Lost Darlings by A. Hold

For James, "forever" was a fairy tale told on Earth to make the mundane feel magical. He didn't believe in the pull of the realms or the weight of a soul-bond until Peter appeared in his bedroom three months ago. In ninety days, James went from a skeptic to a believer, leaving his life behind for the promise of sanctuary in Silvermist.

But the Nine Realms don't care about your "happily ever after."

Before James can even settle into his new life, the mists of Silvermist are breached by the Obsidian Oath. Captain Killian Tregear—Peter’s oldest and most ruthless nemesis—doesn't see a fated mate; he sees a bratty human he can use to settle a centuries-old score.

Kidnapped and held captive on the open sea, James expects a monster. Instead, he finds a man who treats the truth like a weapon and "fated bonds" like a trap. Through high-stakes survival and the "swimming lessons" that lead to a very different kind of surrender, James is forced to face an impossible reality: He is fated to the boy who never grows up, but he might just be falling for the villain who refuse to let him go.

The Refractured Realms Vibe Check:

⚓ The Journey: A skeptic’s voyage from Earth to the gilded cage of Silvermist.

⚔️ The Dynamic: A "Bratty Human" caught between a fated Savior and a Morally Grey Captor.

🧚 The Captain: Killian Tregear. Broody, possessive, and master of the Obsidian Oath.

🌶️ The Payoff: High spice, featuring the "thank you" scene that has my Beta readers screaming.