Shadows of Desire
Description
Cursed Princess Leila must transform into a monstrous wolf each full moon. She forms an uneasy alliance with Damian, a demon prince, who offers to help break her curse in exchange for studying its dark magic. Despite their differences, a forbidden romance blossoms as they face dangerous trials and unravel secrets about their worlds.
Chapter 1
Nov 19, 2025
The moon hung low and blood-red in the sky, its crimson light seeping through the gnarled branches of the Gloomwood like a freshly opened wound. Princess Leila moved silently through the twisted forest, her bare feet barely grazing the cold, damp earth. The hem of her once-regal gown, now tattered and stained, caught on a thorny underbrush, the quiet ripping sound seeming to echo in the eerie stillness.
Leila's breath came in short, ragged gasps, forming small clouds in the chilly night air. The familiar pain was building in her chest, a burning ache that spread through her limbs with each passing moment. She had minutes left, at most, before the change took her. Before the curse turned her into a monster once again.
The scent of decay and damp earth filled her nostrils, mingling with the metallic tang of her own fear. Leila's eyes, sharper now as the curse began its work, scanned the shadows. The Gloomwood was never truly safe, but on nights like these, when the blood moon rode high, it became a realm of nightmares.
A twig snapped somewhere to her left, the sound like a thunderclap in the unnatural silence. Leila froze, her hand instinctively flying to the silver dagger at her hip. The weapon, a gift from her mother on her sixteenth birthday, seemed to pulse with a soft, comforting warmth against her palm.
"Well, well, well," a deep voice purred from the shadows, rich as velvet and sharp as a blade. "What do we have here? A little lost princess, perhaps?"
Leila's grip tightened on her dagger as she spun towards the voice, her heart thundering in her chest. "Show yourself," she demanded, proud that her voice didn't waver despite the fear coursing through her veins.
A figure melted out of the darkness and Leila's breath caught in her throat. He was beautiful in the way only the truly dangerous could be. Tall and broad-shouldered, with skin like polished obsidian and eyes that glowed like embers in the gloom. Two curved horns protruded from his temples, gleaming dully in the blood moon's light. When he smiled, Leila caught a glimpse of fangs, sharp and white against the darkness of his lips.
A demon. And not just any demon, but a prince of the Underrealm, if those horns were anything to go by. Leila had heard tales of such beings, whispered in the darkest corners of her father's court. Creatures of shadow and flame, as alluring as they were deadly.
"Prince Damian," Leila said, the name coming to her lips unbidden. She'd never seen him before, but somehow, she knew. Perhaps it was the curse, recognizing a kindred darkness.
Damian's smile widened, sending an involuntary shiver down Leila's spine. "My reputation precedes me, I see. And you, Princess Leila, are a long way from the shining towers of Luminara."
Leila bristled at his mocking tone, momentarily forgetting her fear in a flash of anger. "I have more right to be here than you, demon prince. This forest lies within the borders of my kingdom."
"Oh?" Damian raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. The air around him seemed to shimmer with heat, carrying the scent of brimstone and dark spices. "And tell me, princess, does your father know you're out here? Alone? On a night like this?"
Before Leila could answer, a jolt of pain shot through her body, so intense it drove her to her knees. No, not now. Not in front of him. She curled in on herself, fighting against the change with every ounce of her will.
"What's wrong, princess?" Damian asked, his mocking tone tinged with what sounded almost like genuine curiosity. "You don't look well. Full moon got you down?"
Leila glared up at him through a curtain of sweat-dampened hair, her vision blurring as the curse fought to take hold. "It's none of your concern," she ground out. "Leave. Now. While you still can."
But Damian didn't move. Instead, he cocked his head to the side, studying her intently. His eyes widened slightly, a look of surprise and something else — was that respect?.. — flickering across his features. "You're cursed," he said, his voice low and tinged with something Leila couldn't quite identify. "Dark magic. Old and powerful."
Leila's eyes widened. "How did you —"
"I can smell it on you," Damian interrupted, taking another step closer. "It clings to you like a second skin. Fascinating. I didn't think there was magic that powerful left in the mortal realm."
Another wave of pain hit Leila, and she doubled over, a whimper escaping her lips despite her best efforts. The curse was winning, her bones already beginning to shift and crack beneath her skin.
To her surprise, Damian knelt beside her, close enough that she could feel the unnatural heat radiating from his body. "You can't fight it forever, princess," he said, his voice unexpectedly gentle. "The change is coming, whether you like it or not."
Leila wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong. But the pain was overwhelming now, stealing her breath and clouding her thoughts. "You need to leave," she gasped, meeting his fiery gaze. "It's not safe. I'm not safe."
To her shock, Damian laughed. The sound was rich and dark, like the finest chocolate laced with poison. "Safe? Oh, my dear princess. I haven't been safe a day in my life." He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. The touch sent a jolt through Leila's body, like lightning dancing across her skin. "Besides," Damian continued, his eyes burning into hers, "I'm curious to see what kind of monster you become."
Leila opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a scream as the curse finally took hold. Her body contorted, bones breaking and reforming, skin stretching and sprouting coarse, midnight-black fur. In moments, where the princess had stood, there was now a massive wolf with eyes that glowed silver in the moonlight.
Damian whistled low, taking a step back to admire the transformation. "Now that," he murmured, "is impressive."
The wolf that was Leila growled, baring razor-sharp teeth. Every instinct screamed at her to attack, to rip and tear at the demon before her. But a small part of her, the part that was still Leila, held back. She didn't know why Damian was here, what game he was playing, but something told her he was important. That killing him would be a mistake she couldn't afford to make.
Damian seemed to sense her internal struggle. He crouched down, bringing himself to eye level with the wolf. "You're still in there, aren't you, princess? Fighting for control." He reached out, as if to touch her muzzle.
Leila snapped at his fingers, barely missing them. Damian jerked his hand back with a laugh that was equal parts amused and approving. "Feisty! I like that."
The wolf growled again, taking a menacing step forward. “Run,” Leila's human mind screamed. “Run before I hurt you. Before I do something I can't take back.”
But Damian didn't run. Instead, he stood his ground, meeting the wolf's gaze without a trace of fear. "You know," he said conversationally, as if he wasn't facing down a monstrous beast, "I might be able to help you with that curse.”
Shadows of Desire
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