Chapter 1 RUN Kora

Author's Note

Before you dive in, there’s something I’d love you to know.

This is a slow-burn dark fantasy romance, so I’m taking my time building the world, the characters, and the mysteries that surround them. If the beginning feels quiet or slow, trust the process—every detail has a purpose, and when the story truly takes off, it won’t slow down.

Everything in this book is a product of my imagination. You may come across creatures, abilities, traditions, or ideas that feel familiar, while others are entirely unique to this world.

This story also contains dark themes, hidden secrets, morally gray characters, and moments that may not be for every reader. If that isn’t your cup of tea, this might not be the right journey for you—and that’s perfectly okay.

For everyone else, welcome. I hope you enjoy the ride. Don’t forget to add the book to your library, vote if you can, and leave your thoughts in the comments. Your support means more than you know.

Happy reading, and thank you for being here. ❤️

KORA’s POV

I woke to someone shaking my shoulder. At first, I thought I was dreaming. The room was still dark, the familiar darkness of my bedroom stretching across the walls, and for a brief, disoriented moment, I thought it was still the middle of the night. Then I heard my mother's voice.

"Kora. Wake up. It's time."

The frantic whisper instantly chased away the last remnants of sleep. My eyes flew open.

"Mama?" I mumbled, pushing myself upright. "Time for what?"

The words died in my throat.

Moonlight filtered weakly through the window, casting pale silver across her face. My mother was crying. Not the quiet tears she shed whenever she thought no one was watching. These were tears of terror. Her face was streaked with them, her hands shaking as she glanced repeatedly over her shoulder toward the bedroom door.

My stomach dropped. The fear on her face terrified me more than anything else ever could.

"Mama..." I whispered.

She didn't answer. Instead, she rushed across the room, grabbing clothes from my dresser and folding them with trembling fingers. She moved so quickly that several garments slipped from her grasp and fell onto the floor. She cursed softly beneath her breath before stuffing everything into a large cloth wrapper.

Outside, something crashed. A scream echoed through the darkness. Then another. My entire body froze. The distant sound of people running drifted through the night. A sharp smell reached my nose. Smoke. Something was burning.

"Mama." My voice cracked. "What's happening?"

She still didn't answer. She tied the wrapper shut with shaking hands before turning toward me and shoving it into my chest. The force of it nearly knocked the breath from my lungs.

"Take this."

I stared down at the bundle. Then back at her.

"Take it and leave, Kora."

For a second, I genuinely thought I had misheard her.

"What?"

Her face crumpled. "Run, Kora." A sob escaped her lips.

"Run. Do not let them find you."

Cold fear crawled down my spine.

"Mama—"

"If they do, deny it. Deny everything. Do you understand?"

I stared at her. Nothing she was saying made sense. Find me? Deny what? Why was she crying? Why was there screaming outside? Why did it smell like the village was burning?

I shook my head frantically.

"Mama, what are you talking about?"

Tears poured down her face. The sight shattered something inside me. My mother was the strongest person I knew. Even when times were difficult, even when winter had nearly emptied our food stores, even when Father had been gone for weeks at a time, she never looked afraid. Now she looked terrified. And somehow, that frightened me more than the screams outside.

"Mama, please tell me what's happening."

Instead of answering, she grabbed my arm. Hard. I gasped as she practically dragged me across the room toward the window.

"Mama!"

She shoved the shutters open. Cold night air rushed inside.

The moment I looked outside, my breath caught.

The village was burning. Orange flames licked toward the sky in the distance. Smoke rolled across rooftops. People were running through the streets. I could hear shouting, crying, and the clash of metal. For one horrible second, I couldn't understand what I was seeing. Then realization hit me.

Something had happened. Something terrible.

My knees nearly gave out.

"Mama..."

Her hands tightened around my shoulders.

"Never step foot inside this kingdom again, Kora."

The words struck me like a physical blow.

I turned toward her.

"What?"

"If you do, our deaths will have been for nothing."

The world seemed to stop.

"Our deaths."

The words echoed inside my skull. I felt sick. Actually sick. Like I might throw up.

"No." Fresh tears blurred my vision. "No, Mama."

She pushed me toward the window.

"Mama, stop."

Another push. Panic exploded inside me.

"Mama, please."

My voice broke completely. I was crying so hard I could barely breathe. She kept pushing. Not because she wanted to hurt me. Because she was desperate. Because she was terrified. Because whatever was happening was bigger than both of us. I could see it in her eyes. The realization only made me cry harder.

Soon I was standing on the windowsill. The cold night air wrapped around me. Everything felt unreal, Like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

"Mama, please," I begged. "I don't want to go."

A broken sob escaped her. Neither did she. I could see it. Feel it. She didn't want this. She just believed she had no choice.

With trembling hands, she reached beneath her dress and pulled out a necklace. Moonstone. The pale silver gem glowed softly in the darkness. I recognized it instantly. She had never taken it off. Not once. Now she was giving it to me. Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks as she fastened it around my neck. Her fingers lingered against my skin as though she couldn't bear to let go.

"Never take this off, Kora."Her voice cracked. "Never forget that your father and I loved you wholeheartedly."

I broke completely. A sob tore from my chest.

"Mama—"

"Whatever you hear. Whatever anyone tells you. Know that you were a blessing to us." Her own tears fell freely now.

"A blessing from the Moon Goddess herself."

I couldn't see properly anymore. Everything was blurry. Everything hurt.

"I don't care," I cried. "I don't want to leave."

The words came out broken and desperate. I didn't care about blessings. I didn't care about prophecies. I didn't care about anything except staying with my parents.

My mother cupped my face. For a moment, she simply looked at me. Memorizing me. The realization shattered what little remained of my composure. This was goodbye. She knew it. I knew it. And neither of us wanted to say it aloud.

"No, Kora," she whispered. "You are destined for greater things than this."

Another crash echoed through the house. Closer this time. My mother's face went white.

"The Moon Goddess promised us that you would save this world."

I shook my head violently.

"I don't want to save anyone."

More shouting erupted outside. This time it sounded right outside our home. My mother's eyes filled with fresh terror.

"If your father and I have to sacrifice ourselves for that future, then so be it."

A thunderous bang shook the house and the front door. Someone was trying to break it down.

My heart stopped.

My mother grabbed my shoulders one last time.

"Go."

Another bang. Wood splintered.

"Be safe."

A third bang, louder and closer.

"Be careful."

Tears streamed endlessly down her face.

"Do not trust anyone with your secret."

"Mama—"

"We love you."

The door exploded inward. The sound echoed through the entire house. Shouts immediately followed. Heavy boots thundered across the floorboards. Soldiers.

My mother shoved me again, harder than before.. I stumbled backward off the windowsill. My feet hit the ground outside.

"Mama!" She was already closing the shutters. "No!" "Mama!"

For one brief second, I saw her face through the narrowing gap. Crying. Smiling. Breaking.

Then the window slammed shut.

I stood frozen. Unable to breathe. Unable to think. Unable to accept what had just happened.

"Mama!"

No answer.

Inside the house, men were shouting. Something crashed. Something shattered. Someone screamed. I don't know whose scream it was. I never wanted to know.

Terror finally seized control of my body.

I turned and ran.

I ran into the darkness. Into the forest. Into the unknown.

Branches tore at my clothes. Roots caught at my feet. My lungs burned. My chest ached. But I didn't stop. Because behind me, my world was dying. And ahead of me was nothing except the sound of my mother's final words echoing endlessly through my mind.

Run, Kora.

Do not let them find you.