What Lies Beyond the Veil by Harper L. Woods

Estrella’s life in the village of Mistfell is anything but easy. Living under the shadow of an annual sacrifice to the ominous Veil of Alfheimr, her existence is marked by grief and oppression. When she was a child, her father was taken as one of the sacrifices, leaving her and her brother, Brann, to scrape by under the tyrannical rule of Lord Byron. Her mother, confined to a wheelchair since birth, depends on them both for survival.

Lord Byron’s cruelty knows no bounds. He has decided that Estrella will be his bride, despite his current wife suffering from a terminal illness. He wields his authority mercilessly, summoning Estrella to his home at night under the pretense of "educating" her for her future role as Lady of Mistfell. In reality, these summons are rife with physical abuse, humiliation, and violence. His dominance over her escalates to the point where he poisons his wife to hasten her death, leaving Estrella with an ultimatum: marry him or be the next sacrifice to the Veil.

Estrella, defiant and resolute, refuses his proposal, even if it means facing death. As she stands on the brink of sacrifice, she feels an irresistible pull toward the shimmering black Veil. With a single fingertip brushing its surface, she unwittingly releases the Veil’s dark magic. The world is plunged into shadow, and she becomes Fae-marked—a claim placed upon her by an unknown fae.

Chaos ensues as Estrella and Brann flee Mistfell, trying to escape the deadly Fae Hunt that follows. Brann warns her in desperation: if capture by the fae becomes inevitable, she must take her own life rather than let them claim her. Their flight ends tragically when Brann is killed, leaving Estrella alone—until she encounters Caelum.

Caelum is unmistakably fae, and his purpose is clear: he intends to take Estrella back to the fae lands where her mysterious mark will be claimed. Their initial interactions are tense and distant, with Estrella distrustful of his motives and Caelum maintaining an enigmatic demeanor. Yet as they journey together, their relationship begins to shift. Caelum’s fascination with Estrella deepens, transforming into possessive infatuation.

By the end of the book, their bond is undeniable. But just as Estrella begins to trust Caelum, a violent attack reveals his true nature. Caelum is no ordinary fae—he is an ancient being, ruler of the Shadow Kingdom, with the power to raise the dead. And, most shocking of all, he is the one who has claimed her through the Veil. With the revelation of his plans to take her to his kingdom, Estrella’s fate takes a dark and uncertain turn.