Lucian's Bargain

A gothic second chance romance

Fans of eerie towns where everyone hides a secret bargain. Small-town gothic / dark contemporary, along with a second chance at romance.

Ellie: When the house felt the same and the paper still smelled like my father, I thought I’d come home to close a chapter. Instead, I found a book he had buried and a warning in his handwriting—an old bargain that had already taken from our town. Lucian’s offer is lacquered with applause; his words promise everything I thought would make the ache stop. But the closer he comes, the clearer the ledger’s price reads: give up the one who anchors you, gain a lifetime on pedestals I don’t trust.

Jack: I came back for the town, for music, for a second chance with Ellie. They put a contract in front of me—fame and traction. It felt like a lifeline until I saw what it cost. When the equinox drums hit and the stone circle breathed, I found myself fighting for more than a career. I fought for Ellie.