The heavy iron gates of Blackthorn Keep slammed shut behind Liana with a final, echoing clang. Her heart pounded in her chest as the reality of her new life settled like a weight on her shoulders. She stood alone in the vast courtyard, the chill of the evening air cutting through her thin dress. Around her, towering stone walls loomed like silent sentinels guarding secrets she was only beginning to glimpse.
From the shadows emerged three figures — the Blackthorn triplets. Darian, Kieran, and Riven. They moved like wolves, powerful and silent, their presence suffocating.
Darian's sharp eyes locked on Liana, cold and assessing. Kieran leaned lazily against a stone pillar, his lips curled in a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. Riven was the calmest, his gaze steady and unreadable, but it carried an unspoken threat.
"You're here now," Riven said, his voice low and commanding. "There's no turning back."
Liana swallowed hard but refused to look away. "Why me? Why did fate bind me to three strangers who don't want me?"
Kieran chuckled darkly. "You think this was our choice? We didn't ask for this any more than you did."
Darian stepped forward. "You're not just our mate. You're the key to something much larger. Something our family has waited centuries for."
Liana's breath hitched. "What do you mean? What could I possibly have to do with your family's fate?"
Riven pulled an ancient, leather-bound book from a nearby table. The cover was embossed with strange symbols that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. "This is the Blackthorn Grimoire. It holds the prophecies of our bloodline. When we were born, each of us saw the same vision — a girl with fire in her eyes and a storm in her soul. You."
Liana stared at the book, the weight of its meaning sinking in. "A prophecy… and I'm supposed to believe that means I'm bound to you forever?"
Darian's voice was harsh. "Not just bound. Tested. Tonight, you will face the Reckoning. It's a trial of strength, magic, and will. If you survive, you'll prove you belong to us. If you fail…"
Kieran's smirk turned cold. "Then you're nothing."
Liana's heart hammered, but she squared her shoulders. "I'll face it. I'm not afraid."
"Good," Riven said quietly. "You'll need courage. Because this trial will strip you to your bones."
---
The sun set slowly, casting long shadows across the cold stone floors of the Keep. Liana was led to her chamber — a large room, elegant but austere. The windows overlooked a dense forest that stretched to the horizon, dark and whispering secrets.
She sat on the edge of the bed, trying to steady her breathing. Questions swirled in her mind like a storm. What exactly was the Reckoning? How could she possibly survive something that nearly destroyed these three men?
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. The door creaked open, revealing a woman cloaked in gray, her silver hair glowing faintly in the candlelight.
"I'm Elira," the woman said. "Caretaker of the Keep. It's time."
Liana nodded, standing shakily. She followed Elira down twisting staircases lit by glowing stones embedded in the walls. The air grew colder as they descended beneath the Keep into ancient catacombs.
At the end of the passage stood a massive archway covered in glowing runes. Beyond it was darkness.
The triplets waited there, their eyes glowing faintly.
Riven stepped forward. "Step through the portal. The Reckoning begins."
---
The moment Liana crossed the threshold, the world twisted and shifted.
The sky above burned a deep crimson. Jagged mountains pierced the horizon, and the ground cracked beneath her feet. The air thrummed with raw, wild magic.
Suddenly, shadowy creatures emerged from the cracked earth — snarling beasts made of smoke and ash, eyes glowing red with malice. They circled her, growling low.
Panic surged, but she forced herself to stay calm. She dodged claws and snapped jaws, her hands instinctively pushing away the dark creatures. Her body ached as they scratched and bit, but she refused to fall.
Then whispers began — voices from nowhere, cutting deeper than claws.
"You're weak."
"They abandoned you."
"You'll fail."
Memories flooded her — her family torn apart, the betrayal she never saw coming, the exile that followed.
Tears blurred her vision, but she clenched her fists. "No," she whispered fiercely. "I'm not nothing."
With a scream born from pure defiance, a sudden burst of brilliant light exploded from her chest, pushing back the shadows.
The creatures shrieked and dissolved into smoke.
Liana collapsed, exhausted, tears streaming down her face.
---
When she awoke, she was back in her chamber, the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains. Riven sat nearby, watching silently.
"You survived," he said simply.
Liana swallowed the lump in her throat, pain and relief flooding her at once.
"What now?" she asked.
Riven stood, his expression unreadable. "Now, you begin the true test — learning what it means to be bound by fate. To be Blackthorn."
Her journey was only just beginning.
Liana's eyelids fluttered open to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the heavy velvet curtains. The familiar chill of the stone chamber wrapped around her like a shroud, but something was different — lighter, somehow. She pushed herself up, muscles aching, and found Riven sitting silently in the corner, eyes fixed on the flickering candlelight.
"You're awake," he said quietly, voice low but steady.
Liana studied him carefully. He looked less like the ruthless man she'd feared and more like someone burdened with a terrible weight. "How long was I out?"
"Until just now," Riven replied. "The Reckoning drains everything. Strength, magic, even hope."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Hope? I don't have much of that left."
Riven stood and crossed the room, coming closer. "You have more than you realize. That light you unleashed… it surprised us all."
Liana's throat tightened. "I didn't know I could do that."
"That's because you haven't learned who you truly are yet," Riven said. "The Reckoning was only the beginning. There are powers inside you — ancient, dangerous — that even we don't fully understand."
She looked away, overwhelmed. "Why me? Why was I chosen for this?"
"Because the prophecy named you," Riven said firmly. "You carry the bloodline that can either save or destroy us all."
Suddenly, the heavy oak door creaked open, and Darian stepped inside, his sharp gaze flickering between them.
"Time to meet Kieran," Darian said brusquely. "We need to prepare for the Ceremony."
Liana swallowed her exhaustion. "Ceremony?"
"The Mating Ceremony," Darian replied. "The moment we all become bound in a way that can never be undone."
Riven moved toward the door, then paused. "One last thing. Trust no one but each other — and even then, be cautious."
The door shut behind them, leaving Liana alone with her racing thoughts.
---
The corridor outside was long and dim, lit only by torches that sputtered against the damp stone walls. Liana followed the brothers down winding passages deeper into the Keep. The air grew heavy, thick with the scent of earth and ancient magic.
They entered a grand hall — vast and shadowed, with towering pillars carved in the shape of twisting thorns. At its center was a circular stone platform, etched with glowing runes pulsating softly.
Kieran stood at the far end, arms crossed, expression unreadable. His presence was magnetic, his gaze locking onto Liana with something almost predatory.
"So, this is the infamous Liana Everhart," he said, voice smooth but edged with steel. "I expected someone… less defiant."
Liana met his challenge head-on. "I'm not here to be broken."
Kieran's smirk deepened. "We'll see about that."
Darian stepped forward, placing a hand on Kieran's shoulder. "Enough. The ceremony begins."
From the shadows emerged attendants in dark robes, carrying bowls filled with a swirling silver liquid. They approached Liana, who instinctively stepped back.
"This is the Binding Elixir," Darian explained. "Once taken, it seals the fate between you and us."
Liana's heart pounded fiercely. "I won't be anyone's prisoner."
"You don't have a choice," Kieran said coldly. "You're bound by destiny."
With trembling hands, Liana reached out and took the goblet. The liquid was icy cold, and she swallowed it down despite the bitter taste.
Almost immediately, warmth flooded through her veins, spreading rapidly until it felt like fire danced beneath her skin.
The runes on the platform flared to life, illuminating the hall with an eerie glow.
Darian stepped beside her, voice steady. "Now, we begin the bond."
He placed his palm on her forehead, and Liana's vision exploded with light and shadow. Images flashed — memories that weren't hers, faces she didn't know, voices whispering secrets of power and pain.
Then Kieran and Riven each took their turn, touching her in turn, their energy mingling with hers. The bond was fierce and overwhelming, a storm raging inside her soul.
When the light finally faded, Liana collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.
Darian offered her a steadying hand. "You're stronger than we thought."
Kieran's grin was sharp. "But this is only the beginning."
The days that followed were a whirlwind of training, lessons in ancient magic, and navigating the dangerous dynamics between the brothers. Darian was cold and demanding, pushing her to her limits. Kieran was unpredictable, sometimes cruel, sometimes surprisingly protective. Riven remained a quiet enigma, his rare kindness a small beacon in the storm.
At night, Liana lay awake, haunted by fragments of the prophecy and the weight of the bond that tied them together.
She was no longer just a girl from a fallen noble house.
She was Blackthorn — bound by fate, caught in a game far bigger than herself.
And the question that burned hotter than anything was: could she survive the darkness to come?
The next morning, Liana woke with her muscles aching and her mind swirling from the previous night's ritual. The bond between her and the triplets hummed beneath her skin, a tether both unfamiliar and unnerving. She ran her fingers over the faint glow beneath her wrist — the mark of the Binding Elixir — pulsing like a heartbeat.
The heavy door to her chamber creaked open, and Darian strode in, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto her.
"Get up," he commanded, voice as cold as the stone walls around them. "You won't survive here if you stay weak."
Liana swallowed the weariness gnawing at her insides and pushed herself to her feet. "What do you want from me?" she asked, voice hoarse.
Darian stepped closer, narrowing his eyes. "Strength. Control. The power to survive what's coming."
Before she could reply, Kieran appeared in the doorway, arms crossed and a sardonic smile curling his lips. "And to stop acting like a scared little girl. You're bound to us now, whether you like it or not."
Liana's jaw tightened. "I'm not your possession."
Kieran's smirk deepened. "We're not your captors either — yet."
Riven entered quietly behind them, his gaze softer but no less intense. "You will need to learn to trust us, Liana. The bond runs deeper than you realize. It's not just magic — it's our lives intertwined."
She met his gaze, searching for sincerity. "How can I trust men who treat me like a prisoner?"
Riven hesitated, then said, "Because this world is crueler than you know, and alone, you will never survive it."
---
The following days were grueling. Darian put her through relentless physical training — swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and endurance drills that left her trembling with exhaustion.
"You'll need more than magic to live here," Darian said coldly as she collapsed onto the floor after a particularly brutal sparring session.
Kieran took her through lessons in strategy and subterfuge, his sharp mind cutting through every excuse she made. "Power isn't just brute strength," he told her. "It's knowing your enemy better than they know themselves."
Riven, meanwhile, focused on teaching her to harness the strange magic awakening inside her. In quiet moments, he guided her through meditation, helping her control the fiery energy surging beneath her skin.
One evening, after a tense day of training, Liana sat alone in the gardens beneath the pale moonlight. The scent of night-blooming flowers mixed with the cold night air, calming her restless mind.
She barely noticed the soft footsteps approaching until a familiar voice broke the silence.
"You're pushing yourself too hard."
Riven stepped out of the shadows, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight. "You don't have to do this alone."
Liana looked away, voice low. "What choice do I have? They don't want me here."
Riven knelt beside her, voice gentle. "They may not show it, but we need you as much as you need us. This bond isn't just a curse — it's a chance. To change our fate."
Tears pricked her eyes. "What if I fail?"
"You won't," Riven said firmly. "Because you're stronger than you think."
---
The fragile moment shattered when Darian's harsh voice rang out across the courtyard.
"Liana! We train at dawn."
Kieran appeared at Darian's side, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "No more moonlit musings. It's time to prepare for what's coming."
Liana stood, heart pounding with equal parts fear and determination.
The path ahead was dangerous, uncertain — but it was hers to walk.
Bound by fate to the Blackthorn triplets, caught in a game of power and betrayal, she vowed to rise.
Not as a pawn.
But as a queen.
The great doors of the training hall burst open, and the royal guard stumbled in, looking like he'd just survived a tornado. His armor was scratched, his helmet crooked, and—worst of all—there was a suspicious wet spot spreading on the floor beneath him.
Darian narrowed his eyes. "What happened to you?"
The guard groaned, lifting his helmet to reveal a face streaked with dirt and a look somewhere between terror and embarrassment. "Sirs, I... I encountered the enemy."
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "The enemy? You mean those shadow assassins?"
The guard shook his head violently. "No! Worse."
Riven leaned forward, intrigued. "Worse than shadow assassins? What could be worse?"
The guard gulped. "Forest spiders, my lords."
Liana blinked. "Forest spiders? You mean like tiny creepy bugs?"
The guard's eyes bulged. "Tiny? Lady, these spiders were the size of my helmet! They had legs thicker than my sword, and eyes—oh, the eyes! Eight red eyes glowing like lanterns!"
Kieran snorted. "So… giant spiders. Big deal."
The guard shook his head so hard his helmet almost fell off. "Big deal?! They chased me for half a mile! I swear, I haven't run that fast since the banquet with the Duke's wine!"
Riven tried not to laugh but failed miserably. "You got chased by spiders and not assassins?"
Darian smirked. "Sounds like our greatest threat isn't the enemy outside, but our own guard."
The guard looked ready to cry. "I'm serious! At one point, I slipped in some webbing—like, spider cotton candy or something—and ended up tangled like a human burrito."
Liana doubled over laughing. "You got wrapped up like a snack? That's priceless!"
Kieran chuckled. "We should have called for backup... a broom and a can of bug spray."
Suddenly, the guard let out a scream and jumped onto a nearby bench, pointing wildly at the floor.
"Spider! Spider!" he yelled, flailing his arms.
Everyone turned to see a tiny spider scuttling across the floor. The guard's shriek was so loud it echoed through the hall.
Darian crossed his arms, trying to keep a straight face. "Fear the shadow assassins, not the tiny eight-legged things."
The guard panted, clutching his chest. "I'm never going near those forests again. I'd rather face a dozen Blackthorn triplets."
Kieran grinned. "Well, I hope you're better with paperwork than spider fighting."
Riven laughed. "Yeah, you might be our best weapon—if the enemy runs at the sight of spiders."
Liana wiped tears from her eyes. "I thought my life was complicated before, but this… this is comedy gold."
Darian shook his head, smiling. "Alright, enough jokes. Giant spiders or not, the village is in danger. Prepare yourselves."
Kieran whispered as they turned to leave, "Next time, I'm bringing a flamethrower."
The guard muttered under his breath, "Or a mop."