Bound By Magic Or Fate book one

Princess Elara was born on a night unlike any other. The sky was dark, but instead of the usual silver moon, a deep red glow hung above the kingdom. It was a rare lunar eclipse, sometimes called a Blood Moon. Many people in the kingdom whispered that Elara's birth during such an event meant she was different - special, but also dangerous.

From the moment she was old enough to understand, Elara felt that difference inside her. There was a power she couldn't explain, a strange energy that sometimes made her heart race or her hands tingle. But no one talked about it openly. Her parents, the king and queen, were worried. They feared what this magic could do - not just to Elara, but to the kingdom as a whole.

So, they kept her hidden. Elara spent most of her childhood inside the castle walls, away from the people she was meant to one day rule. She wasn't allowed to show her magic or even speak about it. She was told it was a curse, something to be afraid of. And slowly, Elara learned to hide her gifts, pretending to be like any other princess.

Still, inside, she burned with questions. Why was she born with this power? What was she meant to do? Sometimes, she would sneak away to a quiet tower room where she practiced small spells in secret - little lights, whispers of wind, or small bursts of warmth. It was dangerous, but it made her feel alive.

As Elara grew older, she began having strange dreams. They felt more like visions. She saw shadows moving in the forest outside the castle, creatures that no one else believed were real. She saw flashes of battles, people fighting and falling, and sometimes, herself standing alone, surrounded by darkness.

Her heart pounded with fear and excitement. Was this a warning? Or a future waiting to happen?

The people of the kingdom didn't know any of this. To them, Elara was just a quiet princess, always polite, always careful. They loved her, but they didn't know the secret she kept locked inside her.

Then came the night before her coronation - the night she would become queen. The whole castle was filled with excitement and joy. But deep inside, Elara felt a strange unease.