Some women are warriors. Arless is a survivor, and survival means keeping her heart locked away from the one man who's already betrayed it.

She was Crowsgate's deadliest archer, though soft beneath her scars. She'd fought her entire life just to stay alive. And staying away from Lucian? That was a battle she was determined to win.

Before the Darkborn. Before the legends. Before immortality was carved into her flesh with runes and regret—Arless had one rule: keep Lucian at arm's length.

One night of fire stole everything.

When the goddess of Death offered her a second chance, that choice bound her to the man she swore to avoid—forever.

Origins: Arless is a prequel story in the Darkborn saga—a dark, Norse-inspired fantasy romance where a fierce, tender-hearted survivor accepts Hel's bargain, only to discover immortality means spending eternity entangled with the one person she can't forgive.

The battle for survival was only just beginning. And this time, she couldn't fight it alone.

This is Arless's story.

See potential trigger warnings here. 

*Exclusively available in my bookshop. Can be read as standalone or alongside the other Darkborn Origin stories.