Hearts Under Spell E-Book

C. F. Lark

• Herausgeber: tredition
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 59

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Hearts Under Spell is a YA Romantasy about love, betrayal, and the dangerous allure of power. It follows Lena, a brilliant and beautiful student, whose perfect relationship with Jason makes her the target of jealousy. When a mysterious new girl with the power to manipulate hearts arrives, Lena’s world unravels—friendships are broken, loyalties tested, and her true love threatened. Caught between envy, betrayal, and supernatural forces, Lena must fight for her heart and discover the strength within herself to resist manipulation and reclaim her happiness.

Leseprobe

C. F. LARK

Hearts Under Spell

A Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Forbidden Magic

Copyright © by C. F. LARK

Cover design by: CANVA

Publishing label: Favvy_MRC publications

Printing and distribution on behalf of the author:

tredition GmbH, Heinz-Beusen-Stieg 5, 22926 Ahrensburg, Germany

This work, including its parts, is protected by copyright.

The author is responsible for the content. Any use without his consent is prohibited.

The publication and distribution are carried out on behalf of the author, who can be reached at: No 13, Balogun Road, 200242, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Germany Contact address according to the EU Product Safety Regulation

: [email protected]

C.F.LARK asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This is a work of fiction and the names and places are not real but entirely coincidental.

First edition

Editing by Favvy_MRC Publications Typesetting by Reesdy.com

First edition

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Prologue

When Shadows Speak

The rain had fallen all night, painting the school grounds with silver streaks and puddles that reflected the dim streetlights. In the empty corridors of Westfield High, a single figure moved quietly, her footsteps echoing against the cold tiles. Lena Hartwell’s heart thumped—not from fear, but from the weight of what she already knew.

High school was supposed to be simple: classes, laughter, friendship, maybe a first love. But for Lena, it had never been that way. Brilliance and beauty were double-edged swords—admired by some, envied by many, and enough to draw the kind of attention that made her pulse race with tension instead of joy.

She remembered the whispers, the cold stares, the tiny, vicious acts that piled up like snowdrifts against her calm. She had faced bullies before, as she would again, but tonight felt different. Something darker lingered in the air, a presence she could feel but not see, a shadow waiting to test the strength of hearts and the boundaries of choice.

Jason had always been her anchor. His laughter, warm and steady, had a way of cutting through the heaviness of school life. But even he could not protect her from what was coming. Lena sensed it in the shiver that ran down her spine when the hall went silent, in the sudden pause of the wind outside the window, in the faint echo of footsteps that weren’t hers.

She had learned that true courage wasn’t about fighting every battle—sometimes, it was about holding onto yourself when the world tried to steal your heart. And tonight, that courage would be tested.

Somewhere, unseen, a new presence watched. Curious, powerful, and unsettling, it measured hearts like one might weigh fragile glass. No one knew what it wanted yet—but Lena’s life, her love, and the balance of trust and desire in Westfield High were about to change forever.

Because when shadows speak, even the brightest hearts can tremble.

I

Part One

The Perfect Facade

Chapter 1

Shadows in the Hallway

The bell had just rung, releasing a flood of students into the corridors of Westfield High. Lockers slammed, voices clashed in laughter and gossip, and the air buzzed with energy. But for Lena Hartwell, the noise felt distant—like she was moving through it all behind a glass wall.

Her auburn hair, catching the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, glimmered like fire. Her green eyes, sharp and luminous, scanned the hallway with quiet confidence. Beside her, Jason Miller walked with that effortless ease that made him look like he belonged anywhere—handsome, calm, protective. Their fingers brushed briefly as they passed, a subtle reminder that they were together, united against a world that often envied what they had.

But admiration, as Lena had learned, often bred something darker: envy.

It appeared suddenly, like a cold shadow in a sunlit room. Three girls emerged from the side corridor near the restrooms, their footsteps slow and deliberate. The tallest, with sharp icy blue eyes, was the leader—the one everyone whispered about behind her back. Her lips curved into a cruel smile as she stepped forward.

“Well, well,” she sneered. “Miss Perfect, caught alone at last.”

Lena’s stomach tightened, but she refused to show fear. “I’m not alone,” she said steadily, glancing at Jason, who had just turned the corner. “But go on, make this quick.”

The leader’s eyes narrowed. “You think you’re so smart. So pretty. But none of that matters. You’ve taken his attention, and that won’t be tolerated. You’re the reason he won’t even look at me.”

Lena’s pulse raced—not from fear, but from anger. “Why would he want a bully and a dullard like you?” Her voice was calm, sharp, unyielding.

The leader’s face twisted with fury. “How dare you—”

Fists struck before she could finish.

The first blow hit Lena’s shoulder, sharp and painful. She stumbled but didn’t cry out, deflecting another strike aimed at her ribs. Adrenaline surged as blows landed again and again, each one a harsh reminder of the jealousy that rotted behind the girls’ eyes.

“Stop hitting her!” someone shouted in the distance. But their voices were too far, too late.

“You’ll regret this!” the leader hissed, raising her fist once more.

Then a voice, clear and authoritative, sliced through the chaos:

“Hey! What’s going on here?”

The girls froze, glancing toward the approaching figure of Mrs. Grant, one of the teachers, walking briskly with sharp eyes and determined steps. Panic flashed across their faces. Without a word, they scattered, leaving Lena clutching her bruised arm, heart pounding, but unbroken.

Jason was at her side instantly, his hand gentle on her shoulder. “Are you okay?” His voice was low, concerned, full of a protectiveness that warmed her despite the pain.

Lena nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’ll survive. It’s nothing I can’t handle.” Her tone carried defiance, though her pulse still raced. “…And honestly, they’ll learn soon enough that threats don’t work on me.”

Jason’s eyes softened, lingering on her face. “I hate that they can even touch you.”

“I know,” Lena whispered, straightening her posture despite the sting in her arm. “But the world isn’t always fair. And sometimes… courage is standing tall when everyone else expects you to fall.”

Mrs. Grant’s footsteps grew closer. Lena drew in a steadying breath, allowing herself a small, private smile. She had survived this encounter—but deep down, she knew envy was a storm that didn’t end with one battle.

And as her gaze met Jason’s, Lena felt the familiar warmth of his presence, the anchor that steadied her when shadows loomed. Whatever the storm ahead, she knew she would not face it alone.

Chapter 2

Whispers and Glances

The hallways of Westfield High were quieter the next morning, yet the echoes of yesterday’s confrontation lingered like a stubborn shadow. Lena Hartwell felt it before she even reached her locker—the weight of curious stares, whispered gossip, and thinly veiled envy.