When his younger sister is propositioned by the Tyrant King, Aster steps in to take her place. Just when he fears he must face this fate alone, the King assigns Rowan the Black to protect him—an Enforcer Knight with a tortured past. Despite his cruel reputation, Aster can't shake the feeling that Rowan is familiar to him. Haunted by memories of his lost childhood sweetheart, Jace, Aster must now navigate a veritable political chess game he wasn't at all prepared for. 

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“Flowers like the rose are needed for so many reasons,” Aster said. “The ground needs their roots, bees need their pollen, and animals need their leaves. So they do what they can to survive, by any means necessary. Does that mean a rose is evil for growing thorns?” He looked up at Rowan.

Rowan kept his eyes on the rose. He didn’t seem convinced. “A single rose has never caused as much pain as I have, Aster.”

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Broken Vows is created by Alex Agar, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

BRoken Vows

Why? Why couldn’t he just have a moment of peace? Why, when he was trying his hardest not to slip back into that Rage mindset, could he not be left alone?


After taking in one more calming breath and focusing on the mint and eucalyptus oils coating his tongue, Aster opened his eyes to the sight of Jasline Morrigen standing tall before him. Truly, the gods were testing him today. 


“Yes, Lady Morrigen?” Though he tried to keep his tone polite, his query came out through clenched teeth. 


“I realize that I am disturbing you, I apologize.” Jasline lowered her head in respect, folding her hands in front of her. “Physick Hellena made me aware of your presence here—and the reasoning—so I will be brief, I swear it.”


Aster sighed and leaned back on his hand, nodding at the spot on the fountain’s edge next to him. “I apologize for my prickliness. Please, sit.”


Chapter 29: Asides in the Garden