Goddess's Bargain, Archer's Curse

[Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), a young Valkyrie, lies broken and dying, her body shattered by a monstrous god, [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One). Her sister [Regin](## Regin the Radiant) brings her to [Skathi](## Skathi, Goddess of the Hunt), goddess of the hunt, who offers a terrible bargain: [Skathi](## Skathi, Goddess of the Hunt) will heal [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and grant her peerless archery, but only if [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) remains chaste forever. If she ever misses a shot, she will suffer the agony of her wounds anew. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), desperate to live and fight [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One), accepts, becoming the Archer—her identity and power now bound to pain, purity, and the bow. This moment forges her destiny, setting her on a path of sacrifice, secrecy, and relentless duty, haunted by the [trauma, memory, and healing](## Trauma, Memory, and Healing) of her past and the price of her survival.

The Wolf and the Huntress

Centuries later, [Garreth MacRieve](## Garreth MacRieve), the Lykae prince, plays a brutal rugby match in the Louisiana bayou, seeking distraction from grief and the burdens of kingship. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), now a legendary archer, stalks her prey nearby. Their worlds collide when [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) scents his destined mate—[Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress). The instant, primal connection between them is electric, but [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s code and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s animal [Instinct](## Fated Mates and the Instinct) clash. She is drawn to his strength and wildness, yet terrified by what intimacy could cost her. Their first encounter is a dance of attraction and resistance, setting the stage for a battle between desire and duty.

Temptation in the Bayou

[Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) pursues [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) through the swamp, his wolf's [Instinct](## Fated Mates and the Instinct) demanding he claim her. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), on a mission to kill monstrous kobolds, is both repelled and fascinated by the Lykae's raw masculinity. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable. When [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) presses too close, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) shoots him—three times—yet he persists, undeterred by pain. The chase turns into a physical struggle, then a fevered, near-erotic encounter. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s vow and trauma war with her longing, and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s patience is tested by her refusal. Their night ends in a storm of passion and frustration, both changed by the encounter.

The Unbreakable Vow

[Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) flees, shaken by how close she came to breaking her vow. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), obsessed, vows to find her again. Both are haunted: [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) by the threat of losing her power and facing [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One) unarmed; [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) by the fear of losing his mate as his cousin once did. Their worlds are further complicated by the looming Accession—a supernatural war—and the encroachment of vampires and other enemies. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s secret—her [power's dependence on chastity](## The Chastity Bargain and Conditional Power)—becomes a prison, even as her heart and body yearn for [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve). The tension between them grows, as does the danger surrounding them.

Lightning and Longing

[Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s relentless pursuit brings him to Val Hall, the Valkyrie stronghold, where [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s sisters plot to use him as leverage in a brewing war. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) is torn between loyalty to her family and her own desires. When she is forced to miss a shot to lure [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) into a trap, she suffers excruciating pain, and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), believing her in danger, charges to her rescue—transforming fully into [the beast](## The Beast Within) she fears. He saves her, but the sight of his monstrous form triggers her deepest trauma. Yet, even in her fear, she senses his devotion and the possibility of something more.

Enemies at the Door

The Valkyrie are attacked by vampires seeking a mysterious target. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), in [beast form](## The Beast Within), fights to protect [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and her sisters, proving his loyalty and strength. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), wracked by pain from a missed shot, is both grateful and horrified by his savagery. The aftermath leaves her questioning her prejudices and the true nature of the Lykae. Meanwhile, the political landscape shifts: alliances are tested, secrets multiply, and the threat of [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One)'s return looms ever larger. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s world is no longer black and white, and her feelings for [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) grow more complicated.

The Beast Within

[Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) is imprisoned by the Valkyrie, and [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) is tasked with keeping him contained. Their forced proximity leads to confessions, arguments, and a dangerous intimacy. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s patience and vulnerability begin to break down [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s walls. In a moment of weakness, they share a passionate, boundary-pushing encounter—touching, tasting, but never crossing the final line. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s fear of losing her power wars with her need for [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), while he struggles to respect her boundaries and his own [Instinct](## Fated Mates and the Instinct). Their connection deepens, but so does the risk of disaster.

Traps, Betrayals, and Cages

The Lykae and Valkyrie are drawn into open conflict when [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s brother, [Lachlain](## Lachlain MacRieve), returns and claims a Valkyrie as his mate. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s family uses [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) as a pawn, and she is forced to betray him for the sake of her niece. The lines between enemy and ally blur, and [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s guilt mounts. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), wounded in body and pride, is forced to confront his own vulnerabilities and the reality of [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s fears. Their trust is shattered, but neither can let go.

Secrets and Surrender

As the supernatural world spirals toward war, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) are forced to work together. Their mutual need and respect grow, and [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) begins to confide in him—though never fully. They embark on a [quest to find a dieumort](## The Quest for the Dieumort), a god-killing weapon, in the Amazon, hoping to end [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One)'s threat forever. Their journey is fraught with peril, temptation, and the ever-present risk of [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) losing her power. In the jungle's heat, their passion finally erupts, but the consequences are dire: [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s vow is broken, and her identity as the Archer is lost.

The Amazonian Pursuit

[Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), now lovers but not yet truly united, navigate the dangers of the Amazon: treacherous rivers, monstrous creatures, and rival immortals. They are joined by a motley crew of mortals and Loreans, each with their own secrets and agendas. The [search for the dieumort](## The Quest for the Dieumort) leads them to the legendary Rio Labyrinto and the tomb of El Dorado. Along the way, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s skills are tested, her power wanes, and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s [beast](## The Beast Within) grows ever closer to the surface. Their love is both a weapon and a weakness as they face the labyrinth's deadly traps.

The Labyrinth of Gold

Deep within the golden tomb, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) confront the Gilded One, a powerful being whose awakening could doom the world. They must solve riddles, resist temptation, and face their own darkest fears. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s archery is put to the ultimate test, and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s loyalty is proven in blood. Together, they retrieve [the dieumort](## The Quest for the Dieumort), but not without awakening new enemies and setting in motion events that will echo across the Lore. Their bond is forged in fire, but the cost is high.

The Full Moon's Price

As the full moon rises, [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s [beast](## The Beast Within) threatens to consume him. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), desperate to save him and herself, must choose between her vow and her love. In a moment of passion and terror, they finally consummate their relationship, breaking [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s vow and, she believes, losing her power forever. The aftermath is bittersweet: [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) is devastated, [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) is wracked with guilt, and both are forced to confront the true nature of sacrifice. Their love survives, but their future is uncertain.

The Devil's Bride

[Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s darkest secret is revealed: she is the unwilling bride of [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One), bound to him by ancient magic and trauma. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), horrified but determined, vows to free her. Together, they face [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One) in his lair, battling his cultists and the god himself. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s power, thought lost, returns in her moment of greatest need, and with [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s help, she slays [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One) with [the dieumort](## The Quest for the Dieumort). The curse is broken, but the scars remain.

The Arrow and the Apocalypse

With [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One) dead, the world is saved from apocalypse, but the victory is costly. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), infected by [Cruach](## Cruach, the Broken Bloody One)'s power, descends into madness, believing he has killed [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress). [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), wounded and alone, must find a way to bring him back from the brink. Their love, tested by gods and monsters, is the only hope for redemption. The Lore is forever changed, and new threats emerge from the shadows.

Sacrifice and Salvation

[Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve), lost to [the beast](## The Beast Within) and his own guilt, is captured by his clan and imprisoned. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress), refusing to give up, risks everything to reach him. In a final act of vulnerability, she confesses her love and begs him to return. Her tears and devotion break through his madness, and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) is restored. Together, they reclaim their future, stronger for all they have endured.

Madness and Memory

Reunited, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) confront the lingering wounds of their pasts. [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) reveals the full truth of her trauma, and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) accepts her, [beast](## The Beast Within) and all. They pledge themselves to each other, vowing to face whatever comes together. Their love, once forbidden and fraught with pain, becomes a source of strength and hope.

The Return from Darkness

As [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) begin their life together, new threats loom on the horizon. Allies are missing, enemies gather, and the Lore is on the brink of another war. But for the first time, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) is free—of her curse, her past, and her fear. With [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) by her side, she is ready to face whatever the future holds, her bow in hand and her heart unbound.

Characters

Lucia the Huntress

Lucia is a Valkyrie marked by trauma, duty, and a desperate need for control. Her power as the Archer is both a gift and a curse, bound to a vow of chastity and the agony of her past. Haunted by her captivity and forced marriage to the monstrous god Cruach, Lucia is fiercely independent, disciplined, and wary of intimacy. Her relationship with Garreth challenges her self-image and her fears, forcing her to confront vulnerability, desire, and the possibility of happiness. Over the course of the story, Lucia evolves from a woman defined by pain and sacrifice to one who claims her own agency, love, and future.

Garreth MacRieve

Garreth is the Lykae prince, burdened by loss, responsibility, and the Instinct that drives him to claim his fated mate. He is powerful, loyal, and deeply passionate, but also struggles with his own beastly nature and the fear of losing control. Garreth's pursuit of Lucia is both romantic and obsessive, a battle between his desire to protect and his need to possess. His journey is one of learning patience, respect, and the true meaning of love—sacrificing his own needs for Lucia's happiness and healing. His transformation, both literal and emotional, is at the heart of the novel's emotional arc.

Cruach, the Broken Bloody One

Cruach is the ancient, cannibalistic deity who haunts Lucia's past and threatens the world's future. He is both a literal and symbolic villain: the source of Lucia's trauma, the architect of her curse, and the catalyst for the story's central conflict. Cruach's power is insidious, infecting love with violence and turning devotion into destruction. His defeat is not just a physical victory, but a reclamation of agency and hope for Lucia and the Lore.

Regin the Radiant

Regin is Lucia's younger sister and closest confidante, a Valkyrie with a wild spirit and a sharp tongue. She is both a source of strength and a reminder of what Lucia stands to lose. Regin's loyalty is unwavering, and her willingness to risk everything for Lucia is a testament to the power of sisterhood. Her own subplot—her mysterious abduction—sets the stage for future conflicts.

Skathi, Goddess of the Hunt

Skathi is the deity who grants Lucia her archery in exchange for chastity and suffering. She is both benefactor and tormentor, embodying the double-edged nature of divine bargains. Skathi's influence shapes Lucia's identity and choices, but ultimately, Lucia must break free from her control to claim her own destiny.

Lachlain MacRieve

Lachlain is Garreth's older brother, long thought dead, whose return upends the balance of power among the Lykae and the Lore. His own love story with a Valkyrie mirrors and contrasts Garreth and Lucia's, highlighting themes of forgiveness, loyalty, and the cost of love.

Annika

Annika is the formidable leader of the Valkyrie, a master tactician and fierce protector of her sisters. She is both an obstacle and an ally to Lucia, embodying the tension between duty and personal happiness. Her decisions shape the course of the war and the fate of her family.

Nix the Ever-Knowing

Nix is the enigmatic soothsayer whose cryptic guidance and hidden machinations drive much of the plot. She is both comic and profound, her madness masking a deep wisdom. Nix's interventions are crucial to Lucia and Garreth's journey, and her growing power hints at larger forces at work in the Lore.

Lothaire

Lothaire is a powerful, unpredictable presence, driven by his own mysterious agenda. His actions—stealing a ring from El Dorado's tomb, interfering with Lucia and Garreth—set off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences. He embodies the danger and allure of the Lore's darker side.

Damiano

Damiano is a jaguar shifter and the appointed guardian of the Amazonian labyrinth. His role as both protector and antagonist complicates Lucia and Garreth's quest, and his ultimate fate underscores the story's themes of sacrifice and the cost of duty.

Plot Devices

Fated Mates and the Instinct

The concept of fated mates is central, driving the plot and the characters' actions. Garreth's Instinct compels him to pursue Lucia, while she resists, fearing the loss of self. This device explores the tension between destiny and free will, love and possession, and the possibility of forging a partnership based on choice rather than compulsion.

The Chastity Bargain and Conditional Power

Lucia's archery is bound to her vow of chastity, creating a high-stakes internal conflict. The threat of losing her power—and thus her ability to fight Cruach—makes every moment of intimacy fraught with danger. This device externalizes Lucia's trauma and the cost of survival, while also serving as a metaphor for the ways women's power is often policed and conditional.

Trauma, Memory, and Healing

Lucia's history with Cruach is revealed gradually, through nightmares, flashbacks, and confessions. The narrative structure uses her trauma as both a source of strength and a barrier to happiness. Healing is depicted as a process of vulnerability, trust, and the reclamation of agency.

The Quest for the Dieumort

The search for the god-killing arrow drives the second half of the novel, blending adventure, myth, and romance. The labyrinth, the tomb, and the tests within are both literal and symbolic obstacles, forcing Lucia and Garreth to confront their fears, desires, and the true nature of power.

The Beast Within

Garreth's struggle with his Lykae beast mirrors Lucia's battle with her own darkness. The threat of losing oneself—to Instinct, to trauma, to love—is a recurring motif, explored through physical transformation, madness, and the risk of hurting those one loves most.

Foreshadowing and Prophecy

The narrative is laced with hints of future conflicts, betrayals, and apocalyptic threats. Nix's cryptic guidance, the looming Accession, and the repeated warnings about the consequences of breaking rules create a sense of inevitability and suspense.

The Power of Choice

Despite the weight of fate, prophecy, and supernatural compulsion, the story ultimately centers on the characters' choices: Lucia's decision to love and trust, Garreth's willingness to sacrifice his own happiness, and their mutual commitment to face the future together.

Analysis

Pleasure of a Dark Prince is a dark, sensual, and emotionally charged romance that uses the trappings of paranormal fantasy to explore [trauma, healing](## Trauma, Memory, and Healing), and the struggle for agency. At its core, the novel is about the cost of survival: [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress)'s power is both a gift and a curse, her vow a shield that becomes a prison. [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve)'s love is both salvation and threat, his [Instinct](## Fated Mates and the Instinct) a force that can either protect or destroy. The story interrogates the idea of fate—are we bound by destiny, or can we [choose our own path](## The Power of Choice)? Through their journey, [Lucia](## Lucia the Huntress) and [Garreth](## Garreth MacRieve) learn that true love is not about possession or sacrifice, but about partnership, vulnerability, and the courage to face the darkness within and without. The novel's blend of myth, adventure, and eroticism serves to heighten its emotional stakes, while its focus on consent, healing, and the reclamation of agency gives it a modern resonance. Ultimately, Pleasure of a Dark Prince is a story about breaking curses—both literal and metaphorical—and finding freedom, not in the absence of pain, but in the willingness to love and be loved, scars and all.

Last updated: September 23, 2025