**I had no idea I was so behind. I thought I had scheduled these to post while I was out of town. Apologies! I'll pick up where we left off.Â
_______
For the first half of 20 Days of Darkborn, we've spent a lot of time looking backward.
We went back to the beginning with Runemarked. We met the Wildwalkers. We dug into bonus POVs, lore, characters, and some of the pieces that built this world.
Today, we're looking forward.
Because Soulbound releases October 20.
And if you thought Sylas was struggling to control himself around Evangeline in Bloodborn...
Well.
He's not doing any better. đ
Hereâs your first taste of Soulbound.
>>>
With a grunt, I move to block another one of Erik's strikes, but it's a fake-out. I stumble, he tries to catch me, and when I hit the ground, the impact and Erik's body drive the air from my lungs. He clambers to his feet, spewing apologies, but for a heartbeat, I'm stunned. My palms sting, flat against the stone to push myself up, when a roar splits the morning air.
My spine tingles at the sound, and one moment, the Wolf is a shadow in the staging area, but the next, he slams Erik against the weapons rack. His massive hand locks around Erik's throat, and his fangs are out, glinting in the early light. His eyesâgods, his dark eyes burn like coals.
"You." He barely sounds human, and the entire yard goes silent. Warriors freeze mid-swing. Even the wind seems to hold its breath.
Erik's eyes are wide with shock. He raises his hands but doesn't fight back.
"Gen . . . eralâ" Erik chokes out, his voice strained. "I didn'tâ"
The Wolf's grip tightens, and the wooden rack groans as he shoves Erik harder against it. "You hurt her." Â .... Â Â I rub my hands over my arms, suddenly chilled as my fury wanes. "I overstepped yesterday, going to a place so sacred to you. I understand that now, but I didn't know what it was." I meet him stare for stare, hating the knot in my throat. "But still, I have never felt as deplorable and unwanted here as you made me feel yesterday and every moment since. Like I am a curseâ"
"You are a curse!" It sounds like a confession torn from his throat and feels like a hook tearing through my chest.
"I see." I take a step back and avert my gaze, unable to stomach his resentment any longer. If he only knew what my family suffered to protect this curse I seem to be, he would know how true that sentiment really is. Or perhaps he already does.
"No, you don't see," he growls, moving closer.
"I assure you. I do." I reach for my discarded sword on the ground to put it away, desperate to find somewhere to hide where I can lick my wounds in private.
"If you knew the demons I battle when I am near you, Your Highness, you would wish to be far away from this place."
"We all have demons," I whisper, afraid to look at him.
"What I feel in your presence is . . . dangerous." He says the word as if it's being ripped from the bowels of the underworld, but dangerous or not, I feel calmness in his presence.
"Perhaps," I admit softly and slowly turn to him, "but I have lived here for years, and somehow, I have never felt safer."
The Wolf swallows, his eyes searching my face. Terrifying, he may be, but his gaze carries an eternity of heartache that I only wish to soothe. It makes no sense.
"You shouldn't," he says.
"Feel safe?" I shrug, unable to help it. "Well, I do."
The Darkborn general steps closer. "Even if I told you your scent burrows under my skin, rousing my darkness? That sensing your presence on the floor above mine drives me to madness?"
His chambers are below mine? I feel lightheaded at the thought.
"Your arousal . . ." His head tilts the barest amount, and the look on his face is almost predatory as his gaze rakes over me.
"M-my what?" My cheeks might as well catch flame.
"It wasn't for the boy."
>>>
Sylas has spent years fighting the hunger inside him.
Unfortunately for him, Evangeline is done making that easy.
SOULBOUND | THE DARKBORN BOOK TWO
đ„ Official release: October 20
đș Sylas + Evangeline
âïž Thorne + Imara
đ€ Soul bonds, dangerous magic, immortal warriors, and a war that's only getting started
đ©ž DONâT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER 20?
Soulbound is available EARLY exclusively from my bookshop. Buy your ebook directly from me and you can download it immediately and start reading today.
Otherwise, preorder now and Soulbound will arrive on Amazon October 20.
đ READ SOULBOUND EARLY: Â https://harleyblackwell.com/products/soulbound-the-darkborn-2-early-release-copy
Question for my Bloodborn readers:
At the end of Bloodborn, how long did you really think Sylas's self-control was going to last? đ
