The Thing That Keeps by AmberDariano at Inkitt
Customize readability
Aa

The Thing That Keeps

All Rights Reserved ©

Summary

Fia entered the traveling horror circus expecting to be unnerved by illusions and stage-managed nightmares, but she left with something far more permanent-and far more deadly. She has become the fixation of K'thun, a primordial beast of old times, a Cervus Mortis (or Stag of Death) whose hunger is as vast as his cruelty. K'thun has worn many names and haunted countless dreams, but he has never known a tether quite like the one he has forged with Fia. He is not a gentle savior. K'thun is a creature of sharp edges and ancient, insatiable violence who views Fia as his sole possession in a world he considers prey. His protection is absolute, and his possessiveness is lethal; he will tear apart anyone who dares to look at, let alone touch, the woman he has decided is his to keep. Fia is learning that being pursued by a nightmare is a perilous, intoxicating fate-and one she may not survive.

Status
Ongoing
Chapters
5
Rating
n/a
Age Rating
18+

Trigger Warnings and Author's Note

Author’s Note

Please review the trigger warnings before proceeding. While K’thun and Fia’s dynamic is entirely fictional, the flashbacks depicting the harrowing realities of child abuse are drawn directly from true events.

The weight of trauma, fear, and secrecy is a heavy burden to carry alone, but keeping silent only protects the abuser. Please remember that it is entirely okay—and brave—to speak out. If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, you do not have to endure it in the dark. Please reach out to someone you trust, contact local support groups, or reach out to organizations like the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (call or text 1-800-422-4453) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (call 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788). Your voice matters, and your safety is what counts.

Content & Trigger Warnings

This book is a work of dark supernatural fiction and contains intense themes that may be distressing to some readers. Because the narrative explores the heavy, real-world impact of abuse, please note that child abuse and its lasting psychological scars are featured through flashbacks. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Themes include, but are not limited to:

Abuse & Coercion: Explicit and lingering themes of child abuse, stalking, obsession, power dynamics, and church/institutional abuse of power.

Violence & Physical Harm: Graphic violence, murder, cannibalism, body horror, and attempted strangulation.

Mental Health: Themes of self-harm, suicidal tendencies, PTSD, Survivor’s guilt and significant psychological distress stemming from trauma.

Relationships: Cheating, toxic relationship dynamics, and non-human/supernatural romantic themes.

Sexual Content: Because this is a monster romance involving a supernatural entity and a human, themes involving primal instincts—such as mating biology, biological cycles (like ovulation/breeding), obsessive dynamics, and references to past history—will be present. Explicit sexual content may or may not appear as the story develops organically.

Your mental health is more important than any story. If at any point these themes—especially the depictions of child abuse or the weight of the narrative—become distressing, please put the book down and take care of yourself.

Let AmberDariano know what you thought about this chapter!
Love this

0

Love this

Funny

0

Funny

Spicy

0

Spicy

Suspenseful

0

Suspenseful

Emotional

0

Emotional

Profound

0

Profound

Heartwarming

0

Heartwarming

Shocking

0

Shocking

Good Writing

0

Good Writing

Compelling Plot

0

Compelling Plot

Great Character

0

Great Character

Strong Dialog

0

Strong Dialog

Further Recommendations

 Mehrfach zurückgewiesene Gefährtin

Silvia: Sehr schön geschrieben, mit Spannung von Anfang bis Ende. Tolle Geschichte .

Read Now
My Blacksmith Savior

MoonlightN🌕: I absolutely love Sully. He's such a mature, patient, and understanding character—a complete green forest. 💚I love Sorsha too. She's strong, resilient, and easy to admire. They're a perfect match, and watching their relationship grow with patience, trust, and love was beautiful.The way their bond d...

Read Now
Alien Claim: Book 1

Noor jahan: THE NOVEL WAS TRULY AMAZING, SO AMAZING THAT I WISHED FOR ME BEING KIDNAPPED BY SUCH ALIEN 🤣🤣🤣

Read Now
Silver's Second Chance

natstarr: Druid? That’s so interesting. Love these little surprises you give

Read Now
The Dating Deal

c0urtz: An enjoyable storyline with characters that were easily relatable. I found myself hooked and unable to stop reading. It is well written and made me feel as though I was right there with the characters as they went through their experiences.

Read Now
Sweet Caroline

Doridoo: I really enjoyed this story and had trouble putting it down at 2:00 in the morning but couldn’t read more due to blurry eyes! I even reread the chapter I left on so I could relive it again. The story had me tear up and gasp in parts. I Look forward to more stories from this author. Now I need to ca...

Read Now
What We Never Healed

elsa: Though there are flaws in the plot, the story is still beautiful

Read Now
Half-Claimed

Bargara4670: Half-Claimed was easy to read with a well-thought-out plot that kept me interested throughout. Many of these revenge stories seem to have the abused heroine turning into a vicious harpy who I end up disliking as much as her abusers. I like to feel empathy with the main characters, and I found that I...

Read Now