Bound by Shadow: a Why Choose Dark Academia Romantasy Dragon’s Bond Book

Some shadows are meant to be hidden. Others are meant to consume.Elara Vane has spent her life in the shadows, literally. Born with a forbidden power that marks her as a heretic, she has learned one rule: never let them see your true self. But when she is forcibly enrolled in the prestigious Lunaris Academy, a sanctuary for Mages of Light, her survival depends on a lie.To graduate, Elara must survive the Etherbound Trials, a series of deadly tests designed to purge the weak. But the Academy hides a darkness far greater than her own, and the trials are more than just a test of skill—they are a ritual of blood.As her magic begins to spiral out of control, she catches the attention of three men who are as dangerous as they are irresistible:Kaelen, the Shadow Hunter – Her sworn enemy, sworn to destroy her kind. His touch is a lethal mix of hatred and fated desire.Lysander, the Prince of Light – The golden heir who offers protection, but whose obsession might be her undoing.Roric, the Forbidden Professor – A man who knows her secrets and wants to teach her how to use them, for a price she might not be able to pay.In a world where Light is law and Shadow is death, Elara must decide: will she succumb to the darkness within, or will she burn the Academy to the ground?Bound by Shadow is the first book in The Etherbound Trials, a spicy Why Choose Dark Academia Romantasy featuring a strong heroine, morally grey heroes, and a world where the line between light and dark is blurred.