When the Moon Demands a Bride: Book One of Moonbound Brides Series: gothic romantasy forbidden love, ancient magic and bride who defies fate,

Every three hundred years, the moon chooses a bride.This time, it has chosen a woman who refuses to surrender.Elara Veyne awakens after the Harvest Moon celebration with a glowing silver crescent above her heart. The mark identifies her as the next Moon Bride-a woman destined to cross the mortal border, enter a cursed castle, and marry the immortal ruler feared throughout Valeria.If she refuses, the kingdom may fall.If she accepts, she may share the fate of every bride who entered Moonfall before her and never returned.Delivered to the castle by royal decree, Elara meets Cassian Nocturne, the mysterious Moon King who has haunted Valeria's oldest legends. He is powerful, secretive, and far more tormented than the monster described in childhood stories. He warns Elara not to trust the king who sent her, the priests who call her sacrifice sacred, or even Cassian himself.As Elara searches Moonfall's forbidden library, she uncovers the voices of twelve lost brides and a truth buried for centuries. The covenant was never designed to save her. It was created to control a power capable of protecting-or destroying-both kingdoms.With the full moon approaching and an ancient darkness breaking free, Elara must decide whether Cassian is her captor, her protector, or the one man willing to stand beside her as she rewrites fate itself.When the Moon Demands a Bride is an atmospheric gothic fantasy romance featuring a dangerous Moon King romance, a courageous heroine trapped in a chosen bride fantasy, and a haunting cursed castle romance filled with forbidden secrets. Readers who enjoy dark paranormal romance, emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers fantasy, and sweeping romantic fantasy adventure will be drawn into this tale of ancient magic, free will, sacrifice, and a love powerful enough to make the moon surrender.The moon has chosen her.The king beneath it intends to protect her.But only Elara can decide whether she will become his bride-or the queen who destroys his covenant forever.