In the haunted woods of Sleepy Hollow, Victoria, a young woman burdened by grief and isolation, lives a quiet life in her secluded cottage. Her only companion is Briar, a wild mare who once belonged to her late father. But when Briar's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Victoria is forced to confront the darkness that has been looming over her life.
One fateful night, Victoria's world changes when the Headless Horseman - a myth, a curse, a figure of fear - appears, offering her an unexpected and mysterious help. He claims he can tame Briar, teaching Victoria how to ride and bond with the once-feared mare. But as their nightly lessons unfold, a bond forms between Victoria and the Horseman, one rooted in loss, grief, and a shared understanding of the darkness that haunts them both.
As the Horseman trains Victoria to tame Briar, an unspoken connection grows between them. Victoria begins to see the tortured soul behind the myth, discovering the truth of his curse and the heartbreaking past that binds him to the shadows. But the villagers of Sleepy Hollow are growing suspicious, and soon, their whispers of witchcraft and curses threaten everything Victoria has come to trust.
Caught between the village's growing suspicion and the mysterious, haunting connection with the Headless Horseman, Victoria must decide if she will embrace the bond forged in darkness or break free before it consumes her entirely.
Bound by the Dark is a haunting tale of love, loss, and the haunting power of the unknown, where the line between curse and redemption becomes impossible to see.
"...Is she feverish?" Harlow asked flatly.
"I'm not feverish." I snapped.
"You're babbling about falling out of the sky and magical doors," Harlow countered. "And your pupils are unfocused."
"They are not unfocused!"
Beladora stepped closer and cupped my cheeks, turning my face toward the light. "Oh, sweetheart... your eyes are a little glassy."
I pulled my face back, groaning. "I'm not sick!"
Harlow folder her arms. "Bel, get the thermometer."
My jaw dropped. "Absolutely not."
Beladora smiled warmly. Too warmly. "Absolutely yes."
Harlow lifted me from the chair with one arm, like I weighed the same as a scarf and deposited me on her hip.
(Picture from pinterst: @esterscanon)