BLOODBOUND SECRETS: Letters From The Undead Book 1

he scent of damp parchment and melted wax, a familiar, almost comforting fragrance in the Duvall household. Selene Duvall sat hunched

ood Ac

kingdom-an institution that housed the children of nobles, knights, and merchants so wealthy their

silence. She leaned forward, her wild curls bouncing as she snatched the parchme

er disbelief warring with

n eyes? It bears the academy's crest!

," Selene whispered. "W

the brightest mind in this wretched city? Because you bested even the noble-born brats in th

archment as if it might vanish. The parchment was thick beneath her finge

ies, Margot," she murmured

the lone candle flicker. "Do not finish that sente

ghing in the other room, wasting away despite every tonic the healer prescribed. How c

Margot softened. "Your moth

oins on supplies. Said it was an investment in my future." She

. "But for now, you must celebrate. A new life awaits y

to visit the bookstore before I

e hopeless. Very well, go. But do n

lehouses. The scent of freshly baked bread mixed with the stench of unwashed bodies, creating an overwhelming musk. Selene k

sign swaying in the cold breeze. A bell chimed as she pushed open the door, an

s spectacles perched at the end of his nose.

le. "I could not leave

ed. "A scholar thr

, the worn leather soothing beneath her fingertip

r customer, that a chill prickled her skin. She glanced

owned. "Strang

. "I shall take this one," she said, g

to the streets. The night had deepened, the moon hidden behind t

ckened

ss clung

his

fr

n alley-a shortcut home. She had walked this path cou

ust

pun a

th

forced herself to move, her step

n,

atu

, forcing the air from her lungs. Pain seared through her neck, white-hot and b

et

ini

ed before it

ve. A terrible cold seeped into her bones, and t

nfamiliar, whispere

ever meant

, si

obblestone. The inked words of her acceptance letter w

ing darkness, Selen

ele

unaware of the horror