As we approach the tall walls of the stronghold, the sky is raining tears. Fat drops, splashing on my head and bare arms. I sway with the movement of the open carriage; when we pass through the gates, I have to tilt my head all the way back to see the top of the wall. Guard towers on every corner. A prison. My new home.

The driver pulls the reins and halts the horses in the middle of a courtyard. The buildings around me are built from the black granite of the Isaaen Mountains, weathered by centuries of exposure to the elements. Dark and menacing, they hide the afternoon light. Bars are the centerpieces of the few windows that sit like rotting holes in the structure; the glass behind them is dull and milky.

A sudden breeze makes me shudder, but it's not all from the cold. The fear has been gnawing in my gut for hours, ever since the summoner appeared in our village this morning and rounded up the males and females who had turned eighteen during the last earth cycle. If he had arrived yesterday, I would've been spared for another year. Instead of celebrating my birthday with Mom, Pap, and Alana, I was loaded onto the carriage.

The driver jumps down. "Everyone, get out!"

We oblige in utter silence. I stumble to find my footing on the uneven ground. Behind me, Nylah trips and elbows me in the back. I fall on my knees.

"I'm so sorry." Her words are a mere whisper as she heaves me up. Gazing around, she scratches her arm. The skin is raw and bleeding and crusted blood has dried under her long fingernails.

I give her a small smile and wipe the dirt from my skirt as best as I can, though a few stains still remain. We are all on edge and the uncertainty threatens my sanity. I'm close to screaming my frustrations into the wind, but that would mean an abundance of pain.

"Don't speak unless you are spoken to." Pap's words ring loud and clear in my ears.

The Anou take any sign of disobedience as an excuse to punish us.

"Keep your head down, do your chores, and things will be alright." Advice I've heard all my life and I'm intending to follow.

Lining us up in a perfect straight row, the driver walks back and forth with an inspecting frown. His glare takes in every part of me. He is short for an Anou, Pap called him a runt, with soft muscles and a double chin. His light, golden eyes give away his secret. He's stricken with the curse, the inability to perform magic. The darker their irises, the more power they hold. It's another insight about their race instilled in me since birth.

"Stay away from those with black eyes. They are the most dangerous."

The driver claps his hands. "Alright, listen up. You've been brought here to begin your servitude as required of any Elowen of age under the sentence of the gods. For the next ten years, you will obey the Anou as your masters. Those of you who work hard will be allowed to return to their village to breed and raise the next generation of tributes. Those who slack off or revolt will be killed."

The wind howls and the raindrops fall more rapidly. I shiver and wrap my arms around my chest.

For another breath, the driver's hard stare drills into me. I struggle to hold his gaze.

He smirks. "A few basic rules. Never look your masters in the eyes unless they requested you do so. Never speak without their permission. Follow their orders without hesitation, no matter what they are. If you do this and perform your duties, you might get to live."

When our eyes meet again, I drop my gaze.

"Good." His mouth is close to my ear. "You seem to be a quick learner."

He steps back and clears his throat. "Alright, we will walk into the castle in just a minute, where you will receive your assignments. Before you left your village, each of you should have received a medallion from your elders, marked with information about the skills you acquired over the years and any special expertise that might be helpful to us. Hand those to the Anou at the intake desk and they will put you in the right category."

With giant-sized, armed guards surrounding us, we are herded into the building closest to the carriage. Entering a smaller reception area, I gape in wonder. Everything is huge. Door frames twice the size of what I'm used to, tabletops that reach above my shoulders, ceilings that require me to lift my chin up to see their chandeliers.

When the driver ushers us into a large dining hall, all voices fall quiet. The scent of roasted meat and sweet honey wine lingers in the air and makes my stomach growl. I'm famished and exhausted from the long trip. Warmth from a large fireplace takes the chill out of the air; if this weren't the Stye, the stronghold of the Anou, I could see myself getting comfortable at one of the tables with its fine linen and delicate porcelain plates.

Still in a perfect line, we walk down an aisle between two rows of tables. I can't shake the feeling that this is the Anou's way of flaunting the new arrivals. I keep my head down, afraid to find someone's eyes. Stares prick at me like little needles. By the time we reach the other end of the room, sweat has accumulated under my armpits and on my upper lip.

Glancing at the closest group of Anou, the glimmer in their eyes claws at my willpower to stay quiet. For them, we are like cattle brought to auction. They will bargain over whom to choose for their personal demands. A slave to torment. A servant to pick up after them and wait on them hand and foot. Luckily, the elders chose me to train as a healer, so I will avoid such fate, but most of the Elowen I grew up with won't be this lucky.

Nylah managed to get first in line and hands the woman her medallion.

The Anou scans it. "House servant."

"I'll take her," comes a smoky voice from the back.

"Assigned to Countess Celia."

Nylah is shoved aside to give room for the next Elowen in line. It's Lian, a boy I've had a secret crush on for years.

"Stable boy."

A small commotion erupts a few feet away. "Claiming him for General Durlon."

The line moves forward; three more Elowen are in front of me before I'll receive my assignment. The silence has been replaced by humming and laughter. Anou celebrate their successful bids for their chosen slave and the excitement is palpable around me. It makes me sick that we've been reduced to objects.

When a loud thump echoes through the hall from an opening side door, silence is restored within a beat. Heavy heels click on the wooden floor. If I weren't so terrified of the repercussions, I'd love to sneak a peek at this new arrival. Out of the corners of my lowered eyes, I catch a few of the female Anou curtsy. The scent of fear hangs in the air. Whoever it is must be someone important—and powerful.

Polished boots with tucked in riding pants come into view as the Anou halts in front of me. I hold my breath. A hand reaches forward and long, slender fingers raise my chin. I meet the gaze of a man. His eyes are so dark that their color blends seamlessly with his pupils. Only about a head taller than me, he is one bundle of muscle with a broad frame that is crushing. Only his long raven hair falling loosely around his shoulders gives him any softness.

A ghost of a smile tucks at his full lips and smooth, velvety words break through the stifling silence. "She'll do, unless, of course, someone else has already picked her."

My brows knit together.

Why is he choosing me?

I haven't shown my medallion yet to prove that I should be a healer. I wasn't destined to become a house servant.

When no one speaks up, I take matters into my own hands. "With all due respect, milord, but I was meant—"

"Did you seriously just mouth off to the Chieftain?" he snaps.

I gulp. The Chieftain is their leader.

He arches a brow. "I believe a reminder is in order. To set a warning example to others, you'll be bound to me by my blood to create the unbreakable bond."

I gasp.

Bound by blood.

The worst punishment for any Elowen. Not only will my servitude last for the remainder of my life, but the forged bond will give him access to my soul. To my thoughts. All my hopes, dreams, and desires will be laid open for him to mock and defile. I won't have a moment of privacy and will never take another breath of freedom. It's such an invasion into every fiber of my existence that I'd prefer death over this.

He smiles, a vicious glow sparkling in his black eyes. "You will be mine, and mine alone, to do with as I please . . . until the day I end your pathetic Elowen life."

Welcome to Bound by Blood and I hope you enjoyed the first glimpse into this world. I've always enjoyed fantasy, and in line with my new romance brand Fire Rose, I thought I'd try my hand at a Romantasy. Warning: this story will be dark with some spicy scenes (a few, since this is book I), and this world is dominated by violence, power, and lust. The male leads are by no means Golden Retriever LIs or secret Cinnamon Buns. They are raw, very flawed, with some heavy redemption arcs in the making. There is the possibility of dubious consent and sexual manipulation (both FMC and MMC). There will be scenes with MM, FF, MFF and potential other combinations. Please only continue if you don't have issues with that type of stuff; otherwise, you might want to check out one of my other stories. You have been warned!

Some housekeeping items: This is a side project that I'm writing in parallel with other stories. That means I can't give you an update schedule. I drop in and out of different worlds, but once I'm fully immersed, you might get six chapters in a week and then none the next.  However, I can tell you that my writing motivation is heavily driven by reader engagement. If you leave comments, share your reactions, discuss theories, give me ideas . . .  there will be a chance that this story will be written in no time. This is your chance to shape this story, elevate a side character into the spotlight that would've otherwise been forgotten, and truly make a difference. I do not only enjoy discussions with my readers, but I also take their feedback onboard. An of course, votes are always very much appreciated 🥰

Phew, with all that out of the way (and I promise that my next author notes will be short and snappy), I hope you are ready for the next chappie. Enjoy the ride! 😋🥶