The Shadow of the Sun Crown.

Cold Open.

If the Night Syndicate discovers what I am, they will execute me.

Right now, I am trapped inside a freezing cellar. Black smoke fills my lungs. Beside me, Lord Caelan—the commander who conquered my family—is dying on the floor.

I have two choices.

I can let Caelan die and keep my secret safe.

Or I can use my forbidden Sun Magic to save his life—and give him the power to destroy me.

How did I end up locked inside a cellar with my worst enemy?

It all began four days ago.

Part One: The Enemy at the Door.

Ten years ago, the Night Syndicate conquered my family home—the Sun Crest Court.

They left my people with nothing. My parents passed away, leaving me to raise my younger sister under the watch of our uncle, Hector.

To stay alive, I pretended to be a harmless princess.

But I carried a dangerous secret.

I had inherited ancient Sun Magic. Golden fire flowed through my veins.

In our world, wild magic was illegal. So, I concealed it beneath long gloves and quiet smiles.

Until the night Lord Caelan arrived.

Caelan was the leader of the Night Syndicate. He was tall and dressed in dark armor, with cold grey eyes.

He sat at my father’s table as though he owned it.

Lady Aurelia, Caelan said, his voice quiet and sharp. You look at me as though I am a monster.

You took our home, Lord Commander, I answered, holding my ground. What else should I call you?

My uncle Hector stepped between us and bowed nervously.

Forgive her, Lord Thorne. She is young.

Caelan rose from his chair and walked toward me. He stopped only inches away.

I am not here to fight you, Aurelia, Caelan whispered.

Someone inside your house is stealing dark artifacts and selling them to blood mages. If my soldiers discover this, your entire family will be executed.

I gasped.

We are not traitors!

Then help me prove it, Caelan replied.

Work with me for seven days. Find the traitor before my army burns this valley to the ground.

Part Two: The Secrets We Keep.

I had no choice.

I had to join forces with my enemy to save my family.

For three days, Caelan and I searched the ancient castle vaults together.

I expected him to be cruel.

But he was not.

He treated my servants with kindness. When I tripped over a loose stone inside the dark catacombs, his arms caught me before I struck the ground.

For one brief moment, we were close enough to hear each other breathe.

I saw genuine warmth inside his grey eyes.

My father was a harsh ruler, Caelan said softly as he stepped away. I want to be better than he was. I do not want your people to suffer.

My hatred for him began to melt.

Beneath his dark armor was a man who was trying to do the right thing.

On the fourth night, we discovered an altar hidden behind a cellar wall. It was covered with dark runes and stolen Sun Crest jewels.

This is dark magic, Caelan said as he picked up a glowing black crystal. Only someone with royal Sun Crest blood could have opened this vault.

My heart stopped.

The traitor was not one of our servants.

It was someone in my family.

Suddenly, the cellar door slammed shut.

A heavy metal lock slid into place.

Black smoke poured from the walls.

It was a poison trap.

Caelan drew his sword, but no physical weapon could break the magical lock.

The smoke choked us.

Caelan fell to his knees, coughing desperately.

I looked at him.

If I used my magic, he would discover the truth.

He could arrest me.

But I could not allow him to die.

The Cliffhanger.

I extended my hands.

Golden fire exploded from my chest, shattering the dark spell and blasting the heavy doors from their hinges.

Caelan gasped for air. He looked up at my glowing hands in shock.

You have Sun Magic... he whispered.

Before I could answer, a figure stepped through the smoke.

My uncle, Lord Hector, stood before us, holding a dark obsidian blade.

You were always too clever, Aurelia, Uncle Hector said with a cold smile. Now, both you and the Commander will die today!

Hector swung his blade.

A dark portal opened beneath our feet.

Will Caelan arrest Aurelia for possessing forbidden magic?

Or will they survive Uncle Hector’s deadly trap?

The story does not end here.

Read Part Three: The Family Traitor, on stories dot spenow dot com.

Part Three: The Family Traitor.

The dark portal dragged us downward.

Aurelia, take my hand! Caelan shouted.

He did not draw his sword against me.

Instead, he reached out and pulled me away from the edge of the pit.

He chose to protect me.

Uncle Hector, why? I screamed.

Because the Syndicate destroyed our legacy! Hector shouted, his eyes glowing dark purple.

I traded our relics to the Shadow Realm in exchange for dark power. I will rebuild our court myself!

By murdering innocent people? I demanded.

Power requires sacrifice! Hector roared.

He attacked Caelan.

Caelan blocked the strike with his sword, but Hector’s dark magic was too powerful.

With one devastating blow, Hector threw Caelan against the stone wall.

Caelan collapsed, and his sword slid away across the floor.

Hector turned his dark blade toward Caelan’s heart.

First, the Commander dies. Then, I will take your Sun Magic.

I stopped hiding.

I allowed the golden fire to spread across my arms until I glowed like the morning sun.

Step away from him, I commanded.

Part Four: Sun Versus Shadow.

Hector lunged toward me.

I released a wave of golden light against his dark blade.

The entire chamber shook. Dust rained from the ceiling.

You are weak, Aurelia! Hector shouted as he forced his blade closer. Just like your father!

My father had honor! I shouted back.

Suddenly, Caelan moved.

He grabbed a heavy silver spear from the floor and drove it into Hector.

A tremendous magical blast shook the vault.

The dark portal immediately closed, severing Hector’s connection to his magic.

His dark sword crumbled into dust.

Hector fell to the floor, defeated and unconscious.

Silence filled the vault.

I stood there, breathing heavily as the golden fire faded from my hands.

Caelan slowly walked toward me.

A cut marked his face, but his eyes were gentle.

Are you hurt? he asked softly.

I lowered my gaze.

I lied to you. I possess illegal magic. To your people, I am a criminal.

Caelan reached out and gently touched my face, guiding my eyes toward his.

The law claims that wild magic is dangerous, Caelan whispered.

But tonight, your magic saved my life.

You are not a threat, Aurelia.

You are a gift.

A tremendous weight lifted from my heart.

For the first time in ten years, I felt safe.

Part Five: A New Sunrise.

Uncle Hector was taken away by Syndicate guards to face trial.

The dark threat to our land was finally gone.

Three days later, the sun rose brightly above our valley.

I stood on the castle balcony, watching green grass spread across the hills.

Caelan approached and stood beside me, holding an official scroll.

My army is leaving today, Caelan said quietly.

He handed me the parchment.

This is a royal order. I am returning complete ownership of this court to you and your sister.

I stared at him in shock.

You are giving us our home back?

You earned it, Caelan answered with a gentle smile.

And... I hope to visit often, if you are willing to allow a Night Commander into your court.

I smiled and took his hand.

His warm fingers closed around mine.

I believe we can make an exception for you, Lord Thorne, I said.

The enemy who came to conquer my home had returned my future to me.

And together, we were ready to welcome a new dawn.