The Kingdom of Veyl
The Kingdom of Veyl was no ordinary realm.Mountains of obsidian rose like jagged teeth, rivers shimmered with raw magic, and the air itself hummed with power.
Nine noble houses ruled the land, each sworn to master a unique magic: Flame, Bone, Mind, Shadow, and the rest. But above all stood the Dark Queen, Nyx Veyl—feared by generals, worshiped by her subjects, and rumored to wield a power that could erase armies with a flick of her hand.
For decades, no one dared oppose her. Until now.
Chapter 1 – Bound by Mistake
Eli wiped sweat from his forehead and muttered under his breath."This thing should not have been built in the first place."
The Obelisk wasn't just old magic—it was ancient, temperamental, and apparently capable of killing anyone who touched it incorrectly. And here he was, halfway through rewiring it because someone at the royal court thought he was the "best man for the job."
"Best. Mistake. Ever."
He tightened the final rune and stepped back. A faint hum echoed through the chamber. Not bad. Not catastrophic. Maybe.
Then the doors slammed open.
A figure filled the doorway: black armor that gleamed like oil in the torchlight, a crown tipped at an impossible angle, and eyes that could freeze fire.
"WHO DARES TOUCH THE DARK QUEEN'S OBELISK?"
Eli froze. Not the shouting. Not the crown. Not the epic aura of imminent death. No. He froze because the Dark Queen, legendary killer of armies, was glaring directly at him.
"I—I'm, uh… maintenance?" Eli offered, sounding way less confident than he felt.
Nyx stepped closer, her boots clicking on the stone floor. The hum of the Obelisk suddenly spiked, lights flickering along its ancient runes. Eli's stomach sank.
"Too late," a robotic voice intoned from the Obelisk itself.
"What—?" Eli glanced at the runes.
SOUL BOND SUCCESSFUL. PARTNERS: ELI & NYX — VERIFIED.
Eli's mouth went dry.Nyx's eyes went wider.
"…What did you just do?" she demanded, but the corners of her lips twitched. Not a smile. Something sharper. Annoyed amusement.
"I think… we're married?" Eli said slowly.
Nyx tilted her head. "No. But congratulations. You're bonded to me forever. Step out of line, and I'll kill you."
Eli swallowed.Step out of line. Right. He'd been thinking more along the lines of run for his life, but apparently, that wasn't an option.
And just like that, the most dangerous woman in the realm became his partner. And somehow, he was supposed to fix it.