse will make him become. So before the Crimson Queen can claim him, he will teach Aly how to survive him. Entered in #2026wattys 🥇1st Black Ink Awards

A huntress named Lily Holloway, burdened by a traumatic past and a dangerous ancient power (a Shadowborn heritage awakened generations by a lullaby), returns to her hometown seeking only peace and her mother's memory. She reunites with her childhood friend, the one person who can calm the darkness inside her and begins to build a fragile sense of belonging through new friends and a found family in the local guild. But the powerful king who once destroyed her life returns, determined to reclaim her, forcing Lily to choose between protecting the people she has come to cherish... or embracing the terrifying destiny she was born to fulfill, a destiny that could either save kingdoms or destroy it. In short: a character-driven soft dark romantasy about a woman trying to claim an ordinary life while an inherited shadow power, unresolved trauma, and political forces pull her toward an epic, dangerous fate. Additional tags: #Character Study: Lily Holloway #Soft Romantasy with mild dark elements #Emotional Healing #Story Arcs #Villain Redemption #Mutual Pining #Plot is important but so is the romance #No love triangles just parallel storylines #No jealous rivalry just having an existential crisis #TOTGA