The Syndicate will kill to keep their sins buried. Will the

forbidden whispers unite

Siles and Madi, or will the truths they reveal tear them

apart forever?

Whispers of the Past

Spectral Syndicate Book 1

Enchanted Elemental Empires Book 3

by Sophea Chan

Genre

Clean Dark Fantasy Romance

Forbidden love. Buried secrets. A kingdom's fate hangs in the balance.

Siles, heir to the all-powerful Spectral Syndicate, has his future set. Until he meets Madi. A clever historian with radical ideas, she awakens desires that could destroy everything Siles has been groomed for.

As their passion deepens, they uncover clues about the Syndicate’s shadowy past which could bring the regime crumbling down. Before Madi can reveal what she knows, tragedy strikes, and Siles is stripped of his title and exiled.

With nothing left to lose, Siles must unravel the whispers of the past to regain his honor. Yet lethal forces lurk in the darkness, ready to silence Siles permanently.

The Syndicate will kill to keep their sins buried. Will the forbidden whispers unite Siles and Madi, or will the truths they reveal tear them apart forever?

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**Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Enchanted

Elemental Empires books!**

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Excerpt 1:

"You're meddling in affairs you know nothing about, Madi," he says sharply, cutting through my enthusiasm with a blunt edge. "Your idealism won't protect you from the harsh realities of politics and power."

I bristle at his dismissive tone. "I may not be a Council member or a seasoned politician, but I know history," I retort, my voice steady despite the rising tension. "I understand the implications of unchecked power and oppression. I can make a difference."

He scoffs. "History lessons won't save you from those who play the game." Why are his words laced with undeserved disdain? "You're naive if you think you can waltz into this and change anything. The same way you waltz right into this library, stealing right under my nose and trying to lie to my face about it."

I meet his gaze squarely, crossing my legs, refusing to back down. "Maybe I am naive. But someone has to speak up, to challenge the status quo. If not me, then who?"

Siles leans back in his chair, regarding me. "A woman like you should stay in her little bubble," he remarks icily, his words slicing through the air. "Leave the world's problems to those who understand them."

I feel a surge of indignation rising within me, fueled by the patronizing tone in his voice. Standing up abruptly, I meet his gaze with fire in my eyes. "I won't be confined to your narrow view of what I'm capable of," I declare defiantly, my voice trembling with anger. "I've studied history, politics, and the complexities of power dynamics. I'm not afraid to challenge injustice and fight for what's right."

Siles' jaw tightens, his gaze narrowing. "You have spirit, Madi. But spirit alone won't change the world. If that was the case, the dead would continue to rule the world from beyond the veil of the living. Yet they don’t. Those alive in the Spectral Syndicate do. Political changes take strategy, calculation, and sometimes making difficult choices. These are all headaches that no person or politician wants to do unless they have to. And to control heirs? What would their reason be? Would that not defeat the purpose of the Council, making them obsolete?"

I refuse to back down. He hasn’t seen what I’ve seen on the streets of Thetrinch city. It’s already started—the prejudice. Hate like that only grows like cancer when left unchecked.

"I understand that," I retort sharply, getting to my feet and making my way toward the journal. "But I refuse to stand idly by while others suffer under tyranny and oppression. If you won't support me, then at least step aside and let me do what needs to be done."

The tension in the room crackles between us, the air thick with unspoken challenges and conflicting ideals. Siles studies me intently, before slowly standing up from his seat.

"Madi, I warn you," he says evenly, his voice carrying an edge of caution. "The consequences of your actions will be yours to bear."

I meet his gaze squarely, refusing to back down despite the fear that creeps in. "Are you threatening me?" I ask, trying to mask my apprehension with resolve. I know he holds all the power outside of his heir abilities, while I'm just a woman striving to ensure a harmonious world for all.

Am I being foolish?

I have to do something.

Siles' eyes shift in color for a second like storm clouds. "I'm not threatening you," he answers firmly, his tone cutting through the tension. "I'm warning you because apparently, you care nothing about your own safety."

Confusion clouds my thoughts for a moment. "What do you mean?" I demand, my voice tinged with frustration. "Why do you care?"

He hesitates with an unreadable expression. "Because you're reckless. And because someone needs to keep an eye on you."

I frown, bristling against his implication, feeling a mix of irritation and something else I can't quite define. It’s the same feeling I get when Dr. Fletcher gets like this, only my current emotion feels more volatile and I don’t know why. "I can take care of myself.”

Siles's jaw tightens. "And yet you’re here with me, one of the biggest predators around. Do you really believe what you’re saying, Madi? Or are you choosing to see the world through rose colored glasses in regards to what can happen to you?”

His words strike a nerve. Part of me wants to lash out, to prove him wrong and assert my independence. But another part recognizes the truth in his words—that danger lurks in the shadows, even here within the supposed safety of these walls. After all, he’s hanging out with monstrous shadow creatures. What more does he have in his arsenal?

"I..." I start, my voice faltering momentarily as I struggle to articulate my thoughts. "I understand the risks. But I refuse to let fear dictate my actions. I have to do what I believe is right."

He leans in, his eyes emitting a subtle glow. This close, he smells of oakmoss and something deeply masculine. My breath stutters with his proximity, his dominant aura threatening to devour me alive. “I highly doubt you’ve truly experienced fear, Madi. So let me help you.”

Closed door fantasy writer of dark and twisty worlds, Sophea Chan is dedicated to bringing you amazing stories pulled from the depths of her imagination to take you on a trip you will never forget with a hint of fright.

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