AndyB_writes

Born into a kingdom surrounded by enemies, Prince Aradon was destined for war. When he ventured into the Forbidden Forest, he discovered a terrifying secret—the ability to command monstrous creatures from the shadows.

With his newfound power, he crushed his enemies and became the most feared ruler in history. Armies fell before him, kingdoms burned, and no one dared challenge his reign.

But as his legend grew, so did the darkness within him. When he met Selene Noctara, a mysterious woman with an aura as dark as his own, they ruled together as King and Queen of Shadows. Yet Selene held a secret—one that would bring about the fall of Aradon himself.

As centuries passed, his name faded into legend. But whispers remained—that one day, when his bloodline was threatened, the beasts would rise again.

Aradon the Dark

Despite his absolute rule, Aradon the Dark felt an emptiness. No war could challenge him, no kingdom dared rise against him. Victory had left him alone.

One evening, as he stood upon the blackened stone balcony of his fortress, watching the mist coil through the valley, he sensed something. A presence unlike any other—not of man, not of beast.

From the fog emerged a woman, cloaked in black silk, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes burned a deep crimson, filled with knowledge and something darker—a force even Aradon did not understand.

"You have built an empire of fear," she said, her voice smooth as shadow. "Yet you stand here alone."

Aradon studied her. Few would have dared to approach him unbidden. But this woman feared nothing.

She stepped closer, her gaze unblinking. "I am Selene Noctara. And I am here because we are the same."

Aradon, the man who had never known fear, felt a chill—not of terror, but of recognition. She was like him.

The Queen of Shadows