Series: Luna Trilogy #1
Author: Taylor Summerlin
Genre/Tropes: Clean YA Romantasy; Fairytale retelling; Past trauma; Royals Enchanters; Forced proximity; Magic and curses; Healing Secrets revealed; Unexpected twists; Star-crossed lovers
Release Date: January 6, 2026
She was an exiled enchantress haunted by the memories of her past. He was a voiceless prince forced to uphold his royal duties.Their paths should have never crossed.
In a land where magic hides in plain sight, Luna and Piero must work together as they race against time to rescue Piero’s fiancé from the clutches of one with a vengeful soul. But as they embark on this perilous journey, they have to learn to trust each other to survive unimaginable threats. All while fighting the shadows of their own hearts with their fates entangling into a web neither saw coming.
With each step forward, secrets unravel, old wounds reopen, and a forbidden love blooms amidst the chaos.
But what will happen if they succeed in breaking free from their shackles and save the princess? Will their love survive in a world that favors image and duty?
If it does, at what cost?
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PROLOGUE:
A light breeze in the brisk night. That was all that could be heard after what felt like an eternity had passed.
Accompanying the garden was a pond. Although it was part of the abode to a powerful and prestigious family, it was made to be small and elegant for a certain person. One who had witnessed tragedy many times before within the cold walls of the castle.
This night was no different.
With the moon’s mystic glow lighting the scenery, the hundreds of shards from the window could be seen spread across the castle garden. Each piece of glass reflected their only source of light.
A cloud of purple smoke suddenly appeared on the ground, right in the heart of the aftermath. It continued circling upward until it reached high enough. As the smoke dispersed, a young woman with white hair—whose lavish dress was once described to be as black as her soul—hastily emerged.
Her piercing amber eyes looked to the right. To her horror, the man who broke into her room just moments ago was lying completely still on the ground. Her hands were shaking at the memory of him over her, holding in one hand the red stone he used to cut her shoulder while the other had a dagger over her heart.
Just then, she heard a groan.
There it was again.
The young woman quickly turned, her eyes still adjusting to the moonlit scenery around her. She saw the elderly man who came to her aid during the heat of the attack lying prostrate on the grassy ground some feet away.
He budged, but his moans revealed the agonizing pain he was in.
She hurried to the man and turned him over. Blood was pouring from his mouth, his face losing its shade of life.
Her entire world came crumbling down. Debris crushed her chest. She could barely breathe.
“No, no, no! Ignazio?!” Her one hand gave support to his head as the other went to his back to help cradle him.
The pain within her grew worse when he opened his eyes, and she could barely see the tenderhearted light they always carried. Little by little, it was going out.
“Piccola Luna?” He grinned at seeing it was her. “I see the cut from the Impotente Gem did not completely hinder you. You truly are powerful.”
“But I don’t want to be,” she exhaled in distress. “I never asked for it.”
It was heard in her voice. It was seen in her eyes. Luna was terrified down to her bones of the power she possessed, as well as the thought of losing Ignazio.
“It does not matter. A great plan has been written for you and you mustn’t run away from it.” He coughed and coughed, blood spitting out.
What was Luna to do? She looked upon her dying friend, then at the man who made the attempt to end her.
Her eyes glided to her hand. The same one she waved a little ago to magically send her from her bedroom in the tallest tower to the garden.
She perked up at a brilliant idea. “Perhaps you’re right. Maybe I am meant to have this power to help others. Once the effect of the stone has finished wearing off, I can use my magic to its full potential to save you and bring that man back to life—”
Ignazio grabbed Luna’s hand. “No!”
Luna was confused. He had just told her one thing and now his actions, as well as his eyes, were telling her something else. At least, that’s how it appeared to her.
“Luna… you know what happens to those who use their magic to break the laws of nature that God Himself set before us. Your power is unnatural and strong, but… if you go down that path…” Ignazio coughed more.
Her face fell the more she witnessed her friend slipping away. “Then what am I supposed to do? I… I can’t let you die.”
“You… you have… to, my dear. I won’t let you become lost… like so many others have.”
Luna glanced back at her hand. The stories of what became of the others who used their powers and abilities to break the supernatural laws came rushing into her mind. How deep they all fell into that never-ending pit where the day was a thing of the past.
Although these people possessed strong magic, none could hold a candle next to hers. They couldn’t even light it.
Luna realized her downfall would be more rigorous than the others’ due to the power she obtained. Her hand shook as she trembled all over.
“I’m so frightened.” Her voice faltered.
Ignazio bestowed his final lesson. “Remember what I always told you… where there’s life… there’s hope. Just like how the moon cannot be so easily covered by the night sky… so must you not allow the magic you now possess to cover you or the hope I know still burns in you… Let… your light shine.”
He began coughing and wheezing again. With all the strength he had remaining, his shaking hand held on to hers.
Every part of Luna ached with grief. Tears glazed over her eyes.
Before she could even think of how to respond, Ignazio continued. “Promise me, Piccola Luna… promise you will always keep the light in your heart… and use your new power to help others without breaking the laws of nature.”
“I…” Luna couldn’t bear to finish. She knew that if she did, it was truly the end.
But what other choice did she have? It was, after all, his dying wish.
She brought her only friend’s hand—the same one that worked in her family’s castle garden since the day he could hold his garden scissors—up to her red dahlia lips. After the kiss, she said, “I promise.”
A final breath and he was gone—a smile gracing his face the entire time.
There was no stopping the tears from flooding Luna’s face. Both of her arms wrapped around her friend and brought him into her. She felt his head fall back as she hugged him as tightly as she possibly could.
All while she became completely engulfed in her sorrow.
A group of royal soldiers appeared with their weapons drawn, ready for anything. They were all surprised to see their princess holding the corpse of one of the servants while another figure lay lifeless in the distance.
“Lieutenant!” called the one whose silver armor was more extravagant than the others’.
The lieutenant approached with no time to waste. “Si, Captain.”
“Go to our king and queen,” the captain ordered. “Inform them of how their daughter has finally succumbed to her second curse.”
TAYLOR SUMMERLIN is a Southern California native who lives and breathes art, writing, animation, and storytelling. After graduating from Cal State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art/Animation, she went back to Fullerton College to obtain the Illustration Certificate and became the first recipient of the Storyboarding Certificate. Her background became more impressive when she was hired at Titmouse Inc. to be one of the Assistant Animatic Editors on AMC Plus’ first animated series, PANTHEON. Now as one of the artists for Art Brand and Thomas Kinkade Studios, Taylor continues to expand her horizon. She may not know what’s coming next for her, but Taylor firmly believes that more great things are headed her way.
In her own words, “I’m an old-soul; a melting pot of ethnicities/cultures; a fan of Renaissance art, pop-opera, animation, musicals, and old Hollywood Classics; loves dogs; a con and expos attendee; likes baseball; will take a burger and fries over sushi any day; and am, without a doubt, the biggest nerd/geek you will ever meet.”
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