Books
Miranda Stokes

A Siren's Bargain

The salt-laced winds of Aisling whisper of ancient bargains and forgotten desires. On this remote island, lighthouse keeper Aelric Crowe finds solace only in the rhythmic sweep of the lamp's beam, a solitary sentinel against the encroaching shadows. Bound to this desolate rock by duty and a gnawing guilt tied to his family's legacy, he unknowingly fuels the very storms that plague Aisling.
One tempestuous night, a creature of breathtaking beauty and chilling power is cast ashore: Aerynne, a siren whose voice is a haunting melody promising ecstasy and oblivion. Bound by an ancient curse, she offers Aelric a dangerous bargain: his desire for her touch in exchange for the island's salvation.
Desperate to save his village and drawn by Aerynne's forbidden magnetism, Aelric agrees. The lighthouse, his sanctuary, transforms into a gilded cage of sensual awakening.  But with every stolen kiss, every caress that sets his skin ablaze, Aelric's life force ebbs, feeding Aerynne’s insatiable hunger.  Aisling’s vibrant ecosystem begins to mirror Aelric's own decline, a chilling sickness sweeping through the village in the form of dreams of impossible beauty — the siren's irresistible call.
Chloe, the village herbalist, grieving the loss of her lover, sees in Aerynne a reflection of her own desires. Drawn into the siren's web, she becomes an unwitting accomplice, luring the villagers closer to the shore and hastening Aisling's demise.  Meanwhile, Thomas, the stoic village elder, recognizes the ancient magic at play. He knows the legends of sirens and the devastation they bring, uncovering a far greater horror lurking beneath the waves: a leviathan awakened by the siren’s call.
As Aisling teeters on the brink of annihilation, Aelric must confront the devastating reality of his bargain. The love he feels is a poisoned chalice, each sip bringing him closer to destruction. To save his village, he must sever the intoxicating bond with Aerynne, a bond that has become both his torment and his lifeline.  With Thomas's help, he discovers a perilous ritual demanding the ultimate sacrifice: not of life, but of memory, of his very self.
In the heart of a raging storm, Aelric makes his agonizing choice.
222 printed pages
Original publication
2024
Publication year
2024
Publisher
PublishDrive
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