Bound by Shadow

The mountains remember what walks beneath them. And some things hunt from the shadows. Lyra Lange has always belonged to the Appalachians. As a park ranger and dragon guardian, she moves between two worlds—one rooted in the rhythms of human life, the other bound to an ancient oath that ties her to the mountains themselves. For centuries, she has protected the balance, keeping what lives in shadow from crossing into the light. Until something new is released. When a brutal attack shatters the quiet of a local hospital—three infants left lifeless, their hearts taken—Lyra knows exactly what she is facing. The Raven Mocker has returned. A creature drawn from Appalachian legend, the Raven Mocker does not hunt blindly. It feeds on fear, but prefers something far more rare—an open, unguarded heart. It moves through shadow, unseen until it is too late, and where it travels, a murder of ravens follows. This is not a predator that can be outrun. As the attacks escalate, Lyra joins forces with a werewolf pack that has long guarded its own territory. Old alliances rise again, not from hesitation, but from necessity. Together, they move through the mountains with purpose, tracking a threat that cannot be fought with strength alone. Through it all, Taren remains bound to her—her counterpart, her equal, and the other half of a connection forged in the earliest magic of their kind. The dream-flame between them burns stronger than ever, bridging distance and deepening their awareness of one another. But as the Raven Mocker closes in, threatening what Lyra holds most dear, even that bond is tested under the weight of what must be faced. Because this time, the danger is not skin deep. It moves through shadow. And it knows exactly where to strike. Bound by Shadow is the second book in Hallow Rising, a spicy Appalachian romantasy series featuring dragon shifters, folklore-rooted danger, fated mates, and a bond shaped by distance, devotion, and sacrifice. Perfect for readers who love emotionally rich romantasy, mythic stakes, protective heroines, and love that is tested in the dark.