ShadowBound: The Need For Power - Chapter 8: Into The Depths

Damian's life is bland, miserable and getting worse. After hitting rock bottom, he travel to another world. In an alternate Albion, he faces dangers and delights beyond anything he could have dreamed. The new and powerful sorcerer soon realises it will be a struggle to survive.

Elia is a poor university student until the night she’s taken to the world of the Anima—ruled by humans whose ancient hearts pulse with the blood of animals. There she’s forced into a battle to the death. But when Elia survives, and refuses to kill her final opponent, the King must either kill Elia himself, or take her as his mate.

Reth, the brutal King of the Beasts with the blood of lions, shocks everyone when he chooses the weak, human Elia to become his Queen. He promises her every comfort of his wealth and position—but he is clear: She will not warm his bed. He chose her to defeat those that were trying to corner him into blending his Leonine line with the Wolves.

Elia needs the help of the Anima to become stronger and rule them well. But the vengeful Wolves see only a weak human that brought them shame. As Elia and Reth grow closer, the wolves are determined to destroy her. Will Reth and Elia admit their feelings for each in time to fight for the Kingdom—and their lives—against the villainous wolf-tribe? Or will the wolves kill Elia and steal the throne?

[Mature content - no sexual violence]

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He stalked towards her, chin low so the shadow cast by his hard jaw cut across the thick fur collar of his vest. His hair had fallen over his eyes in the scuffle, so he peered at her through it like a lion in the grass. With each step, his graceful, rolling gait reminded her of a predator stalking its prey. Despite the forest floor littered in twigs and leaves, he didn’t make a sound.

“Wh-who are you?” Elia stammered, backing away, her hands up. He met her step for step until she came up hard against the tree behind her—and didn’t stop until he loomed over her, so broad his shoulders and chest made a wall in front of her. She could feel the heat rising off his skin in the cool, night air.

“I am the Leonine King.” His voice was a dark, husky gravel. Behind him a chorus of wheezes, howls, and chirps of agreement rose from the people watching. “And you are?”

“Elia,” she breathed.

“Elia,” he growled, leaning in closer, bringing with him the scent of pine and rain and the musk of something distinctly male. “I am Reth.” He said the name with a strange, guttural roll in his throat. “I am King of Beasts. I am Clan Leader, and I am Alpha of WildWood.” Several snarls rose from the crowds behind him then, but he ignored them.

Elia swallowed as he leaned in until the scruff on his jaw rasped her cheek. “I am the King,” he said, “And you will be my mate.”

The forest behind him erupted.

Ichiro was a man who had to live through a tragic and awful life.After losing his wife, his only source of happiness, his despair only got worse until the day he died.To Ichiro's fortune, the Goddess of Life, Phelena, decided to send his soul into a new body in another world. His only condition was for the Goddess to send him far away from people.The goddess agreed, but she certainly had other plans for Ichiro's new life.A wholesome story about a man rekindling his love for living and encountering his lost wife in another world![Story is written in 1st person with a casual tone]

A phrase about his merits startling the Emperor, it led the Invincible God General to become a prisoner at the feet of others.A phrase about his origins as a commoner turned a vow as steady as mountains and as deep as seas into something less than a beast.He was once the greatest general of all time in the Great Shang Dynasty, celebrated for quelling the disturbances of the Seven Countries. Yet, during the victory banquet, he was framed by the Emperor of Great Shang and his beloved Ninth Princess. They destroyed his Dantian, crippled his meridians, and exiled him to the frontiers.In his icy and hopeless heart, he received meticulous care from his newlywed wife and unexpectedly unlocked the Ten Thousand Beasts Sky Prison, becoming the Master of Ten Thousand Beasts.He resumed his training in Martial Arts, and the wild beasts were unleashed!