Page 1 of To Bind a Dark Heart

PROLOGUE

Mordred flew high above the woods on the back of his dragon, watching as an ever-expanding circle of light flowed over the landscape far beneath him, turning the brown and faded colors brilliant and sparkling.

Avalon was truly like nowhere else he had seen, across the realms and worlds he had visited. It was a thing of beauty.

When it was not devoured by war and suffering.

The peace and sense of wonder would only last long enough for the elementals to catch their breath and begin their backstabbing and warmongering.

He would strike before they had a chance to gather their wits. Before old alliances and grudges reared their heads. The dragon circled lazily as it climbed higher in the updraft. The weather was warmer, the season having quickly changed from its perpetual autumn to spring.

He had let Gwendolyn escape. He had refused to answer the questioning of his knights as to why. The reason was simple. Obvious, really. But he did not care to explain it to them. He barely wished to explain it to himself.

He loved her.

And killing her—or sending her into the Iron Crystal—would shatter what was left of his heart. Her betrayal had wounded him enough. To see her rid from this world…would be what destroyed him in the end.

Luckily, he had somewhere else to focus his attention, away from his love and her betrayal. A far larger threat than Gwendolyn could ever claim to be.

Somewhere, there was one elemental, who was now freed, who must be found and stopped at all costs—the demon Grinn. Wherever he was, Mordred did not know. But somewhere on the island, a true monster was loose.

The Ash King must be captured and stopped. Or all the world would burn before Mordred had a chance to save it for a second time.

He could only pray that Gwendolyn would never find herself in the presence of that treacherous bastard. His jaw ticked at the very idea of it.

The Ash King would be found and captured first.

Then his war on the others could commence.

He would postpone dealing with Gwendolyn for as long as he could. But the matter of what to do with the young woman would arise sooner or later.

He could only hope that she kept her head down. If she were smart, she would hide in the mountains or lie low in a small village somewhere. But while the girl was certainly clever…she was not preciselywise.

Then, it hit him. A solution to his problem named Gwendolyn Wright.

Perhaps there was another path ahead for them. Perhaps he was uselessly bargaining with himself, trying to find ways around that which he dreaded. But it was the best way forward that he could see.

Who was to say that he could not simply keep her as he had originally intended? Who was to say he could not keep her as his prisoner?

This time, he would ensure she stayed in iron chains.

She had thrown his hospitality back in his face once before. She betrayed him, seemingly not believing his threat to simply rebuild the Crystal once it was destroyed. It was almost as though she wished him to be the cruel prince they all claimed he was.

He smirked. Well, if she wished him to play the tyrant, he would oblige her. He knew, deep down, that he would do whatever she wanted of him. And this was no different.

He was Mordred, the Prince in Iron.

And the Iron Crystal would reign again.

Run, Gwendolyn Wright.

Run as far and as hard as you can.

Because when I catch you?

You belong to me.

ONE

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