Tearing the Bond His Mad Regret

Betrayal, resilience, and quiet new beginnings.

Chief barrier architect Aelia watches her soul marriage to Dawn Court lord Aurelian crumble after he shelters Sylvia, a dark elf orphan who systematically turns their son Laris against his mother and poisons Aurelian's judgment. The breaking point arrives when Aurelian strikes Aelia during a dispute over their son's birthday clashing with her parents' death anniversary, then frames her for stealing barrier secrets and imprisons her. After clearing her name, Aelia walks away with nothing, unaware that Valerian — now lord of Silver Moon Forest and high priest of the Sanctuary — has guarded her path since she saved him eight years prior. He clears her way to a new post at the Silver Moon Defense Array Institute, where her career flourishes. Aurelian's desperate attempts to reclaim her only widen the distance, especially after Aelia exposes Sylvia's assassins and rumor campaigns at a forest banquet, sending the schemer to the Tribunal. As Aelia and Valerian face drugged encounters and shared battles, affection grows, though Valerian's father Raphael initially opposes them. Beneath the World Tree the soul pact dissolves, and Aelia builds a fresh family with Valerian and adopted daughter Lenore.

• fantasy
• romance
• revenge