Bound by Moonfire

THE MOON CHOOSES Aurelia Veyne hated the Moon Ceremony. Every year, people gathered at the Moon Palace, hoping the Moon Goddess would reveal their mate. They called it destiny. Aurelia called it a trap. “You're glaring at the Moonstone again,” Lyra whispered. “Because it's staring back.” Lyra laughed. “You really don't believe in mate bonds?” Aurelia's smile disappeared. “No.” She had a reason. Her mother had once found her mate and lost herself in the process. Before she died, she had held Aurelia's hand and whispered, “Never let anyone choose your life for you.” Aurelia had never forgotten. So when the High Priestess stepped forward and called her name, her stomach dropped. “Aurelia Veyne.” Lyra grabbed her arm. “Oh, you're in trouble.” “I'm leaving.” “You can't leave.” “Watch me.” Unfortunately, the entire courtyard was already staring. With a sigh, Aurelia walked toward the Moonstone and placed her hand against it. Nothing happened. Aurelia smiled. “Wonderful. Can I go now?” The High Priestess opened her mouth. CRACK! The Moonstone flashed crimson. Then every flame in the courtyard went out. Darkness swallowed the palace. Aurelia heard the crowd gasp. Then came the sound of footsteps. Slow. Unhurried. Tap. Tap. Tap. Aurelia looked toward the palace entrance. A man stood beneath the archway. He wasn't wearing a crown. He didn't need one. He wore a long black coat, its silver clasps catching what little moonlight remained. A sword rested at his hip, but his hand wasn't near it. He simply stood there, watching the crowd as though he already knew they would make way for him. They did. One by one, people stepped aside. Whispers moved through the darkness. “King Kael…” Aurelia had heard stories about the King of the Night Court, but none of them had mentioned his eyes. They were pale gray, almost silver, and they seemed to see far more than they should. Kael walked forward. With every step he took, the lanterns behind him flickered back to life. Not one flame remained lit around Aurelia. Only him. Only her. Then he stopped. Their eyes met. A strange pull tightened in Aurelia's chest. She hated it immediately. Kael's expression changed too. For the first time, the calm king looked genuinely surprised. The Moonstone suddenly exploded with silver light. A glowing thread appeared between them. The High Priestess fell to her knees. “The Moon has chosen its King…” Her gaze moved to Aurelia. “…and its Queen.” The courtyard erupted. Aurelia barely heard the whispers. She remembered her mother's warning. Never let anyone choose your life for you. She looked at Kael. “I don't believe in mate bonds.” His gaze remained fixed on hers. “And yet, here we are.” Aurelia folded her arms. “Then we have a problem.” A faint smile touched his lips. “For once, Aurelia Veyne, CHAPTER ONE The Moon Chooses Aurelia Veyne hated the Moon Ceremony. Every year, people gathered at the Moon Palace, hoping the Moon Goddess would reveal their mate. They called it destiny. Aurelia called it a trap. “You're glaring at the Moonstone again,” Lyra whispered. “Because it's staring back.” Lyra laughed. “You really don't believe in mate bonds?” Aurelia's smile disappeared. “No.” She had a reason. Her mother had once found her mate and lost herself in the process. Before she died, she had held Aurelia's hand and whispered, “Never let anyone choose your life for you.” Aurelia had never forgotten. So when the High Priestess stepped forward and called her name, her stomach dropped. “Aurelia Veyne.” Lyra grabbed her arm. “Oh, you're in trouble.” “I'm leaving.” “You can't leave.” “Watch me.” Unfortunately, the entire courtyard was already staring. With a sigh, Aurelia walked toward the Moonstone and placed her hand against it. Nothing happened. Aurelia smiled. “Wonderful. Can I go now?” The High Priestess opened her mouth. CRACK! The Moonstone flashed crimson. Then every flame in the courtyard went out. Darkness swallowed the palace. Aurelia heard the crowd gasp. Then came the sound of footsteps. Slow. Unhurried. Tap. Tap. Tap. Aurelia looked toward the palace entrance. A man stood beneath the archway. He wasn't wearing a crown. He didn't need one. He wore a long black coat, its silver clasps catching what little moonlight remained. A sword rested at his hip, but his hand wasn't near it. He simply stood there, watching the crowd as though he already knew they would make way for him. They did. One by one, people stepped aside. Whispers moved through the darkness. “King Kael…” Aurelia had heard stories about the King of the Night Court, but none of them had mentioned his eyes. They were pale gray, almost silver, and they seemed to see far more than they should. Kael walked forward. With every step he took, the lanterns behind him flickered back to life. Not one flame remained lit around Aurelia. Only him. Only her. Then he stopped. Their eyes met. A strange pull tightened in Aurelia's chest. She hated it immediately. Kael's expression changed too. For the first time, the calm king looked genuinely surprised. The Moonstone suddenly exploded with silver light. A glowing thread appeared between them. The High Priestess fell to her knees. “The Moon has chosen its King…” Her gaze moved to Aurelia. “…and its Queen.” The courtyard erupted. Aurelia barely heard the whispers. She remembered her mother's warning. Never let anyone choose your life for you. She looked at Kael. “I don't believe in mate bonds.” His gaze remained fixed on hers. “And yet, here we are.” Aurelia folded her arms. “Then we have a problem.” A faint smile touched his lips. “For once, Aurelia Veyne, we agree.” Her eyes narrowed. She had never met the man before tonight. Already, she wanted him gone. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess had other plans.we agree.” Her eyes narrowed. She had never met the man before tonight. Already, she wanted him gone. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess had other plans.